Job 19

^{Job needs a hug.   He needs to know someone is on his side.  Not one of his friends have accomplished that.  Instead, they have tormented Job with their words.  We don't see one of them making sacrifice or supplication to God on Job's behalf.  Sadly, nor do we see that his wife does either.}

Psalm 107:19-20

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;
         He saved them out of their distresses.
    ²⁰He sent His word and healed them,
         And delivered them from their destructions.

^{Lord,You are Sovereign and always worthy of my worship.  Life can be so incomprehensibly difficult.  God, when answers don't come and relief has not taken hold, please let me love as You love me, let me not be afraid to come close to the hurting.  Father, please help me not respond in fear or reproach to a hurting friend.  Please make my hugs, (whether they be physical or spiritual), quick to be given.  Let my words go first to You before I speak to others.  Lord, keep me from explaining Your ways when I don't know them.  Help me to always see Your glory and  Your grace.  And, please help the hurting, the grieving, the despairing, the betrayed.  Give Your comfort to them that need Your divine compassion.  Holy Spirit, touch their spirits, souls and bodies with Your warming presence of healing and wholeness.  Redeem, Lord Jesus, redeem.} 

²³"Oh that my words were written! 
   Oh that they were inscribed in a book! (a perpetual best seller, even)
²⁴Oh that with an iron pen and lead  (Matt. 24.35 - His words do not fail)
   they were engraved in the rock forever!  (if Job only knew)
²⁵For I know that my Redeemer lives, (yes, He lives!  and He ever lives to make intercession for His people, Heb. 7.25)
   and at the last he will stand upon the earth. (Zec. 14.4, Acts 1.11-12)
²⁶And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
   yet in my flesh I shall see God, 
²⁷whom I shall see for myself,
   and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
   My heart faints within me!  (Phil. 2.9-11)

     Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.    1 Timothy 1.17