Final Thoughts from the Book of Job

Sometimes we endure great difficulty, and like Job, we need to come to the realization that when considering God, some things are too wonderful for us to comprehend (Job 42:3), and that the end, or purpose, of the Lord is always mercy and compassion (James 5:11).

David states something similar in Psalm 131:1-3. David does not occupy himself with things too marvelous for him to grasp. The word ‘occupy’ in this text has the idea of strutting with arrogance, or to parade. David is refusing to strut around in the great matters or things too lofty or marvelous for him to know.

With the same mindset, Job humbly realizes that the infinite purposes and intentions of God are beyond his understanding and always will be. He rests his heart in embracing and believing those things he cannot understand which have been revealed about God. Job accepts that the end of all of God’s wonderful ways, things he can and cannot know, is mercy and compassion.

We all experience both good things and the terrible which have no explanation. We are quick to accept the good without much thought, while we struggle with accepting the difficult things the Lord allows for us. Regardless of the degree of hardship, the end or purpose of the Lord is always mercy and compassion. Like Job, this is beyond our understanding, and we do not want to strut or parade there.

For every finite, unexplainable calamity a believer must endure, there is unlimited, divine mercy and compassion from above (Romans 5:20). By faith we come to the same conclusion as James, that the end of the Lord is mercy and compassion. Every believer pursuing godliness will seek to be merciful and compassionate like our Lord.

It pleased the Lord to bring the greatest calamity known to humankind on His own Son (Isaiah 53). We will never understand why, nor should we strut or parade there. Instead, we must embrace this truth by faith alone. The end of Christ’s death is mercy and compassion, and for us, the opportunity is the same as it was for Jesus, to obey and to glorify the Father.

Application Points

• Do you, like Job and David, acknowledge the great and marvelous things of God which are too wonderful for you to comprehend? God would have you walk in faith, remembering His purposes are always merciful and compassionate.
• During the calamity God allows in your life, are you striving to obey and glorify Him?

Tools for Further Study

Cross References to Explore

• Job 11:7-9; 26:14; 37:5; Isaiah 55:8-9; Ps. 139:1-6; 145:3; 147:5; John 1:18; Romans 9:20; 11:33; 1 Cor. 13:12; Eph. 3:19; Phil. 4:7 - The Incomprehensibility of God

A Hymn to Encourage: "And Can It Be, That I Should Gain?"

And can it be that I should gain
An int'rest in the Savior's blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me?
Amazing love! how can it be
That Thou, my God, should die for me!

'Tis mystery all! Th'Immortal dies!
Who can explore His strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
To sound the depths of love divine!

'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.
'Tis mercy all! let earth adore,
Let angel minds inquire no more.