Storming through Job 27 wasn't easy. It actually required be re-reading a couple of times. There was so much to listen to in the words of Job.
Then, something started to nag at my brain. It was almost as thought I wanted to accuse Job of stealing words from someone in more recent history. Then it occurred to me, that the words from recent history had to be taken from Job. Yet the two voices at one point sounded like one.[more]
The words ringing in my head were Job saying in verses 3 and 4 "As long as I am alive and God gives me breath, I will not speak unfairly or unjustly, or complain about what has happened to me – I know what the rules of life are. I wont even try to speak behind His back about how wrong you or I think he might be." (Joe's translation).
What came to my mind were the words of Luther. No, not Lex Luther of Batman fame, but Martin Luther of the Reformation. Okay, so some of you need to go back and read history and find out who Martin was. This is not a reference to Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther, after posting his Theses on the door of the church, and being brought to trial said "…my conscience is captive to the word of God. To go against conscience is neither right nor safe. I cannot and I will not recant. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me." He too was being told that his reasoning might be "off", and he should consider other options. But he, like Job stood firm. Luther said "Unless I am convinced by Scripture and by plain reason…" his position was not going to change.
Job knew that the God in whom he trusted was not going to deviate. He knew that if he followed the way of the righteous, God would not desert him. Job's cry in chapter 27 is "I know what will happen to wicked people, but I haven't done any of that, so quit trying to get me to yell at God and blame Him for all this!"
We can be as sure as Job and Luther. John says (I John 1:9) that if we tell God we have sinned, He will be faithful to His word and forgive us and make us clean. Amazing that He will keep His promises, even when we don't. Thankfully, He is not like us humans.