Grief and Worship
The text for meditation and consideration is from the OT book of Job which is part of the wisdom literature used during the time of King Solomon. In (Job 1:20) the text reads – "Then Job stood up, tore his robe and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will leave this life. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Praise the name of the Lord".
With all the "suddenness" of
people dying including close friends in the peak of their careers, Michael Jackson included, especially during these past few weeks, words like "it came as such a shock, oh at the peak of life, such a tragedy" etc;
and many, especially in
Western culture attempt to be taken aback that death could happen. But wait, in reality death begins the moment one is born and the "pithy saying" that two things cannot be avoided are death and taxes, seems valid. Many are lulled into the false idea in which they strive to live, or aspire to live life that somehow does not consider the most important matter – Eternity! In fact Jesus Christ had a lot to say about the very thing people attempt to avoid, death.
Hundreds of people die each day including children in the seeming endless violence of religious and power struggles world wide. We turned the year 2000 with the devastating destruction of 9/11, which shattered all hopes and dreams that this will be "new millennium". But, somehow we have become mentally numbed to such tragedies. They affect some others somewhere, but when death strikes closer to us, in the lives of people we least expect, or in the social circles which many of seek to identify with, using such language as "Oh, they are doing well, up in the ladder of success, homes are located in the higher echelons of the social structure neighborhoods" suddenly, there is a shock that death came?
An emptiness and void descends what now?
Many people desire such things and even pursue these dreams. Shamelessly many Christians fall into the same idolatrous mind set of "success oriented living". Jesus, is some kind of security to have along in case of an emergency, when tragedy does strike, attempts are made to things like prayer to comfort the bereaved. Well, as a radical (at least I am labeled that) Christian and a voice against the idolatry especially amongst many deluded Christians at a time too where Biblical Illiteracy is in "epidemic proportions" and a complacency, there is a reminder that Death and Hell are very much alive and well. Only in the scope of Biblical truth and revelation, lies the true answer that must first breaks the hard and stony heart, in order that "God may, in His mercy provide a heart of flesh." So the book of Job has much to say to us.
Brief Introduction to the Book of Job
The book of Job is very infrequently read and used by many Christians today.
It is often said that Job is the oldest book in the Bible. There is support for such a view found in the statement in the Talmud, which is a collection of rabbinical writings on Jewish law and practice. It says "Moses wrote his own book and Job". (Baba Bathra 14b). Additional support for the ancient origin of this
book comes from the absence of any mention of the nation of Israel in Job, as well as lack of specific references to the Law of Moses or any priestly system. There is also mention of the "clan" in the narrative, a situation that was typical of patriarchal society. The names of the characters in the book are also compatible with those of the patriarchal period.
The Problem of Suffering
The book of Job never fully addresses the solution to the problem of suffering, yet there is nothing in the book that is out of harmony with the general scriptural teaching on the subject. In the story of Job there is a reminder that suffering can be a sacred trust, allowed by God to bring the sufferer to full dependence on and trust in God. Job's name means ("where is the father") and may reflect the deeper purpose of the book.
Rather than asking "Where is God when I need Him"? The more basic question would be "Is God sufficient for everything in life"? The answer is a resounding yes. God, not man, is alone the true source for strength, guidance and success. Sufferers should realize that God's power is available for all of life even to carry them through their severest trials. When we see that God is truly the God of all life, we have a comforting assurance that, whatever may happen, God's good purposes for our lives will be accomplished. However, all this is only applicable to one "saved by grace" and a genuine disciple of Jesus.
All of life is for God's glory and for human good. So it is that when Job came to a realization of God's sufficiency rather than his own, God's greatest blessing followed.
There are several key factors that must be kept in mind with regards to grief and worship. If you read the text carefully, at least the first part of the first chapter you will observe that Job was already a godly man who worshipped God in his life. The verse in (Job 1:20) confirms this truth. Worship to Job had become a "way of life". Keep this in mind as we proceed and there will be less confusion.
The question we must ask then is what is our response when our trials are most severe?
If you're like most, worship is not our first reaction. In fact, we often criticize God, question His goodness, and ask pointed questions about why this had to happen to us – the whole ritual of self-pity – long before we come to the place of true worship.
Worship was Job's first reaction. In the context of all that happened – His livelihood (i.e. his oxen and donkeys) had been stolen. His transportation (i.e. his camels) had been stolen. And his children (i.e. his legacy) had been killed. All of this in one day!! And Job's first reaction, after his initial shock and grief, was not anger, not questions and not apostasy. It was worship! Wow!
Job violated every psychologist's formula for the stages of grief. How could Job do such a thing? Did he know he was under a divine microscope? No, the questions Job and his friends wrestle with in the ensuing chapters indicate that he had no idea what was going on. Did Job assume that his sins had finally caught up with him? No, he maintained his righteousness throughout the book. So how could he worship?
Job knew deep down in his heart, two essential facts that most of us question from time to time: 1. God is sovereign, and 2. God is good. Those were givens and Job could worship because whatever was happening, it was under the sovereign hand of a really good God. He didn't know why bad things were happening, but he knew who watched over him. And despite circumstances, he knew that the One who watched over Him was worthy.
In deed and reality
All that Job did, goes against our human nature, doesn't it? When our lives fall apart, we're inclined to accuse God of not living up to His end of the bargain. Job remembered that he was not in a bargaining position – never had been. All he had received from God was from His mercy. He knew that the fact that it was now gone and had nothing to do with God's character. When our trials weigh heavily upon us – even when crisis strikes – we must remember the unchanging merciful nature of God. The creature does not "bargain" with the Creator.
However, dear reader, are you in a relationship with God and Him alone that makes daily worship, a life style? If you do not know your purpose for life you need to stop. This is the most serious question and will determine where you will spend eternity. All you will be asked by the Lord is where is the fruit? In terms of other lives transformed by your life not your achievements or any other status. The meditation was taken and expanded from the book "Walk with God" given to me for Christmas 2008, by my dear wife Esther. I will follow up with "Our Deepest Love "next. As His servant – Max.
"His love in times past forbids me to think, He'll leave me at last in trouble to sink". -
John Newton (Born-again slave master and slave trader).
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