Job was a man of integrity and righteousness. God had
commended him for these characteristics at the beginning of the book (2:3). He
had steadfastly held on to them when almost everything in his life had been
lost. Even his wife challenged him to abandon his integrity and curse God and
die (2:9). But he would not. Now in the face of his three well-meaning but
misguided friends, he still will not give in to their accusations and admit
guilt when he knows there is none there. He holds fast to his integrity and
righteousness (27:5-6).
Notice, how he continually phrases his argument. First, he
knows that his own sin has not caused the calamity in his life. He is certain
of that and steadfastly maintains it. How many of us, knowing our own hearts
before God, would be able to do that today? Are we not less prone to integrity
and righteousness than Job was? But therein lies the gospel. You and I are not
dependent on our own righteousness. No, we are cross-bound to the righteousness
of Jesus Christ. We should be able to hold fast to His righteousness and Job
did to his own.
Secondly, he continually maintains that, though he may not understand
it, God is the one who has allowed this to happen to him. He never loses his
certainty of the sovereignty of God over all things. At times, he seems to be
giving a defense of God to his friends. Imagine how strong in one’s spirit a
man must be to hold so unwaveringly to who God is in all His majesty and grace.
Wouldn’t you like to be that kind of man?
Prayer: Father, thank you that my salvation is not dependent
on my righteousness for I, unlike Job, am far from a righteous man in and of
myself. But I stand faultless before your throne dressed in the righteousness
of Christ alone all because of His work for me at the cross. Glory to your
name!
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