March 7, 2022

Passage Read: Job 13-16
Meditation Verses: 13:23-24

Thought

Job wants to know what he's done wrong. He doesn't understand, he doesn't know what he did to provoke the Lord to bring such punishment upon him. His understanding only allowed him to believe that he has done wrong and so provoked the Lord; it couldn't be anything else. And though he believes himself to be unjustly punished, he also considers that there may be something he doesn't realize to be sin in him. He remains humble and teachable. He would gladly hear what he did wrong so that he could make it right. He doesn't only insist on his innocence, he's willing to hear what he's done wrong, because if he has done wrong, he has no idea what.

Application

This is a great example of humility: though Job is aware of nothing he's done wrong, he's willing to hear if there is something he doesn't recognize as wrong. He's still willing to learn and grow better. It is the not knowing that is killing him. It is the punishment without explanation that confounds him. But his openness to receiving new correction is worthy of emulation.