Louise Gevers
I will run in the way of your commandments for you set my heart free. Psalm 119:32, ESV
I was very touched, today, when I switched on the News, to get a glimpse of several Remembrance Day Services that had taken place across the country. Though held in different locations, a unity of spirit prevailed, each displaying the same dignity and decorum, as people dressed in sombre colours, stood silently, listening to the ‘Last Post’ and watching dignitaries laying poppy wreaths with deep solemnity. It was a moving scene: humanity honouring courageous people who had paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend their loved ones against an enemy, and enable them to live free.
Freedom, to the human spirit, is so important because it brings with it the privilege of self-determination and individual growth. The right to live according to one’s own culture and beliefs and pursue happiness, and the ability to choose the best life possible in one’s circumstances, captivates our imaginations.
But freedom is double-edged: it can bring great joy as it enables us to pursue our dreams, and enjoy achieving them, but it can also leave us bored and unfulfilled – like children after the first week of school holidays. To be free without a purpose doesn’t necessarily mean continual happiness; it could even lead to despair. Ironically, freedom with restraints adds the missing link it requires.
It never ceases to amaze me how joyfully freeing it is to live life within a framework of limitations, and embrace the boundaries. It makes us secure to know how to respond in a situation and to know that the limits that are in place are for the common good; and by sticking to the system, it frees you to focus on whatever you’re doing with your life. This applies to everything – who hasn’t watched a rugby game where the spectators don’t all boo any infringement of the rules?
I love our verse today because it expresses beautifully how being grounded in God is liberation. No chains to hold us back – we can run with joy. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free …” says Paul, “Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1, NIV)
When God is our focus, and his commandments are embraced, we connect to His perfect goodness, wisdom, love, and grace which have the power to free us from worldly limitations – “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts” (Psalm 119:45, NIV) – and opens to us the beauty of who God is, and what life in Him makes possible.
“Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart – they do no wrong but follow his ways.” (Psalm119:1-3, NIV)
What about us? Have we discovered this life-changing irony?
Prayer: Gracious Father, “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth, and it endures.” (Psalm 119:89-90, NIV) Thank you that to be grounded in You brings me freedom because You light my path and Your Word is true. “I delight in your commands because I love them.” (Psalm 119:47, NIV) Amen.
Louise Gevers
Die pad van u bevele volg ek geesdriftig, want U verruim my insig. Psalm 119:32, 2020-vertaling
Ek was onlangs diep geraak toe ek Nuus kyk en iets sien van verskeie herdenkingsgeleenthede wat op Wapenstilstanddag oral (veral in Brittanje) plaas gevind het. Alhoewel dit op verskillende plekke gehou is, het daar tog 'n gees van eenheid geheers, by elke geleentheid was dieselfde waardigheid en dekorum te bespeur. Mense, in somber kleredrag, het stil gestaan en luister na die Laaste Taptoe en gekyk hoe hoogwaardigheidsbekleërs plegtig die rooi poppiekranse neerlê. Dit was 'n roerende toneel: die mensdom wat dapperes vereer wat alles opgeoffer het om hulle geliefdes teen die vyand te verdedig en hulle in staat te stel om in vryheid te kan leef.
Vir die menslike gees is vryheid belangrik want daarmee saam kom die voorreg van selfbeskikking en individuele groei. Die reg om volgens jou eie kultuur en oortuigings te leef, geluk na te jaag en die beste lewe moontlik in jou omstandighede te kan kies, gryp ons verbeelding aan.
Vryheid is egter tweeledig: dit kan groot blydskap bring, want dit stel ons in staat om ons drome na te jaag en dit te geniet wanneer hulle waar word, maar dit kan ons ook verveeld en onvervuld laat – soos kinders na die eerste week van die vakansie. Om vry te wees sonder 'n doel beteken nie voortdurende geluk nie; dit kan selfs tot wanhoop lei. Ironies genoeg, vir geluk is beperkings die ontbrekende skakel in vryheid wat benodig word.
Ek staan steeds verstom oor hoe heerlik bevrydend dit is om binne 'n raamwerk met beperkings te leef, en die grense te aanvaar. Dit laat ons veilig voel om te weet hoe om in 'n spesifieke situasie te reageer en te weet dat die beperkings daar is vir gemeenskaplike belang. Deur die stelsel te volg, bevry jy jou om te fokus op wat jy ook al met jou lewe doen. Dit geld vir alles – wie het nog nie na 'n rugbywedstryd gekyk waar die toeskouers nie luidkeels van hulle laat hoor vir enige oortreding van die reëls nie?
Ek hou van vandag se teksvers wat so mooi verduidelik dat om aan God verbonde te wees, is vryheid. Daar is geen kettings wat ons terughou nie – ons kan die pad met geesdrif volg. "Vryheid is waarvoor Christus ons bevry het", sê Paulus. "Staan dan vas, en laat julle nie weer onder 'n juk van slawerny indwing nie!" (Galasiërs 5:1)
Wanneer God ons fokuspunt is en ons sy gebooie onderhou, is ons verbind aan sy volmaakte goedheid, wysheid, liefde en genade wat die krag het om ons van wêreldse beperkings te bevry – " Ek wil in hierdie wye ruimte voortbeweeg, want u opdragte ondersoek ek" (Psalm 119:45) – en ons oë te open vir wie God is en wat 'n lewe in Hom alles moontlik maak.
"Gelukkig is mense wie se lewenspad onberispelik is en wat die wet van die Here volg! Gelukkig is hulle wat hou by sy bepalings, wat Hom met hulle hele hart soek; wat ook nie onreg pleeg nie, maar net sy paaie volg!" (Psalm 119:1-3)
Wat van ons? Het jy al hierdie lewensveranderende ironie ontdek?
Gebed: Genadige Vader, "vir ewig, Here, staan u woord vas in die hemel. Van geslag tot geslag duur u trou; U het die aarde gevestig en dit hou stand." (Psalm 119:89-90) Dankie dat om aan U verbonde te wees, my vry maak want U verlig my pad en u Woord is waar. "Ek vind vreugde in u bevele wat ek liefhet." (Psalm 119:47) Amen
Louise Gevers
My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed. Job 20:2, NIV
When you consider that our verse today is taken from the oldest book in the Bible, wasn’t Solomon right when he observed, “that there is nothing new under the sun”? (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Yesterday, as we reflected on the depth of suffering in the book of Job, didn’t we feel ‘troubled’ by Job’s experiences, especially as we confronted the endless nature of his suffering as he endured pain upon pain, in God’s apparent absence? We’ve all felt the pain and loneliness of loss, and of not understanding why.
Job needed time to come to terms with his grief and loss, and the ear of a compassionate soul when he needed to speak; someone who cared and would be a comfort to a bereft man covered in painful sores, living a bleak life with a callous wife.
Alienated from a life that was once full, Job would certainly agree with Mother Teresa’s view that, “Loneliness and the feeling of being uncared for and unwanted are the greatest poverty.” Job’s experiences had left him impoverished and in need of hope. Hope appeared in the form of his three friends who’d “met together by agreement to go and sympathise with him and comfort him.” (Job 2:11)
They were horrified by what had happened to their friend, hardly recognising him at first, but patiently and silently, they sat with him, “for seven days and seven nights” (Job 2:13) respecting Job’s need for peace to work through his grief and loss; and, keeping him company.
Finally, Job spoke; and pouring out his anguished thoughts, released each man’s verdict of him. Gone was their empathy, Job’s needs forgotten, as each friend, without reflection, pronounced his ready judgement on Job’s suffering, further alienating him, and increasing his sorrow as they decided that he was to blame – as a direct result of his sin – and that he needed to repent for God to restore him.
Eliphaz tells him, “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so, do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17) Bildad insults him with “Your words are a blustering wind …” and then, cruelly, “When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.” (Job 8:2b,4) Lastly, Zophar’s words added to the attack: “Oh how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom …” (Job:11 5-6a)
What about us?
What are our words to a friend in need? Do we help others with our words and actions, prompted by love after mindful self-reflection, or do “[our] troubled thoughts prompt [us] to answer because [we are] greatly disturbed” like Zophar? We need to ask God for help and divine insight because we don’t have all the answers.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for what You show us of ourselves through Job and his friends, and for what You teach us through them. Help me to respond with compassion to others in need, not motivated by my own anxiety, but in the power of the wisdom, You give, which will lighten their mind and bring joy to their heart. Amen
Louise Gevers
“Ontsteltenis dwing my om te antwoord, dit maak my haastig om te praat. Job 20:2, 1983-vertaling
Neem 'n mens in ag dat vandag se teksvers kom uit wat baie geleerdes as die oudste boek in die Bybel beskou, was Salomo seker reg toe hy gesê het: "Daar is niks nuuts in hierdie wêreld nie." (Prediker 1:9b)
Gister, toe ons oor die diepte van lyding in die boek Job nagedink het, het al Job se rampe en lyding, veral die eindelose aard daarvan,en al die pyn wat hy in die oënskynlike afwesigheid van God moes verduur, 'n mens werklik ontstel. Ons almal het al die pyn en verlatenheid van verlies beleef, en dan sonder om te verstaan hoekom.
Job het tyd benodig om sy hartseer en verlies te verwerk, asook die oor van 'n deernisvolle persoon wanneer hy nodig gehad het om te praat, iemand wat omgee en hom – 'n bedroefde man oordek met pynlike sere wat 'n somber lewe met 'n gevoellose vrou gelei het – sou vertroos.
Job, vervreemd van 'n lewe wat eens vol was, sou sekerlik met Moeder Teresa saamstem toe sy gesê het: "Eensaamheid en die gevoel dat mense nie vir jou omgee nie en jou verwerp, is die grootste armoede." Job se ervarings het hom verarm en met 'n behoefte aan hoop gelaat. Hoop het gekom in die vorm van sy drie vriende wat "afgespreek [het] om deelneming met hom te betuig en hom te troos." (Job 2:11)
Hulle was geskok oor wat met hulle vriend gebeur het, hom amper eers nie herken nie, maar hulle het geduldig en sonder woorde vir "sewe dae en sewe nagte lank" (Job 2:13) by hom gesit. Hulle het Job se behoefte aan vrede en om sy hartseer en verlies te verwerk, gerespekteer en hulle was net daar vir hom.
Uiteindelik het Job gepraat en sy beangste hart uitgestort, wat toe aanleiding gegee het dat die mans hom veroordeel het. Weg was hulle empatie, sy behoeftes vergete, en elkeen van die vriende het sonder nadenke 'n uitspraak oor Job se lyding gelewer. Dit het hom verder vervreem en sy lyding vererger aangesien hulle besluit het hy was te blameer – 'n direkte gevolg van sy sonde – en hy moet sy sonde bely sodat God hom kan herstel.
Elifas sê vir hom: “Dit gaan goed met die mens wat deur God tereggewys word. Jy moet nie die bestraffing van die Almagtige verontagsaam nie." (Job 5:17) Bildad beledig hom deur te sê: "Die woorde van jou mond is bloot 'n groot klomp wind" en dan voeg hy wreed by: "As jou kinders teen Hom gesondig het, het Hy hulle aan hulle oortreding oorgelaat." (Job 8:2b,4, 2020-vertaling) Laastens tree Sofar toe en sê: "As God maar wou begin praat en jou wou weerspreek, jou wou vertel hoe ingewikkeld die wysheid is ..." (Job 11:5-6a)
Wat doen ons?
Wat sê ons vir 'n vriend in nood? Help ons ander deur woorde en dade gedring deur liefde, en nadat ons daaroor nagedink het, of "[dwing] ontsteltenis [ons] om te antwoord, maak [dit ons] haastig om te praat", soos Sofar? Ons moet die Here vra vir hulp en insig, want ons het nie al die antwoorde nie.
Gebed: Hemelse Vader, dankie vir dit wat U ons deur Job en sy vriende van onsself wys en leer. Help my om met deernis te reageer op ander in nood, nie gemotiveer deur my eie angs nie, maar in die krag en wysheid wat U gee en wat hulle harte en verstand sal verlig en blydskap sal bring. Amen