“Look, I have seen all this with my own eyes
and heard it with my own ears, and now I understand.
2 I know as much as you do.
You are no better than I am.
3 As for me, I would speak directly to the Almighty.
I want to argue my case with God himself.
4 As for you, you smear me with lies.
As physicians, you are worthless quacks.
5 If only you could be silent!
That’s the wisest thing you could do.
6 Listen to my charge;
pay attention to my arguments."
Ha! I couldn't help but laugh when reading verse 4! =) Job is so right too, by saying that the wisest things his friends could do would be to be silent. Talk about a slap in the face! Here Job is looking to take up his case and present it before God. He's had enough talking with his friends about his situation. Now he's ready to go before the God of the universe and seek answers and consolation.
Verses 7-12:
Do you make your dishonest arguments for his sake?
8 Will you slant your testimony in his favor?
Will you argue God’s case for him?
9 What will happen when he finds out what you are doing?
Can you fool him as easily as you fool people?
10 No, you will be in trouble with him
if you secretly slant your testimony in his favor.
11 Doesn’t his majesty terrify you?
Doesn’t your fear of him overwhelm you?
12 Your platitudes are as valuable as ashes.
Your defense is as fragile as a clay pot."
Wow! Job called it! I know I'm referencing the end of the book a little early, but Job hit the nail on the head here with his warning about what would happen to his friends because of their actions. I'm forced to think about times when I'm tempted to twist or distort something to 'defend' God. First of all, God doesn't 'need' me to defend Him at all. Secondly, even if I were to defend Him, it certainly wouldn't bring honor or glory to God if I were to do so by twisting accounts, or slanting my testimony. God desires truthfulness and total honesty in all areas of our lives! If I were to listen to Job here, I feel like the times when I'm tempted to 'twist' a little of my story/testimony in order to make something appear better, I need to think about the majesty of our God and have reverence and fear toward Him. In doing this, I will be convicted to resist the temptation to add-to or take away from the truth. Jesus sort of taught about this issue in a way, when he said that our yes should be yes and our no should be no. After he said this, he added that anything that follows our yes or no, simply comes from the evil one.
Verses 13-19:
Let me speak, and I will face the consequences.
14 Yes, I will take my life in my hands
and say what I really think.
15 God might kill me, but I have no other hope.
I am going to argue my case with him.
16 But this is what will save me—I am not godless.
If I were, I could not stand before him.
17 “Listen closely to what I am about to say.
Hear me out.
18 I have prepared my case;
I will be proved innocent.
19 Who can argue with me over this?
And if you prove me wrong, I will remain silent and die."
Wow, Job truly has no other hope that God. Job is a lot wiser than I. He realizes that whether a good outcome or a bad one, his best and only hope is God! There are times when I believe (incorrectly) that I have a real hope in something or someone other than God. We should realize that hope is more than we think sometimes (I know... I've said this A LOT, lol) and that our only true hope comes from God!
Verses 20-28:
20 “O God, grant me these two things,
and then I will be able to face you.
21 Remove your heavy hand from me,
and don’t terrify me with your awesome presence.
22 Now summon me, and I will answer!
Or let me speak to you, and you reply.
23 Tell me, what have I done wrong?
Show me my rebellion and my sin.
24 Why do you turn away from me?
Why do you treat me as your enemy?
25 Would you terrify a leaf blown by the wind?
Would you chase dry straw?
26 “You write bitter accusations against me
and bring up all the sins of my youth.
27 You put my feet in stocks.
You examine all my paths.
You trace all my footprints.
28 I waste away like rotting wood,
like a moth-eaten coat."
It's humbling to see Job's request and case presented to God. I think we would do wise to pray something similar sometimes, so that God would reveal things in our lives that need to be addressed. While we might not be experiencing hardships or trials, but that doesn't mean we aren't harboring sins and lifestyles that aren't conducive to what God desires for us. Asking God to allow us to approach Him and for Him to reveal what He sees should be a humbling, yet strengthening event in our lives! What do you guys think? =)
"Father, thank You for allowing us to approach You in Jesus! I pray that we would take advantage of this freedom and that we would seek You with all that we are and all that we have! God reveal the things in our lives that are dishonoring to You, and forgive us for our failings. I pray we would use this moment, right now, to rededicate our lives to You, turning over the role of Lord of our lives to Your Son Jesus. It's in Jesus' that I pray, amen!"
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