Job 9:15

Even if I were righteous, I could not respond,

   I could only beg my opponent for mercy.

(Written 7/8, Posted 7/12, Job 186)

Here is something we do not often contemplate. Even if we were righteous or perfect, God is still so much greater than us that we have no standing to deserve anything. Once in a backyard basketball court, we were talking about a goal of being the ultimate human being. But reality set in as we realized even that would not be enough to make the world better. Humans are limited, we are not gods, nothing we can do will give us supernatural abilities and without them, we are as near to nothing as can be.

“Righteous” was also “innocent”, “in the right”, or simply “right”. I discarded innocent as it could be applied to a newborn or some other similar construct. In the right carried a good enough attitude that seemed not as encompassing as righteous. (“Even if” was also “though”, but…) “Respond” was also “answer”, “plea”, or “speak out”. Again, respond seems more encompassing.

“Beg” was also “appeal”, “plead”, “make supplication”, or “entreat”, but none showed the need for mercy like beg. “Could” was also “would” or “must”, but neither seemed to leave the option of do nothing on the table. Interestingly, some sources left mercy as the assumed ideal that was being asked for without adding the word mercy. “Opponent” was also “accuser” or “judge”. I did not use accuser because of its relationship to Satan. Judge was eliminated as no one can be judge over God.

We actually finished all the questions in our Bible study this morning before people had to leave. It was a little odd. We did come to the conclusion that Hebrews was also targeting non-Christians and it helped us understand the passage. As one put it, “Certain passages are not addressed to me, and I move on.” This Job passage serves to put all of us in our place at the back of the line. While Christ was on earth, He was God, yet not even He would equate Himself to the Father. As a Christian, we beg for mercy knowing that Christ has paid the penalty for our unrighteousness and that mercy is therefore ours. Showing mercy for others is one small way to give glory to God for this mercy He has shown us.