Justice and Righteousness In The Book of Job

By: Steph Neres 

May 31, 2018


In the bible, there are three specific books that deal with how we should live. These books contain words of advice, the mechanics of life or rather wisdoms (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job). Job though, deals with more than the wisdom of man but also the wisdom of God. In this book we get a peak of the heavenly realms, we see how God operates and how Satan operates as well. This book has so many lessons for us to learn; today we will focus on God’s Justice and Righteousness.

We suffer, and it seems like a regular part of life. Whether we are suffering from illness, or injustice, or even by not being able to get what we want, life can be so difficult.The book of Job opens up talking about Job’s righteousness. It tells us how the accuser came in the midst near the throne of God, slandering Job many times. We also see God allowing Satan to prove and hurt His servant (Job 1-3). It gives us an insight into the reason for the suffering, but what we can’t grasp is why God allows it. It raises an even more relevant question: How do we trust God amidst the trouble?

What Really Matters

First things first, it almost seems like God was not so worried about Job's suffering, it wasn’t Job that was on trial it was God. It was a matter of the hedge that God put around Job. Not only was Job’s integrity on the line, even more seriously the accuser was questioning God’s justice. 

We were made to serve God, for HIS glory (Isaiah 43:7, Ecclesiastes 12:13). We were also made to be satisfied with HIM. Because of our fleshly desires that don’t satisfy, our cravings have gotten more intense. We don’t realize that the things we go after are nothing in comparison to what God gives and we settle for fleeting obsessions. Job proved that he valued God more than ALL OF HIS DISSATISFACTIONS (the death of his children, the loss of his possessions, his health).

Justice

Job questioned God’s righteousness like many of us in the midst of our sufferings. He even goes on to review his charitable deeds and tell God that he doesn’t deserve the things that he is dealing with because he is a “righteous” man. Job’s friends thought otherwise, they believe that pain and suffering is punishment for sin. Like many of us, it only seems right that you get what you deserve - you suffer based on what you’ve done as taught by the philosophy of karma. Justice as we know it is merit-based, and truthfully, if God ascribed to our beliefs regarding justice no one would be alive today.

Righteousness

Justice must be mingled with Righteousness in order for it to be HOLY. God’s justice requires that we all die for our sins (Genesis 2:17). Thankfully, that requirement has been fully satisfied in the death of Christ - THE PROPITIATION for our sins/Our Righteousness (1 John 2:1-3, Philippians 3:9). Christ has not only saved us from the death penalty, He also gave us a future. Job knew this and he looked forward to his redeemer. This is why he asked to die, he knew that the life here is nothing in comparison to what God has in store for us. He asked for someone to plead his cause (Job 16:21) and he maintained the hope that one day he will see his savior (Job 19:25).

The Complexity of God

The way the story ended with Job was odd; God showed Job the heavens, every intricate detail of the universe and all that HE sees and asked Job some questions about them. In the end, Job understood that being in the place of God is very complex and that we have no right to complain - All we need is to trust. We have an advocate in heaven with the father, pleading our cause each day. Knowing God’s Justice and Jesus’s Righteousness, how can we fear?

Conclusion

So, how do we cope in the midst of suffering? We cope by relying on Jesus pleading for us as we know He has been in our place and that HE desires for all to be saved. Therefore He understands and will have mercy and be graceful. “1For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”


In the end of it all, Job humbles himself and says:

“I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
“Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
‘Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.’
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes.”
Let us also repent and learn to trust God in our sufferings


Comments

  1. UnknownJune 1, 2018 at 11:52 AM

    Amen Steph! This article really reaches out to me. We cannot be reminded enough of how much we need to rely on and trust in God.

    ReplyDelete

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