Praying the Blues - Rooted in Scripture

The book of Job gives us a vivid picture of a man lamenting to God. There are a lot of telling details in the story. For example, Job accepts his suffering from God fairly quietly until his friends start to badger him with religious platitudes. Also, Job never gets the explanation of what is happening behind the scenes as we do. Job begins to lament in chapter 3, and the laments escalate all the way through chapter 37, interspersed with his friends’ comments. God finally addresses Job in chapter 38, but gives no explanation – only a reminder of who he is. As we wonder if we can legitimately address God in lament (like Job), or whether we should stick to “safe” areas (like Job’s friends), pay close attention to the closing of the book.

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Job 10 – “I loathe my very life;

therefore I will give free rein to my complaint

and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.

² I say to God: Do not declare me guilty,

but tell me what charges you have against me.

³ Does it please you to oppress me,

to spurn the work of your hands,

while you smile on the plans of the wicked?

Job 23 - ² “Even today my complaint is bitter;

his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.

³ If only I knew where to find him;

if only I could go to his dwelling!

⁴ I would state my case before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵ I would find out what he would answer me,

and consider what he would say to me.

⁶ Would he vigorously oppose me?

No, he would not press charges against me.

⁷ There the upright can establish their innocence before him,

and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.

Job 38 - Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

         ² “Who is this that obscures my plans

with words without knowledge?

³ Brace yourself like a man;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.

⁴ “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?

Tell me, if you understand. (and God goes on like this.)

Job 42 - Then Job replied to the Lord:

² “I know that you can do all things;

no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

³ You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me to know.

⁴ “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;

I will question you,

and you shall answer me.’

⁵ My ears had heard of you

but now my eyes have seen you.

⁶ Therefore I despise myself

and repent in dust and ashes.”

⁷ After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. ⁸ So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” ⁹ So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.