Mon, 13 March, 2006: Today’s Bible readings.
1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
2 “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”
Today we come to the completion of the great book of Job. The first and last chapters are vitally important to understanding this book. The first chapter gives us the background of the spiritual battle taking place, as Satan brings charges that Job is just a mercenary, only following God for what he can get. The final chapter brings everything to a resolution. We see Job’s rash words and pride resolved as he is humbled, takes back his words, and repents before God. We see the dispute between the friends resolved as God vindicates Job and brings them to mutual agreement and understanding, culminated in Job’s prayer and their shared sacrifice. And finally, Job’s terrible suffering is resolved and he is restored to health and prosperity as the suffering has served its purpose.
In our text above, we see Job humbled before God.
What do we learn from this?
Job concedes God’s argument is correct. Job realizes that God’s words are the truth. Job has spoken rashly.
The first step in correcting evil thoughts and behavior is to acknowledge that God’s word about them is the truth. Job was privileged to hear God’s voice. He heard, and acknowledged the truth of what God says. We don’t hear God speak verbally, but we have God’s word recorded for us. We have the Bible. As we read the scriptures, we hear God speaking about our thoughts and behavior, and we must acknowledge what God says about them is the truth.
Job had complained that he was terrified because no purpose of God can be thwarted. But now he acknowledges and submits to God’s providence, not in fear, but in humble expectation.
Job pleads guilty to the charge of rash words. Who speaks without knowledge? I am the guilty one. Job admits that he has been fighting against God’s plan in his life, and that he uttered what he did not know. He had condemned what he did not understand: God’s purposes. Job owns that quarreling with God is wrong. We cannot understand God’s providence, and it is wrong to attempt to correct God.
Job then petitions God to hear his confession. Remember how Job thought he could walk up to God and demand justice? Now, he cannot answer one of God’s questions. He is no longer attempting to correct God, but instead is humbling himself before God.
He acknowledges that he had a head knowledge of God. He had heard about God all his life. But now Job has had a direct encounter with God, and he really understands who God is. It is now more than intellectual, and it affects his conduct. Now that he knows God, he no longer considers himself someone special deserving of God’s favor. He is humbled.
Seeing God for who He really is will show us who we are. It will humble us before Him. We do need a head knowledge of God. But God has to act to enlighten our hearts to truly understand who He is. God did this to Job through suffering, and now Job repents in dust and ashes. The circumstances didn’t change; Job was in dust and ashes all week. What changed? His attitude. After being confronted with who God is, Job repented of his pride and rash words. Like Job, as God works in our lives to break us of our pride and self sufficiency, we need to humble ourselves and submit to God in all areas of our lives.
Where is Christ in this passage?
Job has come to the point where he no longer is trusting in himself and his stature as a great man of the east. Instead, Job repents of his pride and humbles himself before God. He acknowledges that he can make no demands upon God but humbly submits himself to God. Job is now restored to fellowship with God, and God declares Job to be right.
From a New Testament perspective, we have a better understanding of what is happening in Job’s restoration. Job is submitting to God, and trusting to Him alone for everything, including his salvation. He is implicitly trusting in God’s provision for his salvation. We have a better understanding of what that provision is: Jesus Christ, as the Substitute for sin, is God’s provision for salvation. We are called to trust in Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection as our only hope for salvation. We are to humble ourselves before God, repent of our sins, and trust in Jesus Christ. Only in that is there salvation.
