“He performeth the thing that is appointed for me” (Job 23:14).
God’s appointments are always kept. Creation certainly responded accordingly. “When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: when He appointed the foundations of the earth” (Proverbs 8:29). Even Christ, who is the God of creation, has been “appointed heir of all things” (Hebrews 1:2), a position that He attained through His self-humbling death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and exaltation.
The appoitments of God are seen to include mankind as well. Job understood this. Even in his suffering, he believed it was all under the appointment of God. “But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me” (Job 23:13,14). He even said, “wearisome nights are appointed to me” (7:3).
The apostle Paul realized this. “Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles” (II Timothy 1:11). God’s servants are under the call and appointment of God. “No man taketh this honor unto himself, but he that is called of God” (Hebrews 5:4).
The unsaved should seriously consider the truth that they are under an appointment of God. “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).
The second appointment that mankind will keep is with the Judge of all the earth. “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Christ] whom He hath ordained” (Acts 17:31). This will occur for the unbeliever at the Great White Throne; a place for sentencing, not salvation.
True believers need not fear, “for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Thessalonians 5:9). NPS
