Keeping to the Lord’s Way (July 24)
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.
Still refusing to admit the possibility
of an innocent man having to suffer,
Eliphaz begins round 3 of dialogue.
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 (v10-12).
Whatever He wants to do, he does.
He’ll Do for me all he has planned.
He Controls my destiny (v13-14).
Lord, You speak to Your people; but sometimes, like in Job, You maintain
long silences and let us search for You; and that can be uncomfortable.
For You are tuning our ears to Your voice & teaching us to wait for You.
Lord, when I cannot really sense
Your presence or hear Your voice,
keep on drawing me towards You.
Give me the patience & persistence
to keep Seeking Your Face. Amen.
Lord, praise U for Your 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; and to wonder why I’m here
and where You’ve gone. Until You
lead again, my eyes are fixed on U.
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 are In Control my destiny
and I fully trust in Your goodness.
So fill my vision with confident
hope, which is the expression
of goodness from Your hand.
You’ve given promises, both general
and specific and offered hope even
when I can’t see all the way ahead.
Help me walk in the good purposes
You have planned for me. Amen.