Job 42 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Job 42:4-6

"You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."

Job's answer to God's question is repentance. Job doesn't speak of how much loss he has experienced; he doesn't make excuses about the way he acted or that his friends had all turned on him, but rather when faced with his Creator and the truth, he repents in dust and ashes! What a very difficult yet beautiful thing to do. It can be hard to repent when we feel like we have been wronged or gotten the short end of the stick, but Job shows us it's not only possible but profitable!

The story continues, and after Job's repentance here and his prayer for his friends' forgiveness, the Lord restores to him more than he had before. What does this teach us? For one thing, it teaches us there is a blessing in humbling ourselves before the Lord.

It also teaches us that praying for those who persecute us brings us closer to God and all that He is. Jesus Himself prayed for those who nailed Him to the cross and rejected Him. And if our King has done it, then we must follow suit.

I also like how all of Job's arguments, hurts, and complaints fade away after he has been in the Presence of the Lord. He is, in essence, saying, “Now that I have seen You, I truly see me, and what I see isn't pretty!” Our sins are exposed when we come into His beautiful light. This isn't done to shame us or condemn us but to expose and reveal to us our desperate need for Jesus. For none of us have a righteousness of our own that will save us or that pleases the Lord. But through Christ, we are given a newness of heart and mind to live a life of true righteousness in Him! Thank You, Lord!

Proverbs 18:2- Before a downfall, the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 15:33- Wisdom's instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.

Job 42:10- After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.

God bless! I love you all, but His love reigns supreme! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!