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CHAPTER 27 (ESV)

1 And Job again took up his discourse, and said:

2 “As God lives, who has taken away my right,
and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter,
3 as long as my breath is in me,
and the spirit of God is in my nostrils,
4 my lips will not speak falsehood,
and my tongue will not utter deceit.
5 Far be it from me to say that you are right;
till I die I will not put away my integrity from me.
6 I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go;
my heart does not reproach me for any of my days.

7 “Let my enemy be as the wicked,
and let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.

REFLECTION:

Job agreed with what his friends have said that the end of the wicked will be perdition. But he disagreed that he was accused of being wicked and should be punished by God. Many of the punishments Job enumerated never hit him, so he did not think he could be included among the wicked. Instead, he continued to ask God to defend him. In many allegations, Job can still claim his innocence. Because he understood that a clear conscience can only be attained by living in God’s righteousness and being forgiven by God. Job seemed to be boasting, but he was boasting of what he deserved, not self-righteousness. Today, like Job, we cannot boast that we are sinless, but as long as we truly confess our sins, we can boast that our sins have been forgiven. When we truly confess our sins to God, He forgives us and we can live a life with clear conscience.

PRAYER:

Lord, who searches the hearts, I confess my transgressions to You. I have sinned against heaven and against You. I regret the sins I have committed and sincerely confess and repent before You. Please forgive my sins and cleanse me with the blood of Jesus, restoring a righteous spirit within me. I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me to live a life of clear conscience every day.

HYMN:

All I Once Held Dear – www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4IgusP8Z8w