The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. Job 17:9.

Job continues to defend himself against his critics. He has been accused of stubborn hypocrisy for not acknowledging the sins of which his friends believe he is guilty and for which he is suffering. In this verse Job is, I believe, saying that his refusal to comply with the demands of his friends stems not from stubbornness but from the working of grace within his heart. His tenacity springs from that inward working of the great principle he sets forth in our text. It was not stubbornness but persevering grace which causes him to hold on to his integrity.

The verse has a universal application. It is true still.

I. THE MORAL CHARACTER OF THE TRUE BELIEVER

‘The righteous’, ‘clean hands’. God’s view and man’s view.

1. Here is the Christians standing in God’s eyes. He is justified. He is accounted as righteous in God’s eyes. Such standing comes through the cross-work of Christ. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Rom 5:1

2. Here is the Christian’s standing in the sight of men. The hands are clean. How quickly the hands of Adam showed his sinful heart, Gen 3:2. Cain also 4:11.

II. THE ESSENTIAL MARK OF THE TRUE BELIEVER

He will hold to his way. It is a positive and reliable means of identifying the true believer. I John 2:19, Hebrews 6:9-11.

1. This is because of the nature he received at conversion. I John 3:9. A holy nature. He cannot live in sin.

2. This because of the help we are promised. Hebrews 13:5-6. Deut 33:29, Ps 40:17, 54:4, 118:6, Isaiah 41:10.

3. This is because of the transaction completed at the cross. There a people was purchased from sin and they shall be in glory. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me, Jer 32:40. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities, Isaiah 53:11.

III. THE DIFFICULT TASK OF THE TRUE BELIEVER

Hold to his way. To hold means to grasp very firmly. Gen 22:13, Judges 20:21, II Chron 25:5, (handle). Such tenacity is required because of the difficulties we meet.

1. We are climbing up from a great depth. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? Song/Sol 8:5. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye, Deut 32:10.

2. We meet with much opposition. The devil and the world do all they can to distract, disturb, discourage and intimidate.

3. We are very weak. We have a nature that is opposed to this journey.

It will look back like Lot’s wife, Gen 19:26.

It will bring sin with it like Rachel, Jacob’s wife, Gen 32:19.

It will berate us like Moses’ wife, Exodus 4:25-26.

It will entice us like Job’s wife, Job 2:9.

4. It is a great journey. We shall travel far. Isaiah 33:17.