Oh, that I were as in months past, As in the days when God watched over me. When His lamp shone upon my head, And when by His light I walked through darkness; Just as I was in the days of my prime, When the friendly counsel of God was over my tent; Job 29:2-4
On the Mend
It’s kind of a silly notion, but have you ever wondered why we have memories? I only bring up the topic today because in our story, Job had some recollections of his past that served to bring him to a better place, spiritually speaking. We would recall how twenty-six chapters earlier Job lamented,
“May the day perish on which I was born, And the night in which it was said, ‘A male child is conceived.’ May that day be darkness; May God above not seek it, Nor the light shine upon it. May darkness and the shadow of death claim it; May a cloud settle on it; May the blackness of the day terrify it. As for that night, may darkness seize it; May it not rejoice among the days of the year, May it not come into the number of the months. Oh, may that night be barren! May no joyful shout come into it! May those curse it who curse the day, Those who are ready to arouse Leviathan. May the stars of its morning be dark; May it look for light, but have none, And not see the dawning of the day; Because it did not shut up the doors of my mother’s womb, Nor hide sorrow from my eyes. “Why did I not die at birth? Why did I not perish when I came from the womb?” (Job 3:2-11)
In these latter chapters, as Job bathes in remembrances, he begins to heal. If believers were to liken memories to a ship, we could faithfully say that the past, good or bad, is not an anchor, but a rudder. In other words, they are not things that render us motionless, but rather the collective thing that steer us in the appropriate direction. This was Job’s discovery; he could rightly declare as the Psalmist had,
“Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? Selah And I said, “This is my anguish; But I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the works of the Lord; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.” (Psalm 77:9-12)
In bad times, Job recalled the good times and I suspect in the good times to come, he would remember his days of torment, grief, and pain. If we allow them to, all our memories, regardless of how we characterize them, will guide us in hope and gratitude for the One who affords them all.
Are You Lost
Are you saved, but sense you’re lost or out of touch with God? Return to the place where you last saw Jesus clearly and He will meet you there.
Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent. Revelation 2:5
These ramblings are typically (but not always) a byproduct inspired by God through my personal Bible study at SearchLight with Pastor Jon Courson and with my pastor at my home church, Calvary Chapel Coastlands
He Dwells -- The B'log in My Eye 