Today's Scripture
Talking back to God – Job 6
Today’s Reading Schedule: Job 6-9 (CEB)
Job responded:
2 Oh, that my grief were actually weighed,
all of it were lifted up in scales;
3 for now it’s heavier than the sands of the sea;
therefore, my words are rash.
4 The Almighty’s arrows are in me;
my spirit drinks their poison,
and God’s terrors are arrayed against me.
5 Does a donkey bray over grass
or an ox bellow over its fodder?
6 Is tasteless food eaten without salt,
or does egg white have taste?
7 I refuse to touch them;
they resemble food for the sick.
8 Oh, that what I’ve requested would come
and God grant my hope;
9 that God be willing to crush me,
release his hand and cut me off.
10 I’d still take comfort,
relieved[c] even though in persistent pain;
for I’ve not denied the words of the holy one.
11 What is my strength, that I should hope;
my end, that my life should drag on?
12 Is my strength that of rocks,
my flesh bronze?
13 I don’t have a helper for myself;
success has been taken from me.
14 Are friends loyal to the one who despairs,
or do they stop fearing the Almighty?
15 My companions are treacherous like a stream in the desert,
like channels that overrun their streambeds,
16 like those darkened by thawing ice,
in which snow is obscured
17 but that stop flowing in dry times
and vanish from their channels in heat.
18 Caravans turn aside from their paths;
they go up into untamed areas and perish.
19 Caravans from Tema look;
merchants from Sheba hope for it.
20 They are ashamed that they trusted;
they arrive and are dismayed.
21 That’s what you are like;
you see something awful and are afraid.
22 Have I said, “Give me something?
Offer a bribe from your wealth for me?
23 Rescue me from the hand of my enemy?
Ransom me from the grip of the ruthless?”
24 Instruct me and I’ll be quiet;
inform me how I’ve erred.
25 How painful are truthful words,
but what do your condemnations accomplish?
26 Do you intend to correct my words,
to treat the words of a hopeless man as wind?
27 Would you even gamble over an orphan,
barter away your friend?
28 Now look at me—
would I lie to your face?
29 Turn! Don’t be faithless.
Turn now! I am righteous.
30 Is there wrong on my tongue,
or can my mouth not recognize disaster?
RJ's Devotion
What Does the passage Mean to Me/US?
Job did start with blessing God’s name through the trials. We have a tendency, however, to think that he maintained his attitude of worship throughout the entire book, which is wrong. We might not have blamed God for what was happening, the trials he had to go through was unbearable. He comes to a point, wishing that he might rather die. It seems like he was blasting off his frustrations toward God.
Then he talks to his friends, responds to their accusations with fury.
He says, “How painful are truthful words, but what do your condemnations accomplish?” (v. 25 CEB)
We have a tendency to talk carefully to God. We think that we can’t argue with God.
So when things get tough, the normal response might be walking away and not talking.
Does that get anything solved?
I remember the time I was protesting against God. I avoided praying and didn’t want to follow God’s ways.
When it came to a point I had to pray, I started with ‘why in the world!!!’
It went on for awhile, even up to point tears were coming down my cheek because I couldn’t understand.
However, after I have poured out everything, something happened. I was for me a ‘be still moment.’
After all the fury and flame, in the calmness, God spoke to me.
Is something weighing on you so heavily that you feel unjust?
Come to God and pour out your heart. Share how you feel.
God is willing to listen, even your rant.
Prayer
Lord, listen to us, Lord. But help us to see that our deepest desire will be fulfilled when we listen to you. In Christ Name, we pray, AMEN
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