Ancient Religion

This morning during my Office, I was reading Job 29:1-20.

Some scholars feel that Job is the oldest book in the Sacred Scriptures, perhaps written before Moses (pre 1500 B.C.).  Others put it at the time of Solomon (ca. 900 B.C.), and some even as late as the Babylonian Exile or later (post 600 B.C.).

Whenever it was written, this morning I saw an interesting insight into the heart of God. In this book, as far back in time as it is, Job boasts of his Faith, in verses 12-13 he tells us what God expects of His followers:

I delivered the poor who cried, and the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the wretched came upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban. I was eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame. I was a father to the needy, and I championed the cause of the stranger.

There you have it, the Message. The Ancient Faith that God has been speaking to fallen humanity for thousands of years.  You see it throughout the Scriptures from the Hebrew prophets to Paul, James and of course the Lord, Jesus. Does the modern American Church hear it, or is it seduced by wealth and worldly power?

Comments

[James]

In all honesty, when I finally began to remove the lens most of us inherited from Luther regarding the Old Testament (i.e. the Old Testament is about oppressive legalism and works righteousness, and the NT is about grace, faith, and justification) I began to discover that the message of Scripture at its core is consistent from cover to cover.

God has always shown grace to His people, and expects them also to exemplify that grace in how they treat others.

Excellent thoughts!