Our Miseries

I am studying the Sermons from Job, by John Calvin [1509-1564]. They have been Translated by Leroy Nixon. 

I trust these precious truths that will bless you as much as they are blessing me.

The bottom line of our relationship with God is that WE ARE IN HIS HANDS. It is up to Him to order our lives and do with them according to His good pleasure. Our duty is to submit ourselves completely to Him in humble obedience. Even if it pleases Him to raise His hand against us, and even though we may not know the cause; nevertheless, we should glorify Him always, confessing that He is just and right. We should not complain or murmur against God or try to argue with Him concerning our miseries. It is certain that if we struggle against Him, we will NOT conquer Him, but HE WILL CONQUER US. 

"You know how we call those (happy) who were steadfast- who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job; and you have seen the Lord's [purpose and how He richly blessed in the] end, in as much as the Lord is full of pity and compassion and tenderness and mercy" (James 5:11 Amplified Bible).

"Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshiped, and said, Naked [without possessions] came I [into this world] from my mother's womb, and naked [without possessions] shall I depart. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed [praised and magnified in worship] be the name of the Lord! In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly" (Job 1:21,22 Amplified Bible ).

The end of Job's life is beautiful and encouraging.  It teaches us that the child of God is never disappointed when we hope in God. It also show us that there is nothing better than to subject ourselves to God, and to suffer patiently and peaceably in all that He sends us, until by His pure goodness He delivers us.

"The Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed The Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before" (Job 42:10).



Job's hopes were not in vain. And neither are ours when we focus on God and His will for us. The bottom line of it all is that no matter what happens, "The Lord is gracious and full of compassion" (Psalm 111:4).
 


While God's judgments upon us may at times be bitter, He enables us to view them as sweet, because our miseries deepen our earnest desire to please our loving Father in every way.

If you are interested in Sermons from Job, or other good Christian books that are wholesome and true, go to www.solid-ground-books.com or call 205-443-0311.