Blessed Be the Name of the LORD

Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head;

and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

 “Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked I shall return there."

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

(Job 1:21-22)

Karen led the song for choir practice

and we sang it several times

to be ready to sing it Sunday.

She led it with a serious vision problem in one eye.

She read music and then played piano.

and she said and she sang,

"Blessed Be the Name of the LORD"

After practice, Karen asked for prayer.
She goes for results of an MRI next week.

The song is stuck in my head (that's a good thing)

and I keep meditating on the scripture.

What had the LORD given to Job?

7 Sons

3 Daughters

7,000 Sheep

3,000 Camels

500 Yoke of Oxen

500 Female Donkeys

A Very Large Household

But was it really the LORD that took it all away?
HE allowed it.
But did HE actually take it all away?

Satan presented himself before the LORD

after roaming around all over the earth.

The LORD asked if he had considered Job.

The LORD called Job

blameless, upright, God fearing

and allowed Satan access to everything but his life

And it was all gone.

Stolen, killed, and destroyed

by warring neighbors, fire, and wind.
And Job worshiped. 

Once again,

Was it the LORD

or

was it Satan,

whose plans for us are to

 "kill, steal, and destroy"?

(John 10:10a)

There's a lot of drama in the middle pages of the book,

but in the end, 

Job's faith is stronger

He is more submissive to the LORD

He goes from hearing about the LORD

to seeing Him,

 and he repents.

In the end,

what the LORD took away was Job's

 unbelief

 shame

illness

 poverty

And the LORD gave to Job

fortunes restored twofold

14,000 Sheep

6.000 Camels

1,000 Yoke of Oxen

1.000 female donkeys

consolation from friends and family

gold and silver gifts

7 sons

and
3 daughters

"I have come that they may have life,

and that they may have it more abundantly."

(John 10:10b)   

He lived to be 140 years old

and enjoyed four generations of family

So to all the Karens and Jobs out there

whose vision is clouded

whose health is failing

who have a received a bad report

who've lost fortunes

and who've lost family

May the LORD take away your pains and problems

May He give you health, healing, and peace

May you be able to say with Job and Karen

"Blessed be the Name of the LORD"