Job is bombarded by Bildad, but we see light and hope as Job declares “My Redeemer lives”.
Job 18: Bildad Speaks: God Punishes the Wicked
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 "How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we will speak.
3 Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight?
4 You who tear yourself in your anger, shall the earth be forsaken for you, or the rock be removed out of its place?
5 "Indeed, the light of the wicked is put out, and the flame of his fire does not shine.
6 The light is dark in his tent, and his lamp above him is put out.
7 His strong steps are shortened, and his own schemes throw him down.
8 For he is cast into a net by his own feet, and he walks on its mesh.
9 A trap seizes him by the heel; a snare lays hold of him.
10 A rope is hidden for him in the ground, a trap for him in the path.
11 Terrors frighten him on every side, and chase him at his heels.
12 His strength is famished, and calamity is ready for his stumbling.
13 It consumes the parts of his skin; the firstborn of death consumes his limbs.
14 He is torn from the tent in which he trusted and is brought to the king of terrors.
15 In his tent dwells that which is none of his; sulphur is scattered over his habitation.
16 His roots dry up beneath, and his branches wither above.
17 His memory perishes from the earth, and he has no name in the street.
18 He is thrust from light into darkness, and driven out of the world.
19 He has no posterity or progeny among his people, and no survivor where he used to live.
20 They of the west are appalled at his day, and horror seizes them of the east.
21 Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, such is the place of him who knows not God."
Job 19: Job Replies: My Redeemer Lives
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?
3 These ten times you have cast reproach upon me; are you not ashamed to wrong me?
4 And even if it be true that I have erred, my error remains with myself.
5 If indeed you magnify yourselves against me and make my disgrace an argument against me,
6 know then that God has put me in the wrong and closed his net about me.
7 Behold, I cry out, 'Violence!' but I am not answered; I call for help, but there is no justice.
8 He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, and he has set darkness upon my paths.
9 He has stripped from me my glory and taken the crown from my head.
10 He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone, and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
11 He has kindled his wrath against me and counts me as his adversary.
12 His troops come on together; they have cast up their siege ramp against me and encamp around my tent.
13 "He has put my brothers far from me, and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
14 My relatives have failed me, my close friends have forgotten me.
15 The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; I have become a foreigner in their eyes.
16 I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.
17 My breath is strange to my wife, and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.
18 Even young children despise me; when I rise they talk against me.
19 All my intimate friends abhor me, and those whom I loved have turned against me.
20 My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
21 Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has touched me!
22 Why do you, like God, pursue me? Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?
23 "Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
24 Oh that with an iron pen and lead they were engraved in the rock forever!
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,
27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!
28 If you say, 'How we will pursue him!' and, 'The root of the matter is found in him,'
29 be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment."
Things to think about…
1. Bildad attacks Job’s words towards them, he says in Job 18:2,3, “"How long will you hunt for words? Consider, and then we will speak. Why are we counted as cattle? Why are we stupid in your sight?”. Bildad then continues to affirm that calamity comes upon the wicked, vs 5 and that their lamp (light of life) is put out, vs 6. Not only this, Bildad also refers to Job’s night terrors and sores, vss 11-14 as a result of Job’s wickedness. While the Lord disciplines those whom He loves, Heb 12:6, this was not the case for Job having already been declared righteous by the Lord. The writer to the Hebrews even after a period discipline for believers is this, “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees”, Heb 12:12. May we be encouragers and “to set at liberty those who are oppressed”, even as the Lord Jesus did, Luke 4:18.
2. In Job 18:16-18 there are three critical verses that describe how Job is considered by Bildad “His roots dry up…his branches wither”, vs 16, “His memory perishes…he has no name”, vs 17 and “He is thrust from light”, vs 18 and “He has no posterity or progeny”, vs 19. Such a pointed barrage of assaults from a close friend can only be called abuse. Praise God our Lord says “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”, Deut 31:6; Heb 13:5.
3. Job is reminded by Bildad that, “no posterity or progeny among his people, and no survivor where he used to live”, Job 18:19. A particularly cruel barb reminding Job of the cruel loss of his children. Is it little wonder these men were required to repent and offer sacrifices for restitution because the Lord’s anger burned towards them, Job 42:7-9.
4. Consider the horror of Bildad’s counsel in Job 18. The cruellest barb is left to the end “such is the place of him who knows not God”, vs 19. Wow! When people are so critical of other Christians to the point where they say ‘You are not saved’ mercy, grace, love and understanding end! May it never be so at CBC.
5. Poor Job, look at him. He is skin and bone, Job 19:20, his brothers mock him, vss13, 17, his servants do not respond, vs16, his nephews and nieces despise him, vs 17, young children despise him, vs 18, his wife finds him offensive, vs17. In all of this he pleads with his friends to have mercy on him, vs 21. How cruel it is to shut our hearts to those who are crying out in pain and anguish. Who are those in such a condition who live near you who are suffering under the weight of abuse, neglect, drugs, divorce or violence. Let’s turn our ears on and hear their cries for mercy and provide it ‘in Jesus name’.
6. Job’s situation is so bad and worthy of declaration that he says “Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!”, Job19:23. His words have been written and were inscribed in God’s book, forever. All our cries are heard by the Lord. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it but God hears even the innermost cry of the heart. We are of such value to Him that we are inscribed on His hands and heart through the cross.
7. “my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth”, Job19:25, is a cry of faith and truth even in the midst of the fires of suffering. May we proclaim the same when we are put in a similar place. He says “in my flesh, I shall see God”, vs 26. We know that we cannot see God in the flesh and live. Job knows there will be a glorious change in him. Jesus is our Redeemer who came in the flesh and one day we will see Him in the flesh with our glorious, redeemed bodies – on the earth!
8. Job gives a warning to his friends that the Lord will require an account of them for their words and witness. Job says, Job 19:29 “be afraid of the sword, for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, that you may know there is a judgment." The Lord indeed angry with them and without Job’s prayer and intercession for his friends the Lord’s anger would have been revealed.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Cell groups off over the school holidays.
Prayer Points
1. Pray that the many invites given out are blessed this week with our carols.
2. Please pray for Steve Hawkins and Glenys Zawada – Both are recovering well.
3. The conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Praise for the peace of Jesus to reign.
4. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
5. That we be bold in our witnessing for Christ. Pray for a heart to see those around you to be saved. Pray for the blessing over the new pastoral care and hosting program.
6. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise god for all the invites that have gone out for carols.
2. Praise God for our Kidz@church program this year. Thankyou to Rosie and all the leaders.
3. Praise God for new folk, pray they can settle into the church.
4. Continue to be blessed in our Wed mid-week meeting.
5. Good ministry after the service. Continue to pray for this blessing to increase.
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Carols starting in the afternoon from 4pm Sunday 17th Dec. Please invite and pray.
2. Christmas day service, Mon 25th Dec 9:00am.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for December...
Q. 15. Who wrote the Bible? A. Holy men who were taught by the Holy Spirit.
