I have treasured the words of His mouth
Job 23:12 - Examine your relationship with God’s Word. Are you engaged with reading it each day, and seeking the spiritual nourishment it offers?
Image generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI) using the DALL·E model.
“I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.”
Job 23:12 NIV
God is providing me with the opportunity to explore the Book of Job once again. I’ve mentioned before that I used to just “gird my loins” and rush through this book of the Bible, since I thought it was somewhat boring and repetitive. Studying individual verses now as part of my research for Heaven On Wheels, I find that there is much more meaning and inspiration to be found in Job than I ever imagined.
Today’s verse comes from one of the replies of Job to Eliphaz the Temanite, one of the three friends of the long-suffering Job who is offering advice and consolation. This section of his response to Eliphaz is an explanation of Job’s emotional pain. Job feels that God is far away from him in the midst of his suffering, yet he still believes with so much conviction that he acknowledges that God is always good.
An excellent commentary on this verse is found in The Bible Says:
At this point it is hundreds of years in the future until God will speak in Deuteronomy 8:3 that “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.” This is the same verse Jesus quoted to thwart Satan’s temptation to turn rocks into bread (Matthew 4:4).
Yet Job is already practicing this principle, that God’s word brings a lasting wealth. He recognizes that genuine treasure comes from the words of God’s mouth more than physical bread. This is likely a substantial reason why Job was able to worship God when he lost all his possessions and children in Chapter 1, Job 1:20-21. He already knew that the true gold in life is gained by listening to God. This is also taught directly by Jesus in Revelation 3:18-21. There Jesus advises believers to “buy” all the gold they want by hearing Jesus’s voice and inviting Him in to intimate fellowship with them, as we would invite someone for a meal.
Job’s statement that he has not departed from the command of His lips reminds us of the rich young ruler. The rich young ruler came to Jesus wanting to know what he could do “to inherit eternal life.” In asking this, the young man was asking what he could do to gain the greatest possible benefit from life. Jesus answered that he should obey God’s commands, just as Job had obeyed God’s commands. When the rich young ruler said, as Job, that he had done this since his youth, Mark 10:21 says Jesus “felt a love for him” and told him he lacked only one thing, to sell all he had and come follow Jesus.
Because the rich young ruler was already following God’s commands he had most of what can be gained from life. But he could have gone deeper and laid up even more treasure in heaven, both through doing good works as well as by coming to know God deeper through walking with Him while on earth, an experience available to a select few.
Just as Jesus loved the rich young ruler and offered him more, God loves Job and is offering him more. In Job’s case, God allowed Satan to strip him of all he had. But Job will come to know God in a much deeper way through this trial, and knowing God is the source of the fullest experience of eternal life (John 17:3). Job will become an example of what James speaks about in the New Testament:
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
(James 1:12)
More than anything, this verse demonstrates the right attitude to have about studying God’s Word each day. From Precept Austin:
Illustration - Would you cook a meal for yourself even if you didn’t feel like cooking? You probably say, “Yes, food is necessary.” Did you skip your devotions today? If your answer is, “Yes, I was too tired to study God’s Word,” then consider the words in Job 23:12, where Job affirms that God’s Word is more precious to him than his necessary food. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like learning God’s Word. It is necessary to your life as a Christian.
John MacArthur (also cited in Precept Austin) said:
In view of postmodern culture’s relentless output of informational junk food through radio, television, films, the Internet, computer games, books, periodicals, and even so-called Christian pulpits—all of which causes spiritual malnourishment and dulls appetites for genuine spiritual food—believers must commit to regular nourishment from God’s Word.
and Warren Wiersbe, from the same source:
When people are sick, their appetites change--in fact, they often lose their appetites completely. Likewise, sin in our lives robs our spiritual appetite, and we lose our desire for the Word. May we always have an appetite for the sweetness of the Word of God, even when we have to read things that convict us. That first bite of Scripture may taste sour sometimes, but it will turn sweet. It's important to feed your soul a proper diet. Do you feed and nourish on God's Word? The Bible is sweet to those who love it. Learn it and live it. (Prayer, Praise and Promises)
Precept Austin also provided this simple, yet profound “test” of our individual devotion to seeking God’s Word:
Let’s apply Job’s “Passion Principle” to our lives --
“I have treasured the word of God more than ____________.”
What is in that blank for you? What is it that makes your pulse quicken when you think of doing it? Is it racing down a slope on fresh powder? … hiking the majestic Rockies? … watching your favorite football team on Sunday afternoon? … eating a barbeque meal with your family all around you? You know what fills that blank for you. It may not be “bad” things, but it is just not the best thing. The best thing is bathing in the Father’s Word, basking in light of His glorious life giving truths, chewing the cud of His word which is more precious than gold, sweeter than even the honey from the honey comb. Why? Ultimately it is so that we might know God better and be more like His beloved Son…
Unlike the image I had ChatGPT create for today’s devotional, Job may have never had written scripture to read — we simply don’t know. But God spoke to him (Job refers to the “words of His mouth)”, and he listened to His Word, and treasured the Word more than anything else in his life.
Examine your relationship with God’s Word. Are you engaged with reading it each day, and seeking the spiritual nourishment it offers? Reading these devotionals each day — not just letting the email clutter your inbox — is a simple way to begin treasuring His Word until it becomes more important than the distractions of your life.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, I thank You for the wisdom, guidance, and truth found in Your Word. Scripture plays a vital role in my life, and I commit to treasuring it more than all else in my life. Help me in remaining faithful to Your commands, in the knowledge that they lead to true fulfillment and purpose in my life. AMEN.