September 20, 2004

Job – Closely Held by God

And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before. Then all his brothers, all his sisters, and all those who had been his acquaintances before, came to him and ate food with him in his house; and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. Each one gave him a piece of silver and each a ring of gold. Now the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. He also had seven sons and three daughters. And he called the name of the first Jemimah, the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-Happuch. In all the land were found no women so beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers. After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his children and grandchildren for four generations. So Job died, old and full of days.

Job 42:10-17

I wonder how he did it

afterwards

I wonder if he allowed fear to rule

that which grief could not conquer

if each visitor to his home

reminded him of others

less gratefully met

before

undoubtedly he rejoiced in his God

Whom blessing blesses truly

with gifts time cannot erase

could grief have left a seed

in so righteous a soil

I doubt it could

for he was closely held by God