One argument insists that God only rewards those that do good and seek His way. They can ask what ever they want and God will be glad to do it for them. Most of what they would ask for is material things. Job's present argument is that the wicked do just fine on their own if riches and rich lives are the mark. God seems often to leave them alone till their final demise. It is the upright that seem to draw his correction. Today, where does the evidence tend to rest?
From what I have seen the evidence of this process seems clear. Whom God loves he corrects and this reproof is a way of life. It is an investment in who we will one day be. The wicked however, there is no reason to invest, correction only makes them more intent on their wicked ways. They may appear to be left to their own but, God has their end prepared. He also has us standing in the gap for those helpless victims; it is part of our test.
Who can know his ways or cleans his own self? If the fear lacks (and it most certainly does) how can man know that he lives and breaths evil enough to depart it. The falseness of moral relativism is that evil is determined and judged without regarding any fear of the Lord therefore is there little regard for any evil other than that hurt which is brought against oneself by others.
The tendency when reading this book is to put ourselves in the role of Job. Clearly from this passage very few of us have half the previous track record of righteousness and longevity as Job did. This is what makes the story so much more than what we make it: there was in fact none more righteous than Job and yet this happened. We would like to think that it is Satan attacking us similarly to Job; is it because we are more righteous than Job? What makes us think that Satan has the slightest interest in making another ultimate challenge with God regarding our faith when he pretty much has our faith locked up anyway? Odds are better that we are playing the role of one of Job's friends trying to talk him out of his righteousness. That is the story.
The righteousness of Job had flushed out a great many pretenders, a number who were unworthy/untrusted even to be dogs in his flock (and that is not to knock the dogs). Now that God's hand was removed these enemies and low lifes saw opportunity to pound the image and reputation of Job into the dust. Apparently the many poor and needy that Job had helped were unable or unwilling to stand up for Job; as is often the case. It is almost like watching a plane crash; everyone just watches in awe.
2012 - pBiblx2 Field Wise Bible System Version 2.0.9d - GPL3
Home
Bible
PCARR
Discuss
Help
BibleTools>
