The Mark of Righteousness

How would you like the Golden Rule reversed to reflect the way we’ve already treated others? May it be done to me as I’ve done to others. In this Job’s last speech, he is making a bold claim to righteousness—despite losing all in life that was precious to him: possessions, health, social esteem, compassion of friends, and even the comfort of God’s presence. Instead, he has suffered pain, depression, grief, unfair accusation, peer pressure to ‘just do the right thing’ and call ‘uncle,’ getting God off his back, and ultimately to deny and curse God. Notice the ‘if-then’ statements, If I’ve acted in any way un-righteously let it come back on me. Job is throwing down the gauntlet, making a case for his integrity. Would you like to make that bold claim if you were standing accused in court? But what would you say if you were standing before the throne of God and He was to ask you to give a reason why He should let you into His home?

Last week we talked about false guilt and confession. This week we are drilling down on what it means to be righteous before God. Satan and those under his influence say it is impossible. But God says, Have you seen My servant (your name)? He also points to His Servant Jesus by whom He can point to you and me. Let’s look at the claim of Job’s righteousness and see if we can discover what true righteousness looks like. First, how does Job defend his claim to righteousness? Second, what does Job’s defense say about us? (Dilemma: Proud or Hypocrite)