Job was obviously feeling the tremendous weight of the false accusations of his friends and his failing health, that he was resigned to die. Yet he maintained his innocence and was sure that his guiltless blood would cry out for exoneration. Though he was reeling under the tremendous weight of his condition, he was sure God would ultimately vindicate him, even if the exoneration would take place after his death. For he was certain that God’s justice would prevail. His three friends had insisted that if he repents, healing and restoration would come upon him and he would be restored. Job however, felt he would die, and maintain that death and the grave awaited him.
Verse 9 deserves special mention. Job said, “…the righteous will hold to his way, and he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.” This is a very insightful statement concerning one, who despite being just, and yet had to undergo suffering. Such a person remains firm and continues to trust God despite his inability to understand or explain his predicament. He would not vacillate in his trust and conviction about God. Suffering cannot rock him. He remains righteous despite his suffering. He becomes stronger and stronger instead of crumbling and succumbing to his plight. Even though he may not understand why he had to go through the suffering, he remains trustful of God and will not cave in. The inner resolve of such a righteous man continues to be strengthened even if it means that he has to pay dearly for being righteous.
In these verses, we get an insight into the nature of true hope. Such a hope is founded on God who never fails. The faithfulness of God is the foundation of true hope. In hardship, a person with such a hope continues to trust God and does not doubt Him. And the key to growing in true hope is to build it through knowing, trusting and living by the promises He has made in His Word.
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