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2/23 Reading Portions: Exodus 6; Luke 9; Job 23; 1 Corinthians 10
Job 23:11
“My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and have not turned aside.”
IMPUTATION
We can glean more than one lesson spoken by the people within Job’s story. This statement made by Job, for example, can be understood from at least four perspectives. First, from its immediate context as an independent, historical work, this statement can be declared by Job as a fact to justify his integrity before God. God’s own testimony of Job was that he was blameless, upright, feared God, and shunned evil (Job 1:8). As readers of this drama, we realize that Job was not privy to the heavenly conversations recorded in the first two chapters; and the calamities which had befallen the man were not caused by anything he did or didn’t do.
Second, we can understand the statement from its biblical view of fallen man’s pride. Since Adam’s fall, all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Rom 3:23). Apart from the revelation of God to convict and convince men otherwise, depraved men will believe they can stand before God and justify themselves as holy, just, and upright. They will suppress truth in their unrighteousness (Rom 1:18). Moreover, they will neither give God honor or thanksgiving since their thinking is futile and their foolish hearts have been darkened (Rom 1:21).
Third, we can understand the statement as prophetic of Jesus Christ within its overall gospel context. Job’s statement can only be completely and absolutely true of one human being— the Messiah of God. Jesus, as perfect, sinless, and holy Man, walked every step according to the Father’s will. He has kept His way in fulfilling all righteousness. He did not turn aside from His mission, for He went willingly to Calvary’s cross. Because Jesus has kept God’s ways, He will also keep every soul He has redeemed, not losing a single one the Father has given Him (John 6:39). No, not one. Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Fourth and finally, we can understand this statement as it pertains to our salvation through Christ’s imputed righteousness. All of Christ’s righteousness has been placed upon the account of the redeemed soul. This doesn’t mean we are free to commit sin. On the contrary, this truth provokes us unto love of Christ and good works to honor Christ, causing us to keep our ways before God and not turn aside from Him.
The book of Job is fill’d with much
To stir the Christian soul and heart;
We only need to look to Christ
To comprehend each holy part.