A New Setting

O. T. 1157 "A New Setting"
Feb. 23, 2018
Job 38-39


LET IT GLOW 

If ever there was a person who needed a new setting for his life, it would be Job. Sitting among ashes at the city dump, listening to four critics, and grieving for his children, itching and scratching boils, he definitely needed a change.
God broke His silence with the suffering Job. He asked if Job knew how things came to exist and function. Now continuing on, God asked if Job knew about various animals in the animal kingdom-the lion, raven, mountain goat, deer, wild donkey and ox, ostrich, horse, hawk, eagle.

What in the world does discussing the outer space, deep oceans, and zoo animals have to do with comforting Job, who is covered with boils all over? All God had to do was go zap and Job would be well. But God did not do it.

Was the Lord taking Job on a walk through His creation? Did God's creation amaze Job? Did he understand the power of his God? Did Job see how God lovingly provided for His animals? They were under God's control, obediently doing what they were instructed to do uniquely.
Do we stop to consider such things? Perhaps I recognize God's power and provision for the animals and birds  more than most since I live in the country. Yesterday, I watched an eagle sitting in a treetop looking for food, 4 whitetail deer running across the road and leaping over a fence. This morning there were cardinals and blue jays eating cat food on my front porch. God's amazing creation honors and glorifies Him. Do I?

LET IT GROW 

  David Atkinson contributed these thoughts:

You are never what you ought, till you go out of yourself and walk among them. That is perhaps why God takes Job on this tour-to show His majesty in His works: to take Job out of himself, to distract him from his misery, to broaden his horizons to the creative and life-giving majesty of God, and to enable him to see himself in a new setting. Job, this is where your heart will find rest: in finding your own place within the panorama of God's purposes for His world. Can you lift up your eyes from the ash heap, and see the glory of God in His creation?

I could not say it any better nor add to this.
Perhaps we need a new setting in order to get a new perspective on our situation, problem, troubles, circumstances that seem to keep going on and on, keeping us down.
I for one do. When I look out the window of the house in which I have been a prisoner for a week of recovery, I see God's love shown to His beautiful creation and am humbled. I am reassured that He has this. In my awestruck wonder, I feel the love of a Heavenly Father watching over me, providing for me all I need.

LET IT GO

Thanks and glory and praise be to the God Most High.
Your blessings astound me as they surround me.
A love  that is never ending; mercies new every morning; a salvation that saves this sinner for all eternity, that is You.
Oh Jesus, You give me life and breath. May I proclaim how wonderful You are. Sweet Jesus