Sabbath: The End
Read for This Week’s Study: Job 42:10-17; Gen. 4:8; Matt. 14:10; 1 Cor. 4:5; Dan. 2:44; Job 14:14-15.
Memory Text: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live’ ” (John 11:25, NKJV).
Image © Lars Justinen Goodsalt.com
In writing classes, students are taught the importance of a good ending to their pieces. Particularly in fiction, where the whole thing is made up, the author needs to bring the end to a satisfactory close. But even in nonfiction, a good ending is important.
But what about reality? What about life itself, lived not in the pages of a book or in a film script but in flesh and blood? What about our own stories? What kind of endings do they have? How do they wind up? Are the loose ends tied together nicely, as in a good piece of writing?
This doesn’t seem to be the case, does it? How could they end well, when our stories always end in death? In that sense, we never really have happy endings, do we, because when is death happy?
The same is true with the story of Job. Though its conclusion is often depicted as a happy ending, at least in contrast to all that Job had suffered, it’s really not that happy, because this story, too, ends in death.
This week, as we begin the book of Job, we will start at its end, because it brings up questions about our ends as well, not just for now but for eternity.
Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 1.
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A satisfactory ending may indeed be part of a good story but an over-emphasis on the end often downplays the importance of the journey to get to the end. Perhaps the real significance of Job's story is how Job related to loss, and restoration. We have not reached the end of our journey yet; nor do we have a full explanation. Like Job we have questions without answers and have to live with that and grow with our understanding. Are we at the stage where we can say, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust him!"?
The story of Job may also have some lessons for us when we discuss these issues with our unchurched friends. They often have the same questions but will not be persuaded by religious answers. Maybe we need to understand how to give a spiritual answer.
In this side of the fall of man, there is a happy ending to the righteous because death to them is just sleep.So say the good book.
I think fiction and reality should always differ from each other hence what is a good ending in reality may not be good in fiction. Fiction is based on what people think is good. That's why it is easy for the devil to influence people through fiction coz we end up mixing the two. While fiction dismisses death as something bad, living a faithful life makes us accept it as a way of resting. No true Christian would want to live forever in a sinful world which is full of temptations and sufferings. It is for our benefit that it comes to an end. Thus dying in Christ becomes a happy ending. Fiction conforms to the imagination of an unrepented heart.
There is a happy ending after death for those who are in Christ. We know how the story ends.
when we profess like Job that though He slays us yet we will trust in Him. Do we trully believe in that without any iota of doubt/disbelief?
I ask this because i often challenge God when in difficulties that ''you said it's you desire that i have complete joy''.
Let's reflect on this key word (belief/faith) as we study the book of Job, our eternal lives are based on this, according to the memory text.
The key to understanding this phrase is understanding that salvation is meaningful in the present and not just at death or the second coming. It is very much about living now, in the present. Too many of us think of salvation as what happens after we die. For many of us, it is a radical thought, to think of living "saved" now. I believe that was what was in Job's mind when he recorded those words.
Why is there a focus on Death?? Job LIVED a VERY, VERY LONG LIFE....seems to me that as Christians we should focus on LIVING because we belief in Eternal Life....Death is for the non-believer.
Hi Mark,good question. Why are we focusing on death? I think the writer is "going somewhere" with this and I look forward as the answer unfolds in the series. "Job LIVED a VERY, VERY LONG LIFE..." yet at the end the "sting of death" caught him. We appreciate the lessons learned from Job and his response to the various situations he faced, but death was a part of that reality. From the scriptures I think Job will be among those of us who will have eternal life but at his death, his folks experienced the sting that the separation brought with it (I know that sting) - that longing to be with, sharing and interacting with him in this earthly life. Death is not only for non-believers. It is real for believers too but we have the blessed hope of eternal life.
Wonderful answer, death is not for only unbelievers alone, but believes as well. we must die daily with continuous and ernest prayer.
Good points Mark. I look forward again to the story of Job and the characteristics that we identify with in each stage of the story. How human we are when confronted with adversity. Not very well, especially unexpected. Even though death is a reality as mark mentioned, it is not something to be obsessed with. We can.t overlook the Grace. Love, and Patience exhibited by our God as the story progresses.
The story of Job represents a phenomenological demonstration of God's intervention in the lives of His children:
Yahweh's challenge to Satan that initiates, then intensifies, not only the extreme suffering of Job and his wife, but produces a remarkably profound discourse on 1) Who Yahweh is and how He desires to be perceived; 2) What Yahweh's standards and expectations of human beings are; and 3) How the intent and process of Yahweh's relationships with human being relate to eventual outcomes.
Job is far from being a pawn in the hands of Divine power and superhuman power; but in an engaging discourse with his physician and theologian friends offers an incredible view of human thought and view of human experiences - especially involving wealth and suffering - in relation to the other human beings, self and the Divine.
Elihu is the ultimate Pastoral Counselor, offering with clarity the meaning of the connection between humans and the Divine, and modeling the vital role of the Pastor/Counselor/Educator, etc.
So what suggestions do you offer for teaching these to Juniors and Teens?
Hurford, Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!!. As A teenager my son got this notion about Job being a pawn, from our teachings in Sabbath School. That has never left him. He has been upset with God since then. I am glad you asked the question at the end about "teaching these to Juniors and Teens". I have been trying to let him understand otherwise but just not getting through. I Hope I can receive some help from the responses to this question.
The end shows us that God is faithful. No matter what He allows to happen in our lives, He is working to build our faith, and makie us examples and samples of true believers: believers who trust Him and trust our own relationship of faith and confidence in Him.
It does not always end in miraculous healing and restoration of health and relationships. For Jesus Christ Himself it ended like the prophets, dying at the hands of His own people because they hated faithfulness to God and His plan. Our Father in Heaven may give us miraculous healing and deliverance, but at times He will allow sickness or even execution; knowing that whether in life or death, our lives are an everlasting testimony of His love, His power and His wisdom. This is the reason that we have faith in Him.
"Job 42:15 In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers."
Job treated daughters as equal to sons!
Fact is often considered as truth fiction on the other hand is defined as imaginative however Job declares confidently But as for me, I know my that my redeemer lives and will stand upon the earth at last. He lived a life of reality not a life of fiction and for this reason he could with confidence say these words,this is the life we must live like Job and have that real experience with Jesus. He lived a life of fact.