My Confession: My reflections of Job 16-17

I continue my reflections on Job.

Miserable comforters

Job again rejects what Eliphaz the Temanite said.

“I have heard many things like these;
    you are miserable comforters, all of you!
 Will your long-winded speeches never end?
    What ails you that you keep on arguing?" - Job 16: 2-3

Job maintains that God has targeted him.

"God has turned me over to the ungodly
    and thrown me into the clutches of the wicked.
 All was well with me, but he shattered me;
    he seized me by the neck and crushed me.
He has made me his target;
     his archers surround me.
Without pity, he pierces my kidneys
    and spills my gall on the ground." - Job 16: 11-13

Job still says he is innocent

"My face is red with weeping,
   dark shadows ring my eyes;
yet my hands have been free of violence
    and my prayer is pure.
Earth, do not cover my blood;
    may my cry never be laid to rest!" - Job 16: 16-18

Job's reputation has been tarnished

Job reveals that his misfortune was known in the land, and that people lost their respect for him.

 “God has made me a byword to everyone,
    a man in whose face people spit.
 My eyes have grown dim with grief;
    my whole frame is but a shadow.
 The upright are appalled at this;
    the innocent are aroused against the ungodly." - Job 17: 6-8

Job then says he is simply waiting for death.

“But come on, all of you, try again!
    I will not find a wise man among you.
 My days have passed, my plans are shattered.
    Yet the desires of my heart
 turn night into day;
    in the face of the darkness light is near.
 If the only home I hope for is the grave,
    if I spread out my bed in the realm of darkness," - Job 17: 10-13

Impressions

As Job rightly pointed out, none of whatever his friends said addressed the issue. What did Job do wrong to be a target of God's wrath? 

Despite this poignant rebuttal, tales of Job's misfortune had spread and a majority of people assumed that Job must have sinned.

My Confession: Reflections on Job 15

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

After hearing Job defend himself yet again, Eliphaz the Temanite responds.

The meaninglessness of Job's defence

Eliphaz accuses Job of engaging in empty rhetoric.

“Would a wise person answer with empty notions
    or fill their belly with the hot east wind?
 Would they argue with useless words,
    with speeches that have no value?" - Job 15: 2-3

He criticises Job's wisdom and claiming that Job's limited experience of a human limits his understanding of God.

“Are you the first man ever born?
    Were you brought forth before the hills?
 Do you listen in on God’s council?
    Do you have a monopoly on wisdom?
What do you know that we do not know?
    What insights do you have that we do not have?
 The gray-haired and the aged are on our side,
    men even older than your father."- Job 15: 7-10

Eliphaz puts forth his wisdom on the consequence of good and evil

Eliphaz then explains his position.

“What are mortals, that they could be pure,
    or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?" - Job 15: 14

“Listen to me and I will explain to you;
    let me tell you what I have seen,
 what the wise have declared,
    hiding nothing received from their ancestors
 (to whom alone the land was given when no foreigners moved among them):
All his days the wicked man suffers torment,
    the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him." - Job 15: 17 -20

In fact, he reiterated that the wicked will face punishment.

"Let him not deceive himself by trusting what is worthless,
    for he will get nothing in return.
 Before his time he will wither,
    and his branches will not flourish.
He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes,
    like an olive tree shedding its blossoms." - Job 15: 31-33

Impressions

I think my first takeaway is that despite Eliphaz's claim that no mortal has monopoly on wisdom (Job 15:8), he presents his own wisdom to counter Job's earlier arguments. Eliphaz's justification was that Job was not the first man alive or the oldest or had a vast wealth of experience.

Such ad-hoc arguments may be good for a sound bite, but none of what Eliphaz said had any bearing on what Job had discussed before. What had Job done wrong that God allowed the misfortunate of the loss of wealth and the death of his loved ones to fall on him? (Job 12:7-9)

Finally Eliphaz affirms earlier claims (eg: Job 8:2-3)that Job must have done something wicked to deserve such fate. As this did not sway Job the first few times, Eliphaz repeat of the logic reveals that he may lack the wisdom that he felt Job lacked.

This lack of wisdom will eventually be addressed in the next chapters, Job 16-17.

My Confession: My Reflections on Job 12 - 14

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

Job rejects the idea that he is deserving of punishment
After Zophar accuses Job of being guilty of hidden sin, Job counters that Zophar should not claim to know the mind of God,

“I have become a laughingstock to my friends,
    though I called on God and he answered—
    a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!" - Job 12:4

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
    or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
   or let the fish in the sea inform you.
 Which of all these does not know
    that the hand of the Lord has done this?" - Job 12:7-9

“My eyes have seen all this,
    my ears have heard and understood it.
 What you know, I also know;
    I am not inferior to you.
 But I desire to speak to the Almighty
    and to argue my case with God.
 You, however, smear me with lies;
    you are worthless physicians, all of you!
 If only you would be altogether silent!
    For you, that would be wisdom." - Job 13:1-5

Job puts his trust in God
Job continues to trust God, even though he does not understand the reason for his plight. He asks for God to hear him out.

“Only grant me these two things, God,
    and then I will not hide from you:
Withdraw your hand far from me,
    and stop frightening me with your terrors.
 Then summon me and I will answer,
    or let me speak, and you reply to me.
 How many wrongs and sins have I committed?
    Show me my offense and my sin.
 Why do you hide your face
    and consider me your enemy?" - Job 13: 20 -24

Job also recognises his life and legacy is in God's control.

“At least there is hope for a tree:
    If it is cut down, it will sprout again,
    and its new shoots will not fail.
Its roots may grow old in the ground
    and its stump die in the soil,
 yet at the scent of water it will bud
    and put forth shoots like a plant.
 But a man dies and is laid low;
    he breathes his last and is no more." - Job 14: 7-10

Thus Job knows that his only hope for restoration lies with God.

"Surely then you will count my steps
    but not keep track of my sin.
 My offenses will be sealed up in a bag;
    you will cover over my sin." - Job 14: 16-17

Impressions
One thing I did admire is while Job rejected the idea that he is in the wrong (as accused in the earlier chapters). He also rejects the idea that he needs to justify himself in front of his friends and knows the only being that holds his fate is God. God may choose to spare or strike him.

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him;

    I will surely defend my ways to his face." - Job 13: 15

Again, Job is willingly to be honest with his feelings about his circumstance with God, and not cover it up with pomp and flattery.

"If only you would hide me in the grave

    and conceal me till your anger has passed!

If only you would set me a time

    and then remember me!

If someone dies, will they live again?

    All the days of my hard service

    I will wait for my renewal to come." - Job 14: 13-14

Although I do not want Job's circumstance, I do pray I have faith and honesty to that closest with God.

My confession: Comparing the requests of Moses and Solomon and the Presence of God

 

Due to recent departures in my department and changes in my family, I can see a rapid increased in workload before me. As I prayed, I wondered what I should ask from God. 

Should I asked for strength to meet the challenges, or a reduced commitments?

At first I referred to what King Solomon asked for:

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” - 1 Kings 3: 5-14, ESV

Ordinarily, I would have asked for wisdom and discernment to prioritize what is right and important. However, in a recent sermon on the presence of God by Pastor Francis Chan, I changed my perspective.

Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” - Exodus 33: 12 -17, ESV

Moses had simply asked for God to accompany him through the journey to the Promised Land. He stated in "if your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here." (Exodus 33:15).

And I realised I want the same thing. Even if I relied on renewed intelligence and wisdom, I am prone to folly and flaws and sin. So this is what I pray for - for God to be with my family and I, till the end of time.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.  -- Psalms 23:4

My Confession: My reflection on Job 11

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

Zophar's retort
Zophar, Job's friend, simply state that Job deserves much worse than what Job was facing now. Bear in mind that Job has lost his children and wealth, and was suffering from sores.

For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure,
    and I am clean in God's eyes.’
 But oh, that God would speak
    and open his lips to you,
 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom!
    For he is manifold in understanding.
Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. -- Job 11: 4-6

He continues, stating that God's reasoning is higher than Job's.

Can you find out the deep things of God?
    Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
 It is higher than heaven —what can you do?
    Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? -- Job 11: 7-8

His solution for Job was to therefore turn to God and confess his sins.

If you prepare your heart,
    you will stretch out your hands toward him.
If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away,
    and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish;
    you will be secure and will not fear.  -- Job 11: 13-15

Zophar's theology assumes the guilt of Job
What is worrying is that we can fall into the trap of fallacy of correlation thinking. If Job is suffering, he must have committed some great sin. In fact, Job deserves much worse in Zophar's eyes. If only Job would confess admit his guilt, then God would restore Job.

However, at no point of time has Job's guilt been clearly pointed out. Zophar just assumes and asserts it. While Zophar is mainly correct in the nature of God (his omniscience, omnipotence and omnibenevolence), he was too hasty in condemning Job.

What I can learn from Job 11
Often, I too can commit the errors of Zophar by assuming someone's guilt before I even have the details. 

In the words of the Apostle James,

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. -- James 1: 19 -20

My Confession: My reflection on Job 9-10

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

Synopsis
After Bildad's simplification of God's justice in Job 8, Job expressed his understanding that it is impossible to show your innocence in the light of God's power and wisdom.

Then Job replied:
“Indeed, I know that this is true.
    But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?
 Though they wished to dispute with him,
    they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
 His wisdom is profound, his power is vast.
    Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?" - Job 9:1-4

Yet Job maintains his innocence.

“Although I am blameless,
    I have no concern for myself;
    I despise my own life." - Job 9: 21

In addition, there is no point repenting because he has already been deemed guilty and he has no way of addressing his charges.

"If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
    I will change my expression, and smile,’
I still dread all my sufferings,
    for I know you will not hold me innocent.
 Since I am already found guilty,
    why should I struggle in vain?" - Job 9:27-29

“He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him,
    that we might confront each other in court.
 If only there were someone to mediate between us,
    someone to bring us together,
 someone to remove God’s rod from me,
    so that his terror would frighten me no more" - Job 9: 32-35

Job therefore chooses to complain. He questions God, on why Job was born and then made to suffer.

“I loathe my very life;
    therefore I will give free rein to my complaint
    and speak out in the bitterness of my soul." - Job 10:1

“Your hands shaped me and made me. 
    Will you now turn and destroy me?
 Remember that you molded me like clay.
    Will you now turn me to dust again?" - Job 10: 8-9

Job also demands an answer to whether he is guilty or innocent. He also recognsied that there is no apparent difference between his fate whether he had sinned or not.

"If I am guilty—woe to me!
    Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head,
for I am full of shame
    and drowned in my affliction." - Job 10: 15

Reflections
What strikes me is that Job did not take the easy way out and just agree with his friends. To Him, God is a living all-powerful entity. He did not want to pay lip-service to God and suffer in silence over his innocence.

He also brings up an important message - what is the point of being innocent or guilty if the result is the same? Yet Job rightly points out that he has no entitlements; God does not have to answer his demand for a mediation.

Thus in a way, Job respects God's demand for authenticity (by being honest) and respect (by recognizing his status with God).

It would be easier if you were just a thought in my head
Simply something that I once read
A belief needing my defense

And it would be easier if you were something I once knew
A hope just to hold on to
But you're holding out your hands -- Tenth Avenue North (from the song The Truth Is Who You Are)

My Confession: Reflections on Job 8

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

Synopsis
Job's reply in Job 6-7 did not sit well with Bildad. It was now Bildad turn to speak,

“How long will you say such things?
    Your words are a blustering wind.
Does God pervert justice?
    Does the Almighty pervert what is right?" (Job 8:2-3)

According to Bildad, Job's children got what they deserved for their sin. He explained,

"When your children sinned against him,
    he gave them over to the penalty of their sin." (Job 8:4)

He continued,

"Such is the destiny of all who forget God;
    so perishes the hope of the godless.
 What they trust in is fragile;
    what they rely on is a spider’s web." (Job 8: 13-14)

He then concludes by a simple view of God's justice,

“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless
    or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter
    and your lips with shouts of joy.
Your enemies will be clothed in shame,
    and the tents of the wicked will be no more.” (Job 8:20 -23)

My reflections
Despite his attempt to comfort Job, Bildad is wrong in relegating God to a simplistic view of justice. In his view, only the good are rewarded while the wicked are punished. In other words, physical health and material wealth is one way to know if a person is right with God.

But we definitely know that this is not true. In our lifetime, we definitely have witness injustice. There are healthy and rich people who are corrupt; while there are sickly and poor people who are honest. Bildad seems to be promoting a form of prosperity gospel.

I myself must not follow in Bildad's theology and promote such binary thinking.

My Confession: Reflections on Job 6-7

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

In response to Eliphaz's comments, Job lamented.

Synopsis

Job continued, stating how great his grief felt (Job 6:2-3).

“If only my anguish could be weighed
    and all my misery be placed on the scales!
It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas—
    no wonder my words have been impetuous."

He also wished for death (Job 6:8-9).

“Oh, that I might have my request,
    that God would grant what I hope for,
 that God would be willing to crush me,
    to let loose his hand and cut off my life!"

Job lost much hope too (Job 6:11-13).

“What strength do I have, that I should still hope?
    What prospects, that I should be patient?
 Do I have the strength of stone?
    Is my flesh bronze?
Do I have any power to help myself,
    now that success has been driven from me?"

Job also rejected Eliphaz's reasons (Job 6:21; 6:24)

Now you too have proved to be of no help;
    you see something dreadful and are afraid.

Teach me, and I will be quiet;
    show me where I have been wrong

Job then directed his arguments towards God, complaining about his short and harsh life (Job 7:7)

Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath;
    my eyes will never see happiness again.

Job chose to continue to complain, using the shortness of human life as a reason (Job 7:11)

Therefore I will not keep silent;
    I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit,
    I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

Finally Job concludes his complaint (Job 7:20)

If I have sinned, what have I done to you,
    you who see everything we do?
Why have you made me your target?
    Have I become a burden to you?

My reflections
Job obviously was in much emotional pain, and in his honest haste he pours out his heart. In fact, this passage is hard to read for me as I cannot even imagine losing so much. 

Yet in his anguish, Job maintained his honesty. He could not see where he had gone wrong and clung to his innocence. He would rather die an honest man, than to ritually confess guilt. While lesser men like myself would give in conveniently to the advice of his friends, Job here would not play lip service. 

Although I do not wish to experience the suffering of Job, I pray I may have a closeness to God that I may be frank with Him.

What is mankind that you make so much of them,
   that you give them so much attention,
that you examine them every morning
    and test them every moment?  -- (Job 7: 17-18)

My confession: Samson the great moral failure

 

Hercules from the game SMITE

Synopsis of Judges 13 - 16
It started like a classic story. The ancient Israelites did evil in God's eyes, and He allowed the Philistines to oppress them. Yet God did not abandon his people by promising them a man to deliver them from the Philistines.

Samson was that man. With God's blessing, Samson was a man of great strength. He achieved great feats like killing a lion with his bare heads, and killing a thousand men with a donkey's jawbone.

Unlike the preceding judges, Samson did not follow the laws of his people. He wanted to marry outside his tribe, ate unclean food, and never seemed to develop in character. Even till the end, he never sought to follow God, but focused his life (and death) on revenge. 

Samson was a man of great gifts, but was also a great moral failure.

Cu Chuliann from the game SMITE

Parallels to mythologies
One thing interesting in my readings is that the Samson seems to fulfil the heroic archetype in most mythological stories I know.

In Greek/Roman mythology, Hercules is blessed with strength and sought to overcome the trials laid before him. Thor fulfils this role in the Norse tales, Horus in the Egyptian religion and Sun Wukong in Chinese legends. In Celtic myths, Cu Chulainn is the hero.

Even some of the deeds are similar. Hercules slayed the Nemean lion, while Samson killed a lion. Both Hercules and Samson were betrayed by women.  Cu Chulainn was weakened (and killed) only when he broke his taboo, and Samson was weakened when he broke his.

Yet unlike most of these heroes, Samson shows no improvement in his morals. From the start he started seeking things for his self gratification, even though he was an appointed judge of Israel. In his last prayer he still sought revenge for himself, rather than to free God's people.

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes."
(Judges 16: 28)

What can we learn from Samson?
Despite his moral failure there a few lessons we can learn from this:
1) Be careful worship people with great gifts

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
(2 Peter 2:1-3)

In our meritocratic Singapore (and maybe world), there is a tendency to follow or listen  people who are seemingly gifted or produce great results. Yet we forget that our human idols are just that -- merely human, and therefore are open to selfishness and manipulation.

For instance, the evangelist Ravi Zacharias misused his reputation to manipulate women. This came as a shock to the Christian community as Zacharias was well-know for his oratorical skills and converts. 

2) Jesus is greater and better

He [Jesus] said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
(Luke 24:44)

For my Christian readers, we must interpret our heroes and our own lives in the light of our saviour Jesus. Jesus is a way better example and hero than Samson.

He [Jesus] grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
(Isaiah 53: 2-3)

As described by Isaiah, Jesus was not attractive by contemporary standards (of that time). Jesus did not use his outward appearance (beauty or majesty) to attract us to the message, but in his personhood.

My Confessions: My reflections on Job 4-5

 

I continue my reflections on Job.

Synopsis

After hearing the lament of Job in Job 3, Job's friend Eliphaz spoke.

Firstly, he accused Job of being a hypocrite (Job 4:4-5):

Your words have supported those who stumbled;
    you have strengthened faltering knees.
But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged;
 it strikes you, and you are dismayed.

Then, he told Job about the righteous judgement of God (Job 4:7-8):

Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?
  Where were the upright ever destroyed?
As I have observed, those who plow evil
    and those who sow trouble reap it.

Next, Eliphaz spoke of the divine message he received. He exhorts that God is the most righteous and just (Job 4: 16 - 19):

It stopped,
   but I could not tell what it was.
A form stood before my eyes,
    and I heard a hushed voice:
‘Can a mortal be more righteous than God?
    Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker?
 If God places no trust in his servants,
    if he charges his angels with error,
 how much more those who live in houses of clay,
    whose foundations are in the dust,
    who are crushed more readily than a moth!

Eliphaz concludes his observations that woe is the natural state of man (Job 5:7):

Yet man is born to trouble
as surely as sparks fly upward.

Eliphaz continues with his solution, encouraging Job to appeal to God (Job 5: 8- 11): 

But if I were you, I would appeal to God;
    I would lay my cause before him.
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed,
    miracles that cannot be counted.
 He provides rain for the earth;
    he sends water on the countryside.
The lowly he sets on high,
    and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

Eliphaz also points out that God may us tough times as a form of discipline. (Job 5: 17-19):

 Blessed is the one whom God corrects;
    so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.
 For he wounds, but he also binds up;
    he injures, but his hands also heal.
From six calamities he will rescue you;
    in seven no harm will touch you.

Eliphaz concludes (Job 5:27):

“We have examined this, and it is true.
So hear it and apply it to yourself.”

My reflections

Eliphaz was probably well-meaning, as he attempted to give Job practical advice. He sees Job's suffering as a consequence of Job's sin, as (A) God is just (and therefore does not allowed unjustified suffering) and (B) God is a disciplinarian (as Job is still alive and has the opportunity to repent).

Note that Eliphaz's interpretation is wrong (as revealed in Job 42:7). While Eliphaz's idea of suffering as a form of disclipine was correct in some circumstances (eg: 2 Samuel 12: 13-14), he was wrong in assuming it was true for Job also.

But ascribing a supernatural reason to Job's physical suffering without reason, Eliphaz was being superstitious. However, I understand Eliphaz's position. It is much simpler and more practical to reduce the existence of suffering to a simple equation of sin and discipline, and therefore to repent, just in case.

But being practical does not mean being true. 

My confessions: Reflections on Job 3

I continue my reflection on Job.

Synopsis of Job 3
Surrounded by his friends Eliphaz, Bilad and Zophar, Job starts his lamentation. He shares his despair with his friends, saying in Job 3:11:

"Why did I not perish at birth
and die as I came from the womb?"

In other words, Job wished he was dead. He even cursed the day he was born (Job 3:8). He then concludes his lament in one of the most hopeless way possible in Job 3: 26.

"I have no peace, no quietness;
 I have no rest, but only turmoil."

Reflections
It is only natural that Job felt extremely depressed. In the previous chapters he had lost his children, his health and his property. Instead of comforting him, his wife encourages him to curse God (Job 2:9).

Job's lament reminds me of Psalms 39 and 88. Job and the Psalmists both languish in the despair and there are no hints that even indicate the slightest glimmer of hope. Yet such despair was left in the Bible.

Could it be God wants our honesty, rather than flattery? This would mean that God is not some earthly monarch who only wants to hear us in the good times, but to also comfort us in the bad times.

Prayer can be used for lamenting in our conversation with God.

My confession: my Covid-19 reflections

As Singapore experiences it's "circuit-breaker" measures in an attempt to curb the spread of COVID-19 (aka Wuhan virus/ Coronavirus), I find myself unable to attend church services.

Better blogs have written good reflections on this pandemic, so I will attempt to log in my reflections.

God is in charge of everything

The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him! - Matthew 8:27

The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the Lord. - Proverbs 16:33

Regardless of how powerful the disease seems to be, I remember that ultimately God is in control of everything. The disease may have shut down shops and limited travel, but I am thankful to still have a job.

Material items are temporary

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. - Matthew 6:19

It is important to note that every achievement we accumulated on earth is not meant to last forever. With this black swan event, economies crash, events are cancelled and even weddings postponed. Visitations are limited and gatherings are discouraged. Even relationships are mot immune to this virus.

God of the good times and God of the pain

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”  - Job 1:20-21

If we trust God in the peaks of our life, we should continue to trust God in lows.

My Confessions: Reflection of Job 1-2

Recently, I read the Book of Job again. When I was younger, I was rarely heard a sermon on the book of Job. I understand why -- the topic of suffering is difficult to talk about.

If you have no idea what I am talking about, read Job.


In this post, I will not be handling the issue whether the Book of Job was meant to be a literal or a metaphorical story. I will merely be reflecting on the issue of Job's relationship with God. I will be reflecting on the Book of Job for this series of posts.

Synopsis on Job 1-2
Job was a wealthy man in the land of Uz. When God pointed out to Satan that Job was blameless and rightous, Satan retorted that Job only worships God because Job is blessed. Satan is then allowed to to destroy Job's wealth.

After Job loses his childen and lifestock, he remains faithful. From Job 1:21,

and [Job] said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.”

As Job still remains faithful to God, Satan then asks permission to harm Job directly. Job is then inflicted with sores. Job's wife asked Job to curse God, but in Job 2:9

He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”

Still Job did not leave his faith in God.

Job was then comforted by three of his friends, Eliphaz, Bilad and Zophar.

My reflections
Satan has to have permission to harm us
What is striking to me is that Satan has to seek permission from God to harm people. This means that Satan is not even close to God in power and authority.

If God can allow Satan to cast evil upon us, it still means that Satan has his limits (i.e. what God allows). And God loves us.

Satan has a real point.
Like a good deceiver, Satan does hide a token of truth. He points out that people only stay loyal to God because they receive good things from God. In other words, they do not really love God; they only follow God due to the benefits they get from him.

Upon self-reflection, I realise this is true for me for most days. It is very easy to forget God when things do not go my way. I must be vigilant in keep my faith. I should love God for who He is, and not just because of the stuff he blessed me with.


Conclusion
Will we hang on to God even in the tough times?

References

Book of Job

My Confessions: Reflection on Esther 4

One can sometimes do good by being the right person in the wrong place. -- GK Chesterton

One of the Bible's heroes I admire is Esther. After all, she was queen, had a book (and possibly a sweet-smelling chemical compound) named after her and was the beauty of the land. When i was young, I thought she was pretty brave to stand up to the king to save the Jews.

Recently, I had the privilege of reading it again. While not diminishing her bravery, I realised that she was initially reluctant to save her people from governmental persecution when first informed of a conspiracy by her cousin Mordecai. In fact, she only moved to action after she was told that she would be an eventual target. In Esther 4: 12 -14,

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

I began to realised that God had placed Esther in a position of power not because she was particularly courageous or moral, but so that she could be used for a divine purpose.

What I learnt
Despite my current predicament or situation (no matter how bad it is), I know that God can use me. Not because I am particularly talented, but because of God's foresightedness and love.

My Confession: An uncurable disease

One of my students awoke one morning and found she could not unclench her fist, nor straighten her leg. During her hospitalisation, she was diagnosed with myotonia.

Myotonia is a genetic disease that affects the muscular and the nervous system. Patients will find relaxing their muscles to be difficult. For most patients, the symptoms only manifest themselves at age 18-20. There is no known cure.

How can I bear to explain to her this: the life that she once knew no longer applies. From now on, her movements will be limited and her odds of starting a family have fallen way below average.

Why this is happen? In my head, I know the answers. Scientifically, the disease is autosomal dominant and thus was inherited. Her parents do not have the symptoms so it appeared that some epigenetic trait saved them.

Theologically, I know that this is a recognition that sin had infected the world and the disease is a manifestation of that.

Practically, I could advise her how to adjust her lifestyle to aid herself.

Yet, these are not answers she needs yet.

I only can pray. Despite how desperate the situation it, I can trust God is in charge.

"Yet at the same time Christian faith is more absurdly, outrageously more hopeful than liberal rationalism, with its unhinged belief that not only is the salvation of the human species possible but that, contrary to all we read in the newspapers, it has in principle already taken place. Not even the rose-tinted Trotskyist believes that." -- Terry Eagleton

My confessions: My reflection on the 500th year of Reformation

Martin Luther was often credited to be the father of the Reformation

Mention the Reformation, and many of my friends look at me with ignorant faces. Some think it is a historical thing, while others restrict it to a Caucasian event. In fact, when my friend suggested I give a talk on how the Reformation affects Singaporeans, I laughed. It should be the simplest talk ever. It doesn't.

But it should.

The world today
It is hard to argue for the importance of the Reformation in this day and age. After all, the Reformation led to a period of religious wars in Europe, and religious disputes are often seen as dangerous, racist and uncharitable. We value peace and stability over truth and accuracy. Even my youth pastor once mentioned that the Reformation was over a dispute over minor matters.

Secondly as my friend puts it, "Singaporeans are a practical people".  Religion appears to have no practical effect on the lives of people other than appealing to tradition and culture. For the most of us, our knowledge of even our own religion tends to be superficial and third-hand. Even when we are interested in religion, we tend to try to find practical tips in Christian living, rather than digging deep and finding truth.

The importance of the Reformation
However, the message of the Reformation is still relevant as ever. The crux (key message) of the Reformation is about justification, or "what makes us just before God".

The Reformers argued that the purpose of life is to be justified before God, and to be counted as righteous. This runs contrary to our secular way of where we seek acceptance through our work, achievements or connections. And secular demands places a lot of pride in our work (and ignores God) and much stress on our health.

What should we do?
Instead of remembering the Reformation as some trivial history, I encourage everyone to dig down deep. Remember what Christ did for us, instead of assuming that we earned our way.

My Confession: Poor prayer life

Dear God,

I have a confession -- when I am busy, my prayer life would be the first to go. Then my Bible reading. Then me even thinking of you.

I don't want to live my life as if You do not exist.

Don't leave me this way, Father.

My confession: My biggest fear for the churches in Singapore

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see."
-- Revelation 3: 14 - 18

In Singapore we are blessed with prosperity. And maybe it's our Asian drive mixed with Western ingenuity that has led us to pursue success in every area of our lives. I mean we can easily define success as the amount of money we earn every month, the brand of the cars we have, or even how well our kids are coming. It can be even the less tangible things, such as the amount of options our education degrees gives us, or how happy we are with our current job.

We may even stretch this in the context of our Christian lives. Some people gauge the success of the church by the number of people attending, or the amount of donations. Others look at reputation, or highlight the number of celebrities at their church.

What if I were to tell you none of that mattered?

The costs of following Jesus
Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace.  In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
-- Luke 14: 25-33

In my interactions with my fellow Singaporean Christians, there seem to be an idea that following God would results in blessings gained. However in the verse above, the message is clear: in following Jesus, we must be prepared to give up everything.

That is what has been missing from a lot of preaching I heard in Singapore. The idea that we will suffer, lose or even die when we following Jesus. To deny that is disingenuous to the early Christians or our suffering siblings in North Korea and the Middle East.

The genuity of worship
But Samuel replied:

“Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
    as much as in obeying the Lord?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
    and to heed is better than the fat of rams"
-- 1 Samuel 15:22

As shown in the verse above, God desires genuine worship. It is not enough to give money, time and effort if our intentions are not enough. So what if we are wealthy and give God 10%, 50% or 90%? So what if we hit all the right notes in the songs?

Sincerity in worship is more important. If I am allowed to be frank, I rather have a smaller congregation with real worshipers, than to be in a church with many numbers but little sincerity.

The choice between truth and peace
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
-- 2 Timothy 4: 2-4

If we are not careful, we may fill our ears and thoughts with things we simply like, and not what the Bible says. As the song goes, "the heart wants what it wants."

If we want someone to affirm Christian homosexuality, we can find someone to that. If we want to find a respectable person to support the idea that Christianity is about being wealthy and healthy, we can look for that too.

That would be contrary with what the Bible teaches. Christianity is not about peace at the expense of the truth of Jesus. It is about the truth that Jesus died for our sins, and the only way for reconciliation with God is through Him.

Often we are afraid to offend people in Singapore, especially since the country prides herself in religious harmony and secularism. Thus there is a tendency to treat all religions as equal. Even my ex-pastor recently went on a Buddhist meditation trip.

It may be unpopular, and even cost us our jobs. But we must declare that Jesus is the only way.

Conclusion
The truth is this --  in our lips we may condemn the prosperity gospel or claim we are following God, but in our hearts in may be different.

Dear friends, it is my plead that we all follow Scripture, even it is brings us to the unfavourable conclusion that we must change our lives in order to follow God.

For further thinking

My Confession: My struggle with envy

Among the popular Seven Deadly Sins, I struggle the most with envy. I guess it comes to me as naturally as the sunrise.

I hate it when a colleague does better than me, when my peers get attached or when someone else trumps me at the intellectual level.

This poison of envy not only makes me desire to have what others do, but to think of hurtful ways to obtain them. And thus it makes me hate myself even more. I was really a self-loathing green-eyed monster.

Yet it was this brutal envy that initiated my conversion to Christianity. I found that to my great delight, the things of the earth become much less important than the all-surpassing power of Christ.

Even in my envious days, I know the secret of being content-- I look at what gives me hope.

Let me end with Philippians 4:10-13:

10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.


References
Gospel Coalition

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

My Confession: I should write more about the Holy Spirit

Despite being a member of the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit is something I have rarely wrote about. Maybe it is because the concept of it is less tangible than God the Father and God the Son. Maybe it is because I have never spoken in tongues. Maybe it is because that the word"spirit" makes me a bit sceptical. Maybe it is because so many "preachers" exploit its gifts for money that makes me a bit suspicious.

Regardless, I should not shy away from trying to understand this member of the Trinity. So do pray for me as I start to read and pray more on the Spirit.