What is the first SCRIPTURE that comes to mind when I ask you to tell me about GRACE?
Go ahead and COMMMENT with the first BIBLE verse YOU recall. & Tell us what it speaks to YOU that exemplifies GRACE.
Since only 15 of the 132 verses naming Grace occur in the Old Testament chances are that the first Bible verse you might SHARE about GRACE will come from the NEW TESTAMENT.
New Covenant GRACE
DYK that “Testament” διαθήκη – diatheke is the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning a “covenant” or agreement?
Was the grace of God different in the OLD TESTAMENT?
Has the grace of God changed in the Common Era of our post-Christian correctness?
You may as well offer your comments on those two questions as well.
But before I take on any contemporary question of grace in the Common Era let’s take a look back to one of the oldest illustrations of the Old Testament.
Old Covenant GRACE
JOB – a man blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job..
map source: BibleAtlas.org
Click here to learn more about Job from previous posts and resources.
(I encourage you to ask questions and share comments on these posts as well. – RH)
A man there hath been in the land of Uz — Job his name — and that man hath been perfect and upright — both fearing God, and turning aside from evil.
Job 1:1 Youngs Literal Translation
PERFECT, UPRIGHT AND BLAMELESS?
That could NOT have been this fallen sinner of the Common Era?
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Job was a penultimate Old Testament example of a righteous man as GOD requires of those who worship Him.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com
IF any man deserved GRACE it certainly would have been Job.
Yet Satan is as involved in this unseen story of a mere man as he was in the events of Eden.
Some Christians will no more consider the impact of unseen evil in our daily lives than did Job's friends and speculative advisors. But other than your QUESTION about this post that would be a discussion for another day.)
Have YOU ever heard OR given such ill-conceived advice as Job’s advisors?
Men and women typically try to conceive answers concerning God’s providence with little consideration or understanding of God’s redeeming grace.
Friendly Unhelpful Observations
“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright wiped out? – Job 4:4
In an earthly sense, is this not an everyday occurrence in every era?
Job answers:
“For the despairing man lovingkindness should be from his friend;
Job 6:14 LSB
But he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Lovingkindness received from a friend is surly the fruit of grace. But Job does not receive it here.
(Yet do the so-called good men and women have their rewards in this brief life?)
If you would seek God earnestly
Job 8:5-7 LSB (ill-conceived advice of a friend and advisor to Job)
And plead for the grace of the Almighty,
If you are pure and upright,
Indeed now He would rouse Himself for you
And make your righteous abode at peace.
Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will increase greatly.
Ah! — Here Job’s smiling friend offers him a cheap grace of the Almighty bringing His power into his friend’s life NOW!
Job’s best Life could be filled with blessings before his end in death (never mentioned).
Is GRACE simply an increase of life’s everyday blessings?
Job Replies There Is No Adjudicator
Picture now a scene in the Heavenly Court of the Old Testament BEFORE God’s revelation of a perfect Priest and Mediator of Christ the only Son of a better Sacrifice for man’s sin.
JOB ASKS THE ENDURING QUESTION OF EVERY AGE:
But how can a man be in the right before God?
Job 9:2b LSB
If one desired to contend with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.
Wise in heart and mighty in power,
Who has stiffened his neck against Him and been at peace?
Where do YOU stand before God
Job continues his hopeless defense (without the Perfect Powerful Advocate pleading his case for him:
the One who removes the mountains.. who shakes the earth.. out of its place..
Who alone stretches out the heavens,
And tramples down the waves of the sea..
10 Who does great things, unsearchable,
And wondrous works, innumerable.
11 Were He to sweep by me, I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12 Were He to snatch away, who could turn Him back?
Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
After Job's irrefutable argument worthy of any courtroom case he then makes an astounding statement concerning GRACE before the One Lord God.
“For though I were right,
Job 9:15 LSB
I could not answer [plead my case];
I would have to plead for the grace of my judge.
I would make supplication to my judge. - KJV
I would beg mercy of my Judge. – NKJV
Even if I were right, I would have no defense.
I could only plead for mercy. – says the New Living Translation of Job’s silent plea.
“I must appeal for mercy to my accuser and judge” suggests Job.
The MERCY of the LORD relates to HIS graciousness rather than OUR righteousness.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com
A blessing of Numbers 6 guides our prayer and plea
6:25 יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃ ס
The Adjudicator of Grace, Mercy and Peace
Many would attempt to plead their own case before the Judge!
I would — possibly even as I accuse every accuser who has brought me before the Authority to determine MY GUILT and PUNISH MY SIN.
Of course ALL of us tend to demand JUSTICE for all, i.e. ‘everybody else’, even while covering every personal trespass against others and expecting MERCY in the disposition of our own case.
Even in a Court of Law in a great America of the past …
Job, A RIGHTEOUS MAN (which NONE OF US are), presents a stellar defense before God, the Father of all mercies.
HOWEVER first, the JUDGE of all men has something to say to the accused who had asked to represent himself before God.
Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
“Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you make Me know!
Job 38:1-3 LSB
After a lengthy introduction to JUSTICE by the JUDGE OF ALL MEN Job will relent in his plea with an appropriate answer.
“WHO NEEDS GRACE?”
The simple answer to our own case in every instance is that WE ALL NEED Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace.
The legal question before the Heavenly Seat of Judgment is:
WHO can represent a SINNER so that I might receive MERCY and GRACE?
Then Yahweh answered Job and said,
2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who reproves God answer it.”
Job recognizes the flaw in attempting to be his own counsel.
Then Job answered Yahweh and said,
“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I respond to You?
I place my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”
Job 40:3-5 LSB
JOB, A RIGHTEOUS MAN, has a dilemma and can only keep silent before his Judge.
In fact, Job has no Advocate and therefore must rely on any undeserved mercy from God the Father of all mankind before Whom he stands guilty.
Is Job’s judicial dilemma common to YOU — even in this 21st century — post-Christian –Common Era?
NEXT:
God-willing, we will defer to our only Mediator and Advocate
“Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,
And my advocate is on high.
Job 16:19 LSB
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