When Hope is gone

 Job:16-22

 

“For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin;  my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.”

 

“But the mountain falls and crumbles away,  and the rock is removed from its place;
 the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so, you destroy the hope of man.  You prevail forever against him, and he passes; you change his countenance and send him away.  His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he perceives it not.  He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself.”

 

 

In verses 16 and 17, let's sum up what Job is asking of God, forgiveness, and grace; this side of the Cross it is something a follower of Christ often takes for granted.  Job was a very wise man in regard to his observation of nature in verses 18-19, but very ignorant in regard to God’s love.  When a man like Job walks in integrity before God and man as God as so stated, they are pleasing to God.  Job had no understanding of the affairs taking place in heaven!  You may be thinking, it did not work for Job, but it did, you just have not finished the story of Job.  Now at that moment, it looks as if this statement in verse 19 is true in Job’s life; “you destroy the hope of man.” 

 

 It is important to state that anytime you or I as followers of Christ ignore our Father's commandments He will not allow us to do so long term, and if you do not experience discipline then Scripture states you are not a member of His family.  Look at Hebrews 12:4-6,  ^“In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. ⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son?  It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and everyone he accepts as his son.”

 

In my short life on planet earth, I’ve discovered there is more I’m ignorant about than I know and understand.  I’m learning to judge not the thoughts and words coming from a person in pain and depression.  In Job’s state of depression, he saw God as oppressive, not as merciful and good.  He had lost all hope of any good that might come to him and only looked to a painful future.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice