How Long?
How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit?
Job 7:19
+
How Long?
How long? It’s a question posed to God in the Bible more than once. Here Job focuses on what he perceives to be God’s punishing of him for his sins. He asks how long the penalty will last, how long will God keep His focus on Job and his punishment. Though we don’t agree with Job that this is God’s fault, we can understand why Job would react this way. We might also be tempted to think this is the only reasonable way a person would react, but this is simply not the case. Listen to David as he is suffering in his own way as Saul attempts to bring about his demise, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:1–2) So on the one hand we have Job not wanting God’s attention and the on the other David, turning to God for rescue, thinking he has been abandoned. This just goes to prove that we fallen creatures will blame God no matter what. And yet though it all God does not turn His attention away from His people nor does He abandon them. Through it all God is the one constant which we can trust in. He is our rock of salvation in an otherwise fragile existence. In Christ we have salvation and can with David proclaim, “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me,” (Psalm 13:5–6), and with Job, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (19:25)
Job 7:19
+
How Long?
How long? It’s a question posed to God in the Bible more than once. Here Job focuses on what he perceives to be God’s punishing of him for his sins. He asks how long the penalty will last, how long will God keep His focus on Job and his punishment. Though we don’t agree with Job that this is God’s fault, we can understand why Job would react this way. We might also be tempted to think this is the only reasonable way a person would react, but this is simply not the case. Listen to David as he is suffering in his own way as Saul attempts to bring about his demise, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day? How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?” (Psalm 13:1–2) So on the one hand we have Job not wanting God’s attention and the on the other David, turning to God for rescue, thinking he has been abandoned. This just goes to prove that we fallen creatures will blame God no matter what. And yet though it all God does not turn His attention away from His people nor does He abandon them. Through it all God is the one constant which we can trust in. He is our rock of salvation in an otherwise fragile existence. In Christ we have salvation and can with David proclaim, “But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, because he has dealt bountifully with me,” (Psalm 13:5–6), and with Job, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” (19:25)
Recent
Archive
2026
January
In The GardenBy Your Own LawA Kingdom Not From HereThe King Who Bears Witness to the TruthWhich Jesus Will You Have?Behold the King We MockedBehold the Man, Lifted for YouAuthority from Above, Glory from the CrossBehold Your King, Lifted Up to JudgeThe Place of the SkullIt Is WrittenEvery Promise KeptStabat MaterIt Is FinishedThese Three TestifyA True TestimonyA Quiet Courage at the CrossThe Empty Tomb and the Wounded SaviorSeeing, Believing, and the Linen Left BehindCalled by Name in the GardenDo Not Cling, Go and TellPeace in Wounded HandsThe Wounds That Speak Peace
2025
January
Not AshamedIn Every RespectWe Are In His HouseHear His VoiceTodayBut You BelieveRest in ChristRest in FaithRest in Christ’s WordConfidence in Our Great High PriestOur Eternal High PriestCalled by GracePerfect Through SufferingA Little MilkFoundationGod Comes to UsFaith in ChristObtaining the PromiseThe King of PeaceBlessed by the SuperiorA Priest Forever in ChristThe Forever PriestA Better HopeOur Eternal IntercessorOur Perfect High PriestOur Eternal High PriestThe Better Covenant in ChristA New CovenantPromises KeptOnly The High PriestNot the Blood of Goats
February
Only at DeathOnce and For AllImpossibleThe Perfect SacrificeThe Once-for-All SacrificeOnce for AllForgiven Once for AllDraw Near with a True HeartA Fearful ThingRemembering with JoyEnduranceOf Things Not SeenBecause of LoveBy FaithThe Builder is GodAs Good As DeadStrangers HereFaith in the God Who ProvidesFaith Looks Beyond the PresentBy Faith, Not FearBy Faith, Not by SightFaith That EnduresPerfected in ChristEyes on JesusDisciplineCast His Eye On YouIt HurtsWeak Knees
March
Strive for PeaceNo Fire For YouMount ZionAn Unshakable KingdomA Kingdom That Cannot Be ShakenBrotherly Love in ChristConfidence in ChristSteadfast in ChristOutside the CampSacrifices of PraiseJoyful Obedience in ChristPray for Your PastorsEquipped by the Blood of ChristEncouragement in ChristGrace Be With You AllGod’s Sovereign HandFaithful in a Foreign LandFaithful in the Small Things