Read Job 30:1-31
Job goes from remembering his glorious, “mountain top” experience kind of past, to the speak of his present life-changing anguish. Even the outcasts mock him and take advantage of his situation. We can see a bit closer the kinds of agony Job is enduring.
There was no easy transition from Job’s happy life to the desolate one. It was in an instant. Like when natural disasters strike. The last town where David and I lived before moving to Mexico was a small town in Iowa. Less than two years before arriving at this congregation, an F5 tornado had ripped through that community. The scars were and will always show from how their lives changed in an instant. They would understand Job better than most of us.
Job goes out of his way to give us a great vantage point to observe the character of these outcasts. Not only do we feel bad for Job, but we feel bad for these outcasts that they would be so desperate themselves that picking on Job would make sense. The cycle of bullying needs to stop. Those outcasts should realize that.
Have you ever been turned away by friends or loved ones? Being an outcast doesn’t sound like a picnic at all. Sometimes I feel like a bit of an outcast myself in this society of ours. I don’t think that my views are necessarily popular or “politically” correct. Whatever that means anymore. But what I can’t argue with is living by Biblical truth. It may make me a little “outdated” or “bigoted” even, but I answer to God first. That’s what makes sense for me. What makes sense for you if you are feeling like an outcast?
Job is the perfect model of an outcast for us. He has been thrown out of his regular circles and left alone except for the scoffers and a couple of friends from out of town. Those are the friends we’ve been hearing from in this “discussion.” These friends don’t do a lot of “hand-holding” or supporting Job in a helpful way.
We’ve read Job has a wife is still living. She must be having a hard time processing all this loss, too. Sometimes couples draw closer during crisis and others are pulled apart. I am blessed to say that my husband and I would be more likely to cling to each other for strength to get through some tough times. A life in ministry assures you’ll be clinging a lot, so we’ve had some practice!
I can’t get over the anguish I sense in Job (hence the title of this reflection!). Job doesn’t think God is watching. That’s what it feels like. Anguish because no answers come from the God Job so desperately yearns for. Have you ever felt forgotten by God?
The surprise for me in today’s reading was that Job was musical. He plays the harp and the flute. How cool is that? Those instruments are not as common in our day as a guitar or drum might be. But those two instruments play beautiful music. Music is also known to be very soothing in times of stress. Whether it’s played or listened to, music can calm you down if you let it, or fire you up with energy. Can you tell I’m a musician? I’m glad Job was one, too.
How do you handle times of anguish? We asked a similar question to our Mexican youth group, and their response was “read the Bible and pray.” Profound and so true. I loved how simple the answer is when we need help reconnecting with God and his will for us. We don’t have to over think it. We can pray anywhere, and now you can even have a Bible on your phone! If you’re not sure what God says about something, ask him, and then look for the answer in Scripture.
In this moment, think on your own level of anguish. Are you feeling far from God’s blessing for you? Don’t lose heart. Talk to Him about it.
Let’s pray. Lord, I come to you on my knees. May I just sit here quietly and listen for your voice. I am overflowing with gratefulness for all that you have done for me. Fill me anew with your wisdom and strength for this day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
