What is the meaning of Job 22:22? Receive “Receive instruction from His mouth….” (Job 22:22a) • This is an open-handed posture—accepting, not resisting (James 1:21: “humbly receive the word planted in you, which can save your souls”). • The initiative is with God; our role is willing reception (John 1:12; Proverbs 2:1). • The verse assumes God is speaking now, not merely in the past (Hebrews 3:7-8). instruction • “Instruction” (or “law,” “torah”) points to the whole counsel of God (Psalm 32:8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go”). • Scripture is profitable for “teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16), so the believer must treat it as authoritative, not optional. • Accepting instruction means aligning life, doctrine, and affections with what God says. from His mouth • The source—God Himself—guarantees truth and carries divine authority (Matthew 4:4: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God”). • Deuteronomy 8:3 and Isaiah 55:11 underscore that what proceeds from God’s mouth accomplishes His purpose and doesn’t return void. • Because the mouth speaks what the heart contains, this line assures us of the very heart of God revealed to us. and lay up • To “lay up” is to store something valuable for future need (Proverbs 7:1: “Store up my commands within you”). • It implies intentional effort—memorizing, meditating, organizing life around the Word (Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You”). • Colossians 3:16 calls believers to let the Word “dwell richly” in them, the New Testament echo of this command. His words • The plural “words” reminds us none are disposable; every statement carries weight (2 Samuel 22:31; Psalm 18:30: “The word of the Lord is flawless”). • Jesus prays, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17), affirming that each word shapes holiness. • Elevating God’s words guards us from elevating our own (Proverbs 30:5-6 warns against adding to His words). in your heart • The heart is the control center of thoughts, emotions, and will; storing Scripture there produces transformed living (Jeremiah 31:33). • Ezekiel 36:26-27 shows God giving a new heart so His people can walk in His statutes. • What is treasured in the heart comes out in life and speech (Luke 6:45), making internalization essential to outward obedience. summary Job 22:22 calls believers to a two-step rhythm: take in God’s instruction directly and treasure it deeply. Because every word from His mouth is flawless, we welcome it without reservation, store it like treasure, and let it govern heart and life. |
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