Get Alone, Pray, Repent

If only someone would listen to me! Look, I will sign my name to my defense. Let the Almighty answer me. Let my accuser write out the charges against me. I would face the accusation proudly. I would wear it like a crown. For I would tell him exactly what I have done. I would come before him like a prince. [Job 31.35-37]

If anything Job said was the tipping point on the scale of right and wrong - humility and pride - I think these words were it.

I think too many of us, like Job, want to justify ourselves because of the things we do. In all of today's OYCB reading, Job is rehearsing all he did and all he deserved because of it. Actually, Job was saying he did not deserve the suffering he was getting.

How might the story of Job played out had Job immediately repented (even if he didn't know how he had offended)? How might Job's story have gone had Job immediately taken a position of complete humility and assumed his need for repentance instead of defending his integrity?

Can I just make some speculative statements here?

If Job had immediately humbled himself and taken a repentant attitude instead of defending his integrity, the second wave of troubles might have never come and Job would likely have been completely restored much sooner.

The Word of God teaches us that God never turns away a humble and contrite spirit.

The high and lofty one who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I live in the high and holy place with those whose spirits are contrite and humble. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts. [Isaiah 57.15]

My hands have made both heaven and earth; they and everything in them are mine. I, the LORD, have spoken! “I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word. [Isaiah 66.2]

But we really don't see this attitude in Job until after God begins His rebuke of Job.

Bottom line: When things go wrong in our lives is NOT the time to arrogantly tout all we have done or how great of effort we have exerted in pleasing God. It is NOT the time to feel sorry for ourselves as if we deserve better. It is NOT the time to argue religion and doctrine with others. IT IS TIME TO GET ALONE - IT IS TIME TO PRAY - IT IS TIME TO REPENT.

Father, now... I need to take this to heart myself. Thank You for being God - greater than all I can imagine. There is no circumstance where I can call you to some kind of reckoning as if I have been wronged by You. I want to assume a repentant attitude at all times because I know that is what You desire from me.