Week 26 Job 42
As I got to the end of the book I wondered what I’d say if someone asked me: “what do you think are Job’s top three comments?”
There’s quite a bit to choose from. In Job there’s about 1069-verses and Job himself spoke 522 of them (by my count). So 48.8% of the book is the words of Job. But I didn’t have much trouble finding my Top Three.
The first was where Job’s wife told Job to curse-God-and-die. Job told her she was foolish. And asked a great question: shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?
The second was where Job said: I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. Under the circumstances this is a pretty eye-opening and far-seeing and heroic view to take (and almost sounds like Job had read the NT.)
The third is my favorite. After the Lord’s long speech Job throws up the white-flag. He admits: surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes. Despite all his qualities and virtues Job realized that – confronted by the Lord – despising himself and repenting was the obvious thing to do.
Note: quotes from Job 2:10 19:25-26 42:3-6 (NIV)