Dust and Ashes
Job seems to us to be a superhero of sorts. One who in the worse possible situation could still worship God and hold fast to his integrity.
Even when Satan afflicts Job's body with these horrible painful sores and Job's wife pleads with him to do what he needed to do to end his misery, curse God and die, Job holds fast!
And then Job's three friends arrive on the scene. They know of all that has happened to Job's family, wealth and his physical body, yet we can see in the text their true depth of sincerity. 2:12 is the key. Oh they, come, (but we really find out why later, to falsely accuse Job of sinning against God) and they even tear their robs and weep for Job. But Job's three pious friends are only willing to go so far for Job.
We see in Job the perfect picture of absolute humility before his God; torn clothes, shaved head, seated in ashes. This is the picture of absolute humility. Job's three friends come, tear their clothes, and even sprinkle dust on their heads. Their self righteousness will further reveal itself as they begin to "teach" Job about being righteous before a God they really don't understand. Otherwise, Job's abject humility would have led them to the ash heap, the true picture of humility, where they should have been, right next to Job.
When I come before a righteous and holy God, knowing I am a sinner, saved by God's grace through Christ Jesus, bringing nothing of value with me, do I find myself more often in Job's friends position, having an outward appearance of humility, or am I willing to truly humble myself before God, and find myself in ashes.
Study to know Him,
Created about 1 year ago
