Job 42:1-6 “Suffering for What”
I do not like the book of Job.
Job calls for my attention…asks for my consideration… questions my priorities.
In a world where peaceful, grace filled days define our level of success;
Job asks me to bite down on the leather strap,
to face into the pain,
and look honestly at the evil surrounding us.
I struggle with this book of Job.
I think we all speculate: if Go is so powerful, then why is evil so prevalent in our lives.
Job was very much like a typical Educated North American, Married, Family, Good Job, House. Job has everything, and then loses everything. Everything!
As one disaster follows the next he asks the question, “Why is this happening?“
His wife and his friends are quiet for a time and then one by one they all offer that Job must have done something to deserve this catastrophic calamity.
Simply put they all tell him the same thing:
“Job you must have sinned, therefore God is punishing you.”
However, Job has not sinned and he knows it. He is angry and inquires of God, Demands of God!!
“If I am guilty, name my sin.” All the while Job offers his innocence before God.
What would your friends say if tomorrow, your life just completely fell apart?
What would your wife say to you, if you lost everything in a matter of days?
What would you think of yourself, say to yourself?
Even if you knew you were not to blame?
Who to Blame? Got to blame somebody?
Can things go bad in our society today and not have somebody be at fault?
We are so into blaming and finding fault; Interesting; so were Job’s friends.
We are want to manufacture our lives. We attempt to discover and then direct the minute details of every hour with a manic precision. Our days are frenzied. Even our rest is deemed “unproductive.” When life gets too hot; we turn to fantasy (now called reality) to find relief.
But there I go: offering up the blame game. Blaming, finding someone at fault, is so deep into our culture that we often do not even recognize it. Nothing ever seems to be our fault.
And yet just like Job, every so often, there is no fault. Sometimes stuff just seems to happen (Like the weather, (two old boys: man on moon messes up weather)) and like Job we turn to God for answers.
Well God we are listening, How about Katrina, Rita, 9-11, Vietnam, Hitler, or something simple like death for that matter, or how about the death of a child, young mother, drug addict, Why is anyone ever addicted to drugs. Are they guilty of something? Is everybody guilty?
I suggest the opposite of blame is trust.
Trust stinks, cause you don’t get to blame anybody. That is why it is so rare.
Consider whatever it is you are going through right now.
Now think what this mess would be like if you were suddenly, magically able to trust.
Maybe you would need to trust your spouse, or your child, or your doctor, and how about God!!
We are so used to controlling and manufacturing our lives that we do not believe in anything but our own power to make change in the world around us.
Chariton wrote, “ So long as you hold on to even a little hope of achieving something by your own powers, the Lord does not interfere.”
As if God says to us, “Think you can do it by yourself? Go ahead!!”
Trust, not patience, is the key to the book of Job.
Trusting God in the midst of storms and disasters really calls everything into question.
What do we believe about God?
“Trust Me,” is God’s word to Job, “Trust Me.”
“Trust Me,” is God’s word to us, “Trust Me.”
Trusting God is not easy,
When disaster strikes we generally fall back into one of two responses.
Free Will Defense: God allows evil in order to protect free will.
God becomes author/supporter of evil. Nursing home deaths??
Mystery Defense: God’s purposes are hidden and there must be some good reason for evil
God becomes distant and uninvolved. God does not matter at all.
Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zolla Neal Hurston
Young back woman from Florida at turn of last century, her life, her struggles.
She accepts and trusts and lives.
All the time watching God. Trusting, heroic spirit.
Trust Me – How?
We believe God has conquered evil and death through Jesus Christ.
We understand our society and our position cause this “Trusting” to be more difficult.
We believe what will be is glorious compared to anything we experience today.
To Trust God is the key to Job
Trusting God is the key to our lives, eternal lives.
Job 42.2 “I Know My Redeemer Lives.”
Sunday, October 09, 2005
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Sermon for Sunday Oct 2
Micah 6:6-8 “Re-Acquired”
In the midst of lives tossed by a succession of rapid-fire deadly storms,
with un-thinkable destruction an almost daily occurrence,
faced with decisions on issues which did not even exist just months before…
We want to know…
What must living the Christian Life, today, look like?
What does it take in 2005 for us to “Get Right” with God?
Micah dares ask: What does God require from us?
What do you want God?
Micah - (Who is like Yahweh?)
Prophet from 8th Century BCE – Lived at the same time as the prophet Isaiah
Time of swift and sweeping change in world events
Assyria – has overthrown Israel, the Northern Kingdom
Refuges have overflowed into Jerusalem swelling the city beyond capacity
Time of Growing Division between Wealthy and Poor
Increased armaments and fortification to defend the country furthers the division
Injustice and lack of concern for the under-privileged is common place
The People of God are lacking in actions of basic piety and theological reflection
The religion of choice is of greed and self-service
The prophet Micah speaks a word from God in the midst of this time of incredible change.
Some familiar quotes from Micah:
Promise of a time of peace when nations will, “beat their swords into plowshares.” (4:3)
Prophesy of a new ruler to come from the town of Bethlehem (5.2)
Response to what the Lord requires, today’s reading, (6.6-8)
Micah is clear that
1. There is great sin in the Land and God is not pleased.
2. God will have to “deal with” this sin somehow.
There likely will be punishment involved for those who “have not/will not” return to the Lord their God.
So, What does The Lord require - from God’s people?
How can this punishment be avoided?
What can we:
offer to “Make it Right”?
do to become righteous? Can we ever be “Good Enough?”
Should we offer some sort of religious service to honor God?
Should we give ridiculous amounts of offerings?
(Thousands of rams or Ten Thousand Rivers of oil)
Should we sacrifice something, even human sacrifice?
What does Micah say the Lord requires: A Right Relationship with God
To Do Justice,
Love Kindness,
and Walk Humbly with your God
Doing Justice implies that people’s behavior toward each other will change.
No longer will folks offer or accept a station in life without grace and hope
No longer will society trap segments of the working population into financial and moral ghettos.
No longer will the hand-out be solicited as a acceptable way of life because of the demoralizing and dehumanizing qualities of a life lived in a state of constant welfare.
Doing Justice means there will be something required.
Simply put: We will ALL be held accountable before God for our actions toward our neighbors.
MICAH also calls the people to (Hebrew: (Ahab Hesed)) Love Kindness.
Hesed – translated Kindness
has to do with love, loyalty, and faithfulness
this is the KEY element in relationships
To love this relationship is to Love as God loved Israel. More than self, willing to sacrifice self.
Our relationships will be motivated by our love
Not by a misguided sense of obligation to the law or covenant
The law and the covenant represents (Reflects) the Love of Kindness
GOD DOES NOT demand loyalty by holding the covenant over our heads like a carrot on a string.
The covenant is never maintained
by a complacent subscribing to the rote practice of right doctrine.
Were not our hearts on fire as he (Jesus) spoke to us on the road? The pair from Emmaus exclaimed in Luke 24.
Micah goes on to offer that the people of God must also: WALK Humbly with Your God
Perhaps the key word here is to WALK with God
We usually gloss over the walking and go right to the humble pie. We like to think that if we are just “Nice People.” That is all God wants. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
God wants God’s people to Go with God, Walk with God, Talk with God.
God wants Relationship.
Constant, Ongoing, Conversational, Walking along through life together RELATIONSHIP.
OH!! Did I Say God wants this? That is incorrect.
God does not “simply want” this relationship.
God REQUIRES this relationship.
How do we get “there (Micah 6.8) from here?”
FOR LIFETIME: Gather, Grow, Go
FOR TODAY – RIGHT NOW: Prayer, Forgiveness, Communion.
In the midst of lives tossed by a succession of rapid-fire deadly storms,
with un-thinkable destruction an almost daily occurrence,
faced with decisions on issues which did not even exist just months before…
We want to know…
What must living the Christian Life, today, look like?
What does it take in 2005 for us to “Get Right” with God?
Micah dares ask: What does God require from us?
What do you want God?
Micah - (Who is like Yahweh?)
Prophet from 8th Century BCE – Lived at the same time as the prophet Isaiah
Time of swift and sweeping change in world events
Assyria – has overthrown Israel, the Northern Kingdom
Refuges have overflowed into Jerusalem swelling the city beyond capacity
Time of Growing Division between Wealthy and Poor
Increased armaments and fortification to defend the country furthers the division
Injustice and lack of concern for the under-privileged is common place
The People of God are lacking in actions of basic piety and theological reflection
The religion of choice is of greed and self-service
The prophet Micah speaks a word from God in the midst of this time of incredible change.
Some familiar quotes from Micah:
Promise of a time of peace when nations will, “beat their swords into plowshares.” (4:3)
Prophesy of a new ruler to come from the town of Bethlehem (5.2)
Response to what the Lord requires, today’s reading, (6.6-8)
Micah is clear that
1. There is great sin in the Land and God is not pleased.
2. God will have to “deal with” this sin somehow.
There likely will be punishment involved for those who “have not/will not” return to the Lord their God.
So, What does The Lord require - from God’s people?
How can this punishment be avoided?
What can we:
offer to “Make it Right”?
do to become righteous? Can we ever be “Good Enough?”
Should we offer some sort of religious service to honor God?
Should we give ridiculous amounts of offerings?
(Thousands of rams or Ten Thousand Rivers of oil)
Should we sacrifice something, even human sacrifice?
What does Micah say the Lord requires: A Right Relationship with God
To Do Justice,
Love Kindness,
and Walk Humbly with your God
Doing Justice implies that people’s behavior toward each other will change.
No longer will folks offer or accept a station in life without grace and hope
No longer will society trap segments of the working population into financial and moral ghettos.
No longer will the hand-out be solicited as a acceptable way of life because of the demoralizing and dehumanizing qualities of a life lived in a state of constant welfare.
Doing Justice means there will be something required.
Simply put: We will ALL be held accountable before God for our actions toward our neighbors.
MICAH also calls the people to (Hebrew: (Ahab Hesed)) Love Kindness.
Hesed – translated Kindness
has to do with love, loyalty, and faithfulness
this is the KEY element in relationships
To love this relationship is to Love as God loved Israel. More than self, willing to sacrifice self.
Our relationships will be motivated by our love
Not by a misguided sense of obligation to the law or covenant
The law and the covenant represents (Reflects) the Love of Kindness
GOD DOES NOT demand loyalty by holding the covenant over our heads like a carrot on a string.
The covenant is never maintained
by a complacent subscribing to the rote practice of right doctrine.
Were not our hearts on fire as he (Jesus) spoke to us on the road? The pair from Emmaus exclaimed in Luke 24.
Micah goes on to offer that the people of God must also: WALK Humbly with Your God
Perhaps the key word here is to WALK with God
We usually gloss over the walking and go right to the humble pie. We like to think that if we are just “Nice People.” That is all God wants. Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!
God wants God’s people to Go with God, Walk with God, Talk with God.
God wants Relationship.
Constant, Ongoing, Conversational, Walking along through life together RELATIONSHIP.
OH!! Did I Say God wants this? That is incorrect.
God does not “simply want” this relationship.
God REQUIRES this relationship.
How do we get “there (Micah 6.8) from here?”
FOR LIFETIME: Gather, Grow, Go
FOR TODAY – RIGHT NOW: Prayer, Forgiveness, Communion.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Daily Readings for Sunday Oct. 9, 2005
DAILY SCRIPTURE READINGS LEADING TO
Sunday October 9, 2005
Monday:
Job 1-2 The Story of Job
We must read these chapters to understand any of the rest of the book. Everything hinges upon these first verses. And Yes, you are now entering the fog of Job, so do not expect to understand everything. In fact be wary of those who claim to fully understand this book. That said, reading and pondering this book is time well spent as we grow in Christ Jesus. Mandatory Reading!! You Can Do It!!
Tuesday:
Job 13-14 Job Speaks
We skip ahead to read some of Job’s thoughts.
Wednesday:
Job 19 & 38 Job and God Both Speak
The story moves along. What is Job learning?
Thursday:
Job 40-42 God Speaks & Job Responds
A wonderful “God Thing” story ending.
Friday:
1 Corinthians 15:42-58 About Resurrection
To be a new creation requires a new body. And yet, this newness of life in Christ Jesus is Spiritual not physical. This changes everything about the meaning or human value of our physical suffering. Doesn’t it?
Saturday:
Job 42:1-6 Job Repents
Job has finally correctly recognized God and has offered worship and praise. Job has repented before God even as we know that God had found him without fault early in this story. Job is a difficult story with many twists and turns which are interpreted different ways. What was God’s purpose in this suffering of Job? We read the newspapers, reflecting upon the current events of today and wonder if our lives don’t parallel Job’s in the path of suffering. If only we understood suffering and were able to find value in our struggles. That is our task this week.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Scripture: Job 42:1-6
Sermon Title: “Suffering for What?”
Sunday October 9, 2005
Monday:
Job 1-2 The Story of Job
We must read these chapters to understand any of the rest of the book. Everything hinges upon these first verses. And Yes, you are now entering the fog of Job, so do not expect to understand everything. In fact be wary of those who claim to fully understand this book. That said, reading and pondering this book is time well spent as we grow in Christ Jesus. Mandatory Reading!! You Can Do It!!
Tuesday:
Job 13-14 Job Speaks
We skip ahead to read some of Job’s thoughts.
Wednesday:
Job 19 & 38 Job and God Both Speak
The story moves along. What is Job learning?
Thursday:
Job 40-42 God Speaks & Job Responds
A wonderful “God Thing” story ending.
Friday:
1 Corinthians 15:42-58 About Resurrection
To be a new creation requires a new body. And yet, this newness of life in Christ Jesus is Spiritual not physical. This changes everything about the meaning or human value of our physical suffering. Doesn’t it?
Saturday:
Job 42:1-6 Job Repents
Job has finally correctly recognized God and has offered worship and praise. Job has repented before God even as we know that God had found him without fault early in this story. Job is a difficult story with many twists and turns which are interpreted different ways. What was God’s purpose in this suffering of Job? We read the newspapers, reflecting upon the current events of today and wonder if our lives don’t parallel Job’s in the path of suffering. If only we understood suffering and were able to find value in our struggles. That is our task this week.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Scripture: Job 42:1-6
Sermon Title: “Suffering for What?”
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
A Little Closer to Home…
I am writing this as Hurricane Rita prepares to slam into the Texas gulf coast. My goodness, in all my life I have never seen a hurricane season like this year. Week after week those of us in the safe mid-west have stood by and watched as storm after storm has taken its toll on lives all along the Gulf and mid-Atlantic coasts. Bringing this closer for me is the fact that Cheryl and I have visited both the Florida panhandle and Myrtle Beach in South Carolina this year. Both areas are prone to hurricane damage and have seen high winds and waves over the past few weeks. And now, we wait for Rita. By the time you read this we will probably know the exact place where Rita will make landfall and have seen the early damage reports.
We are isolated from the hurricanes here in Iowa. Yet, we have our own storms and many who live along the coasts would never want to deal with our tornadoes and cold winter season. Funny how what we have grown up with feels more manageable than what for us is unknown. To be afraid of the unknown is a human response to the world around us. This fear is as old as humanity. I imagine Adam and Eve’s fear as they start a new life outside the garden.
There is no place in the church for fear. Our faith leads us to hope in what we cannot see and to have faith in the eternal love and grace of our God. Storms will come and go to be sure. And yet, this is not a place where storms will wreak havoc on our souls. I see the storms in your life. Some of these storms are only brewing on the horizon, some are gaining strength and we prepare to withstand the impact, while others have made landfall and are raising issues and causing us to rethink our lives. Consider the storms in your life. Consider the calm in God’s presence, as if you were the eye of a hurricane. I encourage you to live without fear, knowing the love of God will stand all tests and all storms life can send our way.
See you Sunday, Rev. Dave Weesner
We are isolated from the hurricanes here in Iowa. Yet, we have our own storms and many who live along the coasts would never want to deal with our tornadoes and cold winter season. Funny how what we have grown up with feels more manageable than what for us is unknown. To be afraid of the unknown is a human response to the world around us. This fear is as old as humanity. I imagine Adam and Eve’s fear as they start a new life outside the garden.
There is no place in the church for fear. Our faith leads us to hope in what we cannot see and to have faith in the eternal love and grace of our God. Storms will come and go to be sure. And yet, this is not a place where storms will wreak havoc on our souls. I see the storms in your life. Some of these storms are only brewing on the horizon, some are gaining strength and we prepare to withstand the impact, while others have made landfall and are raising issues and causing us to rethink our lives. Consider the storms in your life. Consider the calm in God’s presence, as if you were the eye of a hurricane. I encourage you to live without fear, knowing the love of God will stand all tests and all storms life can send our way.
See you Sunday, Rev. Dave Weesner
Friday, September 09, 2005
Scripture for Sunday September 25, 2005
I know I have a couple weeks of scripture readings going on the blog at the same time here so be sure you are on the right week with me. I will be heading out to Denver next week to be with family so I am going to post this now and hope you will go with the right week as dated. Blessings. Dave.
Monday:
Hosea 1-4 Trouble in the Family
These first four chapters will offer you way more than you are expecting. Does God really act in this way? To get a modern day picture of the Book of Hosea get a copy of “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. This is the book my daughter in laws keep reading over and over and over. Talk about a love story. God really, REALLY loves us.
Tuesday:
Hosea 5-8 More Trouble
Israel and Judah are having all kinds of problems with God. Remember there is a divided Kingdom at this point in history. Judah is the southern Kingdom, Israel is in the North.
Wednesday:
Hosea 9-11 God’s Compassion
Keep reading and you will find God being compassionate in spite of Israel’s ingratitude.
Thursday:
Hosea 12-14 The Big Finish
More judgment is followed by an impassioned call for Israel to return to God and find relationship.
Friday:
Luke 17-18 Keeping Our Finger in the NT
It is good to reflect our thoughts from our Hosea reading upon a Gospel reading. Read about the coming of the Kingdom, the ten lepers, the Pharisee and the tax collector, and Jesus blessing the children. Identify idea links between these passages of Hosea and Luke.
Saturday:
Hosea 14:1-2 Mercy in God
The Lord God is offering reconciliation for all sin. Read carefully these two verses and consider their implied message. We can infer that God is indeed creator, redeemer, sustainer. We can infer that there is no other place where we are able to find this mercy love than in the love-presence of this God. Unique, powerful, awesome. Redemption during autumn is particularly attractive, don’t you think? Identify signs of God’s mercy in your life.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Scripture: Hosea 14:1-2
Sermon Title: “Redeeming Love”
Monday:
Hosea 1-4 Trouble in the Family
These first four chapters will offer you way more than you are expecting. Does God really act in this way? To get a modern day picture of the Book of Hosea get a copy of “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. This is the book my daughter in laws keep reading over and over and over. Talk about a love story. God really, REALLY loves us.
Tuesday:
Hosea 5-8 More Trouble
Israel and Judah are having all kinds of problems with God. Remember there is a divided Kingdom at this point in history. Judah is the southern Kingdom, Israel is in the North.
Wednesday:
Hosea 9-11 God’s Compassion
Keep reading and you will find God being compassionate in spite of Israel’s ingratitude.
Thursday:
Hosea 12-14 The Big Finish
More judgment is followed by an impassioned call for Israel to return to God and find relationship.
Friday:
Luke 17-18 Keeping Our Finger in the NT
It is good to reflect our thoughts from our Hosea reading upon a Gospel reading. Read about the coming of the Kingdom, the ten lepers, the Pharisee and the tax collector, and Jesus blessing the children. Identify idea links between these passages of Hosea and Luke.
Saturday:
Hosea 14:1-2 Mercy in God
The Lord God is offering reconciliation for all sin. Read carefully these two verses and consider their implied message. We can infer that God is indeed creator, redeemer, sustainer. We can infer that there is no other place where we are able to find this mercy love than in the love-presence of this God. Unique, powerful, awesome. Redemption during autumn is particularly attractive, don’t you think? Identify signs of God’s mercy in your life.
Sunday: Reflect and Worship
Scripture: Hosea 14:1-2
Sermon Title: “Redeeming Love”
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