Job asks why there is no justice and evil men seem to prosper. Bildad ignores the question but declares the sovereignty of God.
Job 24:
1 "Why are not times of judgment kept by the Almighty, and why do those who know him never see his days?
2 Some move landmarks; they seize flocks and pasture them.
3 They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; they take the widow's ox for a pledge.
4 They thrust the poor off the road; the poor of the earth all hide themselves.
5 Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert the poor go out to their toil, seeking game; the wasteland yields food for their children.
6 They gather their fodder in the field, and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.
7 They lie all night naked, without clothing, and have no covering in the cold.
8 They are wet with the rain of the mountains and cling to the rock for lack of shelter.
9 (There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, and they take a pledge against the poor.)
10 They go about naked, without clothing; hungry, they carry the sheaves;
11 among the olive rows of the wicked they make oil; they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst.
12 From out of the city the dying groan, and the soul of the wounded cries for help; yet God charges no one with wrong.
13 "There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths.
14 The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief.
15 The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, 'No eye will see me'; and he veils his face.
16 In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light.
17 For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.
18 "You say, 'Swift are they on the face of the waters; their portion is cursed in the land; no treader turns toward their vineyards.
19 Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; so does Sheol those who have sinned.
20 The womb forgets them; the worm finds them sweet; they are no longer remembered, so wickedness is broken like a tree.'
21 "They wrong the barren, childless woman, and do no good to the widow.
22 Yet God prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; they rise up when they despair of life.
23 He gives them security, and they are supported, and his eyes are upon their ways.
24 They are exalted a little while, and then are gone; they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like the heads of grain.
25 If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?"
Job 25: Bildad Speaks: Man Cannot Be Righteous
1 Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said:
2 "Dominion and fear are with God; he makes peace in his high heaven.
3 Is there any number to his armies? Upon whom does his light not arise?
4 How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure?
5 Behold, even the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes;
6 how much less man, who is a maggot, and the son of man, who is a worm!"
Things to think about…
1. Job says he is not the only one who doesn’t receive justice in Job 24. He asks “why do those who know him never see his days?”, Job 24:1. Why is it the case that those who honour the Lord do not always see justice prevail where the Lord Himself intervenes in their circumstance. Perhaps you have a similar question. The only response is that by faith the Lord will do right when He has finished a work in you and the time is complete for the next stage of your walk with Him.
2. Job gives his case from Job 24:2-24 as to how the wicked prosper. In verse 9 he says “There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast”. The horror of today is the child is snatched from the womb by the mother. Surely this is a level of horror that more than matches the evil done in Job’s day.
3. There are some who have their goods taken by evil men and still the Lord does nothing. Job says some even remove landmarks and steal property, Job 25:2. Why do the wicked prosper, is Job’s question. He says “If it is not so, who will prove me a liar and show that there is nothing in what I say?” Job 24:25. This is similar to Ps 73 isn’t it. We know there is one end for all and all will give an account, Heb 9:27.
4. It is encouraging in this short chapter of Job 25 that Bildad does not offer any words of grief towards Job but simply states the truth about the Lord’s sovereignty over His creation. Bildad basically says, God’s will is God’s will. Man cannot be pure and is has not been born pure and as such he cannot argue against the Lord’s will. Bildad asks ‘can man be made right before God?” Job 25,4. Praise God we know he can. By accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour from sin.
5. Bildad states in Job 25:4 “the moon is not bright, and the stars are not pure in his eyes”. The Apostle Paul says that “creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth”, Rom 8:22-24. One day there will be a renewal of the earth in the Millennial reign of Christ. But after this there will be a new heavens and a new earth where there will be no more sin and its effects.
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 who 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.
