SOAP 10/23/2015; Job 14:4-5

Today's reading: Job 13, 14; Acts 17, 18

S) "⁴ Who can make the clean out of the unclean?
No one!
⁵ Since his days are determined,
The number of his months is with You;
And his limits You have set so that he cannot pass."

Job 14:4-5 (NASB)

O) In context, Job was making a point about the brevity of a man's life. In v.4, his reference about unclean to clean, in context, has to do with a man trying to extend his own life. That is, our sinful and unclean bodies cannot be made clean (by ourselves), such that we will prolong life. God has already determined the number of days a man shall live. God sets the limits for a man, and he can do nothing to extend that limit. The use of days and months, seems to give the impression of both a micro-view, and a macro-view on this topic. In the details, there is nothing that we can do, and in the grand scheme, there is nothing we can do.

A) This is quite contrary to what the modern medical and health industries would have us believe. While I do think it's important to be a good steward for my body, and that there are many unhealthy things I can do which would actually be sinful, the errors I should be concerned about are the spiritual errors. It is so much more important, even infinitely more important, that I am spiritually healthy. I can be in the best health in the world, but when God decides to take me home, my health will not stand in His way. Certainly, gluttony is sinful, but so is pride. Laziness is sinful, but working out can be idolatrous. Death awaits this flesh, it is unclean. There is nothing I can do to clean it. In the end, this body will die, and one day I will have a new, perfect, glorious body. In the meantime, I must not concern myself with the longevity of my physical life, but the quality of my spiritual life.

P) Father, Help me maintain focus, God. You are holy, and so I want to be holy. You see the inner man, and that is what concerns You. I want a circumcised heart, not circumcised flesh. It is an easy lie to believe that I can somehow control, or even affect, my own lifespan. You determine the length of my days. In that way, help me to be a good steward of my time. I don't want to waste the time You have given me. Help me be wise, and to follow my convictions, about how I use the time You have allotted me. Let Your will be done. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.