Job justifies his position. When we are in the depths of despair and we know the Lord is in complete control, this can be both a blessing but also a challenge. Here Job wrestles with the Lord’s will for him and the trial he is going through.
Job 6: Job Replies: My Complaint Is Just
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!
3 For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.
4 For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.
5 Does the wild donkey bray when he has grass, or the ox low over his fodder?
6 Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow?
7 My appetite refuses to touch them; they are as food that is loathsome to me.
8 "Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope,
9 that it would please God to crush me, that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!
10 This would be my comfort; I would even exult in pain unsparing, for I have not denied the words of the Holy One.
11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?
12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze?
13 Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me?
14 "He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
15 My brothers are treacherous as a torrent-bed, as torrential streams that pass away,
16 which are dark with ice, and where the snow hides itself.
17 When they melt, they disappear; when it is hot, they vanish from their place.
18 The caravans turn aside from their course; they go up into the waste and perish.
19 The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.
20 They are ashamed because they were confident; they come there and are disappointed.
21 For you have now become nothing; you see my calamity and are afraid.
22 Have I said, 'Make me a gift'? Or, 'From your wealth offer a bribe for me'?
23 Or, 'Deliver me from the adversary's hand'? Or, 'Redeem me from the hand of the ruthless'?
24 "Teach me, and I will be silent; make me understand how I have gone astray.
25 How forceful are upright words! But what does reproof from you reprove?
26 Do you think that you can reprove words, when the speech of a despairing man is wind?
27 You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend.
28 "But now, be pleased to look at me, for I will not lie to your face.
29 Please turn; let no injustice be done. Turn now; my vindication is at stake.
30 Is there any injustice on my tongue? Cannot my palate discern the cause of calamity?
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."
Things to think about…
1. Job acknowledges the arrows of pain have ultimately come from the Lord, Job 6:4. But we know Satan was the one who sent the disasters. Is Job correct in saying they came from the Lord? In an ultimate sense we have to say yes. But as we know, just because he ordains the use of evil, does not mean He is the author of evil. Jesus calls Satan “the father (patros) of lies”, John 8:44. As such I don’t think it’s a stretch to say he is the father of evil as well.
2. Job then gives Eliphaz (and the others) advice, Job 6:15ff. He says, “my brothers are treacherous…”. This was a true statement. They lacked empathy, grace and understanding in the face of immense grief and loss. As such their self-righteous counsel is cruel. May it not be named among us. It would have been better if Job’s friends had remained silent for another seven days than offer their clouds of comfort without the rain of restoration. Job then adds “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.”, Job 6:14. We know that Job’s friends would need to be restored to the Lord for their misguided counsel.
3. Job says their counsel is unjust to one who has lost everything and has nothing. As such he says of them “You would even cast lots over the fatherless, and bargain over your friend”, Job 6:27. The Roman soldiers at the foot of the cross echoed this same sentiment as they cast lots for His clothing, Jn 19:24; cf Ps 22:18. Job says they would even take as a slave the fatherless or a friend should they have the opportunity, such is their pitiless counsel. Paul exhorts us to “weep with those who weep”, Rom 12:15. May we have the grace and discernment to do so when the situation calls for it.
4. Poor Job. All you can do is empathise with him more 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 for Job. But at this point he prefers strangling and death, Job 7:15.
5. I have never been at such depths of despair. Have you? Most haven’t, but many do go to this place. Job reasons that if it is sin, he asks why then does God not pardon his transgression, Job 7:21. Good point. No doubt he 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. But we know as difficult as it is, this chapter will close and joy will return.
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. Please invite and pray.
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.
