Job 7:3

Indeed, I am allotted, moons of futility.

   Nights of misery, apportioned to me.

(Written 3/28, Posted 4/10 )

Moons and nights remind me that Moon Knight from Marvel comes out this week. I have no knowledge of the character, but am still interested as I liked the actor from the Rogue One Star Wars movie. With today being my birthday, I was hoping to see a good movie in the theater, but nothing looks worthy. Is this my futility and misery?

“Indeed” won out over the bland “so”, and the logical “thus”. “Thus” is probably better, but I will hold off on making a change. “Allotted” won out over “granted”, “am heir”, and from the King James “made to possess.” I like “made to possess”, but will again hold off on a change. “Moons of futility” won over “months of emptiness”, “months of futility”, “months of vanity”, “blank moons”, and “futile moons”. I made up the “moons of futility” from the base words, but I feel it captures the intent and poetic feel.

“Miserable” nights won out over “wearisome”, “troubled”, and “wretched”. “Apportioned” won out over “assigned”, “appointed”, “my lot”, “allotted”, and “meted out”. No big meaning shifts with any of these.

After setting out the course of man in the previous verse, Job picks up his cross to bear as well. I see “moons of futility” as an exaggeration that attempts to capture the feelings he has built up over his time atop the dung heap. The “misery of nights” is just a hint at what is to come.

So far today I have been denied a croissant for breakfast due to lack of supply and a brisk ride in the fun car due to engine issues. But today is never the less a great day that the Lord has made and I will continue to rejoice in it. Yesterday with the high schoolers, we looked at what great joy is to come in Jesus’s victory over evil and our eternity in heaven. In comparison, the woes of today should pale in comparison and not hinder us from inviting others to share in our joy. Futility and misery are short term when compared to the eternal joy of life everlasting.