Job continues to explain his situation. The poor chap cannot sleep at night. Job’s next mate Bildad starts where Eliphaz finished off. Job clearly needs to repent according to Bildad. Bildad’s time will come.
Job 7: Job Continues: My Life Has No Hope
1 "Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand?
2 Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages,
3 so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.
4 When I lie down I say, 'When shall I arise?' But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn.
5 My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh.
6 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle and come to their end without hope.
7 "Remember that my life is a breath; my eye will never again see good.
8 The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more; while your eyes are on me, I shall be gone.
9 As the cloud fades and vanishes, so he who goes down to Sheol does not come up;
10 he returns no more to his house, nor does his place know him anymore.
11 "Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12 Am I the sea, or a sea monster, that you set a guard over me?
13 When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, my couch will ease my complaint,'
14 then you scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions,
15 so that I would choose strangling and death rather than my bones.
16 I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath.
17 What is man, that you make so much of him, and that you set your heart on him,
18 visit him every morning and test him every moment?
19 How long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit?
20 If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? Why have you made me your mark? Why have I become a burden to you?
21 Why do you not pardon my transgression and take away my iniquity? For now I shall lie in the earth; you will seek me, but I shall not be."
Job 8: Bildad Speaks: Job Should Repent
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 "How long will you say these things, and the words of your mouth be a great wind?
3 Does God pervert justice? Or does the Almighty pervert the right?
4 If your children have sinned against him, he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.
5 If you will seek God and plead with the Almighty for mercy,
6 if you are pure and upright, surely then he will rouse himself for you and restore your rightful habitation.
7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.
8 "For inquire, please, of bygone ages, and consider what the fathers have searched out.
9 For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, for our days on earth are a shadow.
10 Will they not teach you and tell you and utter words out of their understanding?
11 "Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? Can reeds flourish where there is no water?
12 While yet in flower and not cut down, they wither before any other plant.
13 Such are the paths of all who forget God; the hope of the godless shall perish.
14 His confidence is severed, and his trust is a spider's web.
15 He leans against his house, but it does not stand; he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.
16 He is a lush plant before the sun, and his shoots spread over his garden.
17 His roots entwine the stone heap; he looks upon a house of stones.
18 If he is destroyed from his place, then it will deny him, saying, 'I have never seen you.'
19 Behold, this is the joy of his way, and out of the soil others will spring.
20 "Behold, God will not reject a blameless man, nor take the hand of evildoers.
21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter, and your lips with shouting.
22 Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, and the tent of the wicked will be no more."
Things to think about…
Poor Job. All you can do is empathise as you read Job 7. The poor fellow does not find comfort even in bed, he gets no rest. When we are in such despair even hope is gone. Job says in Job 7:7 “my eye will never again see good”. We know that this was ultimately not true. But at this point he prefers strangling and death, Job 7:15. I have never been at such depths of despair. Have you? Most haven’t. Job reasons that if it is sin, why does God not pardon his transgression, Job 7:21. Good point. He no doubt had asked for forgiveness if this was the case. But the suffering continues. Some suffering is not a direct result of sin as we know from John 9 and the man who was born blind – it happens for God’s glory. But while we are in the midst of the suffering it is all but impossible to praise God in the fire.
Bildad begins his assault in Job 8. What you will notice with all Job’s cutting counsellors is that they are 100% right from a scriptural perspective regarding God. This truth is tragically misapplied of course. Bildad is right in Job 8:3, that God does not pervert justice, but Bildad is implying that Job’s suffering is as a result of the justice of God. We must be very careful in our counsel. Get all the facts and understand the heart and the situation before offering any advice. Paul put it well “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall”. 1Cor 10:12
What a cruel barb Bidad throws at Job in Job 8:4. He is saying Job’s children had sinned and therefore God gave them their just rewards. In their case, death in a day. Where there is such a blatant lack of sympathy or empathy one wonders whether these counsellors can be a true worshippers of the Lord. Yet how many times have we been hurt by the words or actions of other Christians. May we check our spirits and consider the context of any given situation before we offer any words of counsel or advice.
Bildad’s counsel is plainly cruel. Does Bildad think for a minute that Job would not have carried out Job 8:5&6, I.E that he would seek God with a pure heart that the Lord would restore Job. Bildad knew Job’s character, that’s why he came to visit him in the first place. Let’s love people the way we truly know them in Christ. Never think evil of anyone – what a disgrace it is when it happens in the church.
What do you think of what Bildad says in Job 8:20-22? Is it true? Well yes it is. But clearly Job is not living out the prosperity gospel reality at this present moment. To be blunt, sometimes life sucks at a fairly major level. Is God in control? Yes. Does He have a plan? Yes. But that does not deny that pain and suffering are sometimes a part of it. Remember we will all experience the valley of the shadow of death one day. We are also called to suffer with Christ and endure even to the spilling of blood if required. Many in Iraq and Syria had to suffer the reality of this choice for their faith. Many are doing so right now in North Korea and China – and the media aren’t there covering the suffering that has gone on for decades. Let’s never judge those who are suffering with our own misapplied truth. I trust you know what I mean here. Let’s continue to pray for the persecuted church.
Vision Point for Cell groups
CBC's Vision "To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission".
Cell group questions from Sunday morning’s sermon “Done decently and in order” Ex 37.
1. We see much rebellion to God’s order in the world. The BLM movement and riots in America. We have also experienced the same in Australia. These 2 countries were established with the gospel. The ancient Israelites were no different in setting up the gold calf even though they were the Lord’s people and had experienced such a mighty deliverance from God’s hand from Egypt. Discuss.
2. The ancient Israelis were restricted morally through the ordered structure and worship with the tabernacle and it’s furnishings. Jay said on Sunday that you cannot legislate morality. Do you agree?
3. The Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Showbread, the Lampstand and the Altar of Incense all have spiritual significance and are in some way reflected in the ministry of Christ, or the church or Christians. Discuss how this is so and what the original furnishings were used for.
4. The cry of the world is for the freedom to do what it wants when it wants. But perfect freedom is found in Christ, John 8:32. How is this so and how is it maintained through the spiritual disciplines? Discuss what some of these are.
5. Christians can only be effective in the Great Commission if they have a good understanding of Christ and His word. Pray for each other that you grow in your knowing of the scriptures and are given the grace and boldness to share your faith. Pray for the things listed in the prayer points.
Prayer Points
1. Zac’s dad, Mark Torrington still in a Coma. Pray as he undergoes a lumber puncture operation and his subsequent recovery. Pray for recovery and more time with family.
2. Gary and Christine said goodbye to their sister/sister in law Diane to a long battle with cancer. Pray for Diane’s husband, Evan that his heart softens to Christ.
3. Pray for those who are struggling with health issues in the church.
4. People who have visited the church that they settle in.
4. Others who are struggling in their commitment to Christ and relationship strain/choices.
5. Sunday’s messages. The message this week – “Who needs enemies” Job 3-10, Jay.
7. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
8. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors on Sunday.
2. Our worship team on Sunday – thanks Dan, Suzanne, Zac and Jean.
3. Molly and Katelyn did a great job with visuals and streaming.
4. Young Life will be using our facilities on Friday afternoons. Zach Lipp heading this up.
5. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
6. Praise God for all those who serve at CBC. Thanks again to Helen, Angelo, Catherine, Yuki, Doug, Maddison and many others who go about making CBC an amazing place to worship.
Announcements
1. Carols Sun 20thDec 6pm. Start with a meal. Carols to start after the meal around 7pm.
2. AGM – 16th November after the morning service. Open for all.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Kids Church activity sheets provided – either in the house or church.
