S) "8 Behold, I go forward but He is not there,
And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;
9 When He acts on the left, I cannot behold Him;
He turns on the right, I cannot see Him.
10 "But He knows the way I take;
When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
11 "My foot has held fast to His path;
I have kept His way and not turned aside.
12 "I have not departed from the command of His lips;
I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food."
Job 23:8-12 (NASB)
O) This is sort of a long passage, but it was hard to separate any of it, because it risks losing context too much. This passage really epitomizes the chapter, because it shows us that Job (still) had a deep longing to know the LORD intimately. He searched all around, but was not able to sense God's presence, but that did not stop his actions. He still had faith that, though he could not feel God's presence, God knew his presence. He drew comfort in knowing that his hardships may be a test from the LORD, because he had confidence he would pass the testing. God's attention, even testing attention, was a comfort to him, because he knew then that God was aware of his affliction. He valued the words of his Lord, and was obedient to those commands, and he kept His way faithfully. He was drawing comfort in the fact that God would see all of that, if he was indeed being tested (as he was, and as God did see).
A) How much do I seek the LORD? Does my life look like a man who is seeking something? It's convicting to read these words, from a man who would seem to have every "right" to throw in the towel and be done trying. It's not that it seems Job's testing is an excuse to reject God, but few would blame a man if his fervor for the LORD waned after so much hardship (losing his children, property, wealth, etc.). And yet, through all of that, it is still his desire to seek God. Then, when he determines God must surely see him, he has the confidence to say that he is glad for it. Because of the blood of Jesus, I am given great freedom in seeking my Father God. I am redeemed, cleansed from my sins, and given every right and reason to seek the LORD, but am I truly trying to have time with Him? Even more, am I eager to be seen by Him? I read His words daily in my Bible study, but am I just as determined to let myself be seen by God? I should have more confidence that Job, even, that God can see me - his confidence was in his obedience, my confidence is in the obedience of Christ Jesus. I need to make time to pray, making time to seek the God who made me.
P) Father, You are worthy of so much more than I am ever willing to give You! I confess that I have been lazy about seeking You, Father God. I want to repent of that, here and now, and make time to seek You out in prayer, every day. Let this mark a new beginning, Lord, that I make time to be with my Maker each day. And Father, let me be willing to be found by You - eager, even, to make myself known to You. Thank You for the gift of grace, that Jesus Christ paid for my redemption, that I may be reconciled, found by You. Let Your will be done in my prayer life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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