The Book Of Job (Continues) Job 4:1,8 - Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said, ...Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same. What Kind Of Friend Tells You Not To Pray? Jobs friend, Eliphaz, believed Jobs problems were simple to explain. Job was reaping what he sowed. Job was evil, and God was punishing him for it. His analysis was wearisome. Be careful not to get lost in Eliphaz criticisms. He was dead wrong. It is lethal to mix wisdom with foolish conjecture. He even went so far as to suggest that Job need not pray any more, because nobody would hear him. What a lie. Job 5:1 - Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn? What Does Your Arguing Reprove? I do not know how Job kept his sanity after listening to Eliphaz harangue. His reply certainly indicated that Eliphaz had done no good for him. Job bemoaned his situation again, and begged God, that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! Then should I yet have comfort. Then he scathed his friend. Job 6:14,15,25 - To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; ...My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, ...How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove? The Appointment Jobs skin was broken and loathsome. His flesh was clothed with worms and clods of dust. His friend smothered him with criticism. He wanted to die. Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? ...as an hireling look-eth for the reward of his work. Yes. It is appointed unto man once to die, and afterward the judgment. Job 7:11,16 - I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. ...I loathe it; I would not live alway. Prayers Of The Righteous Can Be Hindered Jobs friend, Bildad, asserted his misguided opinion. To paraphrase, he said, If your kids had not sinned, they would not be dead. If your heart was pure, your prayers would be answered. WRONG. Paul spoke of a great open door for ministry, but there are many adversaries. This is not the Garden of Eden. The thief steals, kills and destroys indiscriminately. Consequently, righteous men often suffer great losses. Job 8:5,6 - If thou would-est seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty; If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee. The Days man Job responded to Bildad by arguing that God is Sovereign, and does as He pleases. But cynicism was in his voice. Job could not understand why God allowed him to suffer. He felt powerless to persuade God to change his circumstance. He yearned for a days-man - an intercessor between him and God. Job would have rejoiced to meet our days-man - Jesus Christ. Job 9:32 - He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any days-man betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both. The Unadvisable Propensity For Self-Pity We act too much like Job. We get weary of life. We want to know why things do not go better than they do. We are tempted to complain that God is not giving us a fair treatment. But we must learn from Jobs mistakes. Job said a lot of things that should not have been said, and God eventually rebuked him for them. Self-pity will get you into a lot of trouble. Practice keeping your mouth shut. Job 10:1 - I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. Zophar Prods Job To Repent Finally, Zophar articulated his opinion. He accused Job of lying and mocking God. Oh that God would speak, and open his lips against thee. He said that Job deserved more punishment than he was getting. He called Job to stretch out his hands to God and put iniquity far away from him. Like so many people, Zophar could easily see sin in his friends life, but could not see his own disgusting self-righteousness. Who are you judging? Job 11:15,16 - For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; ...thou shalt forget thy misery. The Hand Of The LORD Hath Wrought This Although Job was sick and tormented, he sparred with his friends. They relentlessly accused him of wrongdoing. Job sarcastically retorted, No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you He declared that God rules all creatures - men and beasts, and is supremely wise, making great and powerful men look like fools. Job argued that God does many things that are contradictory to human understanding. Job 12:9 - Who know eth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? He Increaseth The Nations, And Destroyeth Them If you remember that the book of Job is the most ancient of all scriptures, then Job, who lived in primitive times, was quite prophetic in these statements. His insights were exceedingly far reaching - all the way to our generation. As great nations fall, and evil men rule, remember that God is in control. Job 12:18,19, 21,23 - He loose-eth the bond of kings, ...He lead-eth princes away spoiled, and over-throw-eth the mighty. ...He pour-eth contempt upon princes, and weaken-eth the strength of the mighty. ...He increas-eth the nations, and destroy-eth them: he enlarge-eth the nations, and striaghten-eth them again. Though He Slay Me, Yet Will I Trust In Him Job fired back at Zophar. Let me paraphrase it in common words. What you know, I know. I would speak to God. I would reason with Him. But not you. You are liars - incompetent doctors. I wish you would just shut up. You grossly misrepresent God. He will reprove you. Why arent you afraid of Him? Just be quiet and leave me alone. At last, he declared his unflinching intention to trust God, no matter how difficult his trial. Job 13:15,16 - Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: ...He also shall be my salvation. Amen
Posted on: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 18:32:37 +0000
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