Year 8, Day 115: Job 21

Theological Commentary: Click Here

There are deep reasons why I love and respect Job as a spiritual figure.  A number of them reside in this chapter.  This chapter speaks as to why I consider this afflicted man a personal hero.

Job sticks to his guns.  He hears time and time again about how he must be evil because of his affliction.  Yet, Job doesn’t believe them.  Job knows his heart.  He may not know the hearts of others, but he does know his own heart.  He knows his own relationship with God.  Others say what they may, but he stands his ground.  When a person knows they are right, it can pay to be stubborn and stick to one’s guns.  Especially when the stakes deal with ourselves and not others.

Another dynamic that I love about Job is that he is honest.  Job doesn’t have to be perfect.  He doesn’t have to hide his flaws.  Job knows himself and is happy to admit the human flaws within.  He tells the people to look at him.  He knows that he’s a walking billboard for calamity.  He knows people are appalled when they look at him.  He himself shudders when he considers his own flesh!  Job doesn’t see through rose-colored glasses.  Job sees the truth and paints a true picture.

Finally, Job invites truth.  He doesn’t want platitudes.  Job doesn’t want quaint sayings.  Job doesn’t want to hear things we think are true.  Job wants truth.  Job wants to think things through and know they are true.  Job knows that there are plenty of wicked in the word who have the respect of others.  Job knows there are plenty of people who are evil and yet at the end of their life they are buried with all the pomp and circumstance that one would expect from a truly wonderous person.  Job doesn’t accept that affluence and general well-being proves righteousness – even though we’d love for that to be true.

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