27th December 2025

27th December 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 42v10-17) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


Like many other children who grew up in the 1980s one of the best moments of my week was getting up very early on a Saturday morning to watch cartoons. I had many favourites back then but one which still causes me to smile is "Dungeons and Dragons" which told the story of six children who were transported far from home to a fantasy world full of trouble and danger. The cartoon ran for three series and twenty-seven episodes in total and I'm sorry to say the six children never made it back home. There was no happy ending.


I've read that there is evidence to suggest that audiences much prefer stories to be tied up nicely with no loose ends. The bad guys need to get their comeuppance and the good guys need to live happily ever after. The final verses of Job bring a joyous resolution to the story but they aren't added just to make us feel better - they exist because the one who trusts in Christ has a living hope which is better by far.


Job had been moved to repentance in the midst of his suffering before standing as the Christ-like priest offering sacrifice for his three friends. But what about the rest of his life? The Lord restored Job and his fortunes (v10). Everything he had lost was doubly restored (v10b). He was no longer a figure of contempt but those who knew him came to bring him sympathy, comfort and precious gifts (v11). Job's livestock which once numbered 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys (Job 1v3) were doubled in number (v12) and Job was blessed with another seven sons and three daughters as before (v13).


His daughters were named Jemimah, Keziah and Keren-happuch (v14). These three girls were the only members of Job's family who were named. Jemimah means "little dove", Keziah means "perfume" and Keren-happuch means "beautifier" pointing to the make-up used to highlight a woman's eyes. His daughters were beautiful (v15) and they were given an inheritance among their brothers  which was largely unheard of in Job's day except in exceptional circumstances (Numbers 27v1-11).


All of this didn't happen overnight. The blessings poured out upon Job came throughout the rest of his life. He lived for another 140 years which some argue hints that Job was 70 when his ordeal began (70+70=140) meaning that Job died when he was 210 which was a life "full of days" (v17) like Abraham (175), Jacob (147) and Isaac (180).


What are we to make of Job's ending? Should we expect abundant blessings in this life when our trials are over? I'm not so sure. Some Christians know the bitter experience of trouble without end. I know people who suffered for many years right up to their death. I have also witnessed Christians coming through trial with no tangible, earthly blessing at the end of it. Equally I have seen Christians who have been blessed abundantly on this side of glory. We should be careful not to put God in a box saying "after trouble God will always double your blessings" - wasn't that the problem with the message of Job's three friends?


Instead, I think the final verses and the doubling of Job's blessings are supposed to evoke in us a longing for our eternal reward. In this life we will have trouble but we may also experience the abundance of God's grace in tangible, earthly blessings. Equally, we may not. Whatever life is like for the Christian be that mundane, blessed, troubled, average or whatever - by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone our true reward is found in heaven.


Take heart my dear brothers and sisters, as this year draws to a close 2026 may be much better but it may also be much worse. Even so, Satan cannot pluck us from the hand of Jesus and our reward in Christ is great indeed. Hear the words of Peter "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1v3-9). 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q56 What is the reason annexed to the third commandment? The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.
​