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On Our View of God in the Depths:



One of my favourite books of the Bible is the Book of Job. It's fascinating and beautiful, and I find increasing wisdom as I dwell in this book.

Chapter 10 has really stuck out to me. Job accuses God of a lot of things! But it's an accurate depiction of how a sufferer feels when they are in the depths, and are living through profound loss and pain. Job accuses God of: condemnation; contending with him; oppressing him; searching out his sin; destroying him; pouring his life out like milk and curdling him; returning his life to dust; watching Job in his sin; failing to acquit Job; working wonders against him; renewing His witness against Job; being vexed towards him; and bringing troops against him.

However, in contrast, Job also recognises God's goodness! It's jarring to have Job accuse God of oppression along with acknowledging God's steadfast love (v. 12)! Job also says of God: God fashioned him; God clothed Job with skin and flesh and knit him together with bones and sinews; God granted Job life and steadfast (covenant) love; God's care has preserved Job's spirit.

Job, in his intense and profound confusion, sees God as against him, but also continues to hope in His love and sovereignty. These things don't seem to go together, but for sufferers, they do go together!
Job definitely misinterprets his suffering. Job definitely accuses God of things that God is not guilty of...but the marvelous thing about Job is that he turns directly to God and is basically asking God to re-orient him in his desperation and confusion. Later in the Book of Job, God does answer Job. God's answer brings life to Job, even though God does not give Job a reason for allowing his profound suffering.
I'm very thankful to God for giving us the Book of Job, and having such mercy to provide such a rich text for those who are enduring profound suffering like Job. God is steadfast in love. He is extraordinarily patient with us. He is so very merciful.

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