PREFACE
The Book of Job is an excellent Book to study to get insight, comfort and spiritual strength to get through the rough days on the way to Heaven. Job's experience tells us how bad things can get on the journey. We are living on earth, not in heaven, and earth is a battleground. Job got through the days of suffering and the nights of sorrow - how ? This Book tells us how. We learn from it not only how to understand and help others, but also how to get help from God for ourselves. Perhaps the greatest lessons of the Book are to prove that Christians can have a ' disinterested faith ' ( contrary to Satan's sneer in ch.1:9) and that God's promise will be kept, the promise to keep them enduring to the end ( Heb. 7:25). - Someone prays for us, and His prayer never fails ( John 17:24).
My thanks again to my friend Harry Woods for all the technical aspects of putting this book together.
James Clark. MA MSc MEd MTh.
NOVEMBER 1
" Who provides for the raven his food ? " Job 38:41.
Although a vile, hateful and unclean animal ( Levit.11:13,15 ) and pitiless towards other birds ( Isaiah 34:11), " and so unfit to move pity, yet God provides food for him ! " ( J.Trapp) Young ravens are quickly forsaken by their mothers and " if God did not provide for them in a more than ordinary manner, they would be starved to death." ( M.Poole) ' Consider the ravens, how He feeds them,' said the Lord ( Luke 12:22,24). ' He makes His sun to shine upon the evil and the good,' and keeps even His enemies alive and breathing ( Dan.5:23). He is ' good to all ' ( Ps.145;9 but He is gracious, merciful to some ( Ephes. 2:4,8. Ps.23:6). No one can justly complain about the sovereignty of God because we are all sinners, ' unclean ' ( Isaiah 34:11. 64:6), and born enemies of God ( Rom.5:10). The Bible does not agree with the world's high, proud view of human nature. But if we seek first the things of God's kingdom in the world we shall be graciously provided for and not just ' fed for the slaughter.' ( Luke 12:31. Ps.147:9). God warned us not to trust in what we possess in the world, but in what He gives sinners through Christ. The rich fool prospered in the world, but died without any reference to Christ in His words or life ( Luke 12:16,20). We need to ask for wisdom ( James 1:5) or we shall make the same fatal mistake. " Let us commit ourselves to God, who will provide for and comfort us in such a manner as He sees best for us." ( J.Caryl)
NOVEMBER 2
" Wilt thou trust him because his strength is great ? " Job 39:11.
There is always a temptation and danger in trusting in what looks strong or in a feeling of strength ( as Samson). Physical strength is not the greatest gift in nature. Many women, who are not as strong as men, are yet superior in gifts. The young are usually stronger than the old but rarely as wise or empathic. Some devote their lives to increasing their strength but leave other important areas neglected eg. worship,spirituality, sanctification. Some animals are stronger than others but few use it to help others. Man also fritters away his energies upon unprofitable things. Strength in the soul can be useful if guided by wisdom ; the ox needs its yoke to be useful, and so do we ( Matt.11:29). " Human strength needs divine guidance. So long as the soul is wild and self-willed, the powers of mind and body cannot be spent fruitfully. The first lesson we have to learn in life is to obey God, as the ox looks to its master, the maid to her mistress ( Ps.123:1,2).
Creature strength is not to be depended upon in spiritual matters ( Isaiah 2:22) ; ' when I am weak, then I am strong ', said the Apostle.
" What danger is the pilgrim in, How many are his foes ? How many ways there are to sin, No living mortal knows." ( John Bunyan )
NOVEMBER 3
" And where the slain are, there is she [the eagle]." Job 39:30.
This is true of all kinds of eagles, especially the ' vulture ' kind. They have a sharp sense of smell by nature and are drawn from afar to dead and decaying creatures. " She follows armies and feeds on carcases ; even before the battle, she comes." ( J.Trapp) The Lord refers to this verse ( Matt.24:28) when speaking about the coming destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD by the Roman army. He also refers to this passage in Luke 17:37, a reference made to the distinction and separation made by Him when He comes again at the end of the world. The future destruction of all Christ's enemies is certain ( Rev.19:17,18), despite the almost universal desire to wish it out of existence. The unconverted are dominated by practical atheism, the converted are tempted to sentimentalism and to think that hell shall be empty. Nevertheless, the true people of God have more pity for the reprobate than they have for themselves ( Coloss.1:28,29). " Like sheep they are laid in the grave, death shall feed on them." ( Ps.49:14) It is the dead in sin who say, 'There is no God.' But they shall not be able to say that when they die. If the church loses or repudiates the Biblical doctrine of reprobation, it shall decline in its urgency to speak to the dying world. By the end of this chapter Job had a better idea of how much he did not know, and it humbled him. What has it done for us ?
NOVEMBER 4
" The goats..the hinds..the wild ass..the unicorn..the horse..the eagle." Job 39:1,5,9,19,27.
In chapter 39 we see that God oversees all kinds of life. There is a variety in human nature also, to which God variously responds, and mysteriously. He describes us in essentials, and it is wrong for us to think of ourselves as different from what we really are ( as described in the Bible). God gives us all different gifts ( with or without grace ) and they come with differing levels of responsibility. " To whom much is given, from him much shall be required." James refers to the great responsibility of those who teach others ( James 3:1).We also have a responsibility to care for the world and not corrupt it ( Gen.2:15). Our circumstances in this world are ordered by the Lord, according to His wisdom. He is able to supply our needs, but we should seek the supply of our spiritual and eternal needs first, and these all come through the Mediator Christ Jesus ( Philipp.4:19). Animals have a temporary existence, but humans an eternal one.
God gives illustration of His control and care by the things and animals which are seen, but faith must discern beyond the visible ( Heb.11:1. 2 Corinth. 4:17,18). Job, as we, must look for Him ' who cares for us ' ( 1 Peter. 5:7) in the uttermost of our weakness, for He can ' save to the uttermost ' ( Heb.7:25). We are each unique in what is disturbing us or delighting us, and the care He gives is individualised ( Ps.46:1,5,10,11). He will not abandon His people - His promise is our hope.
NOVEMBER 5
" The Lord answered Job. " Job 40:1.
Job had been asking for a meeting with God ( ch.13:22,23. 31:37). Now he obtained it ! Now he would be taught by God directly, and know about his limitations and mental weakness. God does not give answers, explanations or apologies to Job - His Will is a sufficient answer ( Matt.11;26. Rev.4:11. ) Surely Job doesn't want to run the world according to his own thoughts ? He neither has the power, intelligence or holy purity to do so. God challenges Job to prove Him wrong. How can Job deal with the pride of others when he is struggling to deal with his own ?
Repentance is a grace which is given by God ( Acts 5:31) to correct our thinking, and submit to His ( Ps.51:4). His friends could not move him to repentance with their words. Words without God's power accomplish no spiritual end ( 1 Corinth. 4:7. 2 Corinth.7:9,10. ) ; it is God who moves the heart to repentance. " Job regrets the past and resolves to improve in the future. This is what every sinner should do, what every sinner must do, in order to enjoy the freedom and blessedness in Christ Jesus." ( T.Homil.) None of Job's ' friends ' had changed their minds about God or Job, and they would have to be dealt with by God later. But God was not finished speaking to Job yet, he still had a few more things to learn ; and he, as we, must accept this ongoing learning until our last day.
NOVEMBER 6
" Shall he that contends with the Almighty instruct Him ? " Job 40:2.
" Shall Job presume to dispute the reasonableness and equity of God's proceedings, and advise Him on how to manage His own affairs and govern His own creatures ? For how can He be unjust to His creatures who has no obligation to them, and never did or can receive anything from them ? He has no inclination to injustice nor can be tempted to any imperfection. He accomplishes all by His omnipotence and no advantage accrues to Him by it. Job has not been faultless, and he confesses it. " ( M.Poole ) Some people pray for God to ' humble us,' but God actually calls us to " humble yourselves " ( James 4:10. 1 Peter 5:6 ) ; and there are plenty of reasons why we should. " When a man is brought to a willingness to confess that he has done wrong once, he will be very likely to see that he has been guilty of more than one offence. One sin will bring on the remembrance of another, and another."
( A.Barnes) The word ' humility ' comes from the word ' humus' which means ' earth '. The humble mind is as low as the ground. Humility is taught by Christ, who exemplified it ( Matt.11:29) " Humility, while it takes its lowly name from earth, all the time has its true nature from heaven." ( A.Whyte)
NOVEMBER 7
" Then Job answered the LORD and said, Behold,I am vile." Job 40:3,4.
Job now shudders at the contact between God and himself, a sinner ( Luke 5:8)." By his nearness to God he had received light enough to discover his own condition. When a man is saved by divine grace he is not wholly cleansed from the corruption of his heart. Sin is weakened and kept under, but still abides in us till our dying day. Job says, " I am vile.", as Isaiah ( ch.6) and Paul ( Rom.7). - But why should I stop to prove this when you have daily proofs of it in yourselves. Mark how easily you are surprised into sin." ( Spurgeon) Despite our morning resolution when we rise,we are soon groaning over another sin, whether outward or inward. Indwelling sin sends us often to the Throne of grace with repentance. " I am vile " is the language of one who is commended by God ( ch.1 & 2). Each day there are new discoveries of the power and deceitfulness of sin. " Watch and pray," said the Lord. " Take heed brethren," said Paul ( Heb.3:12). Captivity to sin can be painful ( Rom.7:23) ; it does not sleep within us but is ready to spring up. Nevertheless, despite our best attempts, none of us can expect to be sinless today. But we can expect help to bear this burden and not lose heart ; sin cannot annihilate faith or drive out from the heart the indwelling King. ' Christ in you continues the hope of glory.' ( Coloss.1: 27) ' Still trust in God...'( Ps.42)
NOVEMBER 8
" Behold, I am vile." Job 40:4.
" His confession did not mean that he was guilty of some enormous crime, but rather showed advancement in his life with God. He had spoken in vindication of his character in too unqualified terms. He bitterly bewailed his irreverence in thoughts. He did not view his recent conduct as an isolated occurrence but examined the root from which such fruit grew ; he traced the bitter waters back to their source, the heart ( Matt.15:19,20). He now knew more about the deceitfulness of his wicked heart ( Jerem.17:9). he acknowledged that he was as prone as any of the human race to sin, and thanked God for the grace which restrained him from worse rebellion." ( Charles Simeon) As we grow in spiritual knowledge we see more and more the potential of sin's power, but we also see more and more how great the power of Christ is in saving sinners. It is not until we arrive in heaven that " I shall know how much I owe." ( McCheyne) Meanwhile," I desire to carry my repentance with me all the way to the gates of heaven." ( Philip Henry)
NOVEMBER 9
" Behold I am vile, what shall I answer Thee ? " Job 40:45.
God made man in His own image but sin has " utterly defaced " that image ( Scots Confession,1560). This confession of Job is similar to Abraham's confession, that ' I am but dust and ashes.' ( Gen. 18). " Job gets an impression of his own vileness, beyond what he had before. He makes the decision not to dispute any more ; he that debates with God makes himself wiser than God ! Job speaks of his own vileness, but he does not speak to the justification and commendation of God. Therefore, to humble him more, God speaks calmly to him, because He has a mind to gain Job rather than shame him." ( J.Durham)" Sometimes our troubles bring us to a place where we are silent before God, we stop complaining. But God does not want our silence only, He wants our trust." ( R.Stedman)On earth men vindicate themselves, but they shall not be able to answer God in the Final Judgement. Without the ' wedding garment ' they are speechless ( Matt. 22;12). He had failed to repent, failed to agree with God about his own need, and failed to receive the wedding garment which was freely offered to the guests. No minds are changed in eternity. repentance is only given out here.
NOVEMBER 10
" I will not answer...I will proceed no further." Job 40:5.
" Here were no excuses made, nor any attempt to lessen his guilt. He might have pleaded the weight of his sufferings, and the falseness of the accusations against him. But he saw that nothing can excuse sin, it is always hateful in the sight of God. Indeed, the sinfulness of Job's sin was aggravated by the mercies he had received before, and the holy profession he had made before. It is never wise to look too much to our circumstances in order to lessen our self-blame for our sin. Self-love is so rooted in our hearts, that we shall always be in danger of forming too favourable a judgement of ourselves.Job submitted to reproof and acknowledged himself guilty in relation to the very thing that God charged him with. This is a good test of true and genuine repentance.Repentance always agrees with God. " ( C.Simeon) Sometimes our repentance is a bit shallow, inadequate ( even to our own view). Job did not use the word ' repent ' here as he does later (ch.42). This is perhaps why God continued to challenge him in the following chapters until his repentance is deepened, until he does use the word ' repent,' and God leaves off questioning him.
NOVEMBER 11
" Wilt thou also annul my judgement ? Wilt thou condemn Me so that thou may be righteous ? " Job 40:8.
Job had not said this in so many words, but his arguments implied it sometimes ( ch.9:24). In justifying himself, vindicating himself against his friends' accusations, he was attempting to justifying himself without actually condemning God ; this seems to be why the matter is put in the form of a question. However, he failed to defend God's just ways clearly. This is what God now emphasises, His unquestionable integrity in His dealings with His creatures. To establish his self-righteousness the sinner must condemn God, because God condemns him! Every excuse for sin implies that God is to be blamed for His wrath against it, or even blamed that He did not prevent it. God hates sin, and accepts no defence for it ( by man) ; all sin is voluntary ( Rom.6:23). To excuse the breaking of the law or to say that the law is too strict and inflexible, is to insult the purity of the Lawgiver. Sinners do not want to live in a world of absolutes, but wish God, sin etc be just a matter of relative opinions. This is one reason why there is so much despair in society - because there is nothing definite ( accepted) !
Complaining about sin, the law, and the indictment of sinners by God will not remove the just penalty for breaking God's law. But God has mercifully revealed to us a way, the only way, of acquittal in His court ie. to ' flee from the wrath to come ', fleeing to Christ ( Ps.46:1). But if we do not believe God ( Isaiah 1:18) we shall not flee by faith,and death will catch us dying in unbelief ; and there is no escape. The guilt of sin will be eternally unforgiven in hell, but remember that all in heaven were sinners on earth. Now these sinners are in heaven, because they repented and were persuaded by the Holy Spirit to flee into the ' everlasting arms ' of Christ ( Deut.33:27).
NOVEMBER 12
" Hast thou an arm like God ? Or canst thou thunder with a voice like Him ? " Job 40:9.
No one can stand against God and win. No one can restrain the greatest powers in the world, visible or invisible, except God. God alone has the power to humble the human heart, so that sinners do not die proud and without hope.God empties Job of any pride remaining. " Job loves the Lord, but he has a pride problem." ( R.Stedman) There is a story about a man who was awarded a medal by his church for humility ; but they had to take it away from him, because he kept wearing it publicly ! The heart is deceitful and can even make a merit out of being humble. Job condemned the pride of his ' friends ' as they looked down upon him in condemnation, but perhaps he gave them too much attention and did not watch his own heart enough. It is easy to become righteous in our own eyes by following a righteous cause. Orthodoxy can live beside self-righteousness very smugly. No one can reverse what God has said or done. No one can restrain His arm ( a symbol of power) when it goes forth in judgement or to save a sinner ( Is.53:1). His voice can thunder in the conscience, a place where other voices cannot reach effectively. Human remorse has only a temporary, non-saving effect, but a conscience sprinkled with the blood of Christ ( Heb.10:22) can live in peace with God forever. Natural conscience is nor enough, conscience must be taught by God in the way of salvation. ( cf. John Owen on Psalm 130)
NOVEMBER 13
" Look on every one that is proud and bring him low." Job 40:12.
This is what God does. He brings down the unfaithful proud, but also has to sometimes subdue pride in His people, eg. Paul was tempted to be proud of his gifts,2 Corinth.12:7. In Psalm 107:11-14 we see how God abases the pride of the presumptuous backslider, who has boldly veered off to go his own way ; now he is powerfully brought back onto God's way. In Isaiah 2:11,12 there is a prediction of the Final Judgement, when pride is swallowed up by fears. In Daniel 4:37 we see how God brings a man low in himself so that He may exalt him in Christ ; the sinner must be emptied of himself in order to receive Christ with empty hands. Job was being distracted by debates from his chief end. Some delight more in the Word debates than in contemplating the Author. " Job had been brought low, but evidently not low enough." ( J.A.Blair) God 'answered ' Job's thoughts
( vs.1), thoughts behind words or thoughts masked by words. " He that is down shall fear no fall, " sang Bunyan's shepherd boy. ( cf. Prov.29:23)
NOVEMBER 14
" Behold the hope of him is in vain ; shall not one be cast down even atthe sight of him ?
" Job 41:9.
If we are confronted with a giant trouble we can lose hope because of what we immediately see. Lack of hope is usually joined with lack of patience, and can lead to desperate, impulsive actions.( The word ' desperate ' comes from the root ' despair') " No one would be stirring about any business unless there was a hope of getting. It is the hope of attaining that puts us upon doing, but also upon suffering [ to attain something]. Who would suffer for Jesus Christ unless he had a hope of attaining something better than he can lose by his sufferings. Therefore Jesus Christ has set that hope before us...He has assured us that all our losses, even our loss of life for His sake, shall turn to our gain and profit. If it were not for hope the heart would faint, in labouring, in suffering, in waiting. Hope is our anchor in the storm ( Heb.6:19) " ( J.Caryl). This anchor will hold for us because Christ shall shall hold us to it." The loss of hope is the greatest loss." ( J.Caryl) We must pray that our faith will look beyond appearances. Christ reminded us that things that not only seem, but are impossible for men, are possible with God. We must trust God with David, and go out to fight the Goliath ( 1 Samuel 17:45) - God has not changed!" What makes heaven so full of joy is that heaven is above all fear." ( J.Caryl)
NOVEMBER 15
" Who then is able to stand before Me ? " Job 41:10.
Verses 1-9 of this chapter show how God restrains the evil forces in the world, by His irresistible and sovereign power. He is under no obligation to anyone ( vs.11. Rom.11:35 ) and we can add nothing to Him ( Job 35:7). It is terrible to have God as enemy, a fearful thing ( Heb.10:30,31). Commenting on future, endless punishment for impenitent sinners ( Ezekiel 22:14), Jonathan Edwards comments, " The nature of their punishment is that God Himself will undertake to deal with them. God sent one prophet after another to them, but those sinners were too strong for them ; they beat some and killed others. Their punishment is particularly represented in 3 things : the intolerableness of it, that it is without remedy and that it is unavoidable. ' Can thy heart endure ? ' It is impossible for them to do anything for their own relief. It is unavoidable - ' The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it, and will do it.' Impenitent sinners can neither prevent the threatened misery, nor deliver themselves out of it, nor can they bear it."
How then can we stand before Christ the Judge ? Only by standing upon His own righteousness, the righteousness of the Judge. The law then cannot accuse us ( Rom.8:1.), standing before God without fault forever ( Rev. 14:5).
NOVEMBER 16
" Who has preceded Me that I may repay him ? " Job 41:11.
The Bible does talk about ' rewards ' in a few places, but there is no merit in them. " God does but crown His own gifts." ( Augustine) cf. Romans 11:35,36.
" Who has done any service for God, given to Jim, by which he has laid an obligation upon Him, for which He is indebted to him ? Who can be beforehand with God in kindnesses ...since all things under heaven are His, made and enriched by His favour, without which Job himself would have had neither reason or speech to debate matters ? " ( M.Poole ) Man can neither contend with God in power or in justice ; God owes him nothing.
God does not enter into a bargain with sinners, He does not repay them, because in every matter, including salvation, He comes first. ' Everything under heaven ' is His. " All the forces of evil are not outside of God's command. Why,then, doesn't God wipe evil from the face of the earth." (D.McKenna) This is the question which many have - If God did so, there would be no more sin, but no more sinners either ! Grace operates in the midst of an imperfect, evil world. " Thus He permits evil to exist until He has completed His redemptive purpose. Saints as well as sinners shall be victims of evil, but out of suffering, God will work His good purpose." ( D.McKenna)
NOVEMBER 17
" Then Job answered the LORD." Job 42:1.
When Job sensed God's power, he sensed his own ignorance and weakness. He realized ( at last ) that he was in no position to judge God and His ways with himself and others. He gave up trying to understand everything. He ' changed his mind ' in repentance, implying that his attitude had been sinful ; God did not owe him answers. Childlike faith ( Ps.131) is better than the curiosity of Adam and Eve. " It is better to know God and to trust Him than to claim the rights of God." ( D.Carson) There shall always be mysteries for the finite mind. Faith must go beyond what is seen and felt ( eg.pain ) and reach out to God. It is always good to maintain contact with your Physician. Sometimes there is healing for us in this world, but sometimes we are given ' palliative care ' until we reach Home. No one is completely healed or sinless until we reach heaven. The happy ending is not in this world, and it would be wrong to think so. Job's communion would be restored, but it is only in the next world that ' the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are at rest.' There is no safe place in the war here. Moreover, when we lose sight of God we lose sight of ourselves ; but when we rediscover the reality of God, we renew the reality of our real selves.The Book of Job takes away our illusions about this world and life in it." ( R.Stedman)
NOVEMBER 18
" Then Job answered the LORD, I know..." Job 42:1.
" About half of Job's concluding words address quotations of what God had said to him. It is important to note that Job did not confess any overt sins such as Eliphaz had accused him of ( ch.22:2-11), nor any covert sins as Bildad had implied ( ch.8:11-18). The text does not in fact specify what Job ' repented ' of. I prefer to say ( against others ) that Job confessed that his God had been too small. He needed the Theophany [ a visible appearance of God ] to remind him of the fact that the God of the universe and the Creator of all creatures is greater, grander, higher, and wiser than a mortal can imagine, much less challenge. Sometimes when Job said ' I know ' in the past, he was right ( ch.9:2. 13:18. 19:25. 21:27), but sometimes he was wrong ( ch.9:28. 10:13. 30:23). He is right to say that God ' can do all things ' ( Matt.19:26). Since God has done such things in the past, Job recognised in the second part of this confession that ' no plan ' of God in the future can be thwarted. Job was learning the lesson Nebuchadnezzar learned centuries later ( Daniel 4:35). " ( R.Alden )
NOVEMBER 19
" I know.. " Job.42:2.
God's purpose is unfolding, and no one can hinder it (vs.2). God's plan is infinitely wise and no one can fully understand it ( vs.3). God's rebuke/correction is accurate and reliable, no one should ignore it. God's way is best and we should not rebel against it ; we should desire to be instructed. There are times when we are disappointed, but God is not influenced by our thoughts ; He does not act according to our minds. Have we learned these things ? we must rest in His Will ( Ps.37:7)." The effects of the Divine teaching upon Job are most striking. A thorough transformation is accomplished ; in intellect, heart and feeling. The ' eyes of his understanding ' ( Ephes.1:18) have been opened wider. He is made by Divine teaching to comprehend what he lacked before. His faith that ' all things work together for good ' is reinforced. He no longer seeks to reconcile his sufferings with the justice of God." ( J.Kitto) There are seasons in our life when we have spurts of spiritual growth, and often not by the ways we expect to grow. But the course of our life curriculum is chosen by. wise and caring Teacher ; all in heaven successfully graduated, as we shall.
NOVEMBER 20
" I know that Thou canst do everything." Job 42:2.
Job confesses God's supremacy. No thought of God can be hindered, it shall go into action. " Job acknowledges God's boundless power, that whatever God chose to think or desire He could at once accomplish. Job had a glimpse of that omnipotence of which the height or depth no mind can ever measure. " ( Spurgeon) " Our God is in the heavens, He has done whatsoever He has pleased." ( Ps.115:2) " Learn that God is omnipotent, nothing is too hard for the Lord. This is a matter of comfort to all believers, but it must be terrible to the wicked, seeing that it is His Will to destroy them ( unless they repent). And since God is not only able, but has unquestionable right to do whatever He pleases, let us beware of complaining that God has done us any wrong by any affliction He lays upon us." ( J.Caryl)
God is supreme, but how few accept this and act accordingly. Where is the worship of God ? Is His supremacy highlighted by those who lead the worship ? Is there indeed a sense of awe in His presence ? ( which cannot exist if people turn up for entertainment). Are we open before Him, honestly seeking for growth and improvement ( Ps.139:23,24) ? Is repentance awakened and faith focussed ? If we know only a little about God, and do not study His greatness, we shall have a little God with little worship, little devotion, and do little also.
NOVEMBER 21
" I have uttered what I understood not." Job 42:3.
Job's view of God needed to be corrected. " Job felt that even when he had spoken aright, he had spoken beyond his own proper knowledge, uttering speech whose depths of meaning he could not himself fathom...Job is impressed with his own folly. He had to a large degree spoken what he felt sure was true, but he feels that he did not understand what he said. At the same time he tacitly confesses that he may have said in his bitterness many an unwise and unseemly thing, and therefore he bows his head before the Lord his God." ( Spurgeon) " It was presumptuous for me to utter things above my reach, rash through ignorance and meddling with ' things too wonderful for me '. Weaned from the conceit of his own knowledge, he comes to get a lesson from God, as advised ( ch.34:32). In genuine repentance the soul is made docile and tractable, desirous to learn and wishing to be taught." ( J.Durham)
The Apostle said, 'Avoid foolish questions ' ( Titus 3:9) and we must put limits on some things we discuss ; there is a point beyond which we cannot go - it would then be unhealthy speculation. They are ' opinions launched against the unknown and the unknowable.' Moreover, impatience usually arises out of ignorance. David had learned : " Neither do I exercise myself...in things too wonderful for me." ( Ps.131:1).
NOVEMBER 22
" I have heard of Thee...but now my eye sees Thee." Job 42:5.
It is one thing to hear about God, another to know Him by personal experience. There is always a difference between hearsay and experience ( John 18:34). The Holy Spirit speaks to the spirit in man, using His own Word ( Rom.10:17), so that the sinner is transformed from being an earwitness to being an eyewitness ; " faith is the eye of the soul. " ( R.Bruce) Job saw Christ here face to Face ( all saving revelation comes to the sinner comes through Christ) ; the believer has the promise that after death he will see Him ' face to Face ' ( 1 Corinth 13:12). Believing is seeing, and God's Word echoed in Job's soul, and he worshipped. " When we have these vivid apprehensions of God, we have lowlier view of ourselves." ( Spurgeon ) We feel our nothingness in the light of God's greatness. " The more we see of God the less we shall think of ourselves. Sound knowledge is the death of deceit. " ( Spurgeon)
Job desired to enter God's school and be taught ; he will no longer be a pleader, but a humble enquirer." ( Spurgeon) We repent for sin ' with an apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ.' ( Sh. Cat.) We see God not only as Creator but as our Redeemer, that He lives ( ch.19). Job, enlightened by the Spirit, was being taught by God ( John 6:45). He does not say, ' Now I see it all,' but ' Now I see Christ ' and he asks for nothing more ( Ps.27:4. Luke 2:29,30).
NOVEMBER 23
" But now..." Job 42:5.
" Suddenly he adds, But now - now my eye sees Thee. What had come in between ? What had turned hearsay into a direct encounter ? Two things - a revelation and an experience. an experience of life in the depths, and a revelation of God in the heights." ( J.S.Stewart) In the early chapters of this Book we see a sudden descent into the heartbreaking depths of distress ; health, home and happiness all crashed down. All that he had learned about religion had been shaken, and his soul felt imprisoned in darkness. But God has visited prisoners, bringing hope with Him. Manasseh and the Philippian Jailer were found there. John Bunyan said, " Never in all my life have I had so great an inlet into the word of God as now. Those Scriptures that I saw nothing in before began in this place to shine upon me." William Cowper said, " I was not persuaded into religion, I was scourged into it."
God spoke to Job in his prison and ' turned his captivity ' ( vs.10). " Under the hammering of God's questions, something that had been hard and frozen in Job's heart was melting." ( J.S.Stewart) By faith Job looked away from his burden to His Burden-Bearer. ( Isaiah 53:6) " I triumph still if thou abide with me."
NOVEMBER 24
" But now my eye sees Thee." Job 42:5.
We may know much theology, but our knowledge may be theoretical ( cf. Talkative in Pilgrims Progress). The Lord prayed that His people would know God His Father and Paul's longing was to know Christ more ( John 17:3. Philipp.3;10). Job, like many others, came to know more about God while in the ' furnace of affliction.' There are parts of Scripture we do not understand until we suffer, an experience of practical knowledge. " Affliction is the Christian's theological tutor. I never knew the meaning of God's Word until I came into affliction. My temptations and trials have been my masters in Divinity. No man, without trials and temptations, can attain a true understanding of the Holy Scriptures." ( Luther )
" I walked a while with Pleasure, she chatted all the way,
But left me none the wiser for all she had to say.
I walked a mile with sorrow, and never a word said she,
But oh the things I learned from her, when Sorrow walked with me." ( Anon.)
If the vine is going to keep producing good fruit, it must get used to being cut down to the ground ( John 15:2). " How much I owe to the work of God's hammer and chisel upon me." ( Rutherford) Such is the labour required to confirm us to ' the image of His Son.' ( Rom.8:29).
NOVEMBER 25
" But now my eye has seen..." Job 42:25.
An old proverb says, ' 90% of what a person sees lies behind the eyes.' ie. it is what we bring to see ( eg. capacity, presuppositions) that the mind sees with. Job needed to have his thoughts corrected in order to see better. His sense of unfairness had dominated his thoughts and words, although his faith sometimes burst through the prejudice, with a defiant trust in God despite his circumstances. It takes an act of God not only to change the mind at conversion ( Ps.110:3), but also to correct the mind from dangerous heresies afterwards ( and the latter correction proves the former was done). We usually cannot ' see ' something because we don't want to ; because it disturbs the framework of thinking which we have put together over the years.
" But now " there has been an experience which has totally changed our outlook for the better ( Biblically), like Job's experience. Sometimes a surgeon must break bones, so that they will heal properly, knit together soundly this time ( Ps.51:8). The Lord gave, took away, and ( unexpectedly to Job, and others ) gave again. " The hypocrite knows God by hearsay, as a blind man knows the colours. It is a hearing which does not transform the soul into the same image [ of Christ ]." ( J.Trapp ) cf.Rom.8:29. The renewed soul wants more of the mind of Christ, and less of its own (Philipp. 2:5.).
NOVEMBER 26
" Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6.
" Hearing goes for little until the Lord's arm is revealed in a man's heart ( Is. 53:1). While we compare ourselves with others who are like us or below us, we fancy ourselves important persons. But when the Lord unveils Himself we become as nothing in our own eyes. The more we see of God, the less we shall think of ourselves." ( Spurgeon)Job's response is that of the New Covenant ( of Grace) in Ezekiel 36:31, turning us from selfishness to faith, from sin to devotion, to ' walking humbly with our God ' ( Micah 6). Job never claimed to be sinless, but now knew more about what being a sinner is. The contrast between himself and God was too palpable to avoid this conclusion he came to. Perhaps he thought he had never reached the depths of repentance, until now. " Dust and ashes ' were symbols of grief, of mourning ( Isaiah 58:5). Conscience bows before God, it needs no discussion.
There is a comfort in repentance, you cannot have peace with God without it ( Ps.51:8,12). It is an inward change of thought leading to an outward change of life. The Holy Spirit is the Giver of repentance, and therefore there is a bias towards holiness in the life. It is a mark of grace to say with Paul, " I delight in the law of God after the inward man, " ( Rom.7:22), while resisting the powers of sin goes on simultaneously
NOVEMBER 27
" I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes." Job 42:6.
" Job's words are very short. It is not the multitude of words that has weight with God, but a humble frame of spirit. Whether the words are few or none, it doesn't matter, if the frame is right." ( J.Durham) Job had been brought to self-conviction, unlike his friends. " But how, it may be asked, is the declaration that Job had spoken right ( vs.7) consistent with God's rebuke of him for some of his words, and with his own confession and remorse ? " ( J.Kitto) The answer is that God accepts us in Christ, despite our mistakes. Job spent a long time looking for answers, thinking aloud, debating with others, but his faith held out. He did not condemn or turn away from God. The Psalmists also raise questions about God's care for them when they are suffering greatly. But perhaps to raise the question is a way of comforting themselves, as the answer is self-evident ie God will keep His promise, no matter how I feel. There are many Psalms of lamentation, and they are there for a reason ! We ought to use them also." In repentance, what Job is doing is agreeing with what God says about him. The problem of a rebellious mind, whether in Job or ourselves, is a problem only God can handle. ..God will begin to heal a life that repents before HIm." ( R.Stedman)
NOVEMBER 28
" My wrath is kindled against thee ( Eliphaz) and thy two friends." Job 42:7.
The accusers are accused ! They argued well, but on false grounds. They thought that only hypocrites would suffer in God's Providence, and bore false witness. They thought that God's mind worked in the same way as theirs ! Elihu was not condemned ; he seemed to have a better view of Job's predicament, but he was not faultless either. God directs them to sacrifice and intercession ( vs.8). Sacrifice in the Old Testament was always the key to forgiveness - so long as they did not trust in the ceremony but looked in faith to the Lamb of God ( Ps.40:6-9). What was in the heart, ie repentance and faith, was more important than the priestly ritual and daily routine ( Ps.51:16,17). This was God's judgement, loud and clear. We must be careful when we come to judge others, " for it may be that we shall yet be indebted to them for their prayers. We may have to crave their intercession. Let us therefore not now judge them too harshly. " ( Spurgeon ) It sometimes happens that strong enemies become close friends, whereas professed friends may fail to support us in trouble ( as Job found). But God's directions imply they were guilty of ' folly' ( vs.8) and not malice.
NOVEMBER 29
" You have not spoken of Me what is right, like my servant Job. " Job 42:7
" Job had affirmed that both prosperity and calamity came from God ( ch.1:21. 2:10. 6:4.), whereas Elihu with Job's other friends argued exclusively for the opposite view. Although their sentiments may not be charged with wilful impiety, they may be charged with a departure from the truth, or at least a misapplication of it. " ( S.Lee). God calls Job His ' servant ' three times ( vs.7&8 ), to emphasize his loyalty and sincerity, despite his blemishes. No servant serves God without fault in this world, but they are faultless in the next world, without ' spot or blemish ' ( Ephes.5:27). There are degrees of blame, and these three deserved greater rebuke, and all for their own good. Their sins in their speech included omissions, and not just false doctrine. There are still church leaders who preach only half of the truth, unlike Paul (Acts 20:26,27). It was a kindness of God to show them their sin. Many go to the grave, alas, without knowing that their attitude to God is wrong.
" Out of zeal to defend God's Providence they were not fair in argument. We have no business to defend truth with lies or suppressions. God is displeased with untruthful advocates,, though they fancy they are upon the Lord's side." ( Spurgeon)
NOVEMBER 30
" the thing that is right, as My servant Job has." Job 42:7
We are probably surprised that twice in this passage God affirms that Job was right in what he said about God. There had been no recognition of this up till now. On the contrary, some of what he said was questionable - or was it the way he said it ? It seems that Job could not earlier see the sin in himself, such is the deceitfulness of sin, but now he admits that the problem has always been in himself and not with God. He was not seeing things clearly, and perhaps also failed to accept his limitations when it came to discussing God's Providence.
" But he was right to bring his problem to God, even though God was his problem." ( R.Stedman ) This was admirable in his prayer life. He did not sulk in silence, but asked God for help continually. His friends did not bring their difficulties in understanding Providence ; they saw no difficulties, everything was to fit into their theories ! They did not pray for help nor did they pray for God to help Job either.
Job repents and acknowledges that God is God, " that He is holy and wise, just and good, even when he seems to be otherwise. Ultimately that is the highest expression of faith, - that we do not trust our human observations of what is happening...we do not assume that we have all the facts." ( R.Stedman) Even when we do not understand what God is doing, we must pray that we will always speak what is right concerning God, and bring our burdens to Him.