Happy New Year, friends! Advent marks the beginning of the church calendar, so as far as the church is concerned, today marks the beginning of a brand new year. I’m not sad about it.
Last year, I did an Advent devotional as a thank you to my friends who had gotten me through an absolute trash heap of a year. It was a way to express my gratitude. I felt like I didn’t have much to give, but I had words, so that was what I used.
It was a great exercise for me in a lot of ways. It got me a little bit outside of myself and a little bit into some things that were healthier to think about for a few weeks. I think maybe two people even said they enjoyed it. Success!
Most importantly, though, I did something for the people I love. And that matters to me. A lot.
Then I promptly forgot about my little Advent-ure until Job showed up in my head in the middle of October.
I don’t know why my brain works like this. I don’t think I’ve seen a lot of Job mentioned in Advent. But bits of Job’s story showed up in the Lectionary, so I guess that’s why Job got himself all up in my grill. Next thing I know, Job is standing in my head telling me that he’s got something to say about Advent.
I didn’t buy it at first, but he wouldn’t go away. The patience of Job and all. That is what he’s known for, right? And patience does seem to be part of waiting … and Advent is about waiting … so … maybe?
Also, Job was supposedly a good man who got done wrong, and I think most of us can kind of relate to that a little bit, so … maybe Job?
Also also, my friends are still as amazing as ever, and I still have my words as a way to express gratitude, so … maybe Job as an Advent devotional gift again?
I decided to give it a go.
I have no idea what will transpire, but I’m going to see what Job has to tell me about waiting and patience and Advent.
Thank you for waiting and being patient with me.
Restoration
Once Job does something for someone else, God restores him. I don’t think that’s a coincidence. When we do stuff for others, it helps us, too.
Offerings and Prayers
God doesn’t turn them over to Satan to kill their livestock or their slaves or their kids. God shows them how to fix it.
Rumor Has It
God can start to feel like a distant thing rather than an immediate presence. Like a divine rumor that happened somewhere else to someone else.
The Moment We’ve Been Waiting For
There are a limited number of words available in our language to describe power, even fewer to describe God’s power.
The New Kid in Town
Preach, Elihu. I had no idea you were watching this whole time, but I am with you, brother. Those two verses sum up what I’ve been trying to say for the last 10 days.
A Wonder on Wisdom
As someone who has sat in her fair share of ash heaps, I feel something inside me perk its ears at this talk of wisdom.
Job and Friends, Round 3
Eliphaz tells us about many of Job’s actions, and it’s not pretty.
Zophar and Job, Round 2
This is the closest we’ve come to an actual dialogue between humans in the whole book so far. Hallelujah!
Job responds to Eliphaz, Round 2
It strikes me that perhaps Job is a man who is accustomed to talking his way through things. Maybe that’s what he’s trying to do in most of the book.
Eliphaz, Round 2
I really appreciate how The Message makes things more accessible to me, but there’s nothing in there that can compare with the “tongue of the crafty.”
Zophar and Job, Round 1
All of Job’s talk doesn’t appear to amount to much to Zophar. And to make matters worse, Zophar isn’t buying Job’s claims of perfect blamelessness, either.
Bildad and Job, Round 1
Is Bildad frustrated because Job’s stream of consciousness is hard to follow and all over the map? I feel you, Bildad, but you better get comfortable. We are here for a while.
Eliphaz and Job, Round 1
Eliphaz starts out on a pretty good note. He starts by treading lightly and offers us our first glimpse that perhaps Job has a heart in that law-abiding chest.
Breaking the Silence
Maybe Job has spent the last few days rehearsing in his head what he was going to say. All of a sudden, this man has a lot of words. And none of them are positive.
Job’s Friends
Job’s friends sat with him for the same amount of time it took for God to make the world. That is not nothing.
Catch Your Breath
Often, actual events require very few words. Subject and predicate. Noun and verb. Something terrible – or wonderful – can be conveyed in just a few words.