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Job 14 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
Be quiet and give me a chance to speak, and let the results be what they will. 14 I am ready to risk my life. 15 I’ve lost all hope, so what if God kills me? I am going to state my case to him. 16 It may even be that my boldness will save me, since no wicked person would dare to face God.
Job 13:13-16 GNB
Job has had enough from his windbag friends. He knows they don’t speak on behalf of God because their actions aren’t consistent with God’s character. In reality, he is confident enough in his own faith as well as God’s justice to stand before Him and accept whatever God would hand down to him.
Let’s not forget, in the OT, Salvation was credited by faith.
Now, it is clear that no one is put right with God by means of the Law, because the scripture says, “Only the person who is put right with God through faith shall live.”
Galatians 3:11 GNB
Job could have accepted his friends’ theories. He could have given up on his faith. There is something deep within Job’s soul that will never completely lose trust in God. He wants to go directly to the source because Job’s view of Salvation is not based on the law like his friends. He has true faith! He knows that the main argument is not about the law, but about faith.
Don’t miss this.
Job’s friends believe he must have some kind of secret sin in his life. The law condemns him, so God condemns him, right? Though it is true that no one is righteous before God, Job has exemplified a saving faith throughout this entire process. So, although we maybe haven’t considered this, the book of Job is a story that contrasts genuine Salvation by faith with a false, works-based, law-abiding, man-made salvation.
Can we say the same? Are we eager to go before the Lord knowing that by faith, we will be justified by the blood of Christ? This doesn’t just mean we believe, but that we have lived our lives according to that saving faith. Job’s friends are banking on their good deeds and retribution theology. But by their own words, they have demonstrated a weak faith. When you think about facing up to God and the fact that nothing will be hidden from Him in that moment, what will be left standing before the holiness of God?