RPG Adults
MAN SEPARATED FROM A HOLY GOD
THURSDAY, APRIL 21
Job 9:16-35
Psalm 119:49-56
“And now, Lord…
my hope is in thee.”
MAN SEPARATED FROM A HOLY GOD
Job continued to answer his friend Bildad. The real problem is that God is so great and His righteousness so absolute that man has no hope nor ability to reach Him on his own.
Job expressed man’s dilemma in Hebrew poetic form. Man should simply be overwhelmed by his own wickedness (Job 9:16-18) in view of God’s unattainable righteousness and strength. The creature is always wrong because of sin – man’s own testimony proves this (Job 9:19-20).
In the midst of Job’s present suffering, he had forgotten the great blessing of the past. He continued to protest that he was not guilty of any particular wilful, unconfessed sin but he recognised that his imperfect nature still made him guilty before a Holy God. God, in His absolute holiness, seems to punish both the wicked and the righteous. As Job looked out upon the world, the wicked seem to be in control of everything and God did not hinder them (Job 9:21-24).
He used the examples of the swift eagle and of the rapidly passing ship to illustrate the quick end of life. We should notice that, in all of Job’s complaining, and despite his lack of understanding, he still looked to God as the righteous Judge of all the earth (Job 9:21-28).
Job recognised his own hopeless condition, and he asked the question, “What is the point of even trying to be righteous?” (Job 9:29). Any attempt by man to cleanse himself of wickedness is useless because God will still prove him a wicked sinner. As the Prophet Isaiah exclaimed, all men’s righteousnesses are like filthy rags in the sight of a Holy God (Job 9:29-31; Isa 64:6).
The only hope for man as he stands before a righteous God is to cast himself on the mercy of God and accept this Mediator, Jesus Christ, as his Lord and Saviour. In Christ, we can have eternal life, assurance of sins forgiven and a life of purpose, joy and peace.
THOUGHT: What could have helped Job in this time of trouble?
PRAYER: I thank Thee, Father, that Ephesians 2:8-9 reveals that salvation is through Thy grace alone.