I listened to a part of one of Tim Keller’s sermons on Job. Often times we wonder, given the severity of Job’s words, at times towards God, how do we get to the end of Job and hear God say:
“After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.”
Job 42:7-9 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/job.42.7-9.NIV
What was different to have God say, “…you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” Vs. 7 According to Tim Keller, the difference was all the frustration, sadness, rage, etc was prayed TO God and not said ABOUT God. “He never walked away from God. He stayed with God. Darkness was my closest friend, but he sang it TO God.”
“Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself? Why then do You not pardon my transgression And take away my iniquity? For now I will lie down in the dust; And You will seek me, but I will not be.””
Job 7:20-21 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/job.7.20-21.NASB1995
“I am a joke to my friends, The one who called on God and He answered him; The just and blameless man is a joke. He who is at ease holds calamity in contempt, As prepared for those whose feet slip. The tents of the destroyers prosper, And those who provoke God are secure, Whom God brings into their power.”
Job 12:4-6 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/job.12.4-6.NASB1995
This leads me to Psalms. This line…”…prepared for those whose feet slip.” I have vivid memories of discovering the Psalm with almost a direct quote. I, so often, wonder in the midst of chaos, where is my God? Why? These discoveries are teaching me over and over again, to pray in my questions, my fear, my anger to God.
“If the Lord had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence. If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O Lord, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”
Psalms 94:17-19 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.94.17-19.NASB1995
Paul discusses this with the Ephesians:
“Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.4.26-27.NASB1995
Rather than complain and rage against the unfairness to others, I am able to pour this all out to my Heavenly Father. Anger can be justified in circumstances, where do we go with these strong emotions? I want to head to the throne room of heaven. Otherwise, as Paul says, the devil thrives in these small opportunities.
““Behold, my eye has seen all this, My ear has heard and understood it. What you know I also know; I am not inferior to you. “But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to argue with God.”
Job 13:1-3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/job.13.2.NASB1995
It begins here. He can handle all of my emotions and responses and words. Nothing is hidden from him. I want to be by his side.
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