In The Word
Read: Job 9:25-10:22
25 “Now my days are swifter than a runner;
They flee away, they see no good.
26 They slip by like reed boats,
Like an eagle that swoops on its prey.
27 Though I say, ‘I will forget my complaint,
I will put my face in order and be cheerful,’
28 I am afraid of all my pains,
I know that You will not acquit me.
29 I am guilty,
Why then should I struggle in vain?
30 If I washed myself with snow,
And cleansed my hands with lye,
31 Then You would plunge me into the pit,
And my own clothes would loathe me.
32 For He is not a man, as I am, that I may answer Him—
That we may go to court together!
33 There is no arbitrator between us,
Who can place his hand upon us both.
34 Let Him remove His rod from me,
And let not the dread of Him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak and not fear Him;
But I am not like that in myself.
Job Despairs of God’s Dealings
10 “I am disgusted with my own life;
I will express my complaint freely;
I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, ‘Do not condemn me;
Let me know why You contend with me.
3 Is it right for You indeed to oppress,
To reject the work of Your hands,
And to look favorably on the plan of the wicked?
4 Do You have eyes of flesh?
Or do You see as mankind sees?
5 Are Your days like the days of a mortal,
Or Your years like a man’s year,
6 That You should search for my guilt
And carefully seek my sin?
7 According to Your knowledge I am indeed not guilty,
Yet there is no one to save me from Your hand.
8 ‘Your hands fashioned and made me altogether,
Yet would You destroy me?
9 Remember that You have made me as clay;
Yet would You turn me into dust again?
10 Did You not pour me out like milk,
And curdle me like cheese,
11 Clothe me with skin and flesh,
And intertwine me with bones and tendons?
12 You have granted me life and goodness;
And Your care has guarded my spirit.
13 Yet You have concealed these things in Your heart;
I know that this is within You:
14 If I have sinned, You will take note of me,
And will not acquit me of my guilt.
15 If I am wicked, woe to me!
But if I am righteous, I dare not lift up my head.
I am full of shame, and conscious of my misery.
16 And should my head be high, You would hunt me like a lion;
And You would show Your power against me again.
17 You renew Your witnesses against me
And increase Your anger toward me;
Hardship after hardship is with me.
18 ‘Why then did You bring me out of the womb?
If only I had died and no eye had seen me!
19 I should have been as though I had not been,
Brought from womb to tomb.’
20 Would He not leave my few days alone?
Withdraw from me so that I may have a little cheerfulness
21 Before I go—and I shall not return—
To the land of darkness and deep shadow,
22 The land of utter gloom like darkness itself,
Of deep shadow without order,
And it shines like darkness.”
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
Today’s scripture reading begins with Job’s telling statement, “Now my days are swifter than a runner; they flee away, … They slip by like reed boats, like an eagle that swoops on its prey (Job 9:25–26).” I remember when my children were born, people would counsel my wife and me with the words, “Cherish your time with them because they will be grown before you know it.” We thought they were crazy! But now that our children are adults, we see how quickly time passed as we vividly remember their birth like it was yesterday.
God warns, “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time (Ephesians 5:15–16).” Heed God’s wisdom by taking advantage of the time you have now because you don’t know when your time on earth will end. Don’t miss opportunities to spend time with loved ones and tell them about Yeshua. Things like hobbies have their place, and are best used to spend time with people, not hide from them.
Further, don’t think that you can live like you want with sinful and selfish pleasures because you will have time to get right with God later. Some people say, “I will get right with God before I die” yet not knowing when their time will end; that is foolishness!
Moses wisely prayed, “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” Examine your life and use your time wisely.