On reading Job

I have been reading through the book of Job over the last few weeks. It's a book I have slightly dreaded reading, as I tend to find it slightly tricky to tell the truth of what Job is saying and holding onto, to the 'mostly' truth of what his friends are saying all the way through, especially in amongst their fine words and eloquent speaking.



It was great to get through it though, annd get to Job 28, where Job so beautifully describes how hard it is to find wisdom, true wisdom. It isn't just lying around there waiting to be picked up. It's down deep, and you have to search hard, and go far to reach it. I was so encouraged too, in that concept that the fear of the Lord.. that's true wisdom. That's good wisdom, and challenging when there are potentially so many things, people and events one could forseeably fear over God, who isn't always such a physical presence in front of us.

Check out: 23-28 God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells,
for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
When he established the force of the wind and measured out the waters,
when he made a decree for the rain and a path for the thunderstorm,
then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it.
And he said to man, 'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.'

Later on God comes in, and really puts them all, and us, in our places! Awesome! Chapter 38 really sets them and us straight. And what's best... he's Our God! He loves us, has redeemed us, and and sends us, little tiny us, in his name! The whole thing is awesome!!

And to top it all off... we are working our way through James in the study series at chuch at the moment, and it's amazing how much it has tied in with what I have been reading in Job! In particular, James 3:17-18. By the wisdom hat comes from heaven is first of all pure, then peace-loving, considerate, submissine, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

I think we can trust this God of ours:)