13. Jobs last reply

Job”s last reply

Job now gives his last speech — his greatest effort to justify himself. Yes, this was the needs be of all his trial and sorrow. His words are very touching. ’Oh thatI wereas in the months past, asI wasin the days of my youth’ etc. It is not, Oh that it were with me, but, Oh that I was.

How like the mistaken longings of the soul, that is being driven from self to Christ. There is a peculiar delusive pleasure in being satisfied with oneself. Very often after conversion the thought is how much better I am now than I once was - how I do now walk in the ways of God.

Some few are even so far deceived as to think the old nature is entirely changed, and that there is not a root of sin left in them. But, alas, when the time of temptation comes, all this is levelled to the dust.

Now, just read Job 27:1-23; Job 28:1-28; Job 29:1-25; Job 30:1-31; Job 31:1-40, and you will say, if any man could have justified himself by good works, Job was the man. There is not a man in all your town that can say as much as Job said, and say it truly. As to his kindness to the poor, he was the very opposite of the lying charges brought against him.

Thus he lets memory recount every good act of his life, but all fails to give rest to his troubled spirit. I, I, I, I did this, I did not do that. But it is all of no use. ’Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley.The words of Job are ended’. Not so Job, you will speak again, and though your words may be few, they will be full of meaning (cf. Job 42:1-17).