Job 27 & 28: The Gold Of Ophir
Verse of the Day: (28:16) It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.
1. God (27:1-23)
As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul; (27:2)
Though Job had strong faith in the Almighty God as he believed that his intense suffering was due to His test on his faith, yet he kept complaining and murmuring because it was too much for him to bear it. Job knew that God was in control, and that everyone whether the rich or the poor, the righteous or the wicked would face death, and he was prepared to die, yet his pain was unbearable. He wished he could die, and be with God in heaven where he shall have no more suffering. However, God already knew that Job was able to endure the fiery test. Indeed, let us fully trust Christ, our Rock, and endure His fiery test, as He is faithful, and He knows exactly how much we can bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:1-13)
2. Gone (28:1-4)
The flood breaketh out from the inhabitant; even the waters forgotten of the foot: they are dried up, they are gone way from men. (28:4)
Though it was hard work for man to search and dig for precious metals such as gold, silver, iron, brass and other minerals that God had embedded them in the earth, yet they would all be gone or destroyed when He caused a great flood or earthquake. Job knew that ultimately the whole world is in God’s mighty hands, and His infinite wisdom was more precious than precious gold. Indeed, only God and His wisdom and understanding, and not material wealth and possession, could truly satisfy man’s hungry and thirsty soul. Indeed, unless we truly believe in God and His wisdom, and confess and repent our sins, we shall be eternally condemned in hell, as all have gone out of His way. (Romans 3:1-20)
3. Gold (28:5-28)
The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. (28:17)
Job compared God’s fiery trial to that of the refining of the gold of Ophir in the furnace of fire before it became pure gold. There must be intense heat to burn all the impurities from the raw gold that were dug out from the depths of the earth before it would become refined gold. God was refining and moulding Job as He removed all his sins so that he could be righteous in Him. Indeed, God is more valuable than gold, onyx, sapphire, crystal, coral, pearls, rubies, topaz or any precious stones. Let us therefore trust and obey God, and be zealous, and confess and repent our sins, and endure His fiery test that we shall become the refined gold of Ophir for His glory and honour. (Revelation 3:14-22)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be like the gold of Ophir by passing Your fiery test.
