Sunday, December 10, 2017
Job 31:13 says, If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; Job continues to speak of some of the things that he could have been hypocritical about. He was now referring to his treatment of his servants. It is easy to look down on people whom we feel are somehow beneath us. Job was not saying he had acted this way, but that had he done so, then he should be held accountable. In verse fourteen Job asks, What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? Job said that had he been guilty of mistreating his servants, what could he say to God if God punished him. As sinners, we can say nothing to God to justify ourselves before Him. In verse four Job asks, Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb? I believe that Job was stating by this question that all people are created equal in God's sight. Job had no justification if he looked down on those who were less fortunate than him, even his own servants. We need to acknowledge that we are no more worthy of God's love than the poorest person in the world, and we should never treat anyone as unworthy in our dealings with them. Verse sixteen says, If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; Job was again sayin that he had helped the poor, in spite of being called a hypocrite. In verse seventeen Job continues, stating, Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; Job said if he had done these things he deserved God's punishment, but he knew that he hadn't. If we do look at others, we need to be careful not to judge them by preconceived ideas, especially when it comes to their relationship to God. Still, their actions should be an indication of their following of God. If someone does everything is for self-satisfaction with no concern for others, then we would be wise to question their dedication to following God. Verse eighteen says, (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a father, and I have guided her from my mother’s womb;) Job said not only was he treating others fairly after he was older and had grown rich, but that he had done it all his life. Verse nineteen states, If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering; Then continuing in verse twenty, If his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; Eliphaz in particular had accused Job of doing these things, and Job was basically saying where is the proof. We certainly cannot afford to make false accusations against others, especially fellow believers. Verse twenty one says, If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, when I saw my help in the gate: Job is simply continuing to ask for examples of where he had mistreated others. Then, in verse twenty two he declares, Then let mine arm fall from my shoulder blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone. Job said that if he had done these things, then he deserved punishment. In verse twenty three he continues, For destruction from God was a terror to me, and by reason of his highness I could not endure. Job said that he did not do these things just out of fear of God's punishment. Though we should follow God because of His love for us, if we are being hypocritical in our relationship to Him, we should fear His coming judgment.
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