Continues his plea with God and we are introduced to his next counsellor – Zophar. He also speaks truth but not in a way that brings Job any comfort.
Job 10: Job Continues: A Plea to God
1 "I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.
3 Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favour the designs of the wicked?
4 Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees?
5 Are your days as the days of man, or your years as a man's years,
6 that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin,
7 although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand?
8 Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether.
9 Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?
10 Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?
11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.
13 Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose.
14 If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I am guilty, woe to me! If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look on my affliction.
16 And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me.
17 You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me.
18 "Why did you bring me out from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me
19 and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer
21 before I go---and I shall not return--- to the land of darkness and deep shadow,
22 the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness."
Job 11: Zophar Speaks: You Deserve Worse
1 Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said:
2 "Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?
3 Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
4 For you say, 'My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God's eyes.'
5 But oh, that God would speak and open his lips to you,
6 and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
7 "Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
8 It is higher than heaven---what can you do? Deeper than Sheol---what can you know?
9 Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
10 If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back?
11 For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
12 But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man!
13 "If you prepare your heart, you will stretch out your hands toward him.
14 If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, and let not injustice dwell in your tents.
15 Surely then you will lift up your face without blemish; you will be secure and will not fear.
16 You will forget your misery; you will remember it as waters that have passed away.
17 And your life will be brighter than the noonday; its darkness will be like the morning.
18 And you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take your rest in security.
19 You will lie down, and none will make you afraid; many will court your favour.
20 But the eyes of the wicked will fail; all way of escape will be lost to them, and their hope is to breathe their last."
Things to think about…
1. Job’s complaint is valid in Job 10:4,5. God is not made of flesh. How could God understand the trial. Jesus perfectly fulfils Jobs complaint coming in the form of frail humanity. Praise God we have a Saviour who knows exactly what it is like to be fully human, framed in weakness and who suffered for righteousness. Jesus got hungry, thirsty, tired and he wept. He knows our weakness, suffering and pain. The epitome of Christ’s ministry of course is expressed through the cross where He suffered and died for our salvation.
2. The whole purpose of Christ arrival, suffering and death was to deal with Job’s complaint in Job 10:6 “you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin”. “He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”, 2 Cor 5:21.
3. The heart of Job in Job 10:16 “And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me.” This is difficult to read considering what Job and others go through under the sovereign hand of the Lord. But we cannot deny that the Lord has put Job in this place. We know the end of his life was blessed, as it will be with all our lives. But when we are in the midst of suffering and there are none to help, and the Lord is withholding blessing, even sustaining the affliction – what can we do except trust that He has a bigger plan that we don’t see as yet. Praise God we know our final end – our Redeemer lives and He lives for us. Our ultimate home is without suffering in heaven.
4. Context is everything! Look at the words of Job’s third counsellor Zophar in Job 11. If you his words at face value outside the context of being directed towards Job,his words are right, true and noble. But when applied within the context of Job’s suffering they are cruel barbs without sympathy. Zophar calls Jobs words babble, Job 11:3. Job’s counsellors were the true spiritual fathers of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Hence the words of Jesus – “practice and observe whatever they tell you---but not what they do”, Mt 23:3. May we never show the same attributes.
5. Zophar’s comment in Job 11:6 “Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves” is particularly cruel considering Job’s great personal loss of children, wealth and health. Lord give us wisdom and grace when we are called to minister to those who are suffering, to show to compassion and understanding of Christ.
6. Job 11:12 “But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey's colt is born a man.” Neither is genetically or spiritually possible. But ain’t it the truth! Some people will never listen to reason or ever hear words of truth. But such was never the case with Job. Job was considered a wise man, Ezek 14:4, and like Solomon who would come after him, everyone far and wide would come to hear his wisdom.
7.
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.
Join us on Wednesday nights as we study practical ways to apply God’s word.
Prayer Points
1. Please pray for Steve Hawkins and Glenys Zawada – Both are recovering well.
2. The conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Praise for the peace of Jesus to reign.
3. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
4. That those who are new to the church are encouraged and settle in well into the church.
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. Pray for our Carols program, Sun 17th Dec. Pray for the names and people that we will be inviting.
7. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for the improved health of Steve Hawkins. He looked great on Sunday.
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.
