Art Reading Scripture

Job on the Dungheap, 1505 Albrect Durer, Stadel Kunstinstitut, Frankfurt, Germany

While he was still speaking, another came and said to Job, "The fire from God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them; I alone have escaped to tell you. ...Then Job arose, tore his robes, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshipped. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there; the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing." Job 1:16, 20-22

I read a provocative line this week. "When you're going through hell, just keep going." Consequently I thought of many things that trouble us and our world, but I also thought of the story of Job.

Before the endless arguments between Job and his friends about the sources of evil and the repercussions of sin, which eventually included a response from God, the story tells of Job's immense sufferings. Job's sufferings in the story came about as a test of Job's faithfulness concocted by the heavenly accuser, tempter, usually named Satan. God approved the test which unfolded with two types of suffering and loss. First, calamity came when raiders stole the livestock and killed Job's servants. Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the sheep and more servants in the pasture. Then more raiders came and stole Job's camels and killed even more of his servants. Finally while his children were celebrating at home a great wind came up and collapsed the house killing them all. Job lost his property and children. In response Job said, "the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

The second calamity occurred when the accuser afflicted Job with sores "from the sole of his feet to the crown of his head." Job's wife told him, "Curse God and die." [An African, "Masai chief once said, 'When I meet that God, (that is the "high God" who randomly visits suffering and natural disasters upon earth), "I will run a spear through him."] Job responded, "'Shall we receive good from God and not receive evil?' In all this Job did not sin with his lips." He struggled mightily in his soul with questions and anguish, doubts and depression, dismay and lament, but he kept the faith and persisted in trust despite much evidence to quit God, blame God, or curse God and suffer a third calamity, death without faith.

The painting of Job on the Dungheap was once part of an altar triptych which included two other panels showing musicians trying to comfort Job. The altar triptych was in a chapel in Annaberg, Germany at a spa known as "The Bath of Job." People went to the spa in hope of healing in its soothing waters. They would have looked to the altar of Job's suffering as a reminder to keep the faith in spite of their own woe. Job's wife poured water on Job to sooth his sorrows. The scene takes place during the first calamity when Job's possessions and children were taken from him. The fire of God descended on the sheep and servants. One servant fled the destruction to bring the news to Job. Job, having already heard about raiders stealing the oxen and donkeys, had already shed his robes, shaved his head and fallen to the ground. Job sat in a pensive, distressed pose of prayer and yet, he worshipped.

Suffering is part of life. Sometimes it comes for no reason, randomly, merely by chance. Then it seems most unjust and God most blameworthy. Other times we bear responsibility for the suffering we bring upon ourselves. We can be our own worst enemies. Yet even then people seek something or someone else to blame, often times God. Job's responses to suffering, seem either like resignation, "the LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;" or like blasphemy, "Shall we receive good from God and not receive evil." Job was willing to accept evil from God as simply a reality of living. He did not seek a source to blame for its coming. Typically people think God only brings blessings. Evil comes from the devil or human sinfulness. Job believed in God in charge of everything, all reality, both good and evil. The prophet Isaiah similarly proclaimed, "I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. ... I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the LORD do all these things." Isaiah 47: 5,7. That is a hard word to accept, but it is the way life, both good and bad come to us. There are no simple answers to suffering. Perhaps it is better to fall into the hands of God who is merciful, than into the hands of the accuser, or an enemy, or even into our own messed up ways.

"When you're going through hell, just keep going." Job sat down on the dunghill or ash heap. He kept the faith and even worshipped. Somehow he kept going. Hell does not stop us. We do not wallow there in self-pity or despair. We keep going by faith, by hope, and by the love others bring us, Job's wife pouring healing water over Job, and the love of God that suffers with us.

Keep the faith. Say your prayers. Love like Jesus.

Pastor Tim Bauer