Look mercifully, O Lord, we beseech you, on the affliction of your people, and let not our sins prevail to destroy us, but rather your abundant mercy to save us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. (The Leonine Sacramentary)
Job 2:1-10 NRSV
One day the heavenly beings came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the Lord. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.” The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil. He still persists in his integrity, although you incited me against him, to destroy him for no reason.” Then Satan answered the Lord, “Skin for skin! All that people have they will give to save their lives. But stretch out your hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, he is in your power; only spare his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. Job took a potsherd with which to scrape himself and sat among the ashes. Then his wife said to him, “Do you still persist in your integrity? Curse God and die.” But he said to her, “You speak as any foolish woman would speak. Shall we receive the good at the hand of God, and not receive the bad?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
THE DUTY OF THE ANGELS
John Chrysostom
Why does the author describe the angels in the act of presenting themselves daily before the Lord? He does so that we might learn no actual even is overlooked by God’s providence and that the angels report what happens every day. Every day they are sent to settle some question, even though we ignore all this. That is the reason why they were created; that is their task, as the blessed Paul says: “They are sent to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation.” (Commentary on Job 2:1)
My Father, Lord, and God,
Would that the content and character of my life would cause you to say of me, “There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil.”
Would that the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart would cause you to say of me, “He still persists in his integrity,” despite the temptations and trials that come my way.
My Father, I love you and want to live as your obedient child. My Lord, I yield my life afresh to you, to follow your leading and to do your will. My God, I trust in your sovereign purposes for my life, and regardless of what comes my way, I worship you. I rest in the abundance of your mercy and grace given to me through Jesus Christ.
Amen.
It Is Well With My Soul
https://youtu.be/bOag79MdXBg?si=EYO7uvlDkIJdeBDQ
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
