The cycle begins again with Job’s counsellors as we return to Eliphaz who believes that Job does not fear the Lord. But Job even through his tears and pain has a witness in heaven.
Job 15: Eliphaz Accuses: Job Does Not Fear God
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 "Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind?
3 Should he argue in unprofitable talk, or in words with which he can do no good?
4 But you are doing away with the fear of God and hindering meditation before God.
5 For your of iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue the crafty.
6 Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; your own lips testify against you.
7 "Are you the first man who was born? Or were you brought forth before the hills?
8 Have you listened in the council of God? And do you limit wisdom to yourself?
9 What do you know that we do not know? What do you understand that is not clear to us?
10 Both the gray-haired and the aged are among us, older than your father.
11 Are the comforts of God too small for you, or the word that deals gently with you?
12 Why does your heart carry you away, and why do your eyes flash,
13 that you turn your spirit against God and bring such words out of your mouth?
14 What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?
15 Behold, God puts no trust in his holy ones, and the heavens are not pure in his sight;
16 how much less one who is abominable and corrupt, a man who drinks injustice like water!
17 "I will show you; hear me, and what I have seen I will declare
18 (what wise men have told, without hiding it from their fathers,
19 to whom alone the land was given, and no stranger passed among them).
20 The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, through all the years that are laid up for the ruthless.
21 Dreadful sounds are in his ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.
22 He does not believe that he will return out of darkness, and he is marked for the sword.
23 He wanders abroad for bread, saying, 'Where is it?' He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand;
24 distress and anguish terrify him; they prevail against him, like a king ready for battle.
25 Because he has stretched out his hand against God and defies the Almighty,
26 running stubbornly against him with a thickly bossed shield;
27 because he has covered his face with his fat and gathered fat upon his waist
28 and has lived in desolate cities, in houses that none should inhabit, which were ready to become heaps of ruins;
29 he will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure, nor will his possessions spread over the earth;
30 he will not depart from darkness; the flame will dry up his shoots, and by the breath of his mouth he will depart.
31 Let him not trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, for emptiness will be his payment.
32 It will be paid in full before his time, and his branch will not be green.
33 He will shake off his unripe grape like the vine, and cast off his blossom like the olive tree.
34 For the company of the godless is barren, and fire consumes the tents of bribery.
35 They conceive trouble and give birth to evil, and their womb prepares deceit."
Job 16: Job Replies: Miserable Comforters Are You
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "I have heard many such things; miserable comforters are you all.
3 Shall windy words have an end? Or what provokes you that you answer?
4 I also could speak as you do, if you were in my place; I could join words together against you and shake my head at you.
5 I could strengthen you with my mouth, and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain.
6 "If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?
7 Surely now God has worn me out; he has made desolate all my company.
8 And he has shrivelled me up, which is a witness against me, and my leanness has risen up against me; it testifies to my face.
9 He has torn me in his wrath and hated me; he has gnashed his teeth at me; my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.
10 Men have gaped at me with their mouth; they have struck me insolently on the cheek; they mass themselves together against me.
11 God gives me up to the ungodly and casts me into the hands of the wicked.
12 I was at ease, and he broke me apart; he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; he set me up as his target;
13 his archers surround me. He slashes open my kidneys and does not spare; he pours out my gall on the ground.
14 He breaks me with breach upon breach; he runs upon me like a warrior.
15 I have sewed sackcloth upon my skin and have laid my strength in the dust.
16 My face is red with weeping, and on my eyelids is deep darkness,
17 although there is no violence in my hands, and my prayer is pure.
18 "O earth, cover not my blood, and let my cry find no resting place.
19 Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and he who testifies for me is on high.
20 My friends scorn me; my eye pours out tears to God,
21 that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbour.
22 For when a few years have come I shall go the way from which I shall not return.
Things to think about…
Eliphaz’s counsel to Job in Job 15:7,8 is very similar to the Lord’s rebuke to Job in Job 38:1-5. The only difference was the spirit of address between the two. Eliphaz says of Job “iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue the crafty”, Job 15:5, whereas the Lord had called Job “blameless and upright”, Job 1:1,8. When we instruct others we should never presume the heart motivation of our hearers. Often behavior and outworking of the way we communicate needs to be addressed, but the heart can still desire what is right even when the outward expression does not seem to match the desire.
Just because you are older does not mean you are wiser. Eliphaz makes the comment that some of the men giving Job counsel are older than his father, Job15:10. Unfortunately wisdom does not necessarily come with age and godly wisdom only comes via the Spirit of God. The Psalmist – possibly David, in Ps 119:99 says “I have grown wiser than all my teachers”. May we all, young or old attain such wisdom that only comes from the Lord.
Think about what Eliphaz says in Job 15:20, 21 and how these words would have crushed Job. How did this man bear up to such self-righteous mocking? These most cruel words come from one considered a friend, Ps 55:12. The godless wounds from someone considered a friend cut the deepest. May such evil not be named among us. If it occurs, may we have the grace to repent and ask for forgiveness.
And yet…all that Eliphaz says is 100% correct. We can believe and trust these words for ourselves as wisdom from God. The words are simply misapplied. Truth can hurt rather than heal. We need the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to discern how and when to speak the truth. Clearly it must always be done in love, Eph 4:15.
Job’s response to this continual attack, “Miserable comforters are you all”, Job 16:1. True. Job says they are the ones with windy words – I think he is using more sarcasm hear. Their words stink, if you get the drift (no pun intended).
Job says he would comfort their pain with his words if the situation was reversed, Job 16:5. We know Job did this before his suffering for others. Sometimes going through deep waters gives us empathy and a compassion that would not have otherwise been there.
Job has even been beaten as part of his ordeal, Job16:9-11. This man truly is an incredible example of suffering as imposed by the hand of God and the abuse of man. Such abuse is also a prophetic type that points to the abuse our Lord had suffered on our behalf prior to His crucifixion, Mt 26:67, 68; John 18:22.
Job’s witness is in heaven – not just by the Lord, but his children who could testify that Job was faithful, Job16:19. Jesus is our witness before the Father in heaven on our behalf. More prophesy of the coming Mediator, Jesus, is seen in Job 19-21.
In Job 16:21, Job says “that he would argue the case of a man with God, as a son of man does with his neighbour”. This is exactly what Jesus does for us as He intercedes even now on our behalf. Jesus is our perfect witness in heaven – hallelujah!
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 “Who needs enemies” Job 4.
1. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt that you didn’t have any friends. Jay shared being picked last in his “Continuous Cricket” example. Often these situations happen as we grow up, but not always. Discuss.
2. Some of the words directed towards Job by Eliphaz in Job 4 were true, but misapplied. Discuss some examples.
3. Job calls God his accuser, Job 9:13, and he cries out for an arbitrator between him and the Lord, Job 9:32, 33. Have you ever felt like the Lord was being unjust to you?
4. In Job 19:25 Job testifies that he knows his Redeemer lives and that He will one day stand on the earth. Paul says to Timothy ““For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all” 1Tim 2:5,6. Discuss the meaning of this verse and how it has applied to you in the highs and lows of life.
5. Prayer and praise points below.
Prayer Points
1. Zac’s dad, Mark Torrington responding well to treatment. Lumber puncture not required. He is off oxygen and responding. Not out of woods. Pray against infection.
2.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 Rod, Molly, Riley, Dan. Sounded amazing.
3. Rin did a great job with visuals and streaming.
4. Young Life will be using our facilities on Friday afternoons. Zach Lipp heading this up. Contact Jay for more details.
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.
