Read Job 1:20–22
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of
the LORD be praised.
Job 1:21
The hosts of heaven and of hell watched to see how Job would
respond to the loss of his wealth and his children. He expressed his
grief in a manner normal for that day, for God expects us to be human
(1 Thess. 4:13). After all, even Jesus wept (John 11:35). But then
Job worshipped God and uttered a profound statement of faith (Job
1:21).
First, he looked back to his birth: “Naked I came from my
mother’s womb.” Then Job looked ahead to his death: “And naked I
will depart.” He would not return to his mother’s womb, because that
would be impossible. He would go to “Mother Earth,” be buried, and
return to dust. Nothing he had acquired between his birth and death
would go with him into the next world.
Finally, Job looked up and uttered a magnificent statement of
faith: “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of
the LORD be praised.” Instead of cursing God, as Satan said Job would
do (Job 1:9–11), he praised the Lord! It takes real faith to say in the
midst of sorrow and suffering, “May the name of the Lord be praised.”
Something to Ponder
Do you think Job’s worship during his great tragedy suggests that he
was in denial of his situation? Explain.