31. Justified

Hymns: RHC 115 Constantly Abiding, 116 Higher Ground, 379 O for a Faith That Will not Shrink, 532 Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us

Job 11:1-12

¹Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, ²Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? ³Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed ⁴For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. ⁵But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; ⁶And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. 

⁷Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? ⁸It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? ⁹The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.¹⁰If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? ¹¹For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? ¹²For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt. (Job 11:1-12 KJV)

Justified

OUTLINE

• By Doctrine (v1-6)
• By Understanding (v7-12)
• By Repentance (v18-20)

INTRODUCTION

How is a man be made righteous, that is, be right in the sight of God? How can he be just before God? How can a man be declared righteous? Who says it and it shall be counted upon him? Job vindicated himself in the sight of his friends that he is a man of honour, just and righteous in the sight of God. He told his friends that he is a man in touch with God. Although he could not understand all that the Lord was doing in his life, he was puzzled and perplexed by his current predicament, he nonetheless, was no less, a child of his Father in heaven. No amount of distortion and maligning could shake him from the stability of his permanent position of honour before God. It is a commendable state of spiritual well-being. A man’s response in the midst of his greatest trial in life deserves our careful study.

His friend chided him for his doctrine of God and question him concerning his understanding of God in relation to his predicament.

• By Doctrine (v1-6)
• By Understanding (v7-12)

• By Doctrine (v1-6)

¹Then answered Zophar the Naamathite, and said, ²Should not the multitude of words be answered? and should a man full of talk be justified? ³Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed ⁴For thou hast said, My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. 

Job was standing firm in his faith as the Apostle Paul articulated in his confession of faith to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:12-14 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 

It is the same indwelling Holy Spirit imparting faith to Job as He did the Apostle Paul and Timothy so that they are sure, assured Whom they have believed. Job looked forward to the Messiah to come and the Apostle Paul looked backwards in time to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who has come for salvation and sustenance.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Zophar cannot rob Job of his peace with God for Job was a man justified by faith! Job has a reconciled relationship with God. Though charged by Zophar to be a lier, questioning Job’s right standing before God, it didn’t matter. God’s mind will not be changed just because of the Zophar’s insinuations. Job himself has to take hold of his faith in his God and trust the Lord to uphold him. 

The Apostle Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:7-10 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear;but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Be not overwhelmed by the charge of the enemies of the gospel. Be fortified with God’s power, love and the sound mind that was imparted to him. What is the sound mind? It is the ability to hold on to the truth of God’s Word and not waiver but be obedient to it. We saw in our Adult Sunday Class on the book of Romans the elements of it – the indwelling Holy Spirit and the written Word of God, a humility of mind to obey the Word, and experience the perfect peace of abiding in Him.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep himin perfect peace, whosemind isstayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 

Job was not ashamed of his faith in God. He boldly declares his faith – My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in thine eyes. 

This pure doctrine of Job states that the Saviour of all mankind shall abolished death and bring life and immortality to light through the gospel. 

Job is being charged with being unrighteous. 

⁵But oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee; ⁶And that he would shew thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. 

Zophar invoked God to refute His servant Job. And the indictment of judgment upon Job that his sufferings is unequal to the greatness of Job’s sins. What a daring man to rank himself as God to judge Job, albeit, wrongly! If Job’s faith has not been strong, he would have been overwhelmed and shaken by the lambasting of his friends. God’s grace was indeed with Job to help him in his moment of need.

⁴And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. ⁵But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. ⁶Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? ⁷But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. ⁸Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: ⁹But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven. ¹¹And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: ¹²For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. (Lk. 12:4-12 KJV)

The words of Job were guided by the Spirit of God so that he was able to holdfast his faith. God gave him the words to speak in the time of his temptation.

Romans 15:4-6 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

May the Lord use this study to strengthen the faith of His people who may be going through some trials in life.

• By Understanding (v7-12)

⁷Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? ⁸It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? ⁹The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.

A man undestands God according to God’s revelation of Himself in His Word. Job didn’t have the hindsight of the canon of Scriptures as we do. Nevertheless, he has the indwelling Spirit of God and His presence with him. This was the strength that sustains His servant Job!

Ephesians 3:17-19 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Psalm 139:6-10 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.

The presence of God with His people, His promise of gudiance for His people must still our hearts and cause us to keep faith!

Zophar felt that he needed to instruct Job on the finer doctrines of God. Like a full-fledged theologican Zophar lectures Job. Is Job’s knowledge of God so shallow that he needs another lecture? 

¹⁰If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? ¹¹For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it? ¹²For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass’s colt. 

Zophar now goes on to speak about the sovereignty of God. He brings all things to pass according to His good pleasure, none can stay His hand. The wicked man shall experience and not escape God’s wrath. God has the power to see clearly the “vain men” as Jesus said Luke 18:10-14 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

A man in his self-conceit is like an untamed horse, how he needs to be humbled. Zophar was alleging that Job was such a man. One who is not attuned to the working of God in his life. It is time for Job to repent before God’s wrath will come.

To be continued…