SCRIP-BITS

And joyous shouts were heard all around the world from the working class: ‘TGIF! Thank God it’s Friday, and no more work after this for two whole, big days! Glory Hallelujah! Thank God is Friday!’

Ah mih people, what a life eh, when we have to be so happy to get a couple days off from work! But them’s the breaks in this modern society. And we in the West are still very fortunate, for in many other parts of the world the workers don’t have that luxury of days of and vacations, etc. etc.

So please let’s appreciate what we have and work hard to keep it, because if we don’t, we’ll certainly lose it with the return to menial work and working conditions that the current entrepreneurial class is trying to restore.

Anyway, to keep us in line, in some form and fashion, let’s chant our Friday Chant. All together now: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through.

Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’

Yes my brethren, that’s how we ought to view the weekend, instead of seeing it as just another occasion to party!

Now let’s turn to our Bit, which is certainly an interesting one, voicing some of Job’s deepest thoughts in his day of tribulation. ‘If a man die, shall he live again? All the days of my appointed time (hard service) will I wait, till my change come.’

Ah mih people, though Job longs for death, he is still willing to wait and experience whatever hard times he faces, until that blessed day comes. Are we willing to do likewise – face our trials with grace and fortitude till the day of our departure from this life comes? We ought to.

And as per Job’s question: ‘If a man die, shall he live again?’ Here is the answer, which Job himself gives later on in chapter 19, when he states his faith.

‘For I know that my Redeemer (kinsman) liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day (at last) upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.’ (Job 19:25-26)

Oh my people, what powerful words of faith from a man undergoing serious tribulation! Oh, how I wish that we could all be so staunch in our faith! (smile)

Now I never planned to include these scholars’ notes nuh, but after reading them, I figured I’d be doing us all a grave injustice by not including them.

’19:23-27. God has humiliated Job (vv.8-12), his friends and relatives have abandoned him (vv.13-20), and he has been reduced to pleading for pity (vv.21-22). But from the depths of degradation he expresses his confidence that if his case could only be recorded for posterity, future generations would judge him favourably (vv.23-24).

Furthermore, he knows confidently that he has a Redeemer (v.25, Heb. go’el), One who will champion his cause and vindicate him. The Redeemer is more than an arbiter (9:33) or a witness (16:19) but a Kinsman-Redeemer, and the Hebrew word is in fact used often of God (Ps. 19:14; Is.41:14, etc.).

In my flesh (v.26) speaks of a resurrected body. Though it may also be translated “apart from my flesh,” as a spirit being, the emphasis of the original means “from the standpoint of my flesh,” in my resurrected body. Here then is clear evidence of the Old Testament belief in the resurrection of the human body.’

Now that is quite a mouthful, but I believe it gives us great insight into Job’s beliefs, and is also a powerful example of true Christian behaviour and character. So please pay serious attention to it my brethren.

And in keeping with our goal of seeking relevant scriptures on waiting on God, let’s look at a couple that highlight that fact. Up first is a fairly well known passage from Isaiah, re a prayer for help.

‘For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God (any God), beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.’(Is.64:4)

And we’ll close with some powerful and famous words of Bruh David from Psalm 37, where he elucidates on the true state of the wicked. ‘Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass.

Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil (it only causes harm). For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.’ (Ps.37:7-9)

Oh my fellow believers, what wonderful words of indisputable and everlasting truth!

So let’s go out today and show our great wisdom by putting them into practice nuh. It will certainly warm the cockles of Jesus’ heart! Much LOVE!

…to wait…to wait…and yet to wait patiently and eagerly on the Lord…that is the purpose of man…