Sermon 13, Job 3:20-26
It is hard to imagine that John Calvin’s daily, weekly, monthly schedule wasn’t well planned out. He must have been a very organized person. It is a rabbit hole to think about time management in Geneva in 1554. Calvin may have had a personal timepiece but many of his parishioners would not have had one and instead relied upon church bells or town criers. Darkness would have dictated which activities were permissible and when, as would the ability to afford and appropriate candles or oil for lamps. Then there is the organization of heating, and further to that, cooking and meal preparation along with personal hygiene. Calvin was obviously a busy person. He needed to schedule time to pray, write his sermons, there were likely other writing responsibilities, and then there were meetings with parishioners. What about meetings with other church leaders, many of which must have been set in the future with the passing of days marked only by signage in the church or a carefully maintained diary? All very challenging. Planning must have been of vital importance for success.
What has this to do with our sermon and reading from Job? Today’s sermon could be taken in a dark direction. Job continues his lament. Job questions why are we alive, and isn’t death preferable? Calvin does address the “life is hopeless, I wish I was dead” part of Job’s lament. But of more practical application, at least to me today, is Calvin’s focus on the verse: “Why is light given to the man whose way is hidden and has been closed in by God?” Calvin addresses the futility of man making future plans. He writes “[Men] wish to jump into the clouds to learn the course of their entire lives. And we see how they plan: ‘I will do this and that’”. But, Calvin points out, God often appears to disrupt these plans such that we become “bewildered” and “do not know what will become of us.” These feelings inevitably lead us into feeling “overwhelmed” or even “destroyed”. So what do we do? Calvin’s advice is predictable, (1) trust God’s providence as He knows infinitely more than we do and, after all, planning your life is presumptuous that you are in charge (spoiler, you aren’t and you shouldn’t want to be), (2) read the scripture, not least because there are many examples of great men who had their plans ruined, together with lots of comfort about God being in charge, and (3) pray, reflect, be mindful and calm just like Paul, or even the stoics.
Calvin’s lifestyle indicates that he himself believed in planning. So how did he not get frustrated when his plans didn’t workout? I think a clue might be that he wrote 159 sermons on the Book of Job that were delivered sometime between early 1554 and mid 1555. I doubt he planned 159 sermons. It seems more likely to me that is just how many he ended up needing. After all, as an example, the book has 42 chapters which doesn’t seem to be evenly divisible into 159 and in some of his sermons he actually goes backwards to revisit the scripture reading from the previous day. Also, what was special about starting the sermons when he did in 1554? Was much (any?) attention put into when they would end? My point being that Calvin must have planned, but that he sat very loosely to those plans. He must have been very amiable to having his routine upset and then just returning to it when he was able, apparently (I assume) without frustration. He certainly didn’t throw up his hands in despair and give up. Mission statement: preach on all of Job; Strategic plan: …err, hmm, to complete said mission as and when I am able to! Or, more accurately, as God permits.
I wish I could do that. I hope I can do that. Presently I am closer to Job. I want to know my near future and put too much stock on my present circumstances.
There is a lot in this sermon. I didn’t touch on Calvin’s discussion of how we shouldn’t want to die because we have a purpose, although, briefly Calvin covers: (a) wanting to die because we are such sinners and are cognizant that we deserve punishment is, at least, understandable, and (b) wanting to die because we long to be saved from this world and in heaven is appropriate but negates our life’s purposes. Instead, and in line with my take away on the theme of planning, there is a useful list of why God chastises/frustrates us. There are also three prayers which are quite beautiful. I have copied these below:
Why God chastises us and perhaps ruins our plans (page 149):
- Our (past) sins are great, infinite even.
- We have unwholesome desires.
- We are too attached to this world.
- We are prideful and presumptuous.
- Our faith must be tested.
Regarding my plans, the list above suggests that (a) I am not in control, I should stop pretending like I am, (b) even if I was in control, I am so flawed that my own plans are likely stupid, and (c) this arena (planning) seems a good way for God to both test and train me in trusting Him over myself, i.e. fix points (a) and (b).
The three prayers:
Lord, I am a pitiable creature. I do not know what will become of me or what I will do if you do not receive me in mercy and show pity by alleviating this affliction, which I can no longer bear. (Page 148).
Lord, I know my weakness. As long as you want to keep me in the world, well, I am here, and there is good reason for me to remain here, but whenever it is your will to remove me, I do not hold my life of great account. It is always at your command to do with as you please. (Page 153).
Lord, it is true that my life is fragile, but you know what is to become of me. You have foreseen it. So, Lord, I place myself in your hands. I would have cares that would greatly torment and afflict me, but I cast them into your bosom. If I can be sure of abiding under your protection and safekeeping, I will be content. (Page 155).