Is It Worth It to Really Know God?
Job 9:13-22 (NASB)
[13] “God will not turn back His anger;
Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.
[14] “How then can I *answer Him,
And choose my words *before Him?
[15] “For though I were right, I could not *answer;
I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.
[16] “If I called and He answered me,
I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
[17] “For He bruises me with a tempest
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
[18] “He will not allow me to get my breath,
But saturates me with bitterness.
[19] “If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one!
And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon *Him?
[20] “Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me;
Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
[21] “I am guiltless;
I do not take notice of myself;
I despise my life.
[22] “It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’
Job tells us in this passage that he has despaired in his life. He is saying that it does nothing for a man if he delights in God. He is saying his righteous works result in God's condemnation. Is this true? Elihu responded later on in the book:
Job 34:7-10 (NASB)
[7] “What man is like Job,
Who drinks up derision like water,
[8] Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
[9] “For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
When he *is pleased with God.’
[10] “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
As he explains it, God can do no wrong. He pays a man according to his work. The Lord is sovereign and is worthy of our praise and adoration. We should do righteousness simply because He said to do rightly. He is worthy of our praise simply because of who He is. In the end, God does not forget our walk before Him:
Malachi 3:13-18 (NASB)
[13] “Your words have been *arrogant against Me,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ [14] “You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts? [15] ‘So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.’ ”
The Book of Remembrance
[16] Then those who *feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who *fear the LORD and who esteem His name. [17] “They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that I *prepare My *own possession, and I will *spare them as a man *spares his own son who serves him.” [18] So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
The Lord has promised that all will be made known. What better thing is there than to know the Lord, to accept His provision of salvation through Jesus Christ, to walk as He would have is walk, and have a day to day, moment to moment, personal relationship with Him?
[13] “God will not turn back His anger;
Beneath Him crouch the helpers of Rahab.
[14] “How then can I *answer Him,
And choose my words *before Him?
[15] “For though I were right, I could not *answer;
I would have to implore the mercy of my judge.
[16] “If I called and He answered me,
I could not believe that He was listening to my voice.
[17] “For He bruises me with a tempest
And multiplies my wounds without cause.
[18] “He will not allow me to get my breath,
But saturates me with bitterness.
[19] “If it is a matter of power, behold, He is the strong one!
And if it is a matter of justice, who can summon *Him?
[20] “Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me;
Though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.
[21] “I am guiltless;
I do not take notice of myself;
I despise my life.
[22] “It is all one; therefore I say,
‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’
Job tells us in this passage that he has despaired in his life. He is saying that it does nothing for a man if he delights in God. He is saying his righteous works result in God's condemnation. Is this true? Elihu responded later on in the book:
Job 34:7-10 (NASB)
[7] “What man is like Job,
Who drinks up derision like water,
[8] Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity,
And walks with wicked men?
[9] “For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
When he *is pleased with God.’
[10] “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do wickedness,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
As he explains it, God can do no wrong. He pays a man according to his work. The Lord is sovereign and is worthy of our praise and adoration. We should do righteousness simply because He said to do rightly. He is worthy of our praise simply because of who He is. In the end, God does not forget our walk before Him:
Malachi 3:13-18 (NASB)
[13] “Your words have been *arrogant against Me,” says the LORD. “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ [14] “You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the LORD of hosts? [15] ‘So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape.’ ”
The Book of Remembrance
[16] Then those who *feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who *fear the LORD and who esteem His name. [17] “They will be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “on the day that I *prepare My *own possession, and I will *spare them as a man *spares his own son who serves him.” [18] So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.
The Lord has promised that all will be made known. What better thing is there than to know the Lord, to accept His provision of salvation through Jesus Christ, to walk as He would have is walk, and have a day to day, moment to moment, personal relationship with Him?