We go back to the book and character of Job. This man has much to show us regarding grace through trial.
Job 4: Eliphaz Speaks: The Innocent Prosper
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 "If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?
3 Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.
4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.
5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.
6 Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
7 "Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?
8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.
9 By the breath of God they perish, and by the blast of his anger they are consumed.
10 The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, the teeth of the young lions are broken.
11 The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of the lioness are scattered.
12 "Now a word was brought to me stealthily; my ear received the whisper of it.
13 Amid thoughts from visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on men,
14 dread came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones shake.
15 A spirit glided past my face; the hair of my flesh stood up.
16 It stood still, but I could not discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes; there was silence, then I heard a voice:
17 'Can mortal man be in the right before God? Can a man be pure before his Maker?
18 Even in his servants he puts no trust, and his angels he charges with error;
19 how much more those who dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, who are crushed like the moth.
20 Between morning and evening they are beaten to pieces; they perish forever without anyone regarding it.
21 Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them, do they not die, and that without wisdom?'
Job 5:
1 "Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?
2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.
3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.
4 His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.
5 The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.
6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground,
7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.
8 "As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause,
9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:
10 he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;
11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.
13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.
15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.
17 "Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.
18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.
19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.
20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.
21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.
22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.
23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.
24 You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.
25 You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth.
26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.
27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good."
Things to think about…
1. And now the dreadful counsel begins from Job's so-called friends. The first cutting counsel from Eliphaz, Job 4. Note that everything he says (and his friends after him) is absolutely true. The issue is that the counsel is misapplied because it is not mixed with the spirit of understanding and compassion. In the same way we can be like this and slay with the sword of truth. It’s all truth, just misapplied. The Pharisees spoke truth. But it was misapplied. This is why Jeus said “Do what they say, but not what they do”, Mt 23:3. Truth needs an appropriate timing and context to be delivered as well. Jesus withheld truth at times for this very reason – we are not able to bear it, Jn 16:12. Pray for the discernment to know when to reveal truth and how to rightly apply it. Remember we are required to worship in “Spirit and truth’. We cannot have one without the other. As Solomon once said, "There is a time to speak and a time to refrain", Eccl 5:1, 2.
2. Eliphaz claims to have heard from ‘a spirit’, 4:15. Yes, he did, we know he was later rebuked for his counsel. Just because it is truth, does not mean you are hearing from God. Test the spirits, get counsel, then act.
3. Eliphaz’s tirade continues against Job. He calls him a fool, Job 5:2 and his children were far from safety, vs 4 – “crushed at the gate, none to deliver them”. Can you imagine how this counsel would have felt for a man crushed with the recent loss of his children. Their death was as a result of the house collapsing in on them, the logic from Eliphaz is - surely God wanted them dead. Eliphaz’s logic is that Job must have not been morally upright before the Lord. Understanding how people are feeling when they are under such grief I am sure is a gift from God. Sadly, very few possess this gift. May it not be so with us.
4. Self-righteous justification is the salt in the wound. Eliphaz says if he were in Job’s position he would “seek God, and to God would I commit my cause.”, Job 5:8. Job by God’s testimony was that “there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil”, Job 1:8. If God had declared Job such, surely Eliphaz was ignorant, even wicked in his counsel. We are made righteous through Christ. Let’s act with that identity.
5. Eliphaz speaks some marvellous truth in Job 5:15-27. Much of this is true for faithful believers and a great comfort. But the sad truth is that it is all misapplied with respect to Job. As a result, such words were cruel.
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. Mid week topical teaching every Wednesday night – 6:30pm at church.
2. Carols starting in the afternoon from 4pm Sunday 17th Dec.
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.
