Job
chapter 14 continues Job’s speech from the previous chapter.
It is directed at God, but it is not exactly a prayer. It reminds me
that like everything else in nature, our lives have seasons.
Job is clearly speaking from the perspective of the dry season.
He is uncertain about tomorrow and his hope has faded. Remember
this is a man that has lost everything and perhaps feels there is no
point in delaying the inevitable. It is interesting that
whatever season we are in, we tend to believe it will not end.
The universal truth is that every season will change. The
chapter begins with his current perspective about life: “of
few days and full of trouble… springs up like a flower and withers
away; like a fleeting shadow… does not endure“. He asks
God, “Will you bring him before You for judgment?“.
And again his hopelessness is evident, “Man’s days are
determined… and have set limits he cannot exceed… let him alone,
till he has put in his time like a hired man“. Job is just
watching the clock, ready to punch-out. He can’t see beyond
the pain of the moment. Job suddenly makes an observation, “At
least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout
again, and its new shoots will not fail… at the scent of
water it will bud and put forth shoots“. If a tree stump
can provide hope, I am convinced; a believer, firmly grounded in
God’s Word, can be a symbol of stability and hope. “Like
a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in
its season” (Psalms 1:3).
Job
seems to ponder this idea of death bringing new life in relation to
himself. “But man dies and is laid low; he breathes his
last and is no more.” He once again welcomes death as an
escape “If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me
till your anger has passed!” Job then asks the question
of the ages, “If a man dies, will he live again?”
Is there reason for hope or not? Before going to the
tomb of Lazarus, Jesus made a promise and asked a question. John
11:25 says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes
in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and
believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” The
apostle Paul said with certainty, “But now Christ is risen from
the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen
asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). The resurrection of Christ
is the foundation for our joy because His resurrection came with a
promise, “I go to prepare a place for you… I will come again
and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also”
(John 14:3). As the apostle Paul approached the end of his life, he
said, “there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not
to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing“.
All means all, there are no try-outs or cuts on this team.
The
chapter ends with the reality many people today know too well.
Job acknowledges God’s truth, but yet he is left to deal with his
current circumstances.
Job
understands that the ride isn’t over yet, “I
will wait for my renewal to come“.
He sees himself as God’s delight “you
will long for the creature your hands have made“.
He knows God desires restoration, “My
offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin“.
Yet Job’s suffering is still very real, and it erodes his joy,
“water
wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy
man’s hope“.
Job expresses the conflict between the sprit and the flesh, “He
feels but the pain of his own body and mourns only for himself“.
Let me suggest the solution is a matter of faith. The
victorious Christian life is not about avoiding every bad behavior
and thought, but allowing the Holy Spirit of God to live in us.
Since we cannot achieve perfection in our behavior, we must trust in
the victory of Christ. Jesus willingly gave His life to pay the
penalty for our sin. The only thing required from us to receive
this forgiveness is to believe. Romans 10:9 says, “if
you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart
that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved… For
whoever calls on the name of the Lord
shall
be saved.
Romans 8:11 adds, “He
who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal
bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you“.
Jesus promised anyone that is parched, “Whoever
drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the
water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water
springing up into everlasting life”
(John 4:14). Maybe it’s time?