Sunday

02


January , 2022
The life of Job ‘Ye judge not the judgment of God’ - Jesus Christ
22:48 pm

B.E. Bureau


The Holy Bible reveals through the life of Job how the Lord tests the righteous and that faith helps one to overcome life’s adversities. The Lord remained silent when great sufferings were inflicted by Satan on Job, a man of righteousness, sincerity, integrity and was helpful to all. The Lord’s passive action is infallible and inscrutable. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the East. His children used to have feasts in their homes. They were indulging in plenty of drinks and other kinds of merriment. Job would have them purified. Satan told the Lord that Job was an upright person, shunned evils and love you because you had given him the best in life. Job would curse you when he would be pushed to suffering. God passively allowed Satan to put Job to test, but told him to spare his life. Soon, one day when Job’s children were having a feast, plenty of drinks forgetting the Lord, Job lost his children and prosperity. He did not blame God and worshipped - ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb And naked I shall depart’. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, May the name of the Lord be praised.’ After being told by God about Job’s integrity and love, Satan afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. He said to his wife who was skeptical about God that “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept the good from God, and not the troubles?” Job’s three friends Eliphaz, Bildal and Shuhita came to sympathise and comfort him. Job told his friends, “Why did not I perish at birth and die as I came from the womb. Why death does not come when longed for? I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest, but only turmoil.” Eliphez said, “But now troubles come to you and you are discouraged. It strikes you and you are damaged.” Job replied, “Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can a man be more pure than his maker? I would appeal to God and would lay my cause before Him. He performs wonders that cannot be counted. He injures, but his hands also heal. Blessed is the man, whom God corrects, so do not despise the disciplines of the Almighty.” Job said, “I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. I despise my life, I would not live forever.” Bildal said, “Does God pervert justice?’ When your children sinned against Him, He gave them plenty of their sins. But if you will look to God and plead with the Almighty, you are pure and upright. He will restore you to your rightful place. God does not strengthen the hands of evil doers. Forget not God.” Job replied, “Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can a mortal be righteous before God?” His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. How then can I dispute Him? I could only plead with my judge for mercy. I will say to God: Do not condemn me, but tell me what charges you have against me. Even if I am innocent, I cannot lift my head. You gave me life and showed me kindness.” Zophar said, “Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? You devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him. Allow me no evil to dwell in your text. Life will be brighter.” Job replied, “He pours contempt on nobles and dismisses the mighty. He makes nation great and disperses them. My eyes have seen all this. What you know, I also know. But I desire to speak to the Almighty and to argue my case with God. Though he slays me, yet will I hope in him, I will surely defend my ways to his face. Show me my offence and my sin.” Eliphaz said, “You vent your rage against God. What is man, that he could be pure.” Job replied, “Surely O God, you have warned me out, you have devastated my entire household. God has turned me over to evil. My eyes pour out tears to God. My spirit is broken. Give me O God the pledge you demand. Nevertheless, the righteous will hold to their ways and those with clean hands will grow stronger.” Bildal asked Job to be sensible and end the speeches. Again Job said, ‘Know that God has wronged me. Have pity on me, have pity, my friends for the hands of God have struck me. Yet in my flesh I will see God. I myself will see Him, with my own eyes and not anothers’.” Zophar said that God punishes evildoer. Job said, “Why then do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power. They spend their years in prosperity. The rod of God is not upon them. Can anyone teach knowledge to God. Why God stores up a man’s punishment for his sons? Why the man himself does not repay? Why goodman dies in bitterness of soul? You cannot console me with your nonsense.” Eliphas asked Job that what pleasure God had from the righteousness of a man? Submit to God and be at peace with him. Then prosperity will come to you. Job said, “My complaint is bitter. If I could find him, I would go to his dwelling. I would pursue my case before him. I know that he would not press charges against me. On his test, I would come forth as gold. I had always followed his commands. My feet had closely followed his steps. Why does the Almighty not set the time for judgement? I will maintain my righteousness and never divert from it, my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live. When God’s intimate friendship blessed my house, my children were around me; young men stepped aside, the old men rose to their feet, all spoke well of me, all commended me. Because I rescued the poor who cried for help, assisted the orphans, helped widows and I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame. I was father to the needy. But now they mock me. Now, terrors overwhelm me. I cry out to you, ‘O God, but you do not answer. I have not allowed my mouth to sin by putting a curse on anybody. I sign now my defense-let the Almighty God answer.’ Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, “I am young in years, and you are old, that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought ‘Age should speak’, advanced years should teach wisdom. But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the God that gives him understanding. It is not only the old, who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.” Job said, “My words come from an upright heart. I sincerely speak what I know. It is the spirit of God. You are not right when you say that I am pure without sin. God is greater than man. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when you say that I am pure, when deep slumber falls on men, God may speak on their ears to turn men from wrongdoing and keep them from pride, to pressure their soul from pit. He prays to God and finds favour with him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy, he is restored by God to his righteous state. God does all these things to a man, twice even three times. God is mighty, but does not despise men. He is firm in his purpose beyond our understanding. He does good things. God is beyond our reach and exalted in power, in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. At last the Lord spoke to Job. “Look at the wonders of creation. How all things have been happening in order and discipline? Do not condemn to justify yourself.” Then Job said to the Lord, “I know that you can do all things, no plans of yours can be thwarted. Surely, I spoke of things I did not understand. My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”

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