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Job 23 & 24
Chapter 23 follows the scathing attack of Job's friend, Eliphaz, in which he accuses Job of great wickedness before urging him to return to God.
Job doesn't directly answer Eliphaz. He doesn't try to defend himself or argue with Eliphaz. Instead he pours out his longing to be able to find God, tell him all and hear his voice in return.
He believes God wouldn't contend with him, but rather would strengthen him.
He speaks of how he has tried to walk in God's ways and God's sovereignty over his life. This troubles him particularly because of what he is going through.
In chapter 24 Job then lists many wicked ways of those who do not follow God, and how God doesn't appear to charge them with their wrongdoings, but they like all men go to their grave.
My thoughts today were drawn to words that may be very familiar to you in chapter 23: 10,
'But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold'.
We may have thought of Peter's words of encouragement that our faith is 'more precious' than gold though it be 'tried with fire' (1 Peter 1:7).
We drew comfort from the knowledge that the trial of our faith was so that our 'dross' might be removed and our faith refined - that our faith 'might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ' (1 Peter 1:7).
We told ourselves that it was needful for us to endure these trials to be made more like Christ, our sin to be subdued, to prepare us for heaven.
And perhaps you need reminding of this comfort today, to help you endure whatever life events are currently causing you distress, heartache, anxiety or sleepless nights.
But I was surprised as I read this verse afresh to understand it more in it's context.
My study Bible notes say of this verse that whilst Job's friends were maintaining that Job was full of dross - or sin - Job was confident that no dross would be revealed in these fires of refinement.
Job seemed to be saying that God knew all about how he was living his life - he tells us in the subsequent verses that he has walked in God's steps, he has kept God's way, he has obeyed his commandments and esteemed or treasured God's words more than his necessary food.
And consequently Job is confident that in the fire of his troubles he would come forth as gold.
This is quite a declaration isn't it?
It searches me!
Although we know that Job was a sinner like we all are, yet he had the confidence to be able to say that he had followed God - to such an extent that he wanted to come before God's presence so that he could ask God why this had all happened to him - he had kept his ways, and why all this?
He didn't understand!
And God likewise had said that his life was upright and blameless.
It reminds me of the Apostle Paul who could confidently say, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day...' (2 Timothy 4: 7, 8).
The Apostle Paul felt his wickedness so much that he had said that he was the very chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) - he like Job in chapter 19:25 trusted in his Redeemer for mercy and eternal life. Both of these men knew they needed a Saviour - they weren't relying on their own works for salvation. So this seems to be referring to their outward walk in the eyes of men - their successful mortification of their actions as Paul calls it in Romans 8:13.
Matthew Henry (page 559) throws further light on this chapter with his suggestion that it was Job's conscience that was clear - that Job was encouraging himself that God was a witness to the integrity of his life, and therefore he did not doubt that the end outcome would be good.
Are our consciences clear about our lives?
Can we say that we have lived a good life in the fear of God?
What discipline Job and Paul had! How strong their faith seems!
How weak my own faith seems in comparison and how much I feel to lack will power and discipline to walk after God as I should.
My conscience pricks me - it tells me of sin I need to confess, sin I need help to overcome. But how are we to?
Jesus has overcome sin, dear reader. He is greater than the temptations in our hearts and of the devil.
We must look to Jesus and ask him to help us, to take away our love of sinning, to walk closer to him, that we might know his ways more - by reading his words, by sitting quietly before him and listening for his voice, by prayer to him.
Paul tells us that it is 'through the Spirit' we 'do mortify the deeds of the body' (Romans 8: 13). It is not in our own strength, it is by God's grace - as Paul also said in speaking of trials and of God's grace to help him, 'for when I am weak, then am I strong' (2 Corinthians 12:10). In other words he is strong (in Christ) when he is weak.
I have already said I am weak.
Are you weak?
Do you need the Lord's help to resist the ways you naturally want and follow the ways of Jesus?
Elisabeth Elliott explains this as all part of the principle of the cross which we take up as followers of Jesus - learning that we must leave our self behind and submit to the ways of Jesus. She says, 'grace makes it possible ... the Scripture points the way ... the Spirit inspires' us and faith puts it into 'practical obedient' action.
Well, may we today, realise more of this verse, that not only may we have the comfort of it, but that we might be searched in our hearts and consciences to consider the realisation of it - that God also knows how we are living our lives.
Let us pray for more submission to God's ways, for the continued grace God promises (James 4:6) to be submissive to his ways, to know the influence of the Holy Spirit within us and be given the needed faith to live as we should.
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