LESSON 1, VERSE 1:

Wise men can do this.

Express their feelings and thoughts in "parables."

Ladies can too, prudent ones. "Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee." What she then said was much like a parable. 2nd Samuel 20:16

Job was wise.

So Job too spoke in parables.

"Moreover Job continued his parable, and said ...." Job 27:1

Job is talking to his three "friends."

Tomorrow and the rest of the week we shall, Lord willing, listen to what Job says. Job 27:1-6.

Now, to study the clause at hand, "Moreover Job continued his parable."

The noun here used for "parable" is identical to the King James Version's word for a "proverb." The very same, "mashal."

Job is about to share one of the "rules" by which he lives! Yes, if you remember from yesterday's Proverbs 25 lesson, "mashal" is derived from the verb that means "to govern, to reign, to rule, to exercise power" over something or someone.

Job has been attacked by his three friends

Verbally, but still abusively.

It's wonderful, I would say, to live one's life by conviction, by principle, by doctrine, by resolve, and not by the ever-changing emotions or circumstances or current friends of the day!

Job does so, having long ago settled his faith and trust in Almighty God. His reputation vouched for his character, too.

Come back tomorrow and we shall, Lord willing, listen as Job expounds his rules for living. Some of them anyway.

Do you have some, guidelines for making decisions and regulating behavior and discerning dangerous situations?

Daniel did!

Paul did!

Jesus did!

Surely we Christians today must as well.

Let's learn from Job!

                                                                         --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

Here's a man with such convictions.

Listen to a few of them. "I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O Lord, will I sing. I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes. I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me. I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off. Him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me. He that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house. He that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight." Just part of Psalm 101, what rules!

And Job continues the tradition. Or maybe chronologically, Job began it!"Moreover Job continued his parable, and said ...." Job 27:1

LESSON 2, VERSE 2:

Job is in turmoil, an understatement for sure.

He is confused, yet "searching" for the God he loves so much.

Today he makes a statement about the Lord that's astounding. Yet to Job, it's the truth as well.

"Moreover Job continued his parable, and said, As God liveth, Who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul ...." Job 27:1-2

See it?

God has "taken away Job's judgment."

The noun "judgment" translates "mishpat," basically meaning "justice." Job is likely saying, "God has ceased recognizing my godliness." It is as if Job has grossly sinned, yet he had not!

It is as if God's "Computer," I speak symbolically, has "crashed!" He has lost all His records, including that of Job's sterling record of holiness and generosity and integrity.

"As God liveth, Who hath taken away my judgment."

Now the verb "taken away" translates "sur," meaning "to turn aside, to detour, to remove, to depose." The verb is expressed in Hebrew in the hiphil stem, just meaning that there is a "cause," a "reason" for God's strong action! That reason being the "contest" between the Lord and Satan!

It could mean, "God hath taken away my judgment," that Job is accusing God of doing wrong. But I do not believe this is the case. Not at all.

Job just does not understand what's happened. God seems to have changed His method of dealing with Job! From all "goodness" to all "harm," and all at once!

Remember Job 1:22, "In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly." And even at the end of the Book, Job 42:8, God says to Job's three "friends," rebuking them: "Ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job." Wow!

No, Job is not cursing God!

He is wondering why God has apparently changed policies though!

"As God liveth, Who hath taken away my judgment."

Something is different!

God's visible blessings are all gone, evaporated, in a few hours time!

But watch this.

Even with all the questions that have currently been buzzing in his mind, Job will still lean on the Lord!

When he can't understand, he will still worship!

All the way to this point! "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." One of the most amazing verses in the Bible, Job 13:15.

Anyone in the same "boat" as Job today?

Things going wrong?

Life falling apart?

Unanswered questions aplenty?

Do you think God has turned against you?

Or at least neglected you?

Forgotten you?

Taken away your judgment?

If so, I hope you will do as well as Job did!

He did not sin!

He did not curse God!

He maintained his love for the Lord!

And Job certainly would not admit to doing any wrong, any sin, of which he was not guilty!

Let me give you a "peek" at the rest of our text, Job 23:1-6. We will study it in detail later. "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils. My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit."

Way to go, Job!

Things are not always as they seem!

Trust God's Word!

Trust His Plan of Salvation!

Trust His Wisdom!

Even when you wonder!

Even when feelings do not agree!

Do not speak wickedness!

Keep on loving your Lord!

That undoubtedly will make God "proud," in the best sense of the word! Glorify Him, especially when things are confusing and maybe even impossible!

Listen to God "brag" on Abraham once. "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment." Genesis 18:19, wonderful! Was God "pleased?" Of course he was!

Trust the Lord, no  matter what!

I close with Habakkuk, who could have easily said what Job did today. "As God liveth, Who hath taken away my judgment."

Instead he said: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places." Habakkuk 3:17-19

What faith!

                                                                                 --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 3, STILL VERSE 2:

This week we are studying the man named Job.

He is of the opinion that God has "vexed" his  soul. Here's the Scripture. "God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul." Job 27:2

The Almighty has vexed Job's soul?

What does that mean?

"The Almighty, who hath vexed my soul." Job 27:2

The noun for "Almighty" is "shaddai," a Hebrew word meaning "most powerful one." It is used 48 times in the Old Testament, each time being translated the very same way.

But "shaddai" is derived from "shadad," some teachers say. Which means "to destroy, to spoil, to waste, to devastate." Even "to rob!"

Other scholars says that "shaddai" is built upon the little noun "shad." Which means "breast!" For example, the Brown, Driver, Briggs lexicon, one of the standard works, says this, "to moisten, the breast, breasts, the female breast." Used of the mothers in Israel.

So we must make a choice!

Is God "Almighty" in the sense of "destroying and killing and wasting" everything around?

Or is God "Almighty" in the sense of "providing and loving and cuddling and nourishing" His little children?

I'm going with the less popular view, I usually do! The "breast" connotation. A Mom in Israel was thought to be, when nursing her young babies, self-sufficient. She carried within herself all the little baby boy or girl needed, vitamins and nutrients and minerals! To be fully fed for months and months!

So "shaddai" came to mean, "Almighty" in that loving context!

If you're a man of war, use the other interpretation! God sure can tear things up, too!

Either way, Job continues his thought, his crisis!

"The Almighty hath vexed my soul." Job 27:2

The verb "hath vexed" is interesting. "Marar" means "to be bitter, to grieve, to provoke," all negative ideas.

And "soul" is "nephesh," the innermost part of Job, his very life! It's root, "naphash," means "to breathe, to be refreshed!"

God has poured "hardship and bitterness and grief and provocation" into Job's life. So thinks the Patriarch, correctly so it appears.

Wow!

Job 2:10, Job speaking to his wife: "What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?"

Well, the evil has come!

Vexation!

Grief!

Hard times!

What would you do, had you just buried all your children?

Or lost your job?

Or your livestock?

Or your health?

You might say worse! Far worse than Job! "The Almighty hath vexed my soul." Job 27:2

Many have cursed God under such circumstances!

But not Job!

This is as far as he's going! "God has vexed my soul."

But as soon as he makes this realistic but also pessimistic evaluation, Job thinks. And as he thinks, I believe convictions similar to Peter's came into his mind. "Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life." John 6:68

Job wondered, though God has vexed me, He is still the Source of my life. My everything comes from Him!

Had the Psalmist already said it, Job would have instantly agreed, "Lord all my springs are in Thee." Psalm 87:7

So vexed Job, hurting and somewhat bitter and grievous, also says things like these. "While my breath is in me, and the Spirit of God is in my nostrils. My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit." Job 27:3-4

He may be "vexed" by the Lord, but he will still keep his mouth shut! No wickedness will spue out of those lips!

Also Job will keep on serving the Lord, best he can! Even to this point, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Job 13:15

Next time God sends me a little hardship, vexes my soul, how in the world will I respond?

Job has decided he will just keep on living for God!

We will study his next words soon, "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go." Job 27:6

No backsliding planned for Job, no quitting on God!

No lukewarm spirit!

Just more godly living, more righteousness!

More just pleasing, best he can, the God who has "vexed" Him!

Folks, that 's faith!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 4, VERSE 3:

These are Job's very words, translated into English of course. "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils." Yet the clause lacks detail. There's no context here.

Job 27:3 must be linked to its literary surroundings, to its grammatical moorings.

Beforehand Job has been sorrowing over God's "judgment" on his life. The Almighty had vexed Job's soul, had taken justice away from the Patriarch. In other words, Job was nearly saying God had given him a bad deal! "As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul." Job 27:2

Afterward, once our Text was spoken by Job, "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils," a resolution is made!

Or restated anyway.

Sheer determination this is!

"My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me." That is, "I will admit no wrong. I have not sinned. Not flagrantly anyway!" Job 27:4-5

So our exact Text is a statement of duration.

It's chronological.

Adverbial.

Watch this thought!

No matter what trials I have experienced, I will not talk wickedly, "While my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils."

As long as I live!

No matter how many of my children I bury, all ten by the way, I will not quit living right, "While my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils."

Do you not admire such resolve in this suffering servant of God?

No matter what, I'm not going to turn against my God! As long as I breathe! "While my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils."

Each of us should memorize these words!

I'm staying married, "While my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils." I'm keeping my vows!

I'll not compromise my faith! "While my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils." I'm living for Jesus! I have so decided!

I'm staying in Church! "While my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils." No emergent Church for me, give me the old time way!

I'm believing the Book, God's inerrant and inspired Word, from the Virgin Womb to the Virgin Tomb, and everything in between! "While my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils."

You get the picture, I'm sure.

And truth be told, with God's Love, "agape" love, it also lasts forever! Once a friend, always a friend! That's the way it's supposed to be! "While my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils." 

Wow!

On and on the list could go!

Be faithful!

Job was!

Be in it, as my Dad used to say, "for the long haul!"

I'm living for God, Job promises, even with all these heartaches, "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils."

What a Verse of Scripture, Job 27:3.

Don't quit pleasing God!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

The Hebrew noun "spirit" is "ruach."

It often means "breath or wind."

Therefore our clause consists of two parallel thoughts. "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils." As long as I am breathing!

LESSON 5, VERSE 4:

Two resolutions, made by Job, the Old Testament saint of God.

Short, but difficult to perform, maybe humanly impossible.

"My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit." Job 27:4, the complete verse.

These "tongue tamers" are so significant, so life-changing, that we must consider one of them today, the other tomorrow, Lord willing.

Hurting as he is, confused and sick and bereaved, Job still has decided a distinct course of action! Every bit as much as did Daniel later. "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank." Daniel 1:8, and Daniel didn't, either!

Daniel's "food and drink" issues become "verbal" commitments for Job. It's what Daniel "puts into" his mouth that counts! But it's what Job "brings out" of his mouth that's the issue!

Wow!

Tell us again, Saint Job!

"My lips shall not speak wickedness."

Never, Job?

Well, Job is human. But his "goal" sure is impressive! "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." James 3:2

Yes, Job does say some pretty "way out" things!

Things of which he later repents. "I will lay mine hand upon my mouth." Job to God in the last of the story, Job 40:4.

Yet Job's "final" report card, particularly concerning his words, is determined by Almighty God, who not only hears all our words but weighs them too! "The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends:ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job." Job 42:7, Job said it right!

Job kept his vow, "My lips shall not speak wickedness."

The verb "speak" is dabar," but in the Hebrew piel stem, illustrating great intensity and enthusiasm!

Job means it!

No, not any wickedness, not at all!

With all his might he endeavors to keep his promise!

His "lips" represent his whole mouth, his tongue, his ability to communicate.

As in Psalm 141:3. "Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." See the parallelism?

Also this may be noted concerning the verb "dabar," here translated "shall speak." Its probable emphasis is on the manner of speech, as much or more than on the content spoken!

Even in his disgust, his depression, his anger, Job will not "spout off," will not "retaliate," will not "sass" the righteousness of God!

Wow!

I'm ready to say it. Job was a mature Believer in Almighty God. Not only able to control his words, but determined to do so too!

Let Jesus close our lesson today. "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37

Or Paul. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29

Or David. "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

Now back to Job, not one bit inferior to these others! "My lips shall not speak wickedness."

What about us?

Our words?

Mature or not?

                                                                        --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 6, STILL VERSE 4:

It's one of the most industrious resolutions in all the Bible!

From the mouth of Job!

And even more surprising, he utters it while in the depths of his archetypical crisis! While his world is literally falling to pieces!

"My tongue will not utter deceit!" 

Word for word, "My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit." Job 27:4

That last clause, "Nor my tongue utter deceit," is today's Text.

The noun "deceit" is critical here, its meaning. "Remiyah" means deceit okay, but in this sense, "guile, falsity," even "treachery." And treachery is? "Willful betrayal of fidelity, confidence, or trust," from an online dictionary, verbatim.

Wow!

Job may be saying, "My friends have betrayed me, practicing deceit against me daily, but I will not betray them. I will not be deceitful in return!"

And Job might even be saying, "Even though God has acted toward me in a way quite unbecoming to Him, so drastically different than ever before, I will never be untrue to Him!"

What loyalty!

This may be picturing the greatest example of human love for God in all the Bible! It's quite close to Job's other astounding statement about the Lord: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." Job 13:15

Tell us again Job: "My tongue will not utter deceit!" 

By the way, "deceit" or really "remiyah" in Hebrew is derived from a root verb, "ramah," meaning "to throw, cast, hurl, shoot." Obviously, not rocks or arrows here, but accusations and insinuations and critical comments, doubts too probably.

The verb "utter" is "hagah," a little beauty used only 25 times in the whole Old Testament. It means "to moan, growl, mutter, muse" then even "to imagine, to study!" This is a jewel, being translated "meditate" six times in Scripture!

Job will not muse or ponder or think upon deceit, disloyalty, betrayal, and the like! He will be faithful and true!

Adam and Eve could not have made such a statement!

Nor could Abraham!

Neither Isaac nor Jacob, especially Jacob!

How about David?

Ha!

But godly old Job could!

Am I that loyal to my loved ones?

To my brothers and sisters in Christ?

To the Churches I serve?

To myself?

James 1:22 says it is possible, even easy, to deceive oneself!

Faithful Job!

No deceit, ever!

This great patriarch, Psalm 15 style, even spoke the Truth "in his heart!" Get this, spoken of the mature Christian man or woman who will never be moved or shaken, "He speaketh the truth in his heart." Psalm 15:2

"My tongue will not utter deceit!" 

Makes me think of our Lord, who never uttered a deceitful word all His Life! For all of eternity really!

At the lowest point of his life Job said it! When everyone else would be "giving up!" Job 27:4, "My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit."

Then, let's go right back to the Top!

Why not?

Here's John describing Jesus again, in Revelation 3:14, from the Isle of Patmos, late first century. "These things saith the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness."

Jesus’ very Name is “Faithful and True!” No possible deceit here, for sure!

Amen!

Lord, let me be that way too!

"My tongue will not utter deceit!"  

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 7, VERSE 5:

I think Job is talking to his three so-called friends.

"God forbid that I should justify you." Job 27:5

Our Patriarch friend does not agree with what his friends have said. Neither does God!

The verb "justify" means "to be declared right."

Eliphaz was wrong.

Bildad was wrong too.

As was Zophar.

And Job was not going to condone their faulty theology.

Job was sick, critically so, but not without stamina!

"God forbid that I should justify you."

Listen to these men "attack" Job, the most godly man alive in his day.

Eliphaz: "Who ever perished, being innocent?" Job, you are guilty of some major sin! Job 4:7

Bildad: "God does not cast away perfect men." Job, you are a liar, and insincere. Otherwise God would not be treating you like He is. Job 8:20

Zophar: "Job, you are full of talk, and lies." Pretty plain, and pretty untrue! Job 11:2-3

Eliphaz again: "That thou turnest thy spirit against God." Job, you have attacked God! Job 15:13

Bildah, round two: "The light of the wicked shall be put out." Job, God is soon going to kill you! Job 18:5

Zophar: "The triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment." Job is being called an outright hypocrite! Job 20:5

Eliphaz one more time: "Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?" He just called Job the ultimate sinner, more ungodly than anyone else! Job 22:5

Mercy!

All that garbage!

No wonder Job said: "God forbid that I should justify you."

You men are wrong!

"And I," Job speaking, "will not agree with you!"

What does the lesson teach?

That we do not automatically have to agree with everything that's said about some suffering Believer!

That it's all right to oppose wrong doctrine!

Even that at times we must stand up against people who are "running over" us!

And looks like to me God approved of Job's obstinacy!

"God forbid that I should justify you."

By the way, here's what God had to say about "hypocrite" Job! "Notice My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil. And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although Satan movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." Job 2:3

Thank God for this man named Job!

If a person is in error, like any one of these three "friends" were, you are allowed to disagree with him!

Job did, with God's ultimate blessings.

                                                                                  --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

This defense of his character, his refusal to admit any blatant iniquity, is one of the most outstanding qualities of Job. Really Satan had never met anyone like godly Job, not even once!

LESSON 8: STILL VERSE 5:

I have never admired a Bible character more in all my life. Of course I mean other than the Lord Jesus!

Job is my hero!

The devil said Job was wrong, that he would sin, under certain circumstances anyway.

And the events of his life, traumatic as they were, argued that Job had sinned too. Ten dead children! Loss of all his possessions!

And his friends vehemently said that Job was a hypocrite, and worse!

Even Job's wife encouraged him to err from God's Truth!

With all that bombardment, Job will admit to dong no wrong!

Even to this extent, Job speaking. "Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me." Job 23:5

He will not budge!

No admitting wrong for Job, even to hush the criticism!

He is that godly!

Just like the Lord had said three times! "And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? And still he holdeth fast his integrity." Job 2:3

Job did not hear God say that. But he lived like he did anyway! Perhaps the most genuine follower of the Lord in all the Old Testament!

"Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me." Job 23:5

The noun "integrity" means anything "complete, full, whole." In Hebrew it is "tumman," only used five times in Scripture. It's a man whose heart is not divided. He's not two-faced either! James would say not double-minded.

Wholly 100% for God!

No taint!

No swerving!

No other aspirations!

Completely righteous!

Job's integrity.

Let his wife testify. "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity?" Job 2:9

God again, almost amazed it seems, speaking of Job! "Still he holdeth fast his integrity." Job 2:5

Now Job himself, in the heat of the battle. "Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity." Job 31:6

He will not compromise.

He will not admit to sin he had not committed!

"Till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me." Job 23:5

"Remove" or "sur" means "to turn aside" from something. To swerve. To depart from it.

Job's in it for the long haul!

Do you know anyone else who could have lived this way? So pure and holy and determined?

No one but Jesus!

But folks, we can try!

Let's pray this today, Job like. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23-24

What integrity!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 9, VERSE 6:

The little series of lessons from Job 27:1-6 has consumed more days than I expected. Pleasantly so, however.

Today Job has the last word. "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live." Job 27:6

He's a righteous man, "straight" in God's Eyes, no wrong noticeable. And Job knows he is righteous, a similarity to us being saved and having the assurance of that glorious fact.

So Job plans to "hold fast" his righteousness!

He's not going to let the devil steal it! By yielding to one of Satan's many temptations!

Nor will Job allow his so-called friends to talk him out of his righteousness, dissuading him of his right relationship with God.

Even his wife can't budge the man! There's absolutely no "cursing God" in his soul!

Tell us again Job. "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go."

It's the only thing Job has left!

His right standing with God!

And he's not going to let that go!

Not without a fight!

"My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go."

That the man can reason this way, so high spiritually, under such terrible conditions, is amazing! Even miraculous maybe!

The verb "hold fast" translates "chazaq," meaning "to prevail, to strengthen, to harden, to be courageous or firm!"

And "let go" as in "not let go" is "raphah," meaning "to relax, to sink, to let drop, to be disheartened."

I know we Bible believers keep saying "God is holding on to me," and not "Me holding on to God." And that is true, no doubt.

But still, Paul did say, "Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip." Hebrews 2:1

Hold on!

Job was not going to let anything slip!

"My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go."

Enter John, on Patmos: "Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast." Revelation 3:3

This is not holding on to one's salvation!

It is holding on to one's assurance!

One's testimony!

One's awareness of the Presence of God and His Righteousness!

This is determination like I've seen in only one other Bible Personality, the Lord Jesus Christ!

"My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go." This is Job!

"The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me." John 14:30, Jesus speaking of the devil, and the coming Cross of Calvary! No sin in Jesus, the Righteous One!

Us before salvation, "All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isaiah 64:6

Us after salvation, "That we might be made the righteousness of God in Him," in Jesus! Second Corinthians 5:21, our righteousness!

Let it shine!

Don't neglect it!

Hold it close to your heart!

Treasure it!

Job sure did his! "My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go." One of the great statements of the Bible!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

LESSON 10, VERSE 6 AGAIN, CONCLUSION:

The final clause in our Text is rich in meaning. It's sort of a "clear conscience" Sermon really!

Job, one of the most transparent men in Scripture, says this: "My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live." Job 27:6, the last half of the verse.

No matter what, Job plans to live a life that is sincere. Without any tinge of hypocrisy!

His heart, Job's, will never accuse him of wrongdoing!

His "conscience," as Paul would later call it, will always be pure.

By "heart" Job means his "innermost" being. "Leb" means that, "the place of one's private feelings and thoughts," not the physical organ that pumps blood. The noun "leb" is derived from the verb "labab," surprisingly meaning "to be excited, to ravish," as well as "to understand!" Now we have the heart as the seat of emotions as well as the seat of leaning!

Down inside, in his true self, Job will always know that he is real, not a fake, no put-on there!

"My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live."

The verb "reproach" is next, "charaph," meaning "to taunt, to rail, to defy, upbraid or rebuke." The verb's action here is linear, on-going, constant nearly.

Job will live every day in such a godly fashion that his heart can never mock him for some unconfessed sin.

Sounds like Paul!

"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world." 2nd Corinthians 1:12

And just how long does Job propose such strict godly living?

So long as he lives!

In Job's words again, "My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live."

A whole life of "clear conscience" living!

Can I think of something today that's bothering my conscience?

Can you?

An unpaid bill? Not just being "late" mind you, but a legitimate charge you're trying to evade.

Some hidden sin?

A brother or sister you have wronged and never apologized?

Bad consciences can lead to "shipwrecked" lives, spiritually.

Paul again: "Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck." Then Paul specifically gives some names! In First Timothy 1:19-20.

Oh, as I close, let me tell you the "goal" of all Christian living. Straight from Scripture! "Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned."

"End" or "telos" means the point of termination, the end of the line. The target, the place of maturity!

And a "good conscience" is right at the top of the list!

Does anyone still live this way? "My heart shall not reproach me so long as I live."

Oh yes, I trust so.

                                                                           --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

                                     Thank God for this great Text!