Job's Last Speech

“How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?” (Job 25:44How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman? (Job 25:4)). This is no comfort, no help, for Job.
Job now gives his last speech — his greatest effort to justify himself. Yes, this was the needs be of all his trial and sorrow. His words are very touching. “Oh that I were as in the months past, as I was in the days of my youth” (see Job 29:2-252Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; 3When his candle shined upon my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness; 4As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle; 5When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me; 6When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil; 7When I went out to the gate through the city, when I prepared my seat in the street! 8The young men saw me, and hid themselves: and the aged arose, and stood up. 9The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. 10The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth. 11When the ear heard me, then it blessed me; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me: 12Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. 13The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. 14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 18Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. 19My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. 20My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. 21Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. 22After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. 23And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down. 25I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners. (Job 29:2‑25)). It is not, Oh that it were with me, but, Oh that I was. How like the mistaken longings of the soul that is being driven from self to Christ. There is a peculiar delusive pleasure in being satisfied with oneself. Very often after conversion the thought is how much better I am now than I once was — how I do now walk in the ways of God. Some few are even so far deceived as to think the old nature is entirely changed and that there is not a root of sin left in them. But, alas, when the time of temptation comes, all this is leveled to the dust. Now, just read Job 29-31 and you will say, if any man could have justified himself by good works, Job was the man. There is not a man in all your town that can say as much as Job said, and say it truly. As to his kindness to the poor, he was the very opposite of the lying charges brought against him. Thus he lets memory recount every good act of his life, but all fails to give rest to his troubled spirit. I, I, I, I did this, I did not do that. But it is all of no use. “Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended” (Job 31:4040Let thistles grow instead of wheat, and cockle instead of barley. The words of Job are ended. (Job 31:40)). Not so Job: You will speak again, and though your words may be few, they will be full of meaning. Now, if Job could not be just before God, how can you? Let memory glance back along the track of life. What sins before God? Are your words ended? Are you dead beaten? Do you say, I cannot tell what to make of it? Then let the Lord speak to you.
C. Stanley (adapted)