Faith in the midst of Perverseness - Oswald Chambers

“A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.” Isaiah 53:3.

Oswald Chambers: “The reason the experience of redemption is so easy is because it cost God so much… It is men like Job and the apostle Paul who bring us to the basis of things, not the average Christian among us, who knows mo more why the basis of his salvation is redemption than the average common-sense man know the basis of ordinary human life.

We must get hold of the great souls, the men who have been hard hit and have gone to the basis of things, and whose experiences have been preserved for us by God, that we may know where we stand. One of the reasons for the futility of pseudo-evangelism is that is bases its doctrine on the shallow weak things it has saved. Thank God, Christianity does save the shallow weak things, but they are not the ones who diagnose Christianity, they are the expression of the last reach of Christianity.

Paul said, ‘Not many mighty, not many noble, are called;’ he did not say ‘not any mighty, not any noble.’ It is our Lord Himself, and men like Job in the Old Testament and Paul in the New, who give us the indication of where we are to look for the foundation of our faith when it is being shaken.

For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another.” Job 19:25-27

Then Job answered and said: ‘Listen carefully to my speech, and let this be your consolation…. Look at me and be astonished; put your hand over your mouth. Even when I remember I am terrified, and trembling takes hold of my flesh. Why do the wicked live and become old, yes, become mighty in power? Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. Their bull breeds without failure; their cow calves without miscarriage….

They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, for we do not desire the knowledge of Your ways. ‘Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit do we have if we pray to Him?’ …

[Job speaking to his accusing friends:] “Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you would wrong me…. How then can you comfort me with empty words, since falsehood remains in your answers?” Job 21:1, 5-10, 13-15, 27-34

“Even today my complaint is bitter; My hand is listless because of my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, And understand what He would say to me….” Job 23:2-5

My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. But He is unique, and who can make Him change? And whatever His soul desires, that He does. For He performs what is appointed for me, and many such things are with Him. Therefore, I am terrified at His presence…” Job 23:11-15

Oswald Chambers: “Job persists in stating that the basis of things is not clear, not easy to understand. It’s absurd to say, as you are doing, he says, ‘that God punishes the evil man and looks after the good; there is so much perversity a at the basis of things that the explanations won’t do.

The friends give this explanation because they are true to their creed, and Job says, ‘I held the same creed as you do until I came to my great trouble.

Their creed was based on sound principles, but what is needed is a sound relationship at the basis of things. When things are suddenly altered by bereavement or by some tension in personal experience, we find ourselves wonderfully at home with what Job says. …

Jobs contention is that when a man is face-to-face with things as they are, easy explanation won’t do, for things are not easy; there is a perverseness all through. If Job is not right in his contention, then the redemption is ‘much ado about nothing.’