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Heavenly Councils Does God take special note of those who follow after Him? The Bible says, “Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him” (Ps. 33:18). Does this mean His eye is on you? Most folks are perhaps at least somewhat familiar with the biblical character Job. Probably the most common reference is that someone has “the patience of Job,” or “the righteousness of Job.”” You may have heard it said that patience is a virtue, and so it is. Patience, or longsuffering, is the fourth fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22, and it is a fruit of righteousness. Indeed, patience could have come into play when Job waited on God and praised Him, rather than sinning and accusing Him, when tremendous calamity befell him (Job, chapter 1). Many would have used profanity at such a horrific occasion, but Job kept his speech clean and respectful. (Job 2:10). There is no doubt that Job was a righteous man, “blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil” (Job 1:1, New King James Version). We might tend to believe he was far more righteous than any of us today could possibly be. In fact, the King James says he was “perfect and upright.” Yet we must strive for a proper perspective on this. It is highly unlikely that Job was “perfect”--being completely free of sin from birth to the time when these events transpired—though in an overall sense he was “blameless.” The word for perfect or blameless can mean ”complete, finished, fulfilled, sound, mature, wholesome, morally innocent, having integrity” (Strong’s Enhanced Lexicon). Notice the use of the word for “perfect” when used as an adjective: “That you may stand perfect and complete in the will of God” (Colossians 4:12); “that they may be one just as We are one: I in them and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:22-23); “that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 4:12). Used as a verb, we read: “that we might…perfect that which is lacking in you” (I Thess. 3:10). Notice a couple verses relating to our Lord: “My Grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8); “to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10). With our usual understanding of the word “perfect”—flawless and sinless--Jesus would not have had to be “made perfect,” since He was already without sin: “A High Priest who…was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). The New Testament tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and of the Jews and Greeks it was written that “they are all under sin…There is none righteous…none who understands…none who seeks after God. There is none who does good” (Romans 3:9-12). In Genesis 6:9 we read, “Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations” [blameless among the people of his time—New International Version]. “Noah walked with God.” The NASB says, “Noah was a righteous man [literally, complete, perfect; or having integrity—marginal footnote}, blameless in is time.” Yet we know he later sinned by getting drunk with wine (Gen. 9:21). Abraham was told, “Walk before Me and be blameless” [perfect—KJV] (Gen. 17:1). This was after he had been deceitful and lied to Pharaoh about Sarah being his sister (Gen. 12:10-20). But then he later repeated the sin a second time and lied in the same fashion to Abimelech (Gen. 20:1-13)! In spite of this, Abraham is praised in Hebrews 11:8-10 and has been called the father of the faithful. Galatians 3:29 says, “And if you are Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Lot, Abraham’s nephew, flirted with sin and lived in wicked Sodom (Gen. 13:12-13 and 14:12). Moreover, he allowed himself to become intoxicated with wine and his daughters committed incest with him (Gen. 19:30-35). Yet in 2 Peter 2:7-8 Lot is designated as being righteous. The point is that Job did not have a monopoly on righteousness—or “perfection.” He, along with others who were designated as righteous, undoubtedly had his not-so-glorious moments. For a more specific study of Job’s sin, see the article entitled The Essence of Job. The Bible speaks of a heavenly council where God meets with the angels and has them account for their activities on earth (I Kings 22:19-23). And it appears that in the Book of Job he had called for two such councils. The angels would probably not present themselves jointly before God, voluntarily. But they would answer a summons to appear in the heavenly court. Notice Job 1:6: “When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the LORD, Satan was there among them” (Good News Bible). The Revised English Bible puts it this way: “The day came when the members of the court of heaven took their places in the presence of the LORD, and the Adversary, Satan, was there among them.” The angels were summoned to appear before God, in a heavenly council. Read Job 2:1-7. Here we find the second instance of a heavenly council: “Once again the day came when the members of the court of heaven took their places in the presence of the Lord, and the Adversary [Satan] was there among them” (verse 1, Revised English Bible). And notice how Job was again praised by God. There are other councils mentioned in the Bible, too. One is in Psalm 89:5-7: “Let the heavens praise your wonders, Lord; let the assembly of the angels exalt your faithfulness. In the skies who is there like the Lord, who like the Lord in the court of heaven, a God dreaded in the council of the angels, great and terrible above all who stand about him?” (Revised English Bible). In Jeremiah 23:18, speaking of false prophets, the question is asked: “But who has stood in the council of the Lord, that he should see and hear His word? Who has given heed to His word and listened?” (NASB). Does God hold regular meetings in His royal court? If so, does He ever mention the names of certain individuals today who heed His beckon and lead righteous lives? We’ve already noted that the eye of the Lord is upon those who fear him (Ps. 33:18). Does He mention your name in heavenly council, if you are wholeheartedly yielding to Him? The concept is as intriguing as it is thought provoking. God is no respecter of persons and shows no partiality (Acts 10:34-35, Rom. 2:11), and with Him there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). If God used other less-than-perfect individuals as examples in the Bible—and a less-than-sinless Job in the heavenly councils mentioned in the Book of Job—could He use your example in a heavenly council, too? As we strive to overcome the old nature and put on the new self (Eph. 4:17-24), the prospect of actually being an example in the royal court of heaven ought to be an inspiring concept, indeed. If God can hold forth these biblical servants of His in this way—people every bit as human as we are—can He do the same with us? |
