Job 18 & 19
Job 18 records another reply to Job from his friend, Bildad.
Bildad appears insulted, asking Job when he is going to be quiet and claiming Job is speaking to them as if they are vile (alternative translation: stupid) animals.
He describes all that will happen to the wicked, such as Job, who are caught out by their own sins; how they will be without posterity, forgotten once gone, and that they know not God.
In chapter 19 Job answers these accusations reproaching his friends for all their unkindness and saying that if he has erred it hasn't affected anyone else.
He tells them that God has unjustly caused all these things to happen to him and then outlines all his humiliation, destruction and isolation - even his own maids and servants treat him as a stranger and ignore him. He is despised, deserted by his loved ones, abhorred by his friends and barely alive.
He pleads with them to have pity on him, asking why they persecute him. My Study Bible suggests that he believed that if his words were recorded future generations would judge him favourably.
Lastly, Job speaks of his faith that his Redeemer lives and he will see him after death, warning his friends to be afraid of judgement themselves.
Today I was particularly drawn to the words in verse 28, 'But ye should say, Why persecute we him, seeing the root of the matter is found in me?'
It is as if Job is saying, 'I know all these dreadful, strange things have happened to me, but you know that I am a true child of God, so why are you persecuting me?'
Job knew that his religion was real and that he had that of vital importance within him. He felt his friends were being too harsh on him. He could be described like Jeroboam's young son in 1 Kings 14:13, 'in him there is found some good thing toward the LORD God'.
Well, what is this root? Do you and I have it?
When we think of a root, we think of that which is hidden below ground. It is not seen and yet it is vital to the plant or tree to bring it water and nutrients. Without roots the plant or tree would die.
If you have ever tried to grow a cutting in water on your windowsill it is an encouraging sign to see roots developing - signs of life, signs that it will survive and grow.
It reminds me of Jesus telling the woman at the well, 'Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life' (John 4: 14).
So this root, this well of water is spiritual life - the Holy Spirit given to each child of God. Jesus told Nicodemus that in the same way the wind blows and 'thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit' (John 3: 8)
How then can we know if we have this hidden life within us? Job was confident that he had it, but his friends couldn't seem to acknowledge it. It makes you wonder if they didn't really know him very well despite being called his friends.
Well in Jeremiah 17:7 &8 we read, 'Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit'.
The person who is hoping and trusting in the Lord for their salvation becomes as a tree, growing and spreading their roots in this river of the Holy Spirit, given to them by Jesus; they are upheld, strengthened and supported by this source of life in all 'weathers', bringing them to bear spiritual fruit regardless of their troubles.
But perhaps you cannot claim to be a 'tree' rooted in this everlasting water of life, you just wonder if you are a real believer; or you need encouragement that you do have the 'root of the matter within you'. Maybe the work of the Spirit within you is so gentle - so hidden - that no one knows - and you hardly know yourself.
Paul exhorts us to 'examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your ownselves...' (2 Corinthians 13: 5), so let us try to identify what might be signs that we have this 'root' - or spiritual life within us.
Firstly, what was Job - who had the root of the matter in him - doing?
We notice that his replies to his friends were interspersed with prayer to God.
Although, you, like Job in chapter 23:3 in speaking of God might say 'Oh that I knew where I might find him!', you pray.
Your prayers aren't just asking God to bless you, keep you safe and help you in your daily life, they are sometimes like you are pouring out your heart and expressing your deepest longings - sometimes you can't even find the words, you just cry, feel the longing, or groan - you sometimes feel a deep ache or emptyness in your heart which nothing in this world can totally satisfy.
We read of Paul the Apostle, after his first recorded revelation of Jesus, praying. The way the Lord tells another believer Ananias about this sounds as if it is a significant sign. He said, '...for, behold, he prayeth' (Acts 8:11).
Maybe you wonder if your prayers are real because you don't hear a response or feel they go anywhere. Or perhaps because you were brought up in a Christian home you have always 'said' your prayers and wonder if it is just to satisfy your conscience that you 'say' them.
Well, could you give up praying?
Could you go out into the world prayerless and not feel like a little boat tossing in the sea of life without an anchor?
Could you manage the guilt of your conscience and sins without praying?
Could you think of the day of your death and not tremble at meeting God - unprepared?
The other day I believe Satan tempted me to stop praying - he said, 'Why don't you see if you can stop praying for a few days and then you'll see how real your religion really is!' I think there are people who have tried this and have found within no time at all they had to pray again.
King David said that when he didn't pray and confess his sins he was 'physically and psychologically affected' (as my Study Bible puts it). He wrote, 'When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture (or vitality) is turned into the drought of summer' Psalm 32:3,4.
I wouldn't recommend trying not to pray just to see how real your prayers are - I don't know whether Satan might use the opportunity to harden your soul, take your appetite for spiritual things and lead you into wrong paths. Your soul is too precious to try such a dangerous experiment! Besides, Jesus told us to pray.
So, one sign of this root of the matter being within you is that you pray - even when you can't find the words and feel like your prayers aren't being heard.
To be continued.
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