The Pastor’s Garage March 23, 2023

Recently I have been reading through the book of Job as I work my way
through the bible this year. I’ve chosen to read a chronological reading
plan this year which has made my reading of the bible a “fresh” experience.
If anyone is looking at a way to reinvigorate their bible reading, I’d give
it a try.

Job can be a tough book to read. It’s hard to know who is speaking the
truth, who is just spouting platitudes and where the book is trying to
educate us on suffering or even give us examples of how NOT to deal with
someone who is suffering. However,as I have been reading it this time I’ve
noticed a couple of interesting points where Job is pouring out his heart.
In Job 10:29-33, he says in reference to God:

“29 Since I am already found guilty,
why should I struggle in vain?
30 Even if I washed myself with soap
and my hands with cleansing powder,
31 you would plunge me into a slime pit
so that even my clothes would detest me.
32 He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him,
that we might confront each other in court.
33 If only there were someone to mediate between us,
someone to bring us together,”

What struck me is that there is a mediator between us and God! His name is
Jesus Christ and that without him we would literally as Job described –
unable to be cleansed no matter what. We would be guilty as charged.
Without Christ as our mediator we would literally be thrown into a slime
pit, fit to be discarded. Do we really appreciate what Christ has done and
who he is?

Another passage that struck me is Job 19:25-27

“25 I know that my redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
26 And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
27 I myself will see him
with my own eyes—I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me!”

This is an amazing piece of Old Testament writing. I believe that Job was
speaking prophetically here, because indeed there is a redeemer and he will
stand on the earth again at some point and we WILL see him, even after our
body has wasted away and been destroyed. Does my heart yearn within me to
see Christ? Is there a deep longing within us to be with him? Do we know
that he lives? That he wants to know us and that he can be known?

I wanted to share these because I think it’s a good reminder that the Old
Testament can teach us so much about Christ and helps us understand how
incredible he is They also start to get us ready for the Easter Season…
which is rapidly approaching!

Pastor Mike will be preaching this weekend and Rachel Kardash will be
leading worship so please pray for both of them. Also, April 7th is good
Friday and we’ll be having a contemplative service again from 9 am to noon.
As always there will be several stations to work through that lead us to
the cross of Christ. Come anytime between 9 and noon and work your way
through the stations at your own pace.

Blessings,

Pastor Dave