|
April 15, 2009 Great and Holy Wednesday
God restored both Job and the Lord Jesus after the afflictions that each bore
faithfully. God's nature is to wrest good out of wickedness and evil. Meditate and be thankful,
anticipating that God, in His redeeming ways, will make evil an instrument of good for you also.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Job 2:1-10 (4/15) Second Reading at the Vespers of Great and Holy Wednesday
Our Savior and the Prophet Job III: Job 2:1-10, especially vs. 10: "...If we have received
good things of the hand of the Lord, shall we not endure evil things?"
Continue meditating on the Lord Jesus' Passion as you consider Job's sufferings. It should be
clear that God restored both the antitype, Job, and the Type, the Lord Jesus, after the great
afflictions that each one bore faithfully. The very nature of our God is to wrest good things out of
high wickedness and evil. Always anticipate that God, never the source of evil, makes of it an
instrument of His Good. Compare two instances of His redeeming ways at work and give thanks.
First, as with the Prophet Job and the Lord Jesus, what confronts any servant of God in affliction
is how to sustain integrity. Never doubt that the assaults thrown against us in life have behind
them sinister intent, lest you should "...say some words against the Lord and die" (vs. 9). Satan
lurks 'in the wings.' Job would not speak against the Lord, but kept his integrity; and so, God
noticed Job and rebuked the devil, "Hast thou then observed My servant...he yet cleaves to
innocence, whereas thou hast told Me to destroy his substance without cause?" (vs. 3). Likewise,
having retained His sinlessness, the Lord Jesus overcame death. As the Apostle Peter said: "...it
was not possible that He should be held of it" (Acts 2:24).
Also, seek to understand that God permits evil things to happen in this fallen world, even to the
best and highest of His servants - the Prophet Job and the Lord Jesus are prime examples. Often,
in suffering, the depths of faith are tested. But, as the Apostle teaches, "...God is faithful, Who
will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also
make the way to escape, that you may be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13).
Job and our Lord suffered "outside the city." How often it seems we suffer isolation on a dung
heap! However, God is never far away. The Lord Jesus reveals both isolation from and support
by God: He cries from the Cross, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?" (Mt. 27:46),
as well as "...'Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit'" (Lk. 23:46).
Job seemed to be cut off from hope, future, justification, and all memory. His wife said to him:
"...behold, thy memorial is abolished from the earth, even thy sons and daughters, the pangs and
pains of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows..." (Job 2:9). Death negates our person. But
you and I are in the Church always singing, "May their memory be eternal." Defy death, for the
risen Christ assures you that your person and memory are meant for eternity.
During Job's affliction his wife appeared doomed to be "...a wanderer and a servant from place to
place and house to house, waiting for the setting of the sun, that I may rest from my labours and
my pangs which now beset me..." (vs. 9.). Similarly, the "Bride of Christ," the nascent Church,
was scattered and bereft by the Passion of the Lord. Job's wife lost her children and her home.
Cleopas expressed the Church's loss: 'we were hoping that it was He Who was going to redeem
Israel.' All seemed lost (Lk. 24:21). But see, He did not abandon either of them. Job's wife bore
sons and daughters again; and, for the Faithful of the Church, "...their eyes were opened.." and
they knew Him "...in the breaking of bread" (Lk. 24:31,35).
Both Job and the Christ rebuke us in our doubts. Job said to his wife, "...Thou hast spoken like
one of the foolish women" (Job 2:10); and Christ asked His disciples, "'Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your hearts?'" (Lk. 24:38). Job reassured his wife it was necessary
both to receive "...good things of the hand of the Lord [and to] endure evil..." (Job 2:10), while
the risen Lord said, "'...it was necessary for the Christ to suffer...'" (Lk. 24:46).
Forgive me, O good Master, and let me not succumb before the ways of destruction!
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed