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June 9 Today’s Reading: Job 28-31 “The words of Job are ended.” Job 31:40
In the chapters we have read Job continued to defend himself from the false accusations of his pretended friends, justifying himself against their unjust charges. Many fault Job for this, as though he justified himself before God. That was not the case. Job appealed to the Lord his God to plead his cause. He did not attempt to justify himself before God. That is evident from the words of his own mouth. — “If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse” (Job 9:20). It is one thing to justify our conduct against the unfounded reproaches of men, and another thing altogether to deny our sins against the sovereign majesty of our God. At that throne of God’s justice, Job always pleaded guilty. He repeatedly confessed himself a sinner before God, and never attempted to cover his sin before God. Before God, he had nothing to say to justify himself. He confessed, “I have sinned, what shall I do unto thee, O thou Preserver of men?” (Job 7:20).
Confession and Forgiveness How blessed a thing it is to sinners in need of mercy to hear the testimony of God the Holy Ghost by his servant John, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). How delightful it is to know, when we know ourselves sinners, that “we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 2:1-2). All our righteousness and justification before God is in the righteousness and blood of his dear Son. We claim no righteousness before God but Christ, the Son of God, who justifies all who believe on him. The patriarch Job was born of God and taught of God. He trusted Christ, his kinsman Redeemer. He knew that Christ alone was his Savior. Being taught of God the Holy Spirit, he looked to Christ alone for all his salvation.
Our Defender Let us ever look to Christ to be our Defender, not only from the assaults and accusations of men, but also from the assaults and accusations of Satan. Precious Lord Jesus, when Satan raises Moses up against me, stand by my side and be my defence, as you were Joshua’s defence and stood by his side. Make your righteousness, as my glorious Mediator and Surety, to be the everlasting comfort, confidence, and joy of my heart. Then shall I be enabled to stand against all the accusations of Satan, of false friends, and of open foes, and cry in the holy triumph of the faith you have given me, “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:33-34).
Don Fortner
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