Job’s argues that the wicked do sometimes prosper in this world.
Job 21: Job Replies: The Wicked Do Prosper
1 Then Job answered and said:
2 "Keep listening to my words, and let this be your comfort.
3 Bear with me, and I will speak, and after I have spoken, mock on.
4 As for me, is my complaint against man? Why should I not be impatient?
5 Look at me and be appalled, and lay your hand over your mouth.
6 When I remember, I am dismayed, and shuddering seizes my flesh.
7 Why do the wicked live, reach old age, and grow mighty in power?
8 Their offspring are established in their presence, and their descendants before their eyes.
9 Their houses are safe from fear, and no rod of God is upon them.
10 Their bull breeds without fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry.
11 They send out their little boys like a flock, and their children dance.
12 They sing to the tambourine and the lyre and rejoice to the sound of the pipe.
13 They spend their days in prosperity, and in peace they go down to Sheol.
14 They say to God, 'Depart from us! We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.
15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit do we get if we pray to him?'
16 Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? The counsel of the wicked is far from me.
17 "How often is it that the lamp of the wicked is put out? That their calamity comes upon them? That God distributes pains in his anger?
18 That they are like straw before the wind, and like chaff that the storm carries away?
19 You say, 'God stores up their iniquity for their children.' Let him pay it out to them, that they may know it.
20 Let their own eyes see their destruction, and let them drink of the wrath of the Almighty.
21 For what do they care for their houses after them, when the number of their months is cut off?
22 Will any teach God knowledge, seeing that he judges those who are on high?
23 One dies in his full vigour, being wholly at ease and secure,
24 his pails full of milk and the marrow of his bones moist.
25 Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of prosperity.
26 They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.
27 "Behold, I know your thoughts and your schemes to wrong me.
28 For you say, 'Where is the house of the prince? Where is the tent in which the wicked lived?'
29 Have you not asked those who travel the roads, and do you not accept their testimony
30 that the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, that he is rescued in the day of wrath?
31 Who declares his way to his face, and who repays him for what he has done?
32 When he is carried to the grave, watch is kept over his tomb.
33 The clods of the valley are sweet to him; all mankind follows after him, and those who go before him are innumerable.
34 How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood."
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 favoured 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."
Things to think about…
Job knows his counsellors will not listen, hence his opening comment ‘after I have spoken, mock on’ Job 21:3. What a tragedy it is when believers do not regard the concerns of fellow believers around them. Pray the Lord gives us eyes to see and hearts to respond to hurt and pain of others.
What do you make of Job 21:7ff? I.E. The wicked prospering. Is this true? Certainly Ps 73 seems to say they do at times. How should we reconcile this reality with our faith? The wicked may prosper in this season. But we know that in eternity it is a different story. The wicked are judged. Be sure your sin will find you out.
As such, Job asks how the words of his counsellors have any value, truth or impact, Job 21:34. Paul says we are to be pitied above all if this life is all there is and there is no resurrection, 1Cor 15:19. Do you agree?
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 he justifies his words by believing that Job has clearly done something that has offended God. Has Job offended God, does Eliphaz have a point? Elipaz’s rebuke of Job is cruel and a character assassination 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 when it is not true and we should certainly not condemn others where there is no evidence to do so.
Eliphaz says Job does not have a choice, he must “agree with God, and be at peace” Job 22:21ff. Only after he does this then the Lord will 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.
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 “God’s got this” Job 19.
1. Jay shared about the 8yo boy who had a serious illness and almost died, but he knew that he was getting better in his body. Have you ever been in a desperate situation outwardly but knew that things were going to be ok. Discuss.
2. Job said he knew his Redeemer lived and that one day he would see him in the flesh on the earth, Job 19:25. Discuss what this means. Where and when was this to/will this happen?
3. God often calls us into tough situations. Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, Is 53:3. We are being conformed into the image of Christ, Rom 8:29 and not our fallen image. Discuss Rom 8:29 and how this happens.
4. Prayer and praise points below.
Prayer Points
1. New Qld government and our premier.
2. US elections this week
3. Those affected by storm damage last week.
4. Zac’s dad, Mark Torrington continues to improve .
5. People who have visited the church that they settle in.
6. Sunday’s messages. The message this week – “God’s on a vacation” Job 23, 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 Josh, Sam, Ben. Sounded amazing.
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. Contact Zac for more details. Starts after school on Fridays 3:30pm.
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 20th Dec 6pm. Start with a meal. Carols to start after the meal around 7pm.
2. AGM – Sunday 15th 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.
