Job’s Repentance and Restoration

Job 42:1-13

GOLDEN TEXT: “The Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends.”—Job 42:70

CONTINUING our studies in the Book of Job we note that when Job had refuted the arguments of his three friends, Elihu [whose name signifies, God Himself] spoke from a different standpoint, reproving the three friends as well as Job himself. Elihu shows Job that he had been reasoning in part from a wrong premise—that he must not expect to fully comprehend all the ways of one so far above him, but must trust in God’s justice and wisdom. And in Chapter 33:23,24, he shows the one thing needful to man’s recovery from the power of death and his restoration to divine favor, saying, “If there be with him a messenger as defender, one of a thousand [a rare one] to declare his own righteousness for man, then will God be gracious unto him [man] and say, Release him from going down to the grave: I have found a ransom.”

This is indeed the case with man. God’s wisdom and justice cannot be impugned—the sentence of death is justly upon all men through father Adam (Rom. 5:12), but God has provided us a “days-man,” an advocate, Christ Jesus, our Lord; and He in harmony with the Father’s plan, became a man, and then gave Himself a ransom-price for all by assuming the death penalty that was upon Adam. And soon as “the bride,” otherwise called “His body” and “the temple,” is complete, this great Mediator will stand forward to declare His righteousness as for, or applicable to, every one who will accept it when brought to a full knowledge of God’s provision.

Then will follow restitution, as pictured in Chapter 33:25,26; as well as hi Chapter 42, our lesson or today. Physically these for whom the Mediator stands shall be restored to a perennial youth, in which death and decay will find no place: they shall find acceptance and communion with God in joy and peace; and He will restore to them the original perfection lost through sin in Eden. But an acknowledgment of God’s justice and that the restitution was unmerited will be required as is indicated by verses 27,28: “He will chant it before men, and say: I have sinned and perverted the right; and it was not requited me. He has redeemed my soul from going into the pit and my life that it may be brought to the light.”

In conclusion Jehovah addresses Job, reproving his temerity in attempting, with his little knowledge, to judge God. This Job acknowledges, and finds peace in trusting God. Job’s three friends, however, are severely reproved by God; but when their sacrifice is offered for them by Job they are restored to divine favor, while at once Job’s prosperity returns—his friends and influence, the same number of children as before, and his wealth exactly doubled, for he had twice as many flocks and herds and camels.

The ending of Job’s career with a general restitution is doubtless incomprehensible to those who have never seen that the plan of God in Christ provides for a time of restitution of all things lost in Adam, to all of his race who will accept them under the terms of the New Covenant.—Acts 3:19-21

But those who do see this plan of God can readily see, too, that Job’s experience was not only actual but also typical. He seems to represent mankind. Man was at first in divine likeness and favor with all things made subject to him. (Psa. 8:4-8) Because of Adam’s sin Satan obtained an influence in human affairs which has resulted in degradation sickness and death; but God has never really forsaken His creatures and is even now waiting to be gracious unto all in and through Christ Jesus our Lord.

QUESTIONS:

What did Job learn was the one thing fundamentally in order for a sinner to return to divine favor and life?

What does Job’s restoration to health and other blessings represent in the divine plan?

Do we think that the majority of mankind will appreciate the Lord more as a result of the permission of evil?

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