Calvary
Chapel Bible College
March
16, 2022
Start Recording
Homework
Memory verse (in NKJV)
(Job 16:10 NKJV) They gape at me with their mouth, They strike me
reproachfully on the cheek, They gather together
against me.
Having chewed on this, is there something you’ve learned?
Introduction
Job is going through the worst time anyone could imagine.
He’s lost all his possessions.
His children have died.
His health has failed.
What makes all this even more confusing is that Job is a good guy.
God has decided to allow Job to go through this difficulty because He is
proud of Job, not mad at him.
God wants to show the world what a godly man will do when he is going
through a difficult time.
Keep a couple of things in mind as we study Job:
Sometimes Job is wrong in his conclusions.
Sometimes Job’s friends are also wrong.
They can even say things that are true, but they might not be true about
Job.
Be careful about building doctrine upon some of the things said in the book
of Job.
Neither Job’s words nor those of his friends are meant to build doctrinal
truths on.
They simply show us how people respond to difficulty.
There are three rounds of debates with Job’s three friends.
A friend will speak and Job will answer.
We’re now in the middle of the second round.
18:1-4 Bildad: Be quiet
:1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
Bildad is friend number two. He’s
the small one (“shoe-height”).
:2 “How long till you put an end to words? Gain understanding, and
afterward we will speak.
:2 Gain understanding, and afterward we will speak
He wishes that Job would just shut up until he knows what he’s talking
about.
:3 Why are we counted as beasts, And
regarded as stupid in your sight?
:4 You who tear yourself in anger, Shall the earth be forsaken for you? Or
shall the rock be removed from its place?
(Job 18:4 NLT) You may tear
out your hair in anger, but will that destroy the earth? Will it make the rocks
tremble?
Job’s tearing his hair out isn’t going to change his circumstances
18:5-10 Bildad: The wicked are
caught
:5 “The light of the wicked indeed goes out, And the flame of his fire does
not shine.
:5 the light … the flame
Bildad now will launch into a lesson of what kinds of things are awaiting
the wicked. The wicked will be snuffed out.
Hebrew Poetry
We briefly touched on this earlier.
Hebrew poetry is not like English poetry. In English, our poetry seems to
put a lot of attention on the rhyming of sounds. In Hebrew, the idea is a
rhyming of ideas.
In each line you will see either two parallel ideas that say the same
thing, or you will see two contrasting things that are opposite of each other.
You can learn more about each idea as you compare and
contrast the ideas that are paired together.
:6 The light is dark in his tent, And his lamp
beside him is put out.
:7 The steps of his strength are shortened, And his own counsel casts him
down.
:8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, And
he walks into a snare.
:9 The net takes him by the heel, And
a snare lays hold of him.
:10 A noose is hidden for him on the ground, And a trap for him in
the road.
:10 a trap for him in the road
Bildad’s point is that a wicked person is going to get caught. There is
some truth to this.
This is sometimes exactly what happens:
Illustration
A motorist was unknowingly caught in an automated speed trap that measured
his speed using radar and photographed his car. He later received in the mail a
ticket for $40 and a photo of his car. Instead of payment, he sent the police
department a photograph of $40. Several days later, he received a letter from
the police that contained another picture... of handcuffs. The motorist
promptly sent the money for the fine.
or …
Drug Possession Defendant Christopher Jansen, on trial in March in Pontiac,
Michigan, said he had been searched without a warrant. The prosecutor said the
officer didn’t need a warrant because a “bulge” in Christopher’s jacket could
have been a gun. Nonsense, said Christopher, who happened to be wearing the
same jacket that day in court. He handed it over so the judge could see it. The
judge discovered a packet of cocaine in the pocket and laughed so hard he
required a five minute recess to compose himself.
18:11-21 Bildad: Terror for the wicked
:11 Terrors frighten him on every side, And drive
him to his feet.
:11 Terrors frighten him on every side
Terrors – ballahah – terror, destruction, calamity,
dreadful event
There is nothing but horrible things ahead in the life of the wicked
person.
:12 His strength is starved, And destruction is
ready at his side.
:13 It devours patches of his skin; The firstborn of death devours his
limbs.
:14 He is uprooted from the shelter of his tent, And
they parade him before the king of terrors.
:15 They dwell in his tent who are none of his; Brimstone is
scattered on his dwelling.
:15 Brimstone is scattered on his dwelling
(Job 18:15 NLT) The homes of
the wicked will burn down; burning sulfur rains on
their houses.
Keep in mind that part of the trouble that Job has endured included fire
from heaven (Job 1:16)
(Job 1:16 NKJV) While he was
still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven
and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed
them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
:16 His roots are dried out below, And his branch
withers above.
:17 The memory of him perishes from the earth, And
he has no name among the renowned.
:18 He is driven from light into darkness, And
chased out of the world.
:19 He has neither son nor posterity among his people, Nor any remaining in
his dwellings.
:19 He has neither son nor posterity
Job has lost all of his children at this point. He
had seven sons and three daughters, now all dead.
:20 Those in the west are astonished at his day, As
those in the east are frightened.
:21 Surely such are the dwellings of the wicked, And
this is the place of him who does not know God.”
:21 the place of him who does not know God
Do you think Bildad has anybody in particular in
mind when he’s describing all the calamities that await
for a wicked person? He’s talking about Job.
Lesson
Tell me to my face
(keyword!)
Bildad is talking about the things that will happen to “the wicked”.
But his implication is that he’s talking about Job.
Some folks like to talk to you about things, but
do it in a way where they don’t just come out and say that you’re bad, but you
still get the message.
It’s not good communication.
Illustration
A farmer walked into an attorney’s office wanting to file for a divorce.
The attorney asked, “May I help you?” The farmer said, “Yea, I want to get one
of those dayvorces.” The attorney said, “Well, do you
have any grounds?” The farmer said, “Yea, I got about 140 acres.” The attorney
said, “No, you don’t understand, do you have a case?” The farmer said, “No, I
don’t have a Case, but I have a John Deere.” The attorney said, “No, you don’t
understand. I mean do you have a grudge?” The farmer said, “Yea, I got a
grudge. That’s where I park my John Deere.” The attorney said, “No sir, I mean
do you have a suit?” The farmer said, “Yes sir, I got a suit. I wear it to
church on Sundays.” The exasperated attorney said, “Well, sir, does your wife
beat you up or anything?” The farmer said, “No sir, we both get up about 4:30.” Finally, the attorney says,
“Okay, let me put it this way. WHY DO YOU WANT A DIVORCE?” And the farmer says,
“Well, I can never have a meaningful conversation with her.”
I think that one of the things necessary for “meaningful conversation” is
to get to the point. Say what you mean. Mean what you say.
19:1-7 Job: I’ve been wronged
:1 Then Job answered and said:
:2 “How long will you torment my soul, And break
me in pieces with words?
:3 These ten times you have reproached me; You are not ashamed that
you have wronged me.
:4 And if indeed I have erred, My error remains
with me.
:5 If indeed you exalt yourselves against me, And
plead my disgrace against me,
:6 Know then that God has wronged me, And has
surrounded me with His net.
:7 “If I cry out concerning wrong, I am not heard. If I cry aloud, there
is no justice.
:6 God has wronged me
Job is incorrect with this thought.
God is not the one that attacked Job, Satan is the one who has brought so
much harm.
19:8-22 Job: Everyone is against
me
:8 He has fenced up my way, so that I cannot pass; And He has set darkness
in my paths.
:9 He has stripped me of my glory, And taken the
crown from my head.
:9 taken the crown from my head
crown – ‘atarah
– crown, wreath
If Job is speaking literally here, this might be additional proof that Job
is the man spoken of in Genesis (“Jobab”), listed as a king of Edom (Gen.
36:33)
(Genesis 36:31–34
NKJV) —31 Now these were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom
before any king reigned over the children of Israel: 32 Bela the son
of Beor reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 And when
Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place. 34 When Jobab
died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in
his place.
:10 He breaks me down on every side, And I am gone; My hope He has uprooted
like a tree.
:11 He has also kindled His wrath against me, And He counts me as one of
His enemies.
:11 He counts me as one of His enemies
Not so, Job.
Lesson
Jesus loves me
We’ve talked about the “anchors” we need in our lives to help us navigate
the storms of life.
This is one of them.
We can know He loves me simply by the cross.
(1 John 3:16a NKJV)
By
this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.
And if He loves us, then we can put all these silly thoughts of God being
against us aside.
(Romans 8:31–34
NKJV) —31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us,
who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all,
how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall
bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is
he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen,
who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
:12 His troops come together And build up their
road against me; They encamp all around my tent.
:13 “He has removed my brothers far from me, And
my acquaintances are completely estranged from me.
:14 My relatives have failed, And my close friends
have forgotten me.
:14 my close friends have forgotten me
This shouldn’t be when we go through trials.
We need each other.
We just read about Jesus’ love for us, and our love for one another ought
to be similar.
(1 John 3:16 NKJV) By this we
know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our
lives for the brethren.
:15 Those who dwell in my house, and my maidservants, Count
me as a stranger; I am an alien in their sight.
:16 I call my servant, but he gives no answer; I beg him with my mouth.
:17 My breath is offensive to my wife, And I am repulsive to the children
of my own body.
:17 My breath is offensive to my wife
Illustration
Put A Sock In
It
A young couple decided to wed. As the big day approached, they grew
apprehensive. Each had a problem they had never before
shared with anyone, not even each other. The Groom-to-be, overcoming his fear,
decided to ask his father for advice. “Father,” he said, “I am deeply concerned
about the success of my marriage.” His father replied, “Don’t you love this
girl?” “Oh yes, very much,” he said,” but you see, I have very smelly feet, and
I’m afraid that my fiancé will be put off by them.” “No problem,” said dad,
“all you have to do is wash your feet as often as possible, and always wear
socks, even to bed.” Well, to him this seemed a workable solution. The
bride-to-be, overcoming her fear, decided to take her problem up with her mom.”
Mom,” she said, “When I wake up in the morning my breath is truly awful.”
“Honey,” her mother consoled, “everyone has bad breath in the morning.” “No,
you don’t understand,. My morning breath is so bad,
I’m afraid that my fiancé will not want to sleep in the same room with me.” Her
mother said simply, “Try this. In the morning, get straight out of bed, and
head for the kitchen and make breakfast. While the family is busy eating, move
on to the bathroom and brush your teeth. The key is, not to say a word until
you’ve brushed your teeth.” “I shouldn’t say good morning or anything?” the
daughter asked. “Not a word,” her mother affirmed. “Well, it’s certainly worth
a try,” she thought. The loving couple was finally married. Not forgetting the
advice each had received, he with his perpetual socks and she with her morning
silence, they managed quite well. That is, until about six months later.
Shortly before dawn one morning, the husband wakes with a start to find that
his socks had come off. Fearful of the consequences, he frantically searches
the bed. This, of course, wakes his bride and without thinking, she asks, “What
on earth are you doing?” “Good grief,” he replies, “you’ve swallowed my socks!”
(Job 19:17 The
Message) My wife can’t stand to be around me anymore. I’m
repulsive to my family.
:18 Even young children despise me; I arise, and they speak against me.
:19 All my close friends abhor me, And those whom
I love have turned against me.
:20 My bone clings to my skin and to my flesh, And I have escaped by the
skin of my teeth.
:20 escaped by the skin of my teeth
Here’s the origin of the phrase, “skin of my teeth”.
There’s not much “skin” on your teeth.
The idea is that Job has just barely, narrowly escaped.
:21 “Have pity on me, have pity on me, O you my friends, For the hand of
God has struck me!
:22 Why do you persecute me as God does, And
are not satisfied with my flesh?
19:23-29 Job’s hope
:23 “Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a
book!
:24 That they were engraved on a rock With an iron
pen and lead, forever!
:23 that they were inscribed in a book
Job is going to get his wish. His
words are going to be recorded in the world’s best-selling book.
:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on
the earth;
:25 my Redeemer lives
redeemer – ga’al – to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer,
avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a kinsman
lives – chay – living, alive
from chayah – to live, have life, remain alive,
live forever
God’s name, “Yahweh” (or, YHWH)
can be translated – “the existing
One”
from – hayah – to be, become, come to pass, exist,
happen, fall out
It’s interesting to look at the usage of God’s name in the book of
Job. The first two chapters are filled
with God’s name (Yahweh). The end of the
book, starting in chapter 38, when God finally speaks, again God’s name starts
to be used again. But in the middle
section when Job argues with his friends, God’s name is only found ONCE, and it
is Job that uses God’s name. Job’s
friends never call God by name.
at last – ‘acharown
– behind, following, subsequent, western; behind, hindermost, western (of
location); later, subsequent, latter, last (of time)
(Job 19:25 NASB95) “As for me,
I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand
on the earth.
Lesson
Job’s redeemer
Job has a concept that someone, somewhere will be on his side. This person will be around on the last days
of earth and will stand up for him.
Jesus is our redeemer.
Though some may look at Jesus today as either a fanciful myth, or at least
an historical person of the past, the truth is that Jesus still lives.
He rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.
He is alive at this present moment.
For those of us who have lost loved ones who were believers, this is our
hope too.
Because Jesus rose from the dead, we know that we too will rise from the
dead.
(John
11:25–26 NKJV) —25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who
believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever
lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
:26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I
know, That in my flesh I shall see God,
:27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall
behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
:26 after my skin is destroyed
destroyed – naqaph – (Piel) to strike off skin
:26 in my flesh I shall see God
Job states the essence of the doctrine of the resurrection.
This is around 2000 BC. The doctrine
of the resurrection is not a New Testament idea.
He’s saying that his flesh will be destroyed, but he will one day see God
in his flesh.
He’s expecting that God will one day raise him from the dead.
It’s an interesting contrast with some of the other things he’s said when
he’s expressed hopelessness.
(Job 16:22 NKJV) For when a
few years are finished, I shall go the way of no return.
Lesson
Job’s hope
Keep your eyes on the end of the race.
We can keep going if we keep our eyes on the end. Keep remembering what it’s all for.
We look forward to the day when Jesus says, “Well done, good and faithful
servant.
Paul wrote,
(2 Corinthians
4:16–18 NKJV) —16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is
perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our
light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things
which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are
seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are
eternal.
:28 If you should say, ‘How shall we persecute him?’— Since the root of the
matter is found in me,
:29 Be afraid of the sword for yourselves; For wrath brings the
punishment of the sword, That you may know there is
a judgment.”
:29 Be afraid of the sword for yourselves
(Job 19:28–29 The
Message) —28 “If you’re thinking, ‘How can we get through to him, get him to
see that his trouble is all his own fault?’ 29 Forget it. Start worrying about yourselves. Worry about
your own sins and God’s coming judgment, for judgment is most certainly on the way.”
Lesson
Judgement or Mercy
When we find ourselves forming judgmental or critical attitudes towards
other people, we need to be careful to look in the mirror and examine ourselves
first.
Sometimes we don’t really know enough to properly judge another person.
The ways that we treat other people are going to come back and haunt us.
(Luke 6:30–38 NKJV)
—30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your
goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them
likewise. 32 “But if you
love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love
those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that
to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back,
what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much
back. 35 But love
your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in
return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
We need to be kind to people, even if they’re not kind to us. This is a part of treating other people in a
way that we want to be treated.
36 Therefore be
merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. 37 “Judge not,
and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned.
Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down,
shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the
same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”
We’ve all probably heard some of those sermons about giving money that
might quote this last verse. Perhaps
we’ve thought that this is all about giving money to the church and then
getting rich off of it.
But don’t forget that the lesson is actually all
about giving mercy and grace to people who don’t deserve mercy and grace. And when we give lots of grace, we will find
lots of grace coming back to us.
39 And He spoke
a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into
the ditch? 40 A disciple
is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like
his teacher. 41 And why do
you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in
your own eye? 42
Or
how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is
in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own
eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see
clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
It’s not that we don’t ever attempt to take a splinter out of another
person’s eye. There is a place for
helping others grow in their deficiencies.
But before we do, we ought to be careful to examine ourselves first.
Perhaps the only reason we see the splinter is because we’re good at
spotting wood, after all, we may have lots of wood in our own eye.
Illustration
Dale Carnegie, in his book, How to
Win Friends and Influence People, writes,
Mark Twain lost his temper occasionally and wrote letters that turned the
paper brown. For example, he once wrote to a man who had aroused his ire: “The
thing for you is a burial permit. You have only to speak and I will see that
you get it.” On another occasion he wrote to an editor about a proofreader’s
attempts to “improve my spelling and punctuation.” He ordered: “Set the matter
according to my copy hereafter and see that the proofreader retains his
suggestions in the mush of his decayed brain.”
The writing of these stinging letters made Mark Twain feel
better. They allowed him to blow off steam, and the letters didn’t do any real
harm, because Mark’s wife secretly lifted them out of the mail. They were never
sent.
Do you know someone you would like to change and regulate and improve?
Good! That is fine. I am all in favor of it. But why not begin on yourself?
From a purely selfish standpoint, that is a lot more profitable than trying to
improve others-yes, and a lot less dangerous. “Don’t complain about the snow on
your neighbor’s roof,” said Confucius; “when your own doorstep is unclean.”
Break?
20:1-9 Zophar: The wicked will perish
:1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
The third friend speaks for his second time.
:2 “Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, Because of the turmoil
within me.
:3 I have heard the rebuke that reproaches me, And the spirit of my
understanding causes me to answer.
:3 the spirit …causes me to answer
Lesson
But I feel like …
Sometimes we say to ourselves, “But I feel like I just have to do this
…”
Sometimes we are only telling ourselves this as an excuse to do something
impulsive.
You really don’t have to do anything.
Sometimes we get spiritual and excuse our impulsive behavior by blaming it
on the “Spirit”
But Paul wrote,
(1
Corinthians 14:32 NKJV) And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
The “spirit of the prophet” is actually
under the orders of the prophet himself.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t take away your control. I do not believe a person is forced to roll
on the floor and bark like a dog by the Holy Spirit.
The fruit of the Spirit includes “self-control” (Gal. 5:23)
(Galatians 5:22–23
NKJV) —22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control…
self-control – egkrateia (“in” +
“strength”) – self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and
passions, esp. his sensual appetites)
When the Spirit is really working, He gives us the ability, the “strength”
to bridle the wrong “have to’s”.
:4 “Do you not know this of old, Since man
was placed on earth,
:5 That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the hypocrite
is but for a moment?
:6 Though his haughtiness mounts up to the heavens, And
his head reaches to the clouds,
:7 Yet he will perish forever like his own refuse; Those who have
seen him will say, ‘Where is he?’
:8 He will fly away like a dream, and not be found; Yes, he will be chased
away like a vision of the night.
:9 The eye that saw him will see him no more, Nor will his place behold him anymore.
The wicked person will one day be destroyed. True.
20:10-22 Zophar: The End of the Wicked
:10 His children will seek the favor of the poor, And
his hands will restore his wealth.
:11 His bones are full of his youthful vigor, But
it will lie down with him in the dust.
:11 youthful vigor … in the dust
(Job 20:11 NLT) Though they
are young, their bones will lie in the dust.
The insinuation is that wicked people will die young.
Wicked people are not the only ones that die young.
David Brainerd was a missionary to the Indians in the early 1700’s. He died at the age of 29.
Henry Martyn was a missionary to India around 1800. He died at the age of 31.
Jim Elliot, a missionary to the Auca Indians in South America in the 1950’s
died at the age of 24.
Keith Green was a Christian musician that impacted the lives of many in our
generation, he died at the age of 28.
Jesus died at the age of 33.
:12 “Though evil is sweet in his mouth, And
he hides it under his tongue,
Like hiding candy under your tongue.
:13 Though he spares it and does not forsake it, But
still keeps it in his mouth,
:14 Yet his food in his stomach turns sour; It becomes cobra venom
within him.
:15 He swallows down riches And vomits them up
again; God casts them out of his belly.
:16 He will suck the poison of cobras; The viper’s tongue will slay him.
:17 He will not see the streams, The rivers flowing with honey and cream.
He will not see good times any more.
:18 He will restore that for which he labored, And
will not swallow it down; From the proceeds of business
He will get no enjoyment.
:19 For he has oppressed and forsaken the poor, He has violently
seized a house which he did not build.
:19 he has oppressed and forsaken the poor
Zophar feels like he has stumbled upon the real reason for Job’s problems.
Job must have cheated the poor people.
That’s why he was so wealthy, because he took advantage of the poor.
These are just baseless accusations.
:20 “Because he knows no quietness in his heart, He will not save anything
he desires.
:21 Nothing is left for him to eat; Therefore his
well-being will not last.
:22 In his self-sufficiency he will be in distress; Every hand of misery
will come against him.
20:23-29 Zophar: Terrors for the wicked
:23 When he is about to fill his stomach, God will cast on
him the fury of His wrath, And will rain it on
him while he is eating.
:24 He will flee from the iron weapon; A bronze bow will pierce him
through.
:25 It is drawn, and comes out of the body; Yes, the glittering point
comes out of his gall. Terrors come upon him;
:26 Total darkness is reserved for his treasures. An unfanned fire
will consume him; It shall go ill with him who is left in his tent.
:27 The heavens will reveal his iniquity, And the earth will rise up against him.
:28 The increase of his house will depart, And
his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath.
:29 This is the portion from God for a wicked man, The heritage
appointed to him by God.”
:29 the portion from God for a wicked man
Again, just like Bildad, Zophar is accusing Job of being a wicked man who
needs to repent, yet he’s doing it without directly accusing Job. He just talks vaguely about “the wicked”.
21:1-6 Job: Please Listen
:1 Then Job answered and said:
:2 “Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be
your consolation.
:3 Bear with me that I may speak, And after I have
spoken, keep mocking.
:3 Bear with me that I may speak
Lesson
Comfort by Listening
Sometimes people need our ears more than they need our words.
Illustration
During the darkest hours of the Civil War, Lincoln wrote to an old friend
in Springfield, Illinois, asking him to come to Washington. Lincoln said he had
some problems he wanted to discuss with him. The old neighbor called at the
White House, and Lincoln talked to him for hours about the advisability of
issuing a proclamation freeing the slaves. Lincoln went over all the arguments
for and against such a move, and then read letters and newspaper articles, some
denouncing him for not freeing the slaves and others denouncing him for fear
he was going to free them. After talking for hours, Lincoln shook hands with
his old neighbor, said good night, and sent him back to Illinois without even
asking for his opinion. Lincoln had done all the talking himself. That seemed
to clarify his mind. “He seemed to feel easier after that talk,” the old friend
said. Lincoln hadn’t wanted advice. He had wanted merely a friendly,
sympathetic listener to whom he could unburden himself.
That’s what we all want when we are in trouble.
- Dale Carnegie, How
to Win Friends and Influence People
(James 1:19 NKJV) So then, my
beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;
:4 “As for me, is my complaint against man? And if it were,
why should I not be impatient?
:5 Look at me and be astonished; Put your hand over your
mouth.
:6 Even when I remember I am terrified, And
trembling takes hold of my flesh.
21:7-16 Job: The Wicked Prosper
:7 Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes,
become mighty in power?
Wicked people don’t always die young.
Sometimes they live to be quite old.
:8 Their descendants are established with them in their sight, And their
offspring before their eyes.
:9 Their houses are safe from fear, Neither
is the rod of God upon them.
:10 Their bull breeds without failure; Their cow calves without
miscarriage.
:11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, And their children
dance.
:12 They sing to the tambourine and harp, And
rejoice to the sound of the flute.
:13 They spend their days in wealth, And in a
moment go down to the grave.
:14 Yet they say to God, ‘Depart from us, For we
do not desire the knowledge of Your ways.
:15 Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit
do we have if we pray to Him?’
:16 Indeed their prosperity is not in their hand; The counsel of the
wicked is far from me.
:15 what profit do we have if we pray to Him?
Some wicked people feel that they don’t need to repent because life is so
good for them.
This is the “inconvenient” truth that we often forget when we
go through difficult times and we cry, “What did I do to deserve this?”
We think that difficulty is always a punishment for doing evil.
And on the flip side, we think that being blessed is sole result of doing
good.
Life just isn’t that simple.
Lesson
Patience and repentance
Yet the truth is that God is being kind and patient with them in order to give them a chance to repent.
(Romans 2:4 NKJV) Or do you
despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing
that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
(2 Peter 3:9 NKJV) The Lord is
not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is
longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should
come to repentance.
The reason God hasn’t brought judgment yet on wicked
people is to give them a chance to repent.
21:17-26 Job: God isn’t fair to the wicked
:17 “How often is the lamp of the wicked put out? How often does
their destruction come upon them, The sorrows God
distributes in His anger?
The next three verses are just much smoother in the NLT:
(Job 21:17–19 NLT)
—17 “Yet the light of the wicked never seems to be extinguished. Do
they ever have trouble? Does God distribute sorrows to them in anger? 18 Are they
driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like
chaff? Not at all! 19 “ ‘Well,’ you
say, ‘at least God will punish their children!’ But I say he should punish the
ones who sin, so that they understand his judgment.
Though the wicked often “get away” with things, Job is wrong because God
doesn’t “skip” them.
The truth is God is patient, but there will be a day of reckoning.
Job is speaking out of his own frustration.
For him, everything seems better for the wicked than it does for him.
Remember when you minister to people going through “Job” types of suffering
that not everything they say will be sweet and pretty.
They are in pain. They are
frustrated.
:18 They are like straw before the wind, And like
chaff that a storm carries away.
This and the previous verse are meant to be rhetorical questions, expecting
a “no” for an answer.
(Job 21:18 NLT) Are they
driven before the wind like straw? Are they carried away by the storm like
chaff? Not at all!
:19 They say, ‘God lays up one’s iniquity for his children’; Let Him
recompense him, that he may know it.
:20 Let his eyes see his destruction, And let him
drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
:21 For what does he care about his household after him, When the number of
his months is cut in half?
Job doesn’t see what good it would be if God punishes the children of the
wicked. After all, after a wicked person
is dead, what would the dead care about what happens to their family?
:22 “Can anyone teach God knowledge, Since He judges those on high?
Job it thinking:
No one can tell God what to do.
He sits far above us in heaven and just does what He wants anyway
(that’s kinda true)
:23 One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and secure;
:24 His pails are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is moist.
:25 Another man dies in the bitterness of his soul, Never
having eaten with pleasure.
:26 They lie down alike in the dust, And worms
cover them.
:26 They lie down alike in the dust
Both the poor and the rich will one day die. Again, Job is sinking in his despair,
thinking of the hopelessness of death.
It’s hard to have a correct perspective on life when all you are looking at
is yourself.
21:27-34 Job: False Comfort
:27 “Look, I know your thoughts, And the schemes with which you
would wrong me.
:28 For you say, ‘Where is the house of the prince? And where is
the tent, The dwelling place of the wicked?’
:29 Have you not asked those who travel the road? And do you not know their
signs?
:28 Where is the house of the prince?
Job is accusing his friends of just picking out the stories that fit their
theology, of wicked people who had hard times.
:29 Have you not asked those who travel the road?
They should be asking people who have travelled and seen a bit more of the
world.
Sometimes I hear pastors criticizing the silliest of things.
Some pastors lead protests against public schools.
Our pastor, Caleb, reaches out and helps the public
schools with at-risk families.
This may be incorrect of me to say this, but the critical guys tend to be
the ones who don’t get out very much.
Our pastor is just finishing up having spent two weeks in Eastern Europe –
helping to organize help for Ukraine, both in helping getting folks out as well
as sending supplies in. This is the kind
of thing he’s done in the past. Six
years ago he was helping Syrian refugees making their
way across Europe while others were afraid of the spread of terrorism.
Video: Play “Ukraine Update”
You will find folks who are willing to “go” to be much
less critical of people’s politics and much more concerned about helping those
in need.
:30 For the wicked are reserved for the day of doom; They shall be brought
out on the day of wrath.
:31 Who condemns his way to his face? And who
repays him for what he has done?
:32 Yet he shall be brought to the grave, And a
vigil kept over the tomb.
:33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him;
Everyone shall follow him, As countless have gone
before him.
:33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet to him
Job wonders who will confront the wicked.
If death is the time when they will pay their debts, all Job can see is
that the wicked man will have a nice death.
It doesn’t seem fair.
Yet we need to keep in mind that when a wicked person dies, we don’t see
what happens after death.
Jesus told a story (I’m not sure it’s a parable. I think it may have been a real story only
Jesus knew about)
(Luke 16:19–24
NKJV) —19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine
linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there
was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s
table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was
carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was
buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in
his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and
send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue;
for I am tormented in this flame.’
This is what the death of the wicked is like.
:34 How then can you comfort me with empty words, Since
falsehood remains in your answers?”
:34 comfort me with empty words
Lesson
Appropriate truth comforts
(keyword!)
We’ve seen Job’s friends speak things that have truth in them.
But they just aren’t true or appropriate for Job.
They have gone through life with these ideas about wickedness and suffering
and have never been challenged to think of the truth of their statements.
(Proverbs 25:11
NLT) Timely advice is lovely, like golden apples in a silver basket.
Pericope Project
How would you title chapter 18?
How would you title chapter 19?
How would you title chapter 20?
How would you title chapter 21?
Mars Hill
Listen to episode #6 of “The Rise And
Fall Of Mars Hill”
“The Brand”
Getting involved in the internet early.
Learning that “aggression” = “hits”
Schuler & TBN took time to develop their large audience, Mark did it
quickly.
Mediums like TV have “gatekeepers”, guys who filter out problematic fellows
– the internet has no gatekeepers
Getting into “ipods”, podcasts, video on the
early side
Early videos, getting Mark to change his choice of clothes
Deciding that messages should be driven by the “text” (series on “Genesis”)
instead of culture (“Superman”, etc)
I LIKE THAT! That’s pure Calvary
Chapel
Adding music scores, 60 people in media department (wow!)
People finding importance
Warning – people need to be plugging into Jesus, not the “abuser” or the
“pastor”
Mark functioning as a “father” to others
That’s kind of okay, but there needs to be caution.
John Piper’s message to Passion 2000 on “sea shells”
“Young Restless Reformed” movement
Joshua Harris
Almost getting close to older pastors through the Gospel Coalition.
Yet he felt like he couldn’t learn from anyone whose church wasn’t as large
as his.
James McDonald – another pastor with a problem, setting the wrong example.
Homework
For this coming week:
Read Job 19-24 in ESV
Memorize Job 19:25-26 (in NKJV)
(Job 19:25–26 NKJV)
—25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall
stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this
I know, That in my flesh I shall see God,
Be ready to recite it in class next week.
Memorize it soon so you can chew on it during the week.
Go to our class’ “test” section
I’d like you to share a prayer request
There will be a quick quiz for you.
Listen to episode #7 of “The Rise And
Fall Of Mars Hill”
“State Of Emergency”
Write a short paragraph summarizing the episode and how it has affected
your spiritual walk.
Keywords
What was the first “keyword” …
a.
Tell Me To My Face
b.
Tell me what I want to hear
c.
Lie to me
What was the second “keyword” …
a.
Appropriate Truth Comforts
b.
Sweet words comfort
c.
Silly jokes comfort
Was there something from today’s lesson that you can apply to your life
TODAY?