Today in God's Word—June 2023
East Tallassee Church of Christ
June 26, Job 31
”What would be my portion from God above, and my heritage from the Almighty on high? Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity? Does he not see my ways and number all my steps?" - Job 31:2-4
Do you believe in moral law, and that it has been in existence since there have been people in the world? Is there an inner sense of right and wrong, of "ought" baked into our hearts and minds? Was Paul referring to that very thing when he wrote, "The work of the law is written on their hearts?"
I ask all these questions because Job seems to be a shining example of a man who lived perhaps hundreds of years before the Law was given at Mt. Sinai. Yet he spoke and lived by the same basic moral code embedded in the Law. Not only are some of the commandments here. Job also pre-echoed some of the curses that God warned Israel would come on those who disobeyed the Law.
Job also exemplified much of what Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount 2,000 years or more after Job lived. Job was an example of the kingdom righteousness that Jesus described, long before that great sermon was preached. Job was not boasting about his righteousness in Chapter 31. He was pleading his innocence in response to his friends' harsh indictments. He begged God to examine him closely, and weigh him in a just balance. Job did not know why he was in such misery. But he was confident of his integrity.
Job discussed attitudes as well as actions. He invited God to examine the deeds of his hands, and the desires of his heart. He knew that adultery grew out of lust long before Jesus talked about it in the Sermon on the Mount. He pleaded his case with a list of almost 20 hypothetical "if" statements. If he had done any of those things, he was willing to suffer the severe consequences of his actions. He recognized that all human beings were
creations of God. To defraud and fail to respect anyone not only wronged them as individuals, but it showed disrespect for God's creation.
Job’s speech and life modeled a foundation for righteous living. He was confident that God is, that God is holy, and that God has a law. He knew that law was supposed to govern human lives. When that foundation is taken away, neither Job and his friends, nor you nor I have any respect for authority, no regard for God or others.
Job protested that he had not mistreated the weak. He had not neglected the helpless poor. Job said he had shared with them, not taken from them. He denied that he was an idolater. He did not worship his own wealth or the heavenly bodies that the pagans worshiped. He had not done harm to others or even wished calamity on his enemies.
As Job explained how he lived, he did not know his words confirmed what God had said about him to Satan at the beginning of the book. Job really was blameless and upright. He really did fear God and turn away from evil. Job wanted a just or fair hearing. He invited close examination of his heart and conduct, and was confident that he would be vindicated.
Job trusted God, and would accept God's verdict. He would take the punishment if found guilty. This man lived a righteous and godly life in a time when there was no written revelation from God. You and I have a written word, and from it we can know God's will for us today. We are truly without excuse. May God bless us to be people of integrity and righteousness.
Copyright © 2023 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Comments