“But now I am mocked by people younger than I, by young men whose fathers are not worthy to run with my sheepdogs. A lot of good they are to me—those worn-out wretches! [Job 30.1-2]
I guess I have to go back on what I said a couple days back about Job and his friends. I struggle to see much relationship at all if indeed Job is speaking of his said friends here. In fact, even yesterday, Job seemed to go back to sarcasm regarding his friends. Go figure.
In today's reading, Job defends his innocence. I admit his argument for his reputation is compelling. However, I still know that there is a severe rebuke pending from God.
I suppose a takeaway from today's reading is that we all see ourselves as we see ourselves. Because we are the seed of Adam, sin and deception lie in the center of our being - our hearts are deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. No matter what we think about ourselves, it cannot be trusted. ALL that matters is what God sees - and He sees the heart.
In light of what seems to be developing in Job's story as of today, it is apparent that a person's defense of his or her innocence is without basis. It would seem our best response to trials like Job faced would simply be repentance. As much as we would like to figure it out, we do so contrary to what the Bible says is possible:
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? [Jeremiah 17.9]
Imagine how short the book of Job would have been had Job simply and humbly repented. What if Job had prayed, "Father, there is obviously something in me that needs to be corrected - even if no one including myself sees it. Please reveal my heart because I cannot know it and redeem me from that which I am not equipped to know." What if Job and prayed that and then simply shut up?
Oh, but we want to be justified, don't we? And that goes for Job's friends too.
Father, in my own trials, I know I have had the exact same attitude as Job. What's worse is that I cannot even say what Job said about his innocence! And yet, still I feel mistreated and sorry for myself because my deceitful heart tells me so. Please forgive me for my arrogance in my deception. I know Your will as revealed clearly in Your written and Living Word (Jesus) is that my life be a channel of salvation and blessing to others - a bearer of Your forgiveness to all. May I faithfully bear that forgiveness to all and also enjoy the forgiveness that is mine in obediently so doing. May Your Kingdom come, may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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