Job 22:22

22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.

Job 22:22 Meaning and Commentary

Job 22:22

Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth
Not the law of Moses; for it is a question whether that was as yet, or could come to the knowledge of Job; rather any doctrine, as the word signifies, any revelation of the mind and will of God, made unto the patriarchs in former times, and which was handed down from one to another, and was to be received as coming from the mouth of God, not as the word of man, but as the word of God; and as such to be received with meekness and reverence, with readiness, cheerfulness, and gladness; and not only to be attended to but obeyed:

and lay up his words in thine heart:
as a rich treasure, very valuable, and preferable to gold, silver, and precious stones, laid up in chests and cabinets because of their value, and that they might not be lost, but be preserved safe and sure, and that they might be come at, and made use of on proper occasions; as the words of God and doctrines of the Scriptures may be, against the temptations of Satan, the lusts of the flesh, and for the instruction of ourselves and others; and therefore should be retained in our minds, hid in our hearts, and dwell richly in us; and, unless they are in the heart, and have a place there, they will be of little avail to have them in the head or on the tongue; but if they come with power into the heart, and have a place there, they work effectually, and influence the life and conversation: these Job had, and had a great value for them; see ( Job 6:10 ) ( 23:12 ) .

Job 22:22 In-Context

20 saying, "Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left, the fire has consumed.'
21 "Agree with God, and be at peace; in this way good will come to you.
22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored, if you remove unrighteousness from your tents,
24 if you treat gold like dust, and gold of Ophir like the stones of the torrent-bed,
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.