0826. Job

Job

"Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth" (Job_40:4).

At first one would not think of Job as a character who would cover the three points of our discussion, and yet such is true. Job first of all was proud, then he was debased, and then he was lifted up. Let us so consider him.

1. Job's pride. We know that when the devil came before God that God said, "Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" Job was all of this,–and yet earth's best man knew his own virtues and proudly referred to them.

Let us turn to the 29th chapter and listen to Job as he boasts his own righteousness and his own deeds:

"I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

"My judgment was as a robe and a diadem.

"I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame,

"I was a father to the poor;

"I delivered the poor that cried;

"I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

"I brake the jaws of the wicked.

"I said, I shall die in my nest;

"I shall multiply my days.

"My glory was fresh in me. Unto me men gave ear.

"After my words they spake not again;

"They waited for me.

"I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army."

We have no doubt that everything said above was true. Job was God's great man, and yet Job was, without a doubt, exalted beyond measure. This very danger confronted the Apostle Paul and it was for this cause that God sent him the thorn in his flesh (see 2Co_12:1).

2. Job's humiliation. Almost with a breath God permitted satan to sweep away everything that Job possessed. His servants were killed with the edge of the sword; fire fell and burned up his sheep; a great wind smote the corners of the house where his sons and daughters were feasting and slew them, God had brought Job down to the ground, and yet Job kept his integrity and said, "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

After this God permitted satan to touch Job's body, and he was smitten with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown. Then Job took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes. The humiliation of Job was made complete by the criticisms of his three false friends.

3. Job's exaltation. In the day of Job's humiliation, now and then, through the shadows his faith seemed to waver. But now and then his faith proved sublime. On one occasion he said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Job spoke far better of the Lord than did his comforters. At last the Lord remembered Job and spake to him out of the whirlwind. Then Job cried, "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth."

Once more the Lord spoke to Job out of the whirlwind, and then job replied, in contrition and in humility; "I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth Thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." Then the Lord exalted Job and turned again his captivity. "So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning."

Job had fourteen thousand sheep.

Job has six thousand camels.

Job had one thousand yoke of oxen.

Job had a thousand she asses.

Besides this, God gave unto Job seven sons and three daughters, and in all the land there were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job. Truly he that exalteth himself shall be abased, but he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR