CYPRESSWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST
February 15, 2003
KEEP PRAYING FOR THE FOLLOWING:
Our congregation David and Leon in the Navy
Our college students The Stolte’s in Germany
various friends, relatives and co-workers Our nation, military and leaders
EVENTS COMING:
Feb. 25 - The Passion of the Christ
May 6 - National Day of Prayer
A FEW QUESTIONS
“Do you know the laws of the heaven Or impose its authority on earth?” (Job 38:33 - Jewish Study Bible).
Music has always been an important part of culture. Whether it’s scripture, fiction, or the modern world, music says much about who we are and what we are thinking. In our country we have a number of styles of music. Most of have our likes and dislikes. Sometimes a song will address a Biblical topic in a way we might not have thought, but once listening to it, we understand. Such is a song by country singer Clay Walker. Mr. Walker has some form of MS, which makes this song even more powerful. It is called “A Few Questions.” Here are the words:
How in this world can we put a man on the moon and still have a need for a place like St. Jude?
And why is one man born in a place where all they know is war And a guy like me has always been free?
And how can two people who built a loving home, try for years and never have a child of their own
and somewhere out there tonight is a baby no one is holding tight, in need of love?
To me that don’t add up
But I wasn’t there the day You filled up the ocean.
I didn’t get to see You hang the stars in the sky.
so I don’t mean to second guess You or criticize when I don’t understand;
these are just a few questions I have.
And why did my cousin have to die in that crash?
A good kid only seventeen I still wonder about that.
It seems unfair to me some get the chance to chase their dreams and some don’t,
what do I know.
I wasn’t there the day You filled up the ocean.
I didn’t get to see You hang the stars in the sky.
So I don’t mean to second guess You or criticize when I don’t understand;
these are just a few questions I have.
Why do I feel like You hear these prayers of mine and so many ought to be ahead of me in line?
When You look down on me can You see the good through all the bad?
These are just a few questions I have.
Doesn’t that sound like Job? How about Habakkuk? Or Jeremiah? Or one of the Psalmists? And don’t we often ask similar questions? We face personal struggles and ask “why.” We see young men and women give their lives on foreign soil for their country and wonder if it all is necessary. We see people who have everything depressed and worried while those who have little and struggle with disease or disability live a life of joy.
The song has good theology straight out of the book of Job. Job asked why he was going through all that he was and demanded that God answer him. How does God answer? With questions. Mr. Walker turned it around a little by saying I wasn’t there the day You filled up the ocean. I didn’t get see You hang the stars in the sky. God answered Job by asking a series of questions about creation. Job bowed in humility.
Then Mr. Walker says something that is very important and something that is often missed. So I don’t mean to second guess you or criticize you when I don’t understand; these are just a few questions I have. Some have the opinion that one cannot questioned God; scripture shows that this point of view isn’t correct. People in the Bible often cried out with questions when they did not understand. It doesn’t mean that God will answer them but He is listening. In our grief, suffering, disappointment, and struggle, asking God “why” or “how long” is a means of communication with our Father. He will not be “hurt” by such. In fact, He understands our struggles (see Hebrews 2:18 and 4:14-16). Our task, difficult as it is, is to keep our eyes fixed on God in Christ.
One final thought from the song. Can God see the good through all the bad? When You look down on me can You see the good through all the bad? Do we not wonder at times if God is not only not listening to us but through all our sin looking at us as a loving Father for a concerned child? Am I good enough? We all know the answer to that: no. But God is the loving, gracious and merciful Father who has provided the means of redemptive relationship through Jesus Christ. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his son, purifies us from all sins…If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7, 9).
Here is a modern song that brings out Biblical truth and a beautiful tune. It has many lessons that we can learn from because of its Biblical roots.
George B. Mearns