Job 13:13-28
“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may. Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand? Though he slays me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face. This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him. Keep listening to my words, and let my declaration be in your ears. Behold, I have prepared my case; I know that I shall be in the right. Who is there who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die. Only grant me two things, then I will not hide myself from your face: withdraw your hand far from me and let not dread of you terrify me. Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me. How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin. Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?
Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff? For you write bitter things against me and make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. You put my feet in the stocks and watch all my paths; you set a limit for the soles of my feet. Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.”
Many a person has pulled a con on another person, but God cannot be conned, and Job is asking for a time of quiet from his so-called friends. I have had a few friends at any time in my life. So that you understand my definition of a friend: “it is someone I can call at 3:00 in the morning, and they will answer the phone and listen to what I’m saying. They will give me counsel and I will listen because I’m aware they have my best interest at heart.” What they will not do is attack my person, and I have faith that they will be there for me, Job’s so-called friends were there, but they became his prosecutors and judges and showed little mercy or respect for his loss.
Job told them that he understands he is in a very dangerous place asking for a one on one with God. He was willing to risk his life because he is confident of his integrity and uprightness, so he is asking God to allow him to defend himself. Job states, “Even if He kills me, I will hope in Him.” A mere man who is not upright cannot say, nor will he put it on the line, especially at the cost of his life. In verse 16, Job is declaring that if God allows him to come into His presence that will be proof of his uprightness. But Job also knew that God had to allow it and that’s why he asked God to remove His hand from him.
Often, in times of trials, we feel as if God cannot be found, but that is a lie from the pit of hell, we are told in Act 7:27, “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” Never forget you are on this side of the Cross, and the Spirit of God lives in you if you pass the test. (2Corinthians 13:5) Job longed for the fellowship he had with God; many a follower of Christ has let the world and its desires steal the joy and peace that is ours as God has promised.
Aren’t you glad, that when you entered into Christ and He entered into you, His blood cleans all your sins from birth till death, all one has to do is confess? Job is asking God not to hold him guilty for the sins of his youth. This side of the cross, we who have Christ living in us are righteous because of the blood Jesus shed on the Cross for our sins.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
No comments:
Post a Comment