Michelle
In this reading it seems that Job is in a deep state of grieving and self pity and is still wishing for death to come. He seems to feel that God has turned on him due to some sin he knows nothing about. He seems to feel there is no one supporting him either as he talks about his brothers being undependable. I can understand these feelings all together. He has endured alot of suffering in a very short amount of time and that can be overwhelming for a person. I am not the best at times like these either and tend to forget where I should be turning, and in my past felt there was no one to help me or that I was a burden on those close to me so I kept alot of it to myself. Which isn't healthy either. It is interesting though as when we hear about Job, this is not the part of his story that is often shared. I have actually never heard this part before. It is kind of refreshing to read as, again, we often think that godly people are meant to have perfect lives and don't have the same feelings everyone else has when things don't go as expected or when they suffer losses.
This psalm is another singing praise. But as I read it I kept getting these visual representations in my mind of the things the psalmist is describing. Such beauty in the world and the way it all works. It gave me a vision of God looking down and making things happen. When the water flows and provides for the animals, quenching their thirst. The part that speaks of God watering the mountains from his upper chambers and the land being satisfied, where grass grows for cattle and plants for people to cultivate bringing food from the earth and wine that gladdens human hearts and oil to make faces shine and bread to sustain their hearts, these are things we known happen. This psalm goes on and gives such a realistic picture of nature and all God has provided for the creatures and humans of this earth and the timing of how all things happen. When it says all the beasts of the forest prowl at night and sleep during the day so the people go out to work. This psalm is very moving and is a great reminder of the small things in nature that he has provided if only we pay attention. The way it all works together as well. As if by design. It is a praise to God for all his works and all he has provided.
Julie
I agree. I think that seeing this side of the story helps us to realize that it's ok to have the human emotions that we do and that even those that are considered righteous by God have had some of those same emotions. It's part of how we learn and grow so as long as we don't linger there for long and remember where we should be turning it shows that we have learned from those things and are moving into the righteousness of God.
I like the beauty you found in this psalm. I focused a little more on the end. Making a commitment to sing praises to the Lord as long as I live and have being, and that he will reciprocate by removing sinners from the earth and the wicked will be no more. It's a promise that he makes he just doesn't tell us when that will happen.
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