Job says there is no arbiter between him and the Lord. Praise God we know we have One in heaven now – our Lord Jesus Christ.
Job 9: Job Replies: There Is No Arbiter
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?
3 If one wished to contend with him, one could not answer him once in a thousand times.
4 He is wise in heart and mighty in strength ---who has hardened himself against him, and succeeded?---
5 he who removes mountains, and they know it not, when he overturns them in his anger,
6 who shakes the earth out of its place, and its pillars tremble;
7 who commands the sun, and it does not rise; who seals up the stars;
8 who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea;
9 who made the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the chambers of the south;
10 who does great things beyond searching out, and marvellous things beyond number.
11 Behold, he passes by me, and I see him not; he moves on, but I do not perceive him.
12 Behold, he snatches away; who can turn him back? Who will say to him, 'What are you doing?'
13 "God will not turn back his anger; beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab.
14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?
15 Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; I must appeal for mercy to my accuser.
16 If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
17 For he crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause;
18 he will not let me get my breath, but fills me with bitterness.
19 If it is a contest of strength, behold, he is mighty! If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?
20 Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me; though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.
21 I am blameless; I regard not myself; I loathe my life.
22 It is all one; therefore I say, He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.
23 When disaster brings sudden death, he mocks at the calamity of the innocent.
24 The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges--- if it is not he, who then is it?
25 "My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good.
26 They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.
27 If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,'
28 I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29 I shall be condemned; why then do I labour in vain?
30 If I wash myself with snow and cleanse my hands with lye,
31 yet you will plunge me into a pit, and my own clothes will abhor me.
32 For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, that we should come to trial together.
33 There is no arbiter between us, who might lay his hand on us both.
34 Let him take his rod away from me, and let not dread of him terrify me.
35 Then I would speak without fear of him, for I am not so in myself.
Job 10: Job Continues: A Plea to God
1 "I loathe my life; I will give free utterance to my complaint; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
2 I will say to God, Do not condemn me; let me know why you contend against me.
3 Does it seem good to you to oppress, to despise the work of your hands and favour the designs of the wicked?
4 Have you eyes of flesh? Do you see as man sees?
5 Are your days as the days of man, or your years as a man's years,
6 that you seek out my iniquity and search for my sin,
7 although you know that I am not guilty, and there is none to deliver out of your hand?
8 Your hands fashioned and made me, and now you have destroyed me altogether.
9 Remember that you have made me like clay; and will you return me to the dust?
10 Did you not pour me out like milk and curdle me like cheese?
11 You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.
12 You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit.
13 Yet these things you hid in your heart; I know that this was your purpose.
14 If I sin, you watch me and do not acquit me of my iniquity.
15 If I am guilty, woe to me! If I am in the right, I cannot lift up my head, for I am filled with disgrace and look on my affliction.
16 And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me.
17 You renew your witnesses against me and increase your vexation toward me; you bring fresh troops against me.
18 "Why did you bring me out from the womb? Would that I had died before any eye had seen me
19 and were as though I had not been, carried from the womb to the grave.
20 Are not my days few? Then cease, and leave me alone, that I may find a little cheer
21 before I go---and I shall not return--- to the land of darkness and deep shadow,
22 the land of gloom like thick darkness, like deep shadow without any order, where light is as thick darkness."
Things to think about…
Job is likely to have been a book written around the time of the Patriarchs – E.g Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Job is the family priest who prayed for his family remember, so there was no nation of Israel. Job died at age 140, so more likely he was living around the time of Isaac. Job was not a savage or caveman. Look at Job 9:9 – he speaks about the constellations. This is ancient wisdom and we still have much to learn from their writings. After all – there is nothing new under the sun.
Does anyone know who Rahab is Job 9:13. Not the woman from Jericho, so who? The verse “beneath him bowed the helpers of Rahab” likely means the ‘helpers of pride’. The ancient meaning of Rahab. Job was written before the time of Joshua’s deliverance of Rahab. Here Job is saying God humbles the proud and those who help them. His concern is that the Lord is not helping him – a man who has been humbled.
Job says he is blameless, Job 9:21 with no one to help him. Is this true? Place yourself in Job’s shoes. His friends are letting him down and the Lord has ordained his affliction. May we be ministers of grace when we see or know that people suffering in any way. This is what it is to be Christ’s ministers of grace.
Self-help and putting on a brave face does not last. Eventually we must acknowledge the truth of our situation. Job tried having just a positive attitude in the midst of his suffering, in Job 9:26, 27 – he says “If I say, 'I will forget my complaint, I will put off my sad face, and be of good cheer,' I become afraid of all my suffering, for I know you will not hold me innocent.” A positive attitude in this case was of no benefit. Reality is reality. But suffering as with all seasons, will pass.
Look at Job 9:32, 33. These verses are perfectly fulfilled in Christ who became human, like us; who understands our weaknesses and is an arbiter for us. Job eventually understands this as we shall see later in Job 19.
Christ perfectly fulfils Jobs complaint in Job 10. Especially vss 3-7. Praise God we have a Saviour who knows exactly what it is like to be fully human, framed in weakness and who suffered for righteousness. Jesus got hungry, thirsty, tired and he wept. He knows our weakness, suffering and pain. The epitome of Christ’s ministry of course is expressed through the cross where He suffered and died for our salvation.
The heart of Job in Job 10:16 “And were my head lifted up, you would hunt me like a lion and again work wonders against me.” Is hard to read. But we cannot deny that the Lord has put Job in this place. We know the end of his life was blessed, as it will be with all our lives. But when we are in the midst of suffering and there are none to help and the Lord is withholding even aiding in the affliction – what can we do except trust that He has a bigger plan that we don’t see as yet. Praise God we know our final end – our Redeemer lives and He lives for us and our redemption in heaven.
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. The lumber puncture operation went well, his subsequent recovery is slow. 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.
