Day Seventeen – Chapter 17

“If I look for Sheol as my home, I make my bed in the darkness; if I call to the pit, ‘You are my father’; to the worm, my mother and sister’; where now is my hope? Will it go down with me to Sheol? Shall we together go down into the dust” (17:13-16)?

Hopelessness and despair continue to creep up on Job. Today we see in our text more evidences of it than before. He is despondent because he feels so alone. Even people that barely know him are publicly wondering what it is that has happened to him. The weight of despair just continues to grow. It is this growing sense of despair coupled with the belief that no one understands or really cares about one’s struggle that is so dangerous. Such inward emotional responses have the potential of provoking all sorts of dangerous reactions that in turn produce all manner of debilitating consequences.

If we are honest with ourselves today we are Job. Without experiencing anything close to what Job experienced we have been guilty of a myriad of responses to our circumstances, and some of them, maybe even many of them, have been negative; and so we can understand how Job feels. If you have been there then you know of the anger, frustration, hurt, and betrayal associated with your circumstances. You know the things you are tempted to say and do, and if you really love the Lord you are frightened that the tug in your flesh will supersede the jug on your spirit. It is in these moments that we need to draw all the more closer to our Savior because our circumstances will continue to illicit unsolicited advice and counsel, and though well intentioned, much of it will relate more to what the counselors/friends would do if in the same or similar situation than what we should do.

This is a very dangerous place to be. Be cautious of heeding counsel that does not sit well with your spirit. Stand strong! Hold on to your faith and your principles. Everyone will not understand, but everyone is not going through what you are. Job says in verse nine, “But principled people hold tight, keep a firm grip on life, sure that their clean, pure hands will get stronger and stronger” (The Message)! But at the same time be careful that you do not allow your hurt and pain to provoke you to sin against God. Trust His counsel acknowledging that His Word is true and that He cannot lie or go back on His Word.

Great and mighty God, You are awesome in all Your ways. You know well our trials. You know well the pain that afflicts us so profoundly. You know well the scorn and mockery of those who cannot understand what we are going through. You know well how lonely we feel because no one seems to care or understand. You know well our breaking point and our desire to avoid it. Help us today to know that while we may be lonely we are never alone. Help us to know that though we may not be able to see our way right now that You are working on our behalf nonetheless. Help us to worship You today and accept the mercy You continue to extend to us, in Jesus’ name. Amen.