“Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and
worshiped. And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I
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 nor charge God with wrong.” (Job 1:20-22).
Death is an experience common to the human race since time immemorial. All of us have at one point or another lost a relative, a friend or any other acquaintance to death. Losing a loved one to death is a painful experience. If the deceased is a non-believer, then that is a double tragedy. Perhaps no other event in life brings us as close to the reality of eternity as death. One moment our loved one is here: breathing, smiling, chatting, eating; and the next moment he is gone. Even though the body remains, anyone who has been present at the moment of death knows quite well that the body is an empty shell and the person who once inhabited it has left. If the deceased was a Christian, it is the knowledge of his destination that gives us the hope that unbelievers simply cannot fathom.
In the narrative of Job, we encounter a devout man whom the Bible aptly describes as one who “was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1). Before long, Satan enters the scene with a long list of pestilences and sieges against Job’s person and integrity. His reasons? He wants Job to curse God (vv.9-11). The loss of thousands of herds of livestock is clearly recorded (vv. 14, 16, 17) but what strikes one to the core is the sudden deaths of his many servants (vv. 14, 16-17) and the devastating perishing of all his ten (10) children at once in a storm! (v. 18). These calamities did not occur over a period of a few years or a few months or even a few days, but the operative phrase sandwiched between each calamity was "while he was yet speaking," (vv. 16-18), which indicates that all of these things, all of these catastrophes, all of these troubles, all of these burdens of pain and mourning came crashing in on Job at once!
1. The Lord Gives! (v.21a)
Job tells us that nothing is originally ours. An old man who had the abundance of the things of this world knows better. Man, by birth, is destitute. When we are born we don’t even come on this earth with clothes to wear or water to drink. We came from dust and to dust we shall return. We came here with nothing, and we’re leaving with nothing. It does not matter what you‘ve been able to amass for yourself while you’re here. You may have been able to consult top notch doctors with a mastery of modern medicine and technology. You have had access to the best known nutritionist and have done your best to eat healthy and exercise well. You meticulously keep a clean environment and observe all the hygiene rules known to man. Yet one thing is clear: the Lord gives!
Job had nothing when he came into the world, and all that he had obtained had been by the good providence of God. As the Lord gave it, the Lord had a right to remove it. The Lord gave him a family; the Lord blessed the family with children. The family was bequeathed with enormous wealth together with many servants to take care of them. Such was the devotional feeling of Job, and such is the true language of submission for a Christian in sorrow. He who has a proper view of the human relations and possessions he has, will feel that it is all to be traced to God, and that God has a right to cut these things when He pleases. Job contrasts the heathen response that says, "My own hand hath gotten me this wealth (Deut. 8:17)." He acknowledges that it is God who gives. As he makes this pronouncement, he underscores the fact that God "gave" and inasmuch as God "gave" He also has the divine and sovereign right to withdraw at His pleasure.
Death is an experience common to the human race since time immemorial. All of us have at one point or another lost a relative, a friend or any other acquaintance to death. Losing a loved one to death is a painful experience. If the deceased is a non-believer, then that is a double tragedy. Perhaps no other event in life brings us as close to the reality of eternity as death. One moment our loved one is here: breathing, smiling, chatting, eating; and the next moment he is gone. Even though the body remains, anyone who has been present at the moment of death knows quite well that the body is an empty shell and the person who once inhabited it has left. If the deceased was a Christian, it is the knowledge of his destination that gives us the hope that unbelievers simply cannot fathom.
In the narrative of Job, we encounter a devout man whom the Bible aptly describes as one who “was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.” (Job 1:1). Before long, Satan enters the scene with a long list of pestilences and sieges against Job’s person and integrity. His reasons? He wants Job to curse God (vv.9-11). The loss of thousands of herds of livestock is clearly recorded (vv. 14, 16, 17) but what strikes one to the core is the sudden deaths of his many servants (vv. 14, 16-17) and the devastating perishing of all his ten (10) children at once in a storm! (v. 18). These calamities did not occur over a period of a few years or a few months or even a few days, but the operative phrase sandwiched between each calamity was "while he was yet speaking," (vv. 16-18), which indicates that all of these things, all of these catastrophes, all of these troubles, all of these burdens of pain and mourning came crashing in on Job at once!
1. The Lord Gives! (v.21a)
Job tells us that nothing is originally ours. An old man who had the abundance of the things of this world knows better. Man, by birth, is destitute. When we are born we don’t even come on this earth with clothes to wear or water to drink. We came from dust and to dust we shall return. We came here with nothing, and we’re leaving with nothing. It does not matter what you‘ve been able to amass for yourself while you’re here. You may have been able to consult top notch doctors with a mastery of modern medicine and technology. You have had access to the best known nutritionist and have done your best to eat healthy and exercise well. You meticulously keep a clean environment and observe all the hygiene rules known to man. Yet one thing is clear: the Lord gives!
Job had nothing when he came into the world, and all that he had obtained had been by the good providence of God. As the Lord gave it, the Lord had a right to remove it. The Lord gave him a family; the Lord blessed the family with children. The family was bequeathed with enormous wealth together with many servants to take care of them. Such was the devotional feeling of Job, and such is the true language of submission for a Christian in sorrow. He who has a proper view of the human relations and possessions he has, will feel that it is all to be traced to God, and that God has a right to cut these things when He pleases. Job contrasts the heathen response that says, "My own hand hath gotten me this wealth (Deut. 8:17)." He acknowledges that it is God who gives. As he makes this pronouncement, he underscores the fact that God "gave" and inasmuch as God "gave" He also has the divine and sovereign right to withdraw at His pleasure.
All the happy families we have, all the enduring relatives, all the good friends, all the
splendid health and household goods, all the outward enjoyments we have with our
brethren, blood relations and social friends, all, are the Lord's, and at His disposal. These
are the gifts of His providence to the sons of men. Your sons, your daughters, your
parents, your spouses and every other relation you enjoy, are owing to the blessing of
God. He gives these as talents which He puts into the lives of men to use for themselves
and for others and for His service, and for which they are accountable to Him; and they
are but stewards, with whom He will hereafter reckon, and therefore has a right to take
away when He pleases.
2. The Lord Takes Away! (v.21b)
It is natural for all of us to experience a sense of indignation, even rage, at the loss of a loved one. This, I believe, is our heart’s normal response to the death of a loved one. We recognize deep within us that death is uncontrollable, and everything in us cries out for death to just stop its devastation. The problem is that most people are theologically ill- prepared for the onslaught of these emotions. People, who are smarting from the pangs of the fresh wounds of death, may be tempted to mistakenly direct their indignation at God. Their bitterness and anguish can at that time be misdirected.
When death strikes in an especially unexpected way, for example in a sudden accident like in the case of job, abrupt killings from robbers and sudden storms, there is always a sense that this was not meant to be. We are left reeling at the ambush of fate. This sensation of being caught off guard can sometimes lead us to feel as if God was also surprised. But the Bible assures us that God is absolutely sovereign over life and death. He is never caught off guard; He is never surprised at events. God ordains everything to the minutest detail. This is thetruth that brings peace and rest to a heart that is staggering under the dizzying sucker-punch of sudden loss. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”(Matthew 10:29-31).
It is indeed astounding how Job ascribes to God, not only the giving, but the taking away: he does not attribute his losses to second causes, to the Sabeans and Chaldeans, to the fire from heaven, and the wind from the desert, but to God, whose sovereign will and overruling hand were in all. Job acknowledges that these agents were but the instruments of Satan. He ascribes sovereignty where it belongs,... “And the Lord has taken away”. It is not by accident; it is not the result of haphazard reactions; it is not to be traced to storms and winds and the bad passions of people. It is not witchcraft or ancestral displeasure. It is the result of intelligent design, and irrespective of who had been the agent or instrument in it, it is to be placed at the door of the overruling providence of God.
2. The Lord Takes Away! (v.21b)
It is natural for all of us to experience a sense of indignation, even rage, at the loss of a loved one. This, I believe, is our heart’s normal response to the death of a loved one. We recognize deep within us that death is uncontrollable, and everything in us cries out for death to just stop its devastation. The problem is that most people are theologically ill- prepared for the onslaught of these emotions. People, who are smarting from the pangs of the fresh wounds of death, may be tempted to mistakenly direct their indignation at God. Their bitterness and anguish can at that time be misdirected.
When death strikes in an especially unexpected way, for example in a sudden accident like in the case of job, abrupt killings from robbers and sudden storms, there is always a sense that this was not meant to be. We are left reeling at the ambush of fate. This sensation of being caught off guard can sometimes lead us to feel as if God was also surprised. But the Bible assures us that God is absolutely sovereign over life and death. He is never caught off guard; He is never surprised at events. God ordains everything to the minutest detail. This is thetruth that brings peace and rest to a heart that is staggering under the dizzying sucker-punch of sudden loss. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”(Matthew 10:29-31).
It is indeed astounding how Job ascribes to God, not only the giving, but the taking away: he does not attribute his losses to second causes, to the Sabeans and Chaldeans, to the fire from heaven, and the wind from the desert, but to God, whose sovereign will and overruling hand were in all. Job acknowledges that these agents were but the instruments of Satan. He ascribes sovereignty where it belongs,... “And the Lord has taken away”. It is not by accident; it is not the result of haphazard reactions; it is not to be traced to storms and winds and the bad passions of people. It is not witchcraft or ancestral displeasure. It is the result of intelligent design, and irrespective of who had been the agent or instrument in it, it is to be placed at the door of the overruling providence of God.
Why did Job not vent out his wrath on the Sabeans? Why did he not blame the
Chaldeans? Why did he not curse the tempest and the storm? Why did he not blame his
sons for exposing themselves to bad weather? Why not suspect the malice of Satan? Why
not suggest that the calamity was to be traced to bad fortune, to ill-luck, or to an evil
administration of human affairs or state insecurity? None of these things occurred to Job.
He traced the loss of his precious children and faithful servants at once to God, and
found consolation in the belief that an intelligent and holy Sovereign presided over His
affairs, and that He had removed only what He gave.
3. Praise be to His Name! (v.21c)
So we see that Job made a true statement; that the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” Even though Job experienced great pain and sorrow, he didn’t turn away from God. He continued to bless the name of the Lord. Even Job’s wife came to him and said, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). But Job said, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (v.10). The Bible says, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
This far, Job has sustained the shock of the calamity, and showed that he did not serve God on account of the benefits which he had received from Him. Stripped of all the family members, the workers, and all the wealth save for a nagging wife, Job remains steadfast in his endeavour to please the Lord. This is an exceedingly beautiful picture; and in the mouth of Job it was expressive of the most submissive devotion. It is not the language of complaint; as in him we see the deep feeling that the loss of his children and servants was to be traced to God, and that He had a right to do as He had done.
When David sorrowed, he prayed, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8). The touching image of God catching our tears is full of meaning. He sees our grief and does not disdain it. How many of us can say, like Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15). Do we love God just because of what He can do for us? Or do we love Him because He is God? Do we only worship Him when the sun’s shining down on us, and the world’s “all as it should be,” or do we still worship Him when we go through sickness, devastating deaths and mourning? I want to challenge you today with the truth from God’s Word that says the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and not accept adversity? Blessed be the name of the Lord!
3. Praise be to His Name! (v.21c)
So we see that Job made a true statement; that the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” Even though Job experienced great pain and sorrow, he didn’t turn away from God. He continued to bless the name of the Lord. Even Job’s wife came to him and said, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!” (Job 2:9). But Job said, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” (v.10). The Bible says, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”
This far, Job has sustained the shock of the calamity, and showed that he did not serve God on account of the benefits which he had received from Him. Stripped of all the family members, the workers, and all the wealth save for a nagging wife, Job remains steadfast in his endeavour to please the Lord. This is an exceedingly beautiful picture; and in the mouth of Job it was expressive of the most submissive devotion. It is not the language of complaint; as in him we see the deep feeling that the loss of his children and servants was to be traced to God, and that He had a right to do as He had done.
When David sorrowed, he prayed, “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8). The touching image of God catching our tears is full of meaning. He sees our grief and does not disdain it. How many of us can say, like Job did, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15). Do we love God just because of what He can do for us? Or do we love Him because He is God? Do we only worship Him when the sun’s shining down on us, and the world’s “all as it should be,” or do we still worship Him when we go through sickness, devastating deaths and mourning? I want to challenge you today with the truth from God’s Word that says the Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and not accept adversity? Blessed be the name of the Lord!
Application
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A Christian funeral should provide a glimpse into that brighter world, a world where
all Christians will be reunited, where the bonds of fellowship shall be made stronger
than they were on earth, never again to be broken. It is only this hope that can
soothe the pains of grief at death. It is only when we can look forward to a better
world, knowing we will see our loved ones again, love them again, and enjoy
worshipping God with them forever that our tears are made dry. A Christian funeral
should be a celebration of the joy of these glorious truths (Heb. 13:14).
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We see Job’s grief, but we also see Job’s piety. Our text says he "worshipped." He
praised God and acknowledged His sovereignty. He bowed submissively to God’s
will and God’s dispensations. Instead of cursing God, Job adores His justice. He
worships, and as he opens his mouth, everyone would stand at attention, and set
their gaze, for words are about to spill forth from the lips of the one who, without his
own knowledge or consent, is on trial. His mouth opens, and it is not as Satan
expects! (Job 1:21).
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This excellent text is speaking to a modern Christian who gets frustrated and cursing
when the phone is ringing and the baby is crying and the children are hitting one
another, and there’s food burning on the stove, while the spouse is sickly, writhing in
pain, all at the same time. I’d like you to reflect for a moment, what you would do
when the calamities that befell Job happened to you! As everything he loved came
crashing down right before his eyes, in quick succession, it is then that JOB AROSE
AND WORSHIPPED (Job 1:20)!
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