Saturday, May 23 O that in the Grave you would conceal me, . . . that you would set a time limit for me and remember me.​—Job 14:13.

[Áine]

Saturday, May 23

O that in the Grave you would conceal me, . . . that you would set a time limit for me and remember me.—Job 14:13.

 

Back in Bible times, some of God’s faithful servants were so overwhelmed by their circumstances that they felt that they wanted to die. For example, pain-ridden Job lamented: “I loathe my life; I do not want to go on living.” (Job 7:16) Jonah was so disappointed with the way things had turned out in his assignment that he said: “Now, O Jehovah, please take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:3) Also, at one point the faithful prophet Elijah felt so affected by his situation that he asked that he might die. He said: “It is enough! Now, O Jehovah, take my life away.” (1 Ki. 19:4) However, Jehovah valued those devoted servants and wanted them to live. Instead of condemning how they felt, he helped them to overcome their desire to die and built them up in love so that they could continue serving him faithfully. w18.09 13 ¶4

[Chris7]

Jehovah values his devoted servants, including those who are under great stress and wants  them to live. Especially now we must imitate Jehovah and build up one another in loving attention. 

[Chris7]

The fact that Job, Elijah and Jonah’s prayers are recorded, shows that Jehovah wants us to pour out our disquieting thoughts to him and he listens. These faithful ones were exhausted by the world. It completely realistic during these critical times that we listen to each other and don’t necessarily have to reply, There is a right time to speak.