The Lodestar

Anyone reading the opening pages of the Book of Job knows that he is righteous. The author introduces the main character, Job: “There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1). The Lord endorses the same: “And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”’ (Job 1:8). Even Satan did not object.

Job’s friends, experts in the wisdom of the ancient world, judged that Job must have sinned to endure this extreme suffering. They argued that though he may not have sinned intentionally, he might have sinned inadvertently.

The book is a debate between Job, who protests his innocence; his friends, who blame him; Elihu's speech, which interjects with a different worldview; and the Lord’s interrogation of Job, which concludes the book.

Job had many arguments to establish the case, highlighting various aspects of life right with God.

In this passage, Job defends his claim that his life was always right with God, pointing to his lifestyle. He lived immersed in the Word of God, and his life was in line with the “commands of his (God’s) lips.” He had lived by what the Lord had uttered. He strengthens his argument by saying that he delighted in the Word of God more than in the most delicious food.

We are not ultimate judges of our conduct; the Lord decides. However, we can face trials in life with confidence if we have kept our lives within specific parameters. The most important of those parameters is the place of the Word of God in our lives. The psalmist complements Job’s view: “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psa 119:105).

Let us delight in reading and meditating on the Word of God and allow its words to guide our lives.

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