Job 29:12, “because I rescued the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to assist him.”
Job 31:21, “if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, knowing that I had influence in court, Job 31:22 then let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint. Job 31:23 For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things.” (Job 31:21 – 23)
Fatherlessness is area of deep concern for God. God’s heart is to be a father to the fatherless as the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 68:5 “A father to the fatherless… is God in his holy dwelling.” Job seemed to have God’s heartbeat for the fatherless. Many people, especially young boys, walk with a limp like Jacob (Gen. 32:25), because they have grown up without a father. They are left to wrestle through life without a father in their corner imparting into their lives. However, what choice does the fatherless have? It therefore becomes the responsibility of the church to care for the orphan, the fatherless. We live in the most fatherless generation ever and statistics tell the grave testimony of fatherlessness.
Job rescued the fatherless. “I rescued the …the fatherless who had none to assist him.” Job didn’t merely talk about the need to help fatherless children, he did something about it. What did he do, I am not exactly sure, but in any case, he did something that merited rescuing them from their situation as Isaiah wrote, “Defend the cause of the fatherless (1:17).” There are many needs in the world today. What can you do to make a difference in the life of one fatherless child?
Job felt the pain of the fatherless. “…let my arm fall from the shoulder, let it be broken off at the joint.” Mr. Good, as a medical man, is at home in the translation of this verse:- “May my shoulder-bone be shivered at the blade, And mine arm be broken off at the socket.” Let judgment fall particularly on those parts which have either done wrong, or refused to do right when in their power.” Solomon wrote, “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act (Prov 3:27).” Job seemed to see a means of helping the need at some level. I imagine that he felt that if he failed to meet the need that he saw, he deserved the consequence of his arm falling off from his shoulder blade and breaking once it hit the ground. WOW, that is a vivid picture of caring! God gave Job an arm to reach out to meet the need, and it would have been purposeless for Job to have an arm, if he would not extend it to meet the need toward the fatherless.
It’s the Job (occupation) of the church to be like Job (the person). We are one body with many parts as the body of Christ. One part of that body is the arms to reach out as God’s arms extended. If we don’t reach out as the body of Christ, then should not our arm fall off and break as well if we fail to use it in the manner in which God intended?. Of course there are many needs to reach out to meet; perhaps that is why the body has two arms showing that this is an endeavor which we should be doubly diligent in. If Job’s arm failed to bring healing to the broken heart of the fatherless, then he felt that his arm should feel the brokenness that their hearts feel, a constant throbbing pain that does go away by placing a “band aid” on it. There are many without a physical father, and of course many without a heavenly Father.
Application: This devotion is a very different one for me. Perhaps your life has been directly influenced by this issue. Perhaps you had a wonderful father. Perhaps you are personally connected with this need. There are those that you know as well without a relationship with the Heavenly Father. Pray and ask God the Father what He would have you to do and then trust and obey.
Until the nets are filled…Blessings, Pastor Phil <><
He Has Magnified His Word 