Simply There – Job 14:1-22
“A mortal, born of woman, few of days and full of trouble,
2 comes up like a flower and withers,
flees like a shadow and does not last.
3 Do you fix your eyes on such a one?
Do you bring me into judgment with you?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?
No one can.
5 Since their days are determined,
and the number of their months is known to you,
and you have appointed the bounds that they cannot pass,
6 look away from them, and desist,
that they may enjoy, like laborers, their days.
7 “For there is hope for a tree,
if it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
and that its shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root grows old in the earth,
and its stump dies in the ground,
9 yet at the scent of water it will bud
and put forth branches like a young plant.
10 But mortals die, and are laid low;
humans expire, and where are they?
11 As waters fail from a lake,
and a river wastes away and dries up,
12 so mortals lie down and do not rise again;
until the heavens are no more, they will not awake
or be roused out of their sleep.
13 O that you would hide me in Sheol,
that you would conceal me until your wrath is past,
that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If mortals die, will they live again?
All the days of my service I would wait
until my release should come.
15 You would call, and I would answer you;
you would long for the work of your hands.
16 For then you would not number my steps,
you would not keep watch over my sin;
17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag,
and you would cover over my iniquity.
18 “But the mountain falls and crumbles away,
and the rock is removed from its place;
19 the waters wear away the stones;
the torrents wash away the soil of the earth;
so you destroy the hope of mortals.
20 You prevail forever against them, and they pass away;
you change their countenance, and send them away.
21 Their children come to honor, and they do not know it;
they are brought low, and it goes unnoticed.
22 They feel only the pain of their own bodies,
and mourn only for themselves.”
What does the passage say?
V. 1 – 12 The passage we read is response of Job, to his friend Zophar, who says, ‘how can you say that you are righteous in front of God?’ (Job 11)
Job, in his response, recognize the sovereignty of God (Job 12-13). However, he still states to plead his innocent in front of God. He sees all the situations, but he says, “Do you fix your eyes on them? Will you bring them before you for judgment?” (v. 3 NIV)
He continues on the limitation that we have as mortals. In another way of Job, expressing his agony, he says, “Why don’t you just bury me alive, get me out of the way until your anger cools?” (v. 11 The Message).
V. 13 – 22 In the midst of his agony, Job also has a hope of resurrection. He says, “Homesick with longing for the creature you made, you’ll call – and I’ll answer! You’ll watch over every step I take, but you won’t keep track of my missteps. My sins will be stuffed in a sack and thrown into the sea – sunk in deep ocean” (v. 15-17 The Message). It is amazing to see how Job understands the depth of God’s love and forgiveness. He claims to be righteous, in front of God, because of the understanding his has about his limitations.
What does this mean to me/ us?
As Christians, we can never be perfect. However, we should live with faith and understanding that we are still righteous in God’s eyes. This is the faith that Job had. Even though his friend condemned him, and asked him to reconsider his position about being blameless, Job still held his ground.
Is he arrogant? Later in the book, he sees God and humbles himself, but I believe this statement is a profession of his worth and identity. The world might condemn us. Even Christians might condemn us. However, we need to remember that our sins are all thrown into the deep sea when Jesus Christ died for us. Not to say that we should be arrogant, but to keep in mind that we should not be shaken.
Lord, help us to examine our lives, faithfully in front of you. Help us to see your grace and forgiveness. Help us to live worthy of our call, as forgiven people. In Christ name we pray, AMEN.
What are your thoughts?
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