Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)

For the text of the readings go the end of the sermon.

Three words I utterly hate to utter: “I don’t know.” Shortly after arriving in Arlington, barely knowing how to get here myself, I’m asked for directions. And wouldn’t you know, I tried to give directions! I think I did okay, but why didn’t I say, “I don’t know” and help find a map?!

I’ve heard that hating to say “I don’t know” is a guy thing. But I don’t believe it. Certainly this is not limited mainly to guys, is it? I suspect that it’s a human thing. We want to know and be in the know. And we don’t want to appear ignorant!

However, I’ve discovered with myself that when a topic of conversation comes up about which I’m clueless, I have a choice. I can try to cover my lack of knowledge. Or, I can swallow my fear that I’ll look ignorant and just admit “I don’t know.” When I do that the act of saying, “I don’t know” can actually be liberating. I may be exposed as ignorant, of course. But, “I don’t know” also puts me in position to listen and learn. And my interlocutor has the opportunity to inform me.

The book of Job concentrates on four men who are convinced they know how the world works and how human nature, success and suffering fit into the order of the universe. For over 30 chapters Job and his friends have been debating the cause of Job’s trials. All three of them believe suffering is directly related to morality. Even Job has learned and advocated the worldview they are debating. That’s why he’s railing and lashing out against God’s injustice and silence. “If God would just show up, I’d argue my case and prove the injustice of my suffering.”

Now, let’s not be too hard on these guys. They are the sages, scholars, and—should we say—scientists of the day? They carefully observe the ways of humans and the course of nature. It’s tempting today to chide their rationale as superstitious or mythological. But let’s stop and think about it: a thousand years from now what will the centers of knowledge chuckle at about our 21st century knowledge? What will appear naive, superstitious and unbelievable? Where will we be judged as having been gullible or just plain ignorant?

So here are the scholars of the day arguing with Job, himself a sage, who rails against their “findings,” theories and standards. They say he’s in violation of the order of nature. He vehemently protests. Finally, in chapter 31, he protests that he’s innocent if God would just listen. And then he goes silent as do his friends.

Into the silence interrupts Elihu, a young scholar. He’s angry at all four! Angry at the three for giving up on Job and Job for being stubborn. He then launches into an extended defense of God, the accepted order of the world, and why Job is guilty and offensive for refusing to repent. Elihu goes on for six chapters. Concluding, he warns Job to be careful because God does not regard any who justify themselves!

Then we have today’s reading. God speaks up. God answers whom? Job! Not Elihu? It’s like the last six chapters aren’t there! Does God just ignore Elihu? Some scholars suggest that Elihu’s speech is a later addition, that originally Job 31:40 is followed immediately by today’s lesson. But, um, do we really know? “I don’t know.” Might it be that God ignores the speech and the “wisdom” it espouses? Indeed, fast forward to the end of the book and God will say that the friends were wrong about God, and Job was correct. God commands them to ask Job to offer sacrifices for them for their lack of knowledge. Maybe God is just ignoring Elihu’s speech.

At any rate, God finally answers Job and God answers in kind, “Come on Job, gird yourself like a man if you think you can take me on!” But God doesn’t address any of Job’s questions. Instead God launches into a series of questions for Job. God asks repeatedly“where were you” in the creation of the world and the care of its creatures?

Here’s what I find fascinating. Humans don’t even factor into God’s recounting of creation! And many of the animals to which God refers are predators or “useless” by human standards. All of them are wild animals. For example, God asks if Job can hunt the lion’s prey and feed the lion’s hungry cubs? Well, think about it. The prey that feeds the lion and her cubs is none other than the sheep of Job’s flocks that he lost as part of his suffering! Or, later, in a verse not read today, God seems to ask if the ostrich is immoral for forgetting where she lay her eggs and ignoring or stepping on them?

Job is silenced. In chapter 40 all he can say is “I don’t know” and listen as Yahweh continues his soliloquy. Then in chapter 42 at the end of God’s speech, Job cries out, “I thought I knew you. But now I have seen you.” and Job repents—or completely changes his mental view of the world.

Could it be that in facing the expanse of creation Job, and we who consider ourselves in the know, realize that humanity’s concerns are not the center of the universe! Nor does our highly refined knowledge measure what really matters in the world? In fact, we like Job can become so focused on our formulas and expectations of the way things are that we actually miss more than we see and completely miss our place in the order of things. We’re convinced that our explanations are the way things really are.

Nowadays, many among us even think that biblical “creation” can be read like a science, providing predictable answers. But here in Job it’s the opposite. Being confronted by creation silences human explanations and renders our formulas moot. Job’s—and our—sagely,scientific, questions remain unanswered. But Job is a changed man.

The book of Job finally settles in the heart of human hubris. We who so frequently are driven to control nature, are we being challenged by God to recognize how little we really know? Can we be humble enough and bold enough to live in the wonder and awe of Creation?

Amen.

(Both of the Scripture quotations below are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted, 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. All rights reserved.)

Job 38:1-7, 34-41
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind:
2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
3 Gird up your loins like a man,
I will question you, and you shall declare to me.

4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone
7 when the morning stars sang together
and all the heavenly beings shouted for joy?

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds,
so that a flood of waters may cover you?
35 Can you send forth lightnings, so that they may go
and say to you, ‘Here we are’?
36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts,
or given understanding to the mind?
37 Who has the wisdom to number the clouds?
Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens,
38 when the dust runs into a mass
and the clods cling together?

39 “Can you hunt the prey for the lion,
or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
40 when they crouch in their dens,
or lie in wait in their covert?
41 Who provides for the raven its prey,
when its young ones cry to God,
and wander about for lack of food?

Hebrews 5:1-10
Every high priest chosen from among mortals is put in charge of things pertaining to God on their behalf, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is subject to weakness; 3 and because of this he must offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. 4 And one does not presume to take this honor, but takes it only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
5 So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”;
6 as he says also in another place,
“You are a priest forever,
according to the order of Melchizedek.”

7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.