Scripture for the day: Job 31
Job Boasts of Self-righteousness
Job is a really interesting guy, and this is the first time that I ever took to reading his commentaries in such detail. While most of it are questions directed to God, at other times he is prophesying the need for a Messiah or justifying his unfair sufferings.
Reading through Chapter 31 had me smiling- because here was a man who professed to keep at least 5 out of the 10 commandments, long before God handed them over to Moses on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 20).
Surprised?
Reflect on these verses from Job 31 [NKJV Translation]:
Job 31:5
If I have walked with falsehood,
Or if my foot has hastened to deceit,
Translates to– “I have never borne false witness.”
Job 31:9
Vs. 9 If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
Or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door
Translates to – “I have not coveted my neighbor’s wife or neighbor’s goods.”
Job 31:16-17
If I have kept the poor from their desire,
Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail, or eaten my morsel by myself,
So that the fatherless could not eat of it
Translates to – “I have not stolen.”
Job 31:26-27
Vs. 26-27 if I have observed the sun when it shines,
Or the moon moving in brightness, so that my heart has been secretly enticed,
And my mouth has kissed my hand
Translates to– “I have not served any god other than Yahweh. “
So, what exactly motivated this unflinching obedience of Job?
Job 31:23
For destruction from God is a terror to me,
And because of His magnificence I cannot endure.
Sad, isn’t it? When the core of your existence relies on self-effort and self-righteousness, inspired out of a spirit of fear, what a sad life is it, indeed.
Just like one good deed could push you up, a bad one could throw you down. What a fearful life to live- not knowing what could go wrong?
God’s Rest and Christ’s Righteousness
The day that we realize that we are neither the cause nor the effect of anything conspiring in the universe, we could sit back, relax and enjoy the show- remembering that it’s not us who run the world!
But isn’t that a laidback attitude?
No way! Jesus calls us to bear the light yoke and flow through life with God’s rest, empowered by His grace and righteousness!
Read Matthew 11:28-30 (Message Translation)
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.
Is it a wonder then how our Savior flowed through his earthly ministry, unshakeable and bold. Nothing could stop him- neither winds nor waves- from getting where He was meant to be.
Today, we walk as His righteousness in the same world, on the same earth. And it is His righteousness and grace that empowers us to do the impossible, all the while enjoying God’s rest!
It is His Spirit of Love, Power and a Sound Mind that guides us through our lives, today and forevermore. (2 Timothy 1:7)
What a blessed life, what a wonderful Savior, what a good Shepherd we have!
He makes me lie down on green pastures,
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul
Psalm 23:1-2
With Him rooting for us, should we have a care in the world?
Worthy is He of all our praise!
