Book of Job- Scene Five
Last week I wrote about the true meaning of righteousness and how we easily slip into Job’s friend’s perspective: its about what you do or don’t do. However, Job didn’t have it right either. Read some of his comments:
Though I am in the right, I cannot answer Him; I must appeal for mercy to my Accuser. Job 9:15
Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, He would prove me perverse. I am blameless; Job 9:20-21a
… that You seek out my iniquity and search for my sin, although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of Your hand? Job 10:6-7
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. Job 29:14
Job, being his own attorney in this drama, brought his legal case before the Judge and expected a verdict of not guilty. He had a good defense prepared and, therefore, the indictment could not stand; he thought.
Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. Job 13:18
I would lay my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. There an upright man could argue with Him, and I would be acquitted forever by my Judge. But He knows the way that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
Job 23:4, 7, 10
He’s pretty confident.
I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days. Job 27:6
Job’s closing arguments before the Judge and his friends were conditional. Ok everybody, ‘if’ I’ve done this and ‘if’’ I’ve done that, then I’d deserve what I’m experiencing … but I haven’t. What have I done wrong to deserve this treatment?
Oh, that I had One to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my Adversary! Job 31:35
How often do we sound just like Job? We defend ourselves to friends and, therefore, to God by offering our solid case of innocence. I didn’t do anything wrong to deserve this! We find ourselves in circumstances that may or may not be consequences of sin but the truth is that we DO deserve punishment. We have sinned, we ARE sinners. Job needed to state his case, his final appeal before God needed to be heard, and all those many words of defense needed to be destroyed. Job had to be humbled.
In chapter thirty-two the words of Job had ended, the words of the three friends were finished, and one last man entered into this story: Elihu. A prophet? Maybe, he certainly spoke the words of God to Job, but he’s fiery mad at all four men and will set the record straight. Next week.
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