FOR YOUR LOVE IS MORE DELIGHTFUL THAN WINE. By John Shih
All night long on my bed, I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but I did not find him. (Songs of Songs 3 :1)
We all know the story of Job. When Job was in deep suffering, and was afflicted with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He uses a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes along. In this time of deep distress, everyone abandoned him. He now turns to his 3 friends. Hoping that his 3 friends can have pity on him and comfort his broken heart. However the words of his friends brings more sufferings upon him. The love of his wife and friends has all changed. Those people who he loved the most and closed to him have betrayed him. “A man’s spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit who can hear?” (Proverbs 18:14). Job’s heart now has been crushed, who can he share and bear this with him? Who will care about his feeling now? Job believed only God can comfort him. For his love will never change. Nevertheless though he seek for God with all his heart, he feel God was not there for him, as if God is not there listening to him. He looked for God but can not find him.
Throughout our life there will be times that our burden is really heavy as we bear it all-alone. It seems everyone even our closest friends do not care about us and leave us alone. Though sometimes God may use other people to comfort you. However there are times you feel no one was there, and because of this, you will naturally want to draw near to God. Hope that God can guide your way and help you with your struggles. For we all understand that God will hear every prayer we make to him. However how come all night long I pray to him and speak to him about my troubles, I seek for his love and compassion; I looked for him but I did not find him. At this times we kneel down to pray and cry to him, but is he really there listening to our prayer, it seems not.
At the time when Job is in much suffering, it is the type of suffering we can never imagine and hope we will never experience it. During that moment, Job want to speak with God and tell him all the pain he had suffer but it seems to him God didn’t reply him. Only at the later stage, when he gradually realized the will of God, then God answered him out of the storm. Its only after the sufferings we go through and after understanding the will of God. Then we look back, we’ll then realize, God is there beside us all the time through our hard times…… Oh Lord my God, I wish to draw nearer to you, for your love is delightful than wine.
Reflection:
Have you ever want to draw near to God?
Do you ever feel that at times, when you need God, he isn’t there beside you? Why?