Job argues his case

The Book of Job Chapters 13 & 14

In chapter 13, Job says that he longs to speak directly to God and argue his case. He accuses his friends of smearing him with lies and asks them to be quiet and pay attention to his arguments. He says his friends should be impartial witnesses, but fears they would slant testimony in God's favor and of this they should be afraid. For their statements have no value, like ashes, so Job asks that his friends be silent and let him take the consequences of letting God know what he thinks.

By speaking to God, Job knows God might kill him, but he is willing to chance it by arguing his case with God. He says that what would save him is the fact that he (Job) is not godless. So he has prepared his case and will prove his own innocence. And if he is wrong, Job promises to remain silent forever.

In Chapter 14 Job says that humanity is frail and life short and full of trouble. It is like a flower that blossoms for a moment and then withers. Like a shadow of a passing cloud, then we disappear. (speaking to God he asks,) Must you keep an eye on such a frail creature and demand an accounting from me? You can create purity in one impure, you decide the length of our lives, so give us a little rest, won't you? Turn away your angry stare. We are like hired hands, so let us finish the task you have given us.

If a tree is cut down, says Job, there is hope it will sprout again and grow new branches and at the scent of water it may bud and sprout again like a new seedling. But when people die, they lose all strength, they breath their last and lie down and do not rise again. Until the heavens are no more, they will not wake up nor be roused from their sleep. I wish, says Job, that you (God) would hide me with the dead and forget me until you anger has passed. But mark your calendar to think of me again. If mortals die,can they live again? This thought gives me hope and through my struggles I would eagerly wait for release. And you would call and yearn for me and you would count my steps instead of watching my sins. My sins would be sealed in a pouch and you would cover over my inequity.

But, Job continues, as mountains fall and rocks fall from a cliff, as water wears away the stones and floods wash away the soil, so you destroy people' s hope. You overpower them and they pass from the scene. You disfigure them in death and send them away. They never know their sons grow up in honor or sink to insignificance.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Job's friends took a true principle: that God was just and that God punishes sin. But they were wrong to assume that Job's suffering was a just punishment for his sins.

Job laments that life is short and full of trouble. He says life is not fair. Some say Job is hoping for resurrection of the dead. Then he could justify his suffering and put it in perspective -that God guarantees life forever.
However, the Old Testament does not say much about resurrection of the dead, which is not surprising, since Jesus had not yet conquered death.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Suffering can bring a dynamic quality to life. Just as drought drives the roots of the tree deeper to find water, so suffering can drive us beyond superficial acceptance of truth to dependence on God for hope and life. This suffering can take us past the mundane everyday things of life and help us to focus on our faith.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is healing but her leg was crushed and will take many months of doctoring. She is in a nursing home for rehab care. Pray for her healing. Also Gabe, Wanda, Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Pray for Cyndi Sullivan who made it six years with cancer but may now go home with hospice in her final days.
Pray for my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.