Job acknowledges death comes to all. Eliphaz says Job does not fear the Lord
Job reflects on the fact that death comes to all but hopes in renewal. Eliphaz responds by saying Job does not fear God.
Job 14: Job Continues: Death Comes Soon to All
1 "Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.
2 He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.
3 And do you open your eyes on such a one and bring me into judgment with you?
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.
5 Since his days are determined, and the number of his months is with you, and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,
6 look away from him and leave him alone, that he may enjoy, like a hired hand, his day.
7 "For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil,
9 yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant.
10 But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?
11 As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up,
12 so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep.
13 Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.
15 You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.
16 For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin;
17 my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.
18 "But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place;
19 the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of man.
20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes; you change his countenance, and send him away.
21 His sons come to honour, and he does not know it; they are brought low, and he perceives it not.
22 He feels only the pain of his own body, and he mourns only for himself."
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 of 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."
Things to think about…
1. Job’s statement is simple yet profound in Job 14:1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” This is echoed by James in James 4:14 that life is like a vapour, here and then gone. As such may we learn to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom, Ps 90:12, before the Lord.
2. Job knows that his present suffering will pass. He asks in Job 14:14 “If a man dies, shall he live again?” There is more in his statement. He trusts and believes that one day he will be restored, Job 14:14 “All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.” This is the hope of all believers who are secure in Christ’s renewal with a body that endures into eternity is the lot of all those who are part of the first resurrection.
3. Job understands we are here for a short season, Job 14:1,2 and that we all are unclean, vs 4 and our days are determined, vs 5. Job goes on to say a chopped tree may sprout again, but what hope is there for man in death, vss 7-11. Job asks if he will live even after death, vs 14. He says when God marks against sin there is no hope, vss 16, 17. Praise God we know our hope comes from the resurrection of Christ and that we live in Him.
4. Job’s statement is simple yet profound in Job 14:1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” This is echoed by James in James 4:14 that life is like a vapour, here and then gone. As such may we number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom, Ps 90:12, before the Lord.
5. Job knows that his present suffering will pass. He asks in Job 14:14 “If a man dies, shall he live again?” There is more in his statement. He trusts and believes that one day he will be restored, Job 14:14 “All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.” This is the hope of all believers who are secure in Christ.
6. Job understands we are here for a short season, Job 14:1,2 and that we all are unclean, vs 4 and our days are determined, vs 5. Job goes on to say a chopped tree may sprout again, but what hope is there for man in death, vss 7-11. Job asks if he will live even after death, vs 14. He says when God marks against sin there is no hope, vss 16, 17. Praise God we know our hope comes from the resurrection of Christ and that we live in Him.
7. What happens to us in the throws of death and just after? It seems Job has some insight in Job 14:20-22. Even though mourners come around a death bed, the one who is in the bed is consumed by his pain and not those at the bed. But this may allude to the struggle even after death. Those without Christ face a horrible eternity. Like the rich man described by Jesus in Luke 16:19-31, it says he was in anguish in the flame, Luke 16:24. This is not allegory in my understanding. Man is destined to die once and face judgement. May we share and show the light of Christ and boldly proclaim his gospel of salvation.
8. Job 15:25-28 reminds me of the attitude of many in the blest west. We have covered ourselves with wealth and abundance (fat) and secure our lives here on earth (fat upon our waist). But the day of reckoning with the Lord awaits, Job 15:29, 30. Even though these words by Eliphaz are misapplied to Job they are true for everyone in the end. “is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,” Heb 9:27.
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 many invites given out are blessed this week with our carols.
2. Please pray for Steve Hawkins and Glenys Zawada – Both are recovering well.
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 all the invites that have gone out for carols.
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. Carols starting in the afternoon from 4pm Sunday 17th Dec. Please invite and pray.
2. Christmas day service, Mon 25th Dec 9:00am.
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.
