“There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Job 1:1
The book of Job was written about 1520 BC. It is located about in the middle of the Old Testament, but is believed to be the oldest book in all the Bible. It was written not long after the great flood. The memory of the flood is still fresh among those living in the times of Job and thus we find some references to this catastrophic event.
In today’s passage we are introduced to a man. We will study verse one and I hope you will see today that from this single verse we learn a lot of things about him. The name of this man is Job. We are told the location in which the events take place: the land of Uz. We also hear about his character. Job was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
Let us take a closer look at these virtues:
- Perfect – what does it mean that Job is perfect? He is not perfect by the standard of God’s law. We know that no man can be seen as perfect in the eyes of Almighty God by obedience to the law. Yet, Job is declared a perfect man by the Scriptures. How can this be? There is only one way we can be found perfect: through the blood of Jesus, by being found in Him. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Col. 2:9-10. Job is complete and perfect, for He is justified by believing in the promise of God and being found in Christ. This is Job’s JUSTIFICATION by God’s grace.
- Upright – Job’s righteousness comes from that perfection, where Christ covers all of his sins. But here is the second virtue: Job is upright. That means Job seeks the right things to do. He is seeking God’s will and guidance above all. All decisions, all paths are examined by the basic questions: Is this the right thing to do? Is this what the Lord would do? Is this what he wants me to do? The Lord Jesus Christ taught us this: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” Mt. 6:33. Seek the kingdom of God, which is your salvation. In Christ you receive your fulness and your perfection. When you find the treasure of the Kingdom of God, you also seek his righteousness. This is your SANCTIFICATION. Do things that are good and right. Notice the order of things, which is very important. You come to God through Jesus’ blood and obtain His forgiveness in order to glorify Him with good works. You do not do good works in order to come to God, for it is not possible!
- One that feared God – Seeking the Kingdom of God (the perfection and justification), seeking his righteousness (being upright and sanctification) has to come along with the fear of God. Without the fear of God, we would simply carry on with our sinful, wretched lives. Salvation comes to us as a perfect “package” which includes that fear of God. We are aware of His omni presence and knowledge. We are careful not to offend Him. This fear of the Lord is our treasure. We remember that verse we studied recently: “the fear of the Lord is his treasure.” Is. 33:6. We can only obtain the KNOWLEDGE through this fear of the Lord. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Prov. 1:7. I pray today, do not be a fool, do not cast away that saving knowledge of Christ! The Bible is crystal clear that if you reject the fear of God, you are inevitably heading towards destruction. “When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord.” Prov. 1:27-29
One that eschewed evil – ‘to eschew’ is a strange verb, so let me give you its meaning. According to Oxford Dictionary, it means: “deliberately avoid using; abstain from.” But how is it that Job comes to that place where he is one that abstains and avoids evil? Is it within himself? Again, we find the answer in the book of Proverbs: “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.” Prov. 8:13. It is that fear of the Lord that leads Job to this renewed mindset which is opposite to our natural man. For by nature we are prideful, arrogant people with froward mouths. Only by being born again, when that fear and consciousness of God is instilled upon us, we can eschew evil. We find it also in the New Testament: “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thes. 5:22. Abstaining from evil is what we call UNDERSTANDING. We were lost and without knowledge, but now we understand that disobedience against God has serious consequences and that we cannot sin in His presence.
This in the characteristic of Job. In a single verse, we find the complete package of our salvation:
-
-
- perfection by the blood of Jesus – this is our justification,
- uprightness, seeking of righteousness – this is our sanctification,
- fear of God – this is the knowledge, and
- abstaining from evil – this is the understanding.
-
All these things come as a free gift we receive through Christ and in Him only. They are the essential elements of SALVATION: THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AS OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR.
Let us consider another proverb that shows us the connection between the fear of God and abstaining from evil:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” Prov. 3:5-7
I wonder whether you see in this verses all the parts of salvation that we just identified?
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Here is the perfection, our sins being washed by the blood of Jesus. We know from the rest of the Bible that this is what it means. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. It is faith that justifies us, trusting in the Lord with all our heart. It makes us perfect in Christ.
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” The trusting means that a man submits all his ways, all his deeds, all his thoughts, his whole life to the Lord. He is wholly in Lord’s hands. He seeks Lord’s will in his life above his own will. It is neither the will of natural man that he prefers now, nor the lusts of the flesh, but he wants the will of his heavenly Father to be fulfilled, for he knows that God is good and merciful and he trusts in Him. This is uprightness.
Finally, we find that link between the fear of God and abstaining from evil. This connection makes our faith alive and actionable: “fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” All the elements of salvation are present in this proverb.
I hope you see how these characteristics that are presented to us in the first verse of the Book of Job, are actually the very virtues of a Christian man. Job was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. I hear you asking: but how can you say that? You told us in the beginning that the book is the oldest in the Bible and it was written 1520 B.C. Can we consider Job a Christian? Let me answer that.
Job was saved the very same way people are saved today, by trusting in God’s promise of salvation. He did not know all the details of how it would be accomplished, but the oral tradition of that promise which was given to the first people was passed from generation to generation. Job knew this promise and believed it. He even makes a very interesting remark in the latter chapter which is very prophetic:
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Job 19:25
Job knows, there is a Saviour to come and redeem all who would come to Him in faith and trust. There is no other way. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” J. 14:6.
It is only through this living redeemer, that we can become perfect, upright, God-fearing people who abstain from evil. Jesus Christ, our Saviour was standing at the latter day upon the earth, 1500 years after Job and 2000 years ago. He came to suffer and give up His life for all who would come. He died for our sins. He was buried and rose again on the third day. I can cry out today and now just as Job did: My redeemer liveth!
But that is not the end, Jesus Christ will stand again at the latter day upon the earth. This time to judge all. He will not appear anymore as an innocent infant, but will come in all the glory of heavens. Only those who are perfect will be able to stand in the day of judgement. Are you perfect and upright?
Do you fear God and abstain from evil? I pray you come to Christ today, confess to Him your sins and be saved. There is only one way to be saved, only one way to be perfect and it is through the blood of Christ.
Praise the Lord for His unspeakable wisdom and mercies, that He offered us sinful people such a wonderful grace and welcomes heartbroken sinners with His open arms to make us perfect and upright in Him.
