Job 12:13-25
With God are wisdom and strength;
he has counsel and understanding.
If he tears down, no one can rebuild;
if he shuts someone in, no one can open up.
If he withholds the waters, they dry up;
if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
With him are strength and wisdom;
the deceived and the deceiver are his.
He leads counselors away stripped
and makes fools of judges.
He looses the sash of kings
and binds a waistcloth on their loins.
He leads priests away stripped
and overthrows the mighty.
He deprives of speech those who are trusted
and takes away the discernment of the elders.
He pours contempt on princes
and looses the belt of the strong.
He uncovers deep things from the darkness
and brings deep darkness to light.
He makes nations great, then destroys them;
he enlarges nations, then leads them away.
He strips understanding from the leaders of the earth
and makes them wander in a pathless waste.
They grope in the dark without light;
he makes them stagger like a drunkard.
I know; Job seems like an odd choice at Advent, but this passage from Job speaks to providence of God and how all of our world is dependent upon God’s provision. It is a reminder that God’s power is evident when we consider the natural world and in how even the strongest among us must ultimately rely on God. God has the power to loosen the belt of the strong and overthrow the mighty. Yet, in the midst of all that power, God’s grace, mercy, and love continue to be offered to us. In this season of Advent, may we find comfort in the fact that God’s is all powerful and still continues to loves us and guide us to walk in the paths of righteousness.
Prayer
Almighty God, we rejoice at Your power over all creation, including us. We celebrate Your goodness in our lives, even when we struggle to see it. Strengthen us to trust in Your provision, providence, and love. Empower us to walk in Your ways and to show Your love to all others we encounter today. Amen.
