~ Day Thirty ~

So often in our times of trial and difficulty the first thing to go silent is the song in our heart. When pain comes into our lives, joy is drowned out in the anthem of anguish that fills our broken and burdened hearts. The Scriptures speak often about a "new song" rising from the lips of God's people after He has rescued and delivered them out of oppression and slavery. When God delivers us from the shackles of this sin-bound world, sorrows and sighing flee away and a new song is born in our heart. From out of the orchestra pit of prayer and weeping is where the Lord assembles His heavenly choir (Revelation 14:1-5). We cannot know the joy of the Lord without first having experienced sorrow for our sin. "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. The shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isaiah 35:10).

Job provides a vivid picture of the humiliation of our Lord Jesus Christ, as he sat day after day on the ash heap enduring the disdainful looks of his entire community, and with their spittle running down his cheek. "I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting" (Isaiah 50:6; fulfilled in Matthew 26:67a; 27:30). What Job's friends and neighbors didn't realize was that the Lord had chosen His beloved servant for a special assignment to show them the desperate and diseased condition they were all in. They had no idea that they were the ones being judged. Their friend Job had done all he could with his worldly wealth and influence to rescue his community from their difficulties and struggles, but he could only offer them temporary relief. As soon as they realized that he could no longer benefit them, the people turned on him and started looking for another source in a vain attempt to silence the endless cry of their flesh. What they all desperately needed, which no man could supply, the Lord was revealing to them through His servant Job, whose life pointed to the One who alone would save and deliver mankind from sin - the true Servant Jesus Christ, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). May we not allow our hearts to sink so low as poor Job's, as he began to hum his funeral hymn, but rather rejoice, and allow our spiritual eyes to be opened to see the greater work the Lord is doing in the midst of our trials and pain. May He use this time of sorrow and grief to re-string our hearts and tune them to a new melody that will bring glory to His holy name. "Sing to the LORD a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints...For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand" (Psalm 149:1, 4-6). Let us lift up our glad voices with praise to our King Jesus who reigns in heaven and in our hearts, and is coming again soon to reign on the earth! "Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together" (Psalm 34:3).

As Job began his closing arguments in defense of his innocence, he looked back upon the years of blessing and favor he had enjoyed under the gracious hand of God. There was a time, not long ago, when he was well-respected and admired at the city gate. He had always been a friend and advocate for the most vulnerable in society and generous with all he had. He was the calm voice of reason and a trusted source of wisdom and truth in the community. But those days were past. Everything had changed. "But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock" (v. 1). After years of ministering to his neighbors in their time of need, offering wisdom and guidance to help his community through times of crisis, and providing wealth and resources to help the unfortunate, not a single person was willing to offer him a word of kindness, or get close enough to offer a nod or smile to show that they cared. Instead, they avoided him like a leper and spread their malicious gossip that he was getting what he deserved. "And now I am their taunting song; yes, I am their byword. They abhor me, they keep far from me; they do not hesitate to spit in my face" (Job 30::9, 10). He had been discarded from society and tossed into the city dump like a crumpled newspaper carrying yesterday's news. He was of little worth to them now; after all, what benefit could he offer them in the state he was in. Sadly, not a single person even paused to consider how they could bless the man who had so willingly and generously helped them in their own time of need. Nobody came to his aid. Eventually, Job picked up on the tune they were singing and began to hum along composing his own funeral dirge as he sank further under the weight of the unjust treatment he had received from both God and men and sat waiting for his end to come. "My harp is turned to mourning, and my flute to the voice of those who weep" (v. 31). Dear friends, the Lord sees the afflictions of His people and He hears our cries of distress. When it seems like everyone else has deserted us in our time of need, He is there lovingly waiting for us to cast our burdens at His feet. He is ready to assist us as only He can. The Lord wants us to look up from our difficulties and see Him seated on the throne in the place of all power and authority and trust that He is in control even when all around looks like disaster and chaos, resting in the knowledge that He is accomplishing a greater good through this time of trial than we ever could have hoped or imagined. It's time to pray! "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6, 7).

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that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful" (James 5:10).

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