Eliphaz is given the floor again and continues to pour verbal abuse over Job. Job however focuses on getting an answer from the Lord.
Job 22: Eliphaz Speaks: Job's Wickedness Is Great
1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
2 "Can a man be profitable to God? Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.
3 Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, or is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?
4 Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you and enters into judgment with you?
5 Is not your evil abundant? There is no end to your iniquities.
6 For you have exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing and stripped the naked of their clothing.
7 You have given no water to the weary to drink, and you have withheld bread from the hungry.
8 The man with power possessed the land, and the favored man lived in it.
9 You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed.
10 Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you,
11 or darkness, so that you cannot see, and a flood of water covers you.
12 "Is not God high in the heavens? See the highest stars, how lofty they are!
13 But you say, 'What does God know? Can he judge through the deep darkness?
14 Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see, and he walks on the vault of heaven.'
15 Will you keep to the old way that wicked men have trod?
16 They were snatched away before their time; their foundation was washed away.
17 They said to God, 'Depart from us,' and 'What can the Almighty do to us?'
18 Yet he filled their houses with good things--- but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
19 The righteous see it and are glad; the innocent one mocks at them,
20 saying, 'Surely our adversaries are cut off, and what they left the fire has consumed.'
21 "Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you.
22 Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart.
23 If you return to the Almighty you will be built up; if you remove injustice far from your tents,
24 if you lay gold in the dust, and gold of Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed,
25 then the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver.
26 For then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and lift up your face to God.
27 You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, and you will pay your vows.
28 You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, and light will shine on your ways.
29 For when they are humbled you say, 'It is because of pride'; but he saves the lowly.
30 He delivers even the one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."
Job 23: Job Replies: Where Is God?
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Today also my complaint is bitter; my hand is heavy on account of my groaning.
3 Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would lay my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know what he would answer me and understand what he would say to me.
6 Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; he would pay attention to me.
7 There an upright man could argue with him, and I would be acquitted forever by my judge.
8 "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there, and backward, but I do not perceive him;
9 on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.
10 But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
11 My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside.
12 I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.
13 But he is unchangeable, and who can turn him back? What he desires, that he does.
14 For he will complete what he appoints for me, and many such things are in his mind.
15 Therefore I am terrified at his presence; when I consider, I am in dread of him.
16 God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me;
17 yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, nor because thick darkness covers my face.
Things to think about…
1. Eliphaz says of Job in Job 22:9 “You have sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless were crushed”. This was not true, but Eliphaz justifies his words by saying that Job has clearly done something that has offended God. Has Job offended God, does Eliphaz have a point? Eliphaz’s rebuke of Job is cruel as he character assassinates Job in Job 22:5-11. Job looked after and instructed all who came to him. The Lord alone knows our hearts. We should not receive condemnation from others when it is not the truth. We should certainly not condemn others where there is no evidence to do so.
2. Eliphaz says Job does not have a choice, he must “agree with God, and be at peace” Job 22:21ff. Only then will the Lord bless him. What a curse to hear this when the Lord’s own testimony of Job is that he was “blameless and upright”, Job 1:8; Job 2:3. Let’s never presume that we know a person’s situation and where they are sinning against the Lord
3. The case is building between Job and God. Job in chap 23 sees Job wanting a direct response from the Lord, vss 2-7. He wants a fair hearing. Only God can answer the questions he has. This is still the case for us today. If we have a complaint against God, it is right to take it to Him for answers. The main problem however is that our sin and pride are generally exposed as the sources of our issues. Even so…God is still the answer.
4. We see hope being expressed for the first time in Job’s discourse. Job says in Job 23:10, “when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold”. This is true, not just for Job but for all those who trust in their Redeemer.
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.
Cell groups off over the school holidays.
Prayer Points
1. Pray that the contacts made at carols would continue to join with Christ.
2. Please continue to pray for Glenys Zawada – out of the Wesley Hospital on the 21st Dec. Back for rehab as a day patient in early Jan.
3. The conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. Praise for the peace of Jesus to reign.
4. Mathys has a prayer time at church on Monday afternoons. He would be happy for you to join him and to send prayer requests.
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. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for the carols and the new contacts made.
2. Praise God for all the work that went into carols. Special mentions – Dan Horne – stayed till late packing and unpacking sound equipment, Rosie Dunn – face painting, Nafisah and Krystal Beatty – Sherbet Stall, Band members Jeromy, Mark, Ric, Zac, Josh, Ben, Suzy, Ashley as well as Bec on computer. Great effort everyone. Doug Horne with sound – big effort. Finally to everyone who cooked – Che, Ric, Dan and packed up – thankyou.
3. Praise God Doug has known some relief to his headaches.
4. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Christmas day service, Mon 25th Dec 9:00am.
2. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
3. 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.
