Thought for the Week: Job 23

God Promises Good Outcome!

As Job agonises over his situation,
his three friends explain that he
must be suffering because of
some terrible sin he committed.
They try to persuade Job to repent
of his sin. When Job argues that he
hasn’t sinned enough to deserve
such suffering his friends respond
with even harsher accusations.

Lord, we will Keep to Your Way:
Then Job answered and said:
Even today my complaint is bitter…
Oh that I knew where I might
find Him… I would present my
case before Him (Job 23:1-4).
But He knows the way that I take;
when He has tested me, I shall
Come Forth As Gold… I have
Kept His Way… I have treasured
the words of His mouth (J23:10-12)
Whatever He wants to do, he does.
He’ll Do for me all he has planned.
He Controls my destiny (v13-14).

Lord, You love to speak to Your
people; but sometimes, like in Job,
You maintain long silences and
that can be rather uncomfortable.
For You are tuning our ears to Your
voice & teaching us to wait on You.
Lord, when I cannot really sense
Your presence or hear Your voice,
keep me drawing me towards You.
Give me the patience & persistence
to keep seeking Your face. Amen.

Lord, I praise You for faithfulness
& for knowing the way that I take.
Thank You that when I have been
tested, I will Come Forth As Gold.
Lord, it’s painful not to hear Your
voice & wonder where You’ve gone;
but my eyes are still fixed on You.
Let me not waste the pain Lord;
instead use it to draw me deeper.
And show me treasures of Your
ways and Your kingdom. Amen.

Lord, You control my destiny
and I fully trust in Your goodness.
So fill my vision with hope, which
is the expression of Your goodness.
You have given me promises,
and offered hope, even when
I can’t see all the way ahead.
Help me Lord to walk in the good
purposes You have planned for me.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

Reflection on the book of Job

Trusting God thru His Promises

The purpose of the book of Job is
to demonstrate God’s sovereignty
and the meaning of true faith.
And it addresses the question:
Why do the righteous suffer?
On Monday, we learn from Job 1/2
that God Watches Us in tough times.
On Tuesday, we learn from Job 4-7
that God Is Merciful & He’s With Us.
On Wed, we learn from Job 16/19
that God In Control of the Situation.
On Thursday, we learn from Job 23
that God Promises Good Outcome.
On Friday, we learn from Job 38
that God Knows What’s Best.
On Sat, we learn from Job 40/42
that Almighty God Is Trustworthy.
Let us humble ourselves and pray
and seek His face. Help us O God
be Christ’s disciples who trust You:
for You’re merciful, trustworthy
and in control of the situation;
for You know what’s best, watch
over us & promise good outcome;
for You truly keep Your promises;
In Jesus’ precious name we pray.