11 My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. 12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
Job longs for God’s presence. Because of his suffering, he feels separated for God, perhaps for the first time in his life. He has done all the usual things that he did in the past to sense His presence, but they have not helped. He is doing a personal spiritual inventory and he comes up OK. His theology is bumping up against his experience. He can’t understand why the suffering is happening. If looks like judgment, but he doesn’t honestly know what he has done to deserve judgment. God feels a million miles away, and Job just wants a few moments in His presence. He is confident that he would be delivered from this suffering. As I read these verses, I had to honestly confess that I could not state these verses for myself. I know I have turned aside, departed and not treasured. I have not followed as closely as I know I should and even as I really wanted to do. I have fallen short of my own expectations, let alone His expectations of me. How about you? Have you lived the kind of life that makes you proud of yourself, of your spiritual disciplines, of your righteous behavior, of your commitment to the Lord? If not, how are you not following His steps? How are you turning aside, departing and not treasuring? Take time for a spiritual inventory. Today can be a turning point.
The Arnold Journey 