While we will focus on Job 19 this Sunday, the speeches continue through a number of chapters after this. It’s easy to slip into thinking that everything has been said already and that the book is redundantly repetitive. And yet, working our way through the ongoing to and fro reveals much about the path of suffering. There is no quick fix. There is no simple and straightforward answer. Working through suffering takes time and true friends need to be willing to stay the journey.

The reality is that some questions might not be fully resolved, and almost certainly there are hurts that will remain. Again, Job is trying to reconcile what he believes to be true, with what he sees in the world and is experiencing at a painfully personal level. Doing your theology on the run- especially in the midst of suffering- will inevitably lead to a measure of confused and inconsistent thinking. We should not expect otherwise from Job. And yet his is the great race of the believer’s life, the true fight of faith.

Paul’s words to Timothy are reminiscent of Job’s journey as one who deeply longs to stand in God’s presence. Indeed, it is Job’s persevering faith which is one of the clearest marks that he is a genuine believer:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim 4:7–8).

How would you describe your deepest longings as you turn the eyes of your heart to eternity? (read again, Job 19:25-27)