Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
The verse shows open grief after calamity struck, for Job tore his robe and shaved his head, yet fell to the ground and worshiped God. Its setting is God's testing of Job through unexpected dealings, in which He permitted Job to be stripped of earthly possessions and children and to be afflicted in body. That stripping went so far that he was deprived of worldly possessions and so afflicted in body that he was abhorred by relatives and friends.
Amid devastating loss and suffering he remained loyal and preserved his integrity, faith and faithfulness to God. He stands as one of God's appointed witnesses who exposed himself to reproach and persecution for truth's sake. His afflictions were not proof that he had lived sinfully or deserved punishment, nor that God had forsaken him, for severe suffering can coexist with God's care. Close connection with God does not bring prosperity in this life but brings sore trial and affliction.
Such steadfastness witnesses to the faithfulness of God's promises, to His abiding presence and sustaining grace, and to the power of faith to withstand the powers of the world. In the darkest hour it calmly reposes in God in the might of divine power, feeling however sorely tried and tempest-tossed that the Father is at the helm. With the eye of faith alone it looks beyond time and sense, beyond the things of time, to estimate aright the worth of eternal riches and the promise of an inheritance greater than earthly riches that satisfies the soul. God did not prevent the plotting of wicked men against him but caused their devices to work for his good, and in God's time Job was lifted up and shown greater favor than before, showing that suffering may be followed by victory. Profound loss and grief can thus coexist with worship and faithfulness, and his being stripped of everything warns against making possessions and income a reason to avoid sacrifice for God's work.
The verse shows open grief after calamity struck, for Job tore his robe and shaved his head, yet fell to the ground and worshiped God. Its setting is God's testing of Job through unexpected dealings, in which He permitted Job to be stripped of earthly possessions and children and to be afflicted in body. That stripping went so far that he was deprived of worldly possessions and so afflicted in body that he was abhorred by relatives and friends.
Amid devastating loss and suffering he remained loyal and preserved his integrity, faith and faithfulness to God. He stands as one of God's appointed witnesses who exposed himself to reproach and persecution for truth's sake. His afflictions were not proof that he had lived sinfully or deserved punishment, nor that God had forsaken him, for severe suffering can coexist with God's care. Close connection with God does not bring prosperity in this life but brings sore trial and affliction.
Such steadfastness witnesses to the faithfulness of God's promises, to His abiding presence and sustaining grace, and to the power of faith to withstand the powers of the world. In the darkest hour it calmly reposes in God in the might of divine power, feeling however sorely tried and tempest-tossed that the Father is at the helm. With the eye of faith alone it looks beyond time and sense, beyond the things of time, to estimate aright the worth of eternal riches and the promise of an inheritance greater than earthly riches that satisfies the soul. God did not prevent the plotting of wicked men against him but caused their devices to work for his good, and in God's time Job was lifted up and shown greater favor than before, showing that suffering may be followed by victory. Profound loss and grief can thus coexist with worship and faithfulness, and his being stripped of everything warns against making possessions and income a reason to avoid sacrifice for God's work.