More on Coventry...

Apparently the back story on Coventry is a nice idea but not true (I'm still searching info here...) however, there is more to the story. The provost of the Cathedral led the church to pursue reconciliation with the enemies of Britain rather than vengeance. As World War II came to a close, crosses of nails were presented to the cities of Berlin, Kiel, and Dresden; cities hit the hardest by allied bombing. What could have been a moment shaping a people to anger and hatred became, for the people of Coventry, a moment shaping a people to hope in the midst of hopelessness.

Could I do the same? Would I, in response to such a horrifying event, have a similar reaction? Thinking through this magnificent moment in history causes me to look inward for some personal answers. Francis Bacon stated, "Prosperity doth best discover vice, but adversity doth best discover virtue." Is God worthy of my praise when things are not going well? Is God still in control when everything seems to be spinning wildly out of control? Can I trust Him? Do I dare to trust Him? When the 'bad' days come (and they will) will I be able to worship Him? The answers to these questions, and others like them, point to the depth of my relationship with God. You see, the best indicator of my walk with God is not how beautifully I sing when all is well but how honestly I worship when all is bleak. (See Job 1:20-22 for further reference).

In The Company of Geniuses - Job 12

“But all of them are sure they know God’s will. I am the only man who does not know it.”

-Stephen Vincent Benet (1898-1943)

The beginning of this chapter comes as a relief to me. I am weary of Job taking the unnecessary abuse being heaped on him by his ‘friends’. Finally he calls them out and answers their stabs with a well placed jab of his own. “Doubtless you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.” A contemporary rendering reads like this, “I'm sure you speak for all the experts, and when you die there'll be no one left to tell us how to live” (The Message). Job goes on to say, “I’m not stupid, you know. I’m aware of the things you’re trying to tell me” (v.3).

As wonderful as it is to hear Job finally taking up for himself, the terrible truth is that arguing with people who are convinced they know it all is often a fruitless and frustrating endeavor. It reminds me of this old wag, “Wrestling with a pig is pointless. It only gets you dirty and it irritates the pig.”

It’s hard to believe that some people are simply beyond reason, but, sadly, it is true. You’ve met them and walked away wanting to pull out all of your hair as well as a few handfuls of theirs! What are we to do when we find ourselves in the company of geniuses? Thankfully, as always, God’s word offers us counsel.

Paul’s instructions to Timothy on this very matter read like this, “And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will” (1I Timothy 2:24-26). So far Job has been pretty kind and reasonably gentle. How about you?

Today’s Application: There are people whom you will violently disagree with today. Rather than be violent with them, exercise the gentleness of God in speaking the truth to them. The day of violence will come. Just remember, that day belongs to the Lord.

Job chapter 10 - Can He Say That?

“Shake your fist at Him, spit in His face, scourge Him, and finally crucify Him: what does it matter? My daughter, it’s already been done to Him.”

George Bernanos, Diary of a Country Priest

For many these words of Job may elicit a shocked gasp. I imagine Job’s three “friends” had eyes as large as dinner plates as they heard Job address God so directly. Job’s audacity is shocking! “Does it please you to oppress me?” (v. 3), or “You must search out my faults and probe after my sin—though you know that I am not guilty and no one can rescue me from your hand” (v. 6-7).

Somewhere, sometime, it has crept into our popular theology that it is inappropriate for us to “question” God. Rather than take you on the journey through the saints of scripture who gave free rein to their complaint and spoke out of the bitterness of their souls (and it is a long list including Abraham, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Paul), simply allow me to remind you that Job is consistently considered among the truly righteous ones of scripture. In Ezekiel 14: 14 & 20 God speaks to Ezekiel and says, “Even if these three men—Noah, Daniel and Job—were in it (God’s judgment), they could save only themselves by their righteousness.” God considers Job among the truly righteous. Job’s shocking words in no way change his standing before a holy and righteous God.

Child of God, it is alright for you to honestly ventilate your soul before the Almighty. Remember that nothing you say will surprise Him because He knows what is on your tongue before you speak it. Even as Job’s shocking words did not alter his standing before a holy and righteous God, you can be sure that your equally difficult and bitter words will not change your standing before God if you are standing before Him in Christ.

Get into the habit of speaking openly and honestly with God. See Psalm 51:6 for additional input on this.