New thoughts on the book of Job

[Dalton Trogdon Jr.]

  I read through Job again and found some wonderful things.Perhaps the very heart of this book is an answer to those who think prosperity and good health status and comfort are sure signs of the Christian life.They also think that sickness or loss of possessions grief and suffering are sure signs of God's judgement of the wicked or the lost and condemned because of sin or a lack of faith or repentance.I have heard recently a well known Bible teacher say that Job thought that he was a pretty good old boy but he was not perfect.When I heard this I was confused because God himself said that he was perfect and upright.To settle my own dispute I reread the book.Job had three friends and they were convinced that God was punishing Job because he was hiding past sins and was a hypocrite who professed to having a right standing with God.Much of this book is Job stating his case and being rebuked by these three.In the course of this dispute there are some truth spoken by all four parties but the premise of the friends argument against Job is false from the start.When God told Satan that Job was perfect he didn't mean that Job had never sinned in fact Job himself confessed he was a sinner and born in sin.What God meant was perfect and upright through his faith in The Savior and Redeemer who had not yet come in the flesh.Job confessed that he knew his Redeemer lived and that he would see him in a new body.We are no different from Job.We are Justified through our faith in Jesus Christ.Just as if we had never sinned.Job said some hard things about God in his dispute out of his pain and temptation which was not helped by his friends in fact they added to them.Job made his final argument then was silent.A fourth person who had come with the three then spoke and pointed out to Job that he had not been right in his opinion of God's fairness or judgement.He reminded Job that we cannot plumb the depths of God's wisdom.He also reminded him that man is not able to contend with God.Finally God himself spoke to Job out of the whirlwind.He asked Job questions that only God could answer.God challenged Job to do things that only God himself can do.Then Job confessed to God that he was not able to answer or contend and he repented before God.God then bid Job to offer sacrifices for his three friends because they had not said the right thing about God that Job had.God also restored Job and blessed him double the wealth he had before and gave him children as he had before.Oh Heavenly Father let us be so slow to judge so quick to give support so willing to confess our sins.Let us be meek and speak in Your love always.May we also remember that this earthly life is like a vapor that will pass oh so quickly and that we have eternity to enjoy all Your blessings and rewards.Amen