Our well-meaning friends come running when a crisis is known.  They commiserate with us, telling us they had been through the same thing—only worse—even if they haven’t. They tell their story hoping it will ease our misery in the moment.  When our friends continue to analyze our situation and look for evidence of our wrong doing which causes our current condition; they have ceased to be helpful.  We all do it to each other and to ourselves. Why?  Because human nature seeks control and self-monitored control demands reasons for all our actions and reactions.  We feel better if an explanation for every life occurrence can be stated and agreed upon.  (Sigh)

For example, a dear friend died at a fairly young age, before his time, we say.  At the funeral, while waiting in line to comfort the grieving family, I overheard statements like, “I knew he was pushing himself too hard in his business, stress kills, you know.”  “He had a habit of eating way too much greasy food late at night.  Yep, that must be it.” “He and his wife didn’t always go to church, so there’s that.”  “His teens’ behaviors were pretty challenging, that probably added to his demise.”  “His kids seem remorseful, I bet they’re sorry now for treating their dad with undeserved lack of respect.”  (And…most of these statements were expressed by casserole bringing church people!)

This reasoning exercise was also expressed in Jesus’ days on earth. Remember the story of the death of Lazareth with the comments made by his sisters, recorded in John 11?  “If you had been here, this would not have happened.”  Yikes.  Yes, we all do it, I’m sorry to say.  We demand an explanation for all things unexplained so we can go on about our day.  Sometimes we do it to ourselves, too.  We want answers for why something is happening to gain control over the situation. 

Just kill me now—

At this point in the book of Job, he has become so physically miserable that he is becoming spiritually bankrupt of any hope of recovery.  Job wants to know why is the “target” of God. If I cannot be given reason then just let me die, he begs of God.  

Job 7

“Do not mortals have hard service on earth?
    Are not their days like those of hired laborers?
² Like a slave longing for the evening shadows,
    or a hired laborer waiting to be paid,
³ so I have been allotted months of futility,
    and nights of misery have been assigned to me.
⁴ When I lie down I think, ‘How long before I get up?’
    The night drags on, and I toss and turn until dawn.
⁵ My body is clothed with worms and scabs,
    my skin is broken and festering.

⁶ “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
    and they come to an end without hope.
⁷ Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;
    my eyes will never see happiness again.
⁸ The eye that now sees me will see me no longer;
    you will look for me, but I will be no more.
⁹ As a cloud vanishes and is gone,
    so one who goes down to the grave does not return.
¹⁰ He will never come to his house again;
    his place will know him no more.

¹¹ “Therefore I will not keep silent;
    I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,
    I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
¹² Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep,
    that you put me under guard?
¹³ When I think my bed will comfort me
    and my couch will ease my complaint,
¹⁴ even then you frighten me with dreams
    and terrify me with visions,
¹⁵ so that I prefer strangling and death,
    rather than this body of mine.
¹⁶ I despise my life; I would not live forever.
    Let me alone; my days have no meaning.

¹⁷ “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
    that you give them so much attention,
¹⁸ that you examine them every morning
    and test them every moment?
¹⁹ Will you never look away from me,
    or let me alone even for an instant?
²⁰ If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
    you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?
    Have I become a burden to you?
²¹ Why do you not pardon my offenses
    and forgive my sins?
For I will soon lie down in the dust;
    you will search for me, but I will be no more.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Job is giving into his pain and suffering and giving up on life.  Upon description of his aliments of boils and skin rotting sores; we can understand.  Job cannot do what he used to do as hardworking, successful business man.  He gives the image of a soldier drafted into an army he did not want to join.  Job, a former rich man before his losses, is now like a exhausted laborer or hired hand waiting for sunset and his or her daily wages. At least these people had something to look forward to, but Job’s future seemed incredibly hopeless. His nights were sleepless because of the pain; his days were futile because of wondering continuously what he did wrong to deserve this misery.  It seems God doesn’t know or if He knows He doesn’t seem to care. 

Job knows life is brief on earth; so, he askes for death to come to put him out of his misery.

At the end of our passage; we see the mind of Job begin to think beyond the condition  just a bit and open a conversation with God. Job asks for forgiveness without knowing the sin he must confess. “Have I sinned?”  is Job’s stab at looking beyond his pride in being known as a righteous man to be known for who He is in God’s eyes. When we think about it; was this truly a confession of sin while Job tried to maintain his integrity of perfection?  We don’t think so.  But don’t we all do it?  “God, what have I done to deserve this?” versus “God, what are you teaching me in this current situation?”  The Psalmist David, who felt all the feels and knew true confession with surrender to God adds to our knowledge and gives us God’s wisdom for living as redeemed people;

But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
    be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:12-14

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:10-12

“Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.
You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:15-17

Surrender to God with confession for our sins in Jesus Name, for this is the beginning of the end of our pride and arrogance.  With surrender, trust, and obedience comes the peace of God.

As for Job, it is Satan who has made him a target of misery and despair where there is no peace, only bitterness.  Yes, it is God who allowed it to happen, because God wants to now deal with areas in Job’s life that Job knows nothing about.  Job will fall silent after venting is pain, frustration, and misery to his friends.  He wanted understanding and encouragement but he received judgement with possible explanations in the most human way for his condition.  (Sigh)

Hold this thought as we continue;

Job was a believer; all his sins, known and unknown are dealt with by God. Even if Job had sinned against God in some great way, God would deal with His child on the basis of His grace and mercy and not justice. When we confess our sins, God forgives us because He is faithful to His promise and just toward His Son who died for those sins (1 John 1:9).  Yes, and Amen!

Lord,

Your Holy Spirit convicts us to our sins so there is not real excuse for not confessing our sins as soon as we are aware.  “We all see it” should be our mantra, along with “I surrender, Lord. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.”  May your will be done. Thank you for being with us always.

In Jesus Name, Amen