Reflections on Job 3:17 — God’s Heaven is The Only One

“There the wicked cease from troubling, and there the weary are at rest.” — Job 3:17 (RSV)

I confess. (Though anyone paying close attention to the time stamp on this post needs to hear no confession.) This post is coming several hours later than I promised last week, and that’s mostly because it’s about Job, Chapter 3, the beginning of the book’s toughness.

I’ve often told friends that Job may be my favorite book of the Bible. And I’ve seen a lot of strange looks in return.  Chapter 3 certainly begins to explain those looks.

“Job is an important book, no doubt, but I don’t see how it can be a ‘favorite,” one friend said. “It’s way too tough for that.”

Yes. Though Job does remain (one of) my favorites, I definitely won’t quarrel with my friend.  And “tough” comes on full strength in Chapter 3.

That quote above? If you hadn’t read the rest of Chapter 3, you might think Job is describing Heaven.

He’s not, of course. He’s romanticizing Death (or non-existence anyway). What else is that, but tough?

Satan’s attacks have left our blessed Job in such a state that he now regrets — no, CURSES! — his very birth. And the description of his wished-for death brings to my mind Jim Jones and the “peaceful” nature of his Jonestown Massacre.

Now you see why this post is delayed today?

Alas, I’m glad I have I have always kept reading past Chapter 3.

The fact is, Job’s current state is a familiar one to me. I remember wishing many times in my youth — usually as I was struggling to fulfill some dreaded requirements of a project I detested — that I had simply never been born. I remember cursing, many times, the apparent futility of my life — indeed all of life itself.

I remember believing that death would be a relief from life’s pains. I can’t say I was ever entirely suicidal. (Thanks be to God!) But the thought of “just curling up to die” has certainly appealed to me in several dark seasons of my life.

Thanks be to God! He delivered me (and Job) from that!

Dear reader, be warned: in the coming days of this study, you and I will see Job fall even deeper, and I, for one, will always empathize with his hellacious misery.

But, thanks be to God, Job will recover! And witnessing his struggle to that Glory, yet again, will be, as always, as awesome a blessing as God can provide.

Did I mention that Job is probably my favorite book of the Bible?

The Truth is the opposite of what Job insinuates in the quote above; it’s the opposite of what I once believed myself. Death is certainly NOT a relief from pain.

GOD is my (our) only source for that.

The peace that Satan wants me (us) to believe is possible through death is nothing but his ridiculous (actually dangerous) trick.

And I rejoice in remembering that again today!

Lord, please help me (and all of us) always remember that Heaven only exists through You!

Note: I hope you will forgive me, dear reader: I have fallen behind in the (for-pay) work God has put before me, and I am called to put that as my main priority for the next few days. Accordingly, though I acknowledge that I have billed this study as a “daily” thing, I plan to post again almost three days from now, by noon on Friday, August 24. If God is willing, I will begin truly daily posts after that. We shall see (and abide by) His will.