Job’s enemies of the past who were outcasts are now among those who rise up and speak against him. Another cruel blow that only adds to his affliction.
Job 30:
1 "But now they laugh at me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
2 What could I gain from the strength of their hands, men whose vigour is gone?
3 Through want and hard hunger they gnaw the dry ground by night in waste and desolation;
4 they pick saltwort and the leaves of bushes, and the roots of the broom tree for their food.
5 They are driven out from human company; they shout after them as after a thief.
6 In the gullies of the torrents they must dwell, in holes of the earth and of the rocks.
7 Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they huddle together.
8 A senseless, a nameless brood, they have been whipped out of the land.
9 "And now I have become their song; I am a byword to them.
10 They abhor me; they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me.
11 Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.
12 On my right hand the rabble rise; they push away my feet; they cast up against me their ways of destruction.
13 They break up my path; they promote my calamity; they need no one to help them.
14 As through a wide breach they come; amid the crash they roll on.
15 Terrors are turned upon me; my honour is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.
16 "And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me.
17 The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest.
18 With great force my garment is disfigured; it binds me about like the collar of my tunic.
19 God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.
20 I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me.
21 You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me.
22 You lift me up on the wind; you make me ride on it, and you toss me about in the roar of the storm.
23 For I know that you will bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living.
24 "Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, and in his disaster cry for help?
25 Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?
26 But when I hoped for good, evil came, and when I waited for light, darkness came.
27 My inward parts are in turmoil and never still; days of affliction come to meet me.
28 I go about darkened, but not by the sun; I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.
29 I am a brother of jackals and a companion of ostriches.
30 My skin turns black and falls from me, and my bones burn with heat.
31 My lyre is turned to mourning, and my pipe to the voice of those who weep.
Job 31: Job's Final Appeal
1 "I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?
2 What would be my portion from God above and my heritage from the Almighty on high?
3 Is not calamity for the unrighteous, and disaster for the workers of iniquity?
4 Does not he see my ways and number all my steps?
5 "If I have walked with falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;
6 (Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!)
7 if my step has turned aside from the way and my heart has gone after my eyes, and if any spot has stuck to my hands,
8 then let me sow, and another eat, and let what grows for me be rooted out.
9 "If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, and I have lain in wait at my neighbour's door,
10 then let my wife grind for another, and let others bow down on her.
11 For that would be a heinous crime; that would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges;
12 for that would be a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon, and it would burn to the root all my increase.
13 "If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, when they brought a complaint against me,
14 what then shall I do when God rises up? When he makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?
15 Did not he who made me in the womb make him? And did not one fashion us in the womb?
16 "If I have withheld anything that the poor desired, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
17 or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless has not eaten of it
18 (for from my youth the fatherless grew up with me as with a father, and from my mother's womb I guided the widow),
19 if I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the needy without covering,
20 if his body has not blessed me, and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,
21 if I have raised my hand against the fatherless, because I saw my help in the gate,
22 then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, and let my arm be broken from its socket.
23 For I was in terror of calamity from God, and I could not have faced his majesty.
24 "If I have made gold my trust or called fine gold my confidence,
25 if I have rejoiced because my wealth was abundant or because my hand had found much,
26 if I have looked at the sun when it shone, or the moon moving in splendor,
27 and my heart has been secretly enticed, and my mouth has kissed my hand,
28 this also would be an iniquity to be punished by the judges, for I would have been false to God above.
29 "If I have rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, or exulted when evil overtook him
30 (I have not let my mouth sin by asking for his life with a curse),
31 if the men of my tent have not said, 'Who is there that has not been filled with his meat?'
32 (the sojourner has not lodged in the street; I have opened my doors to the traveler),
33 if I have concealed my transgressions as others do by hiding my iniquity in my bosom,
34 because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors---
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary!
36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown;
37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.
38 "If my land has cried out against me and its furrows have wept together,
39 if I have eaten its yield without payment and made its owners breathe their last,
40 let thorns grow instead of wheat, and foul weeds instead of barley." The words of Job are ended.
Things to think about…
1. Sheep dogs were used around 4000 years ago, Job 30:1. Just interesting I thought. As Solomon says, “there is nothing new under the sun”, Eccl 1:9. We certainly value the working dogs here in Australia for our sheep and cattle industries.
2. Job in 30:1-14 speaks of men who were considered the village idiots and evil, those that were cast out from society and who lived among the rocks and shrubs now rise up and speak against Job. More insult to injury. When those who are truly evil and are tormented by demonic oppression speak against you, this only adds to the physical pain and the rejection by friends and family. No wonder depression had set into Job. May we seek out those in our churches who are hurting and feeling lost and under attack by those who are under the influence of Satan.
3. What a grief it is when your body is in so much pain that even sleep flees, Job 30:17, 18. Job has mentioned this earlier, Job 7:4, 13, 14. His garments are soaked with blood and puss that they cling to him. Imagine your body constantly being tormented by open wounds. In Job 30:19-22 Job says God is the afflicter. He says the God has been cruel to him, vs 21 and does not answer his prayer, vs 20. We all feel this at times. Faith trusts in the final deliverance over all suffering.
4. Job acknowledges that everyone will die, Job 30:23, yet even while we live in pain Job says “does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, and in his disaster cry for help?”, vs 24. Life is miserable when covered in unbearable pain. We have some idea what hell is like from our Lord’s description in Luke 16 with the condition of the rich man, but Job acknowledges a life on earth in pain is still unbearable and worthy of relief and comfort. May our Lord give us the strength, grace and compassion to help those afflicted with pain, whatever form it takes.
5. Consider how Job describes his body, Job 30:27-30. His skin is black and peeling because of fever and infection. Pray for those that are suffering in such a way in our hospitals, palliative and aged care facilities. We thank God for modern medical advances but the Lord is the primary healer in the body.
6. Remember his wife’s response of ‘curse God and die’, yet here we see Job has made a covenant with his eyes, not to look upon a young woman to lust, Job 31:1. This displays true integrity before the Lord. He even says if his heart has not been right let ‘another man go down on her’, Job 31:9,10. Wow! Could you ever say this men of CBC? May we have hearts that are upright before our God.
7. Job says in Job 31:15-21 if he has mistreated a servant or not looked after the fatherless then let his shoulder fall from his shoulder blade, vs 22. Some may have considered Job previous words and thought – gee it’s getting close Job. But Job is saying he has honoured God even in the everyday care for those under his charge.
8. Job did not trust in his previous wealth, Job 31:25 or thought he did things in his own strength, vs 27. He says in all of this ‘let thorns grow instead of wheat…weeds instead of barley’, vs 40 if it has been the case. He asksthat genetics change their course. Again, could we say such statements? It reminds me of Paul’s heart who preferred to be cut off from Christ so his countrymen, fellow Jews, may know Christ, Rom 9:3. May we have such integrity before the Lord.
9. Job’s discourse with his friends has ended, Job 31:40. Eventually there is nothing else to say. Two sides after much discourse may never agree. Sometimes words need to end and that is all the peace that is possible. Job has not heard from the final younger man Elihu yet. His words have a different tone. Job has also not heard from the Lord at this stage, the One who silences every tongue.
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 contacts made at carols would continue to join with Christ.
2. Please continue to pray for Glenys Zawada – out of the Wesley Hospital on the 21st Dec. Back for rehab as a day patient in early Jan.
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 the carols and the new contacts made.
2. Praise God for all the work that went into carols. Special mentions – Dan Horne – stayed till late packing and unpacking sound equipment, Rosie Dunn – face painting, Nafisah and Krystal Beatty – Sherbet Stall, Band members Jeromy, Mark, Ric, Zac, Josh, Ben, Suzy, Ashley as well as Bec on computer. Great effort everyone. Doug Horne with sound – big effort. Finally to everyone who cooked – Che, Ric, Dan and who packed up – thankyou.
3. Praise God Doug has known some relief to his headaches.
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Christmas day service, Mon 25th Dec 9:00am.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
3. 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.
