God Is Just! – Part 9

Surely God will never do wickedly, nor the Almighty pervert justice.  Who gave Him charge over the earth?  Or who appointed Him over the whole world?  If He should set His heart on it, if He should gather to Himself His Spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust.  “If you have understanding hear this; listen to the sound of My words:  Should one who hates justice govern?  Will you condemn Him who is most just?  Is it fitting to say to a king, ‘You are worthless,?’  And to nobles, ‘You are wicked?’  Yet He is not partial to princes, nor does He regard the rich more than the poor; for they are all the work of His hands…” Job 34: 12-19, NKJV.

Merciful Father, here we are in Your presence once more, waiting for You to bless us as we enter into the study of Your holy Word.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray.  Amen.

Yesterday, our devotional was based entirely, on Job’s response to *Eliphaz’s first discourse.  Today we will consider his response to Eliphaz’s second discourse.  It was hard not to notice how much pain Job’s friend’s comments have caused him.  In an everyday conversation, to tell someone that he or she is full of “hot air,” is to make light of what he or she is saying.  It is to make his or her comments inconsequential; of little or no importance.  That would be quite rude, to say the least! 

Now apply that comment to the following scenario:  In one of the recent hurricanes, a family lost everything; including their children.  The parents are numb with pain.  Both of them feel that, it would have been an act of mercy, if they had died also.  When you go to visit them, the father expresses his feelings to you.  He is sure that you will understand.  After all, you are his friend, aren’t you?  Instead, your response to him is, “Should the wise answer with windy knowledge, and fill themselves with the east wind?  Should they argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which they can do no good” (Job 15: 2, 3, NRSV)?  Emphasis provided.  “You are filled with really hot air, you reply!”  Can you imagine what his response would most likely be? 

Let me share just briefly, what some of Job’s comments were.  He begins by referring to his friends as “miserable comforters are you all” (16: 2).  He then goes on to tell them, that if they were in his shoes, he could do one of two things:  he could build arguments against them, and shake his head at them; or, he could comfort them with the words of his mouth!  Ouch!  He has really had enough of them!  Again his pain overflows, ” ‘If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me…’ ” (6).  This is followed by his complaints that “God has worn me out… [H]e has shriveled me up” (7, 8).  In Job’s mind, God is the adversary.

But notice this very interesting twist, Job still holds to his innocence!  “My face is red with weeping, and deep darkness is on my eyelids, though there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure” (16, 17)!  No matter how he sees God; and no matter what others think, Job holds fast to what he knows:  I am not guilty!  The following words of Job are significant, “… Even now, in fact, my witness is in heaven, and [He] that vouches for me is on high” (19)!  This is amazing!  Even though he finds himself in a calamity that he cannot explain; and it seems that the Judge of all the earth, who is just and righteous, has turned against him; Job calls upon God to be his witness!  Even though to everyone else, he may be guilty, he knows that the great I AM, can vouch for him!  Hallelujah!

Dearly beloved; I believe it is very fitting to end on this note for today:  Even when you and I do not know what is happening; even when it seems as if God Himself is against us; let us hold fast to what we know, and let God be our witness!

NOTE:  *There was a correction made to yesterday’s devotional.