Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: REDEEM (03/03/22)
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TITLE: Iyov's Yearning | Previous Challenge Entry
By Avigail David
03/10/22 -
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Iyov lived in Uz.
Blameless, feared God; evil he shunned.
Upright all his days, delighted in God’s command.
Wealthiest in the land where hell is loose
Among friends, neighbors, and devout religious.
Of haughty spirit, he refrained.
He filled the earth with riches, all from Almighty’s hand.
Iyov’s seasoned godliness in the land of Uz.
Iyov’s sons and daughters partied and wasted.
After they’d danced and wined in debauchery,
He’d summoned them in love, “Redeem their soul, Beloved.”
Early mornings burnt offerings he lifted to Yahweh for each child consecrated.
Prayed, “My children might have sinned, scorned God in every
Imagination of thoughts gravely twisted.
God
God designed a one-day plan.
“Satan, you’ve been roaming the earth, wandering here and there.
Notice my servant Iyov? Of My love, he’s aware.
There’s no godly like him on earth, blameless and upright one.
Who fears Me with all his heart. Holds to integrity from night to dawn.
Though you provoke Me against him, destroy him in snare.
For no reason strip Iyov bare.
Iyov will call upon Me to save. So, for one day, you can.
Satan
Skin for skin! A human will give up everything
He has to redeem dear life. But if You reach out Your hand,
Touch his flesh and bone, without doubt
He’ll curse You to Your face! I swear it with my wing!”
You give Iyov in my hand. I will strike him, harass Your servant.
But as You say, I will spare his life only calamity I’ll bring about.
And so, then, the plan began.
Righteous, rained with enormous fortune,
Unawares laden to staggering destitution.
Death took all his children,
Servants, livestock in a quick span.
Bandits, terrorists captured his cattle, gold and iron.
Satan, adversarial angel and legion,
God put to test Iyov’s faith at the behest of Satan.
As sure as the sun was shining, his world shattered.
Understood and saw, “Naked, from my mother’s womb, I came.”
“I will return naked. Yahweh, from whom life
And every Heaven’s gift has taken. Though He reproved,
I bless my Creator, call upon His Name
Your ways are good, Your compassion is nigh.”
Satan festered Iyov’s suffering.
Struck him with severe boils horribly infected
From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.
Broken, distraught slashed himself grieving.
Sat down in dust and ashes, his soul mourning.
“Does God exact pain and loss, light denied?
Let my oppressors in my dying chide?
Wife, foolish woman you are. Why say to me, ‘Die! Curse Him, for God is lying!’”
Iyov’s friends consoled him, spirited debate ensued.
They explored issues of theodicy and doctrine.
And of God’s justice.
“Happy is the man, whom God rebukes,” they bemused.
"Think back: what innocent person perishes God has to discipline?”
“If I were you, I’d seek God; Redeem your peace.”
Iyov
“Stop! I long for the grave as buried treasure,
In the ground there is peace.
Leave me alone, I yearn for my soul’s release.
Adonai does right by me, in His own time and pleasure.
He moves past me, about me and He will answer.
His strength so great — His heart is so wise,
Who can resist Him and succeed and see His face?
He does wonders, will search for me from the grave, capture.
I will argue with God, and choose every word.
I will pursue my query;
I will speak out my soul’s bitterness.
I will say, ‘Don’t condemn me like a piercing sword!
Tell me why You have ordained my misery.
What do You gain from my helplessness?'
You made me, spurned me in Your image by Your hand,
You redeemed the world from nothing to make Your dwelling place.
The deer, the birds and the fish can teach me Your truth and grace.
So, can You speak to me and I shall learn Your ways’ command?
If You will kill me, first, explain to me why, I demand.
Where have I done wrong? I will defend my ways.
And if this is what will save me-- I pray-- tell me now to my face.
Will You, I plead, appeal to my deliverance?
“Please, Adonai, the living God.
Deny me not of Your salvation.
And by Your glory forever,
Deal with me in Your righteousness, O LORD.
You are my praise and adoration.
Let us reason together.
*Iyov, Hebrew name of Job
Job 6:23 or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand?' or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the oppressors?'
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