I think a quote from Marcy’s comment on yesterday’s post is a perfect introduction today:
Job feels really awful about what’s happened to him — he is asking God to vindicate himself — to show the goodness and righteousness that Job knows God has.
It seems like Job’s “comforters” all had an arrogantly smug notion of who God was. There was no wiggle room in their opinions. No: they were sure they knew how God operated and that therefore, Job must be guilty of sin – or he would not have had to endure such pain.
Job was sure of one thing: that he was not sinning in the way his “friends” suggested. And he was sure of God’s right to do what He wanted to do with Job’s life. Job argued with God about the situation. But he didn’t have the smug arrogance of his friends.
Therefore he was able to repent.
I think what Marcy said is spot-on: Job wanted God to “vindicate himself – to show [his] goodness.” Job wanted to see God and to understand what was going on – how his current circumstances squared with the character of the God He knew.
Here’s one of my favorite Job quotes that supports Marcy’s assertion:
I know that my redeemer [vindicator] lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.
And after my skin has been destroyed,
yet in my flesh I will see God;
I myself will see him
with my own eyes —I, and not another.
How my heart yearns within me! Job 19: 25-27 NIV
I love that Job did not Have to wait until after his skin has been destroyed to see God! [By the way, OT believers thought you'd die if you saw God, but Job seems to not have worried about that...]
What’s amazing is that after God gave Job a dressing down, Job doesn’t get angry or sulk away. NO: he repents. He rejoices. And he says:
“I know that you can do all things…
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.’
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.” 42:2-6
Job didn’t “see” God physically, but he heard from God. God questioned Job. God lectured Job.
And in hearing God, in repenting of his sins, Job finally “saw” his Redeemer.
What a great book of the Bible!
Today’s Readings: Job 41:1-42:17, Psalm 101:5-8, Proverbs 23:31-35, 1 Corinthians 7:1-16. See About for what I’m up to with these daily posts. Your daily blogger, Holiday Longing (Reproduce with permission only).
