Hell, by Hans Memling, in the Musee des Beaux-Arts, Strasbourg. (Courtesy of the Guardian) |
If I have raised my hand against the fatherless,
knowing that I had influence in court,
22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder,
let it be broken off at the joint.
23 For I dreaded destruction from God,
and for fear of his splendour I could not do such things. Job 31
Job speaks of his righteousness, motivated by terror for his Creator. Many people believe the Creator to either be impersonal, a mysterious force, or simply to be 'above it all', not part of daily life. A nine year old child dies in their sleep just down the road from me. In Turkey and Syria, the death toil rises above 50,000.
Should we experience terror? Terror has been allowed in, and no one is immune. But I find that instead of the fierce pedantic judge, I have courage in my soul, and strength needed to face the terror. I walk on water, and grip the outstretched hand.
PRAYER: Be with us through the storm, through the earthquake, and along the precipitous paths we follow.
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