READING FOR APRIL 1, 2024: JOB 30, ROMANS 13, PSALM 25:11-22 Just as Psalms 20 and 21 were paired before and after pictures, so are Job 29 and 30. The difference is in this case the after picture of Job 30 is much worse than the before of Job. 29. Job begins by lamenting that people who mock him now are sons of men who were the cast offs of the community, so low on the social scale as to be invisible. Now the tables have turned. They spit upon, stand aloof from, and push around him and no one stops them.
Job experiences constant misery. At his lowest point (vs.20-23), he speaks directly to God, accusing Him of not answering him, turning away from him, being cruel to him, persecuting him, dissolving in the storm, and bringing him to death. The reader knows this is not happening, but Job does not benefit from knowing the bigger picture as we do. He concludes the chapter by recounting that he, unlike his perception of God, grieved for the needy. This makes his pain all the greater.
Although perhaps not helpful to Job, it is hard to miss some allusions to Jesus:
- Like Job, Jesus was mocked: 1) by soldiers: “Prophesy to us, You Christ; who is the one who hit you?” (Matt. 26:68); 2) again, by soldiers: “Twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and put a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’” (Matt. 27:29); and by the Jewish leaders: the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, ‘He saved others; He cannot save Himself’” (Matt. 27:41-42)
- Like Job, Jesus was spit upon: “Then they spit in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others slapped Him” (Matt 26:67).
- Like Job, Jesus felt forsaken: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabaktanei?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me” (Matt. 27:26)!
While Job moved from being respected by others to being scorned, Jesus moved from being in perfect fellowship with the Father in Heaven, the highest possible existence, to being forsaken by the Father as He turned away from humanity’s sins that Jesus bore on the cross, the greatest possible misery. Jesus’s suffering as the perfect Lamb of God was infinitely greater than Job’s. Although Job could not look back to Jesus’s suffering, we can. Perhaps if we could enfold our current suffering into Jesus’s greater suffering on our behalf, we might achieve what Victor Frankl called dignity or purpose in our suffering: “But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed” (1 Peter 4:13).
ROMANS 13 This chapter addresses the very timely question of how a Christian should interact with the government currently in authority. During the early church the government was not at all friendly to Christianity. Pilate allowed the crucifixion. Disciples such as Paul, (imprisoned in Rome), Peter (imprisoned by Herod). and James (executed by Herod) suffered unfairly at the hands of the government for being followers of Jesus. So, how did Paul advise
READINGS FOR APRIL 1, 2024 CONTINUED: ROMANS 13, PSALM 25:11-22
Christians to cope? He could not be clearer: honor and obey civil authorities and pay all requested taxes. He totally echoed what Jesus said about civil authority being established by God (John 19:11) and that taxes requested by the government should be paid (Matt.22:19-22).
The only time it is appropriate to disobey human authority is when it directs us to violate God’s Word: “The high priest interrogated them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name...’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men”’ (Acts 5:27-29). Otherwise, we should not only obey the authorities, but we should pray for them: “First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made in behalf of all people, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1-3). PRAY FOR LEADERS OF ALL COUNTRIES, Not just ours.
This stance appears to refute both Liberation Theology and Christian Nationalism. Liberation Theology has been described as committed to social movements, even revolutions, dedicated to overturning the structures of society, including government, to liberate the economically oppressed. Christian Nationalism is the belief that the American nation is defined by Christianity (Forgot about slavery, rebellious beginning, and the founders’ enlightenment philosophy?), and that the government should take active steps to keep it that way.
Certainly, there were rumblings in both these directions in Jesus’s day. How did He respond? “My kingdom is not of this world, If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews: but as it is My Kingdom is not of this realm” (John 19:36). After his direction to obey the government, Paul completes the chapter by telling us to love our neighbors by keeping God’s commandments and practice personal holiness in word, thought, and deed. So, do we honor God when we obey the speed limit, comply with our neighborhood association, or pay all income and property taxes? YES.
PSALM 25:11-22 Verse 11 brings out a reason for asking for forgiveness we don’t often consider: God’s reputation. When God forgives His glory abounds in our eyes. Verse 12 reminds us that only those who fear God have the benefit of His direction, which is always the best path for us and our children (vs.13). Verse 14 reiterates what Jesus told in his parables: the secret truths of God are only available to those who have placed their faith in Him. As we turn completely to HIm, we are then in a position to ask for His presence (vs.15-16). Often it is in our greatest troubles where we most earnestly seek both God’s forgiveness and rescue (vs. 17-18). Remember, no matter how formidable our challenges, it is always right to seek refuge in God. He is bigger than any problem or combination of problems (vs. 19-20). Waiting for the Lord’s deliverance takes integrity of character possible only by God’s grace (vs. 21.) Yet, in our troubles may we remember that there are others who also need God’s deliverance (vs. 22).
