Job 22 and 23 include a conversation between Eliphaz and Job. Eliphaz accuses Job of sinning by omission: not reaching out to the poor and oppressed. Job doesn’t respond to his claims but simply reconfirms his innocence. Eliphaz asks an interesting question about whether God takes pleasure in Job’s righteousness. That, in fact, is what God has done. It is because of His pleasure with Job that He has been confident in Job’s response to tragedy.

Job’s speech reminds me of Psalm 139 regarding the fact that he has looked everywhere and cannot see God. Psalm 139 says no matter where we go God is there. Do you ever have times when you have looked for God and can’t find Him? Just because you can’t see Him, does that mean He isn’t there?  There are times when it appears that God is missing in action…times when God does not seem to be listening to our prayers or at least not answering them. We need to remain confident that these times are not indicators that God is not there. We may be hearing “wait” or “remain strong”. Could these times be God showing His confidence in us to stay the course even in the midst of struggle?  Job insists that he is staying the course. Even though he cannot find God, he is remaining steadfast in following God’s steps.

Psalm 85 is a reminder of God’s past faithfulness and a plea for God again to forgive. It is a confident statement that God will save His people and bring righteousness and love back to them.