Aspects of Loneliness
LONGING FOR DEATH - Job Chapter 3 Verses 20-22
There are probably very few of us who have had such a time of deep pain, suffering and loneliness as the Bible character we are to study now. He lived hundreds of years before Christ, so did not have the knowledge of God's love displayed in the gift of His Son that Christians enjoy. He did not have the constant indwelling presence of God's Spirit to encourage and empower him. Nor did he have God's Word to guide him Yet despite all the drawbacks and disadvantages we read that God spoke of Job as "My servant, a blameless and upright man who fears God and shuns evil."
How did such a God-fearing man come to experience trouble and loneliness, and what was it that caused him to cry out from the depths of his agony "life is bitter and I long for death?" The story is told in the book bearing his name and is far too long for us to do more that look at very briefly. We will concentrate on Job chapters 1- 3 and chapter 19 verses 23-26 and will consider the story under three headings, Tragedy, Trial and Triumph.
First of all we will look at...
Job's Tragedy
He appears to have been a prosperous business man, happily married man with a large family of seven sons and three daughters. He had a very large farm with thousands of sheep, camels and cattle, and was highly respected, even having several well-known philosophers among his friends. Everything was going well for him when suddenly tragedy struck. A messenger arrived to say that bandits had raided his farm and stolen his oxen and donkeys, killing all of his servants caring for them, except the one bearing the message. Almost immediately another servant came to tell him that a terrible storm of lightning had burned up the sheep and the shepherds, he alone escaping. While he was telling Job his sad news another servant arrived to say that an enemy tribe had crossed the border in three parties and taken all his camels, killing all the servants except him. Job was devastated, but worse was to follow for another servant brought the terrible news that his sons and daughters had been involved in a freak storm that had killed every one of them.
Job immediately went into mourning, yet the amazing fact is that instead of bemoaning his lot, or even blaming or cursing his God he said "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." What a man! What faith! Just imagine surmounting an obstacle like that, yet coming out with your faith intact! Yet there was even worse to come, for he was struck down with an extremely painful disease that covered him in boils from head to foot. Just when he needed the love and support of his wife the most, she deserted him, telling him to curse God and die.
What terrible loneliness Job must have experienced; on the verge of bankruptcy with all his property gone, all his sons and daughters dead, and his wife turning against both him and his God! Yet even in this experience he did not blame God!
Job's Trial.
Why did all this happen to such a godly man? Is there any clue? Can we see any reason for such a tragedy? Yes, the Bible makes it clear that this was a trial permitted by God to prove to Satan that their are men and women prepared to honour God even when the going gets tough! Satan had sneered at Job's righteousness, saying that he only feared God because he enjoyed an easy lot, with a large family and a prosperous business! So God actually allowed Satan to bring this trial into Job's life to prove that his faith was real and his love for God was genuine.
Are you passing through a time of trouble and trial, even tragedy? How are you standing up to the test? Is the devil frustrated because he sees your confident trust in your God or does he rubs his hands with glee as you lose heart and even your faith? Listen carefully to the words of Job as he faced up to the terrible loneliness of losing his business, his family, even the loyalty of his wife and see what lessons we can learn from...
Job's Triumph
In chapter 19, after his philosopher friends had tried to produce cut and dried answers to his problem, Job cried from his heart "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead for ever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God." What a wonderful testimony to the way in which God had undertaken for him in the midst of his tragedy and trial.
What was he really saying? How can his experience help us? Are there any lessons we can learn? First of all he was saying that there is a day coming when wrongs will be put right, when wickedness will be finally judged, when sin will be seen for what it is, an affront to God! The bandits and marauding robbers may have thought they were getting away with it when they took his cattle, but the record of their lives will be revealed and judgement will take place.
Secondly I believe he was saying that laying up treasure in heaven is much more important than laying up treasure on earth. This is a lesson that we all need to learn. Even we Christians can be very earth centred, thinking far more about our careers, our work, our families and our homes, than about God.
Finally, in chapter 23 verse 10 Job showed just how much he had learned from his experience of loneliness and trial when he could say "He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold." Is that the word you need today? God knows just what trials you are passing through! He is with you in your loneliness, as we were reminded in an earlier study, for He has said "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Just as gold has to be tried and tested in a fire in order to remove the dross and prove its value, so our faith needs testing and trying. In chapter 1 of his first letter Peter tells us "for a little while you may have to suffer...all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed." What a prospect! Never let your faith grow dim!