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I Will Come Forth Like Gold
Introduction A. Two weeks ago we ended with Job’s declaration, “I know that my redeemer lives and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God.” (19:25-26) B. In all of Job’s suffering, it interesting to look at what Job didn’t complain about: loss of his possessions, loss of his children, loss of his position in society. His complaint was about his friends and not knowing how to reach God. C. The theology of Job’s friends was illustrated well in a Peanuts comic strip: ·Lucy said to Linus, “Are you sending those greedy letters to Santa Claus again?” ·As he drops it in the postal box he responds, “I’m not Greedy!” He turns to her and says, “All I want is what I have coming to me! All I want is my fair share!” ·Lucy responds, “Santa Claus doesn’t OWE you anything!” · “He does if I’ve been GOOD! That’s the agreement!” argues Linus. “Any tenth-grade student of commercial law could tell you that!” · “Oh, Good Grief!” Lucy sighs. D. Today we come to another high point in the valley of Job’s distress. We’ll trace his journey to that pinnacle from where we last left Job to set the stage for climbing today’s vista point. E. Job’s cry in chapter 19 1. How long will you torment my soul? (19:2) 2. “Have pity on me have pity on me, O you my friends” (19:21) 3. Job’s cry of faith: “I know my redeemer lives…” 4. Job’s warning: “Be afraid of the sword for yourselves…” (19:29) I. Two More Rounds (ch. 20-23) A. Zealous Zophar’s second response 1. “I can’t help myself and have to respond…” (20:2-3) a. “The heavens will reveal his iniquity. And the earth will rise up against him. The increase of his house will depart, and his goods will flow away in the day of His wrath. This the portion from God for the wicked man, The heritage appointed to him by God.” B. Job’s defense (21) 1. If that is so, “Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power? …” (21:7-14) 2. “The wicked are reserved for the day of doom; They shall be brought out on the day of wrath.” (21:30) i.e. God isn’t going to settle all the accounts in this life at this time but He will in judgment. C. Eloquent Eiphaz’s third response 1. If you were so righteous and God fearing, He be judging you like this? “Is not your wickedness great, and your iniquity without end?” (22:3-4) Now he invents sins. 2. You think God doesn’t see what you do because He is so far away, but He does. (22:12-14) 3. Repent and God will bless you. “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; thereby good will come to you…” (22:21) D. Job’s defense 1. The problem: Where can I find God that I can plead my case before Him? He would understand. (23:1-7) 2. The search: “Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him.” God is invisible. (23:8-9) a. It’s remarkable that Job didn’t become an agnostic, angry at God, bitter over his friends. 3. The comfort: “But He knows the way that I take…” 4. The comfort is what he knows about the character of God, “He is unique, and who can make Him change.” (23:13) God is above all and yet through all. I can’t see Him but He sees me. I don’t know a lot about Him but I know this, there is a purpose in all I’m going through and in the end I shall come through like gold. II. The View from the Bottom A. But He knows the way that I take 1. Job at the bottom found comfort in this, that though he could not instruct God (21:22) and though he didn’t know how to find God, God knew him and all about the trouble he was going through. 2. To you who are in distress this morning Job speaks to you and says, “God knows your distress. God thinks it is unfair and God believes your wounding was without merit. 3. Then, you might say, why doesn’t God do something to deliver me? B. When He has tested me 1. Another important point here is that Job understood something about the sovereignty of God. Satan was the instrument of pain but God was testing Job. The tough parts of life were tests. 2. What kind of tests are these? These are tests that develop the character of Jesus within us. C. I shall come forth as gold 1. What a statement of faith! Stripped of everything, suffering from head to toe and persecuted by his closest friends he knew something which Paul would later make clear to us. “All things work together for good to those who love the Lord…” (Rom. 8:28) 2. Some things are more precious than gold a. Ps. 19:10 “the ordinances of God” b. Pr. 3:14 “understanding” c. Pr. 16:16 “wisdom” d. 1 Pet. 1:7 “faith” that is tested will be revealed III. Four Tests for Purifying Our Faith A. The test of possessions (Job 1:12) B. The test of physical suffering (Job 2:6) C. The test of people (Job 3-37) D. The test of priorities (Job 23:12)
D. What does purified faith look like? What shape will this gold be in when it as be fired and beaten and polished? It will be the character of Christ. 1. How do we know anything about the character of Jesus? How was that character trait ever seen by us? It was in the time of testing. 2. We know he loves because He loved the unlovable. 3. We know he forgives because He forgave the unforgivable. 4. Jesus received His glory after laying it down because He humbled Himself even to the death of the cross. (Phil. 2:5-8) 5. The Cross was so torturous, no one ever volunteered to go there… IV. Two Keys for Success A. Obedience: “My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips….” (Job 23:11) B. Priority of the Word of God: 1. “I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12) 2. Personal examples of comfort from the word… 3. How is it that we can endure? By the words of His mouth. It is what we know about God that encourages us. 4. How much did Job have? Not very much! 5. How much do you have at your finger tips? Thousands of years of the history of God’s relationship with mankind. Job didn’t know where to find God and how to talk with him. We do. Job knew his redeemer lived, but didn’t know where to find him. We do. We find God and our redeemer in Jesus. In our Mark dig-in, Gary noticed that at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry the heavens were torn and the Spirit descended upon Jesus. At the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry, the symbol of heaven was torn in the Temple: the veil keeping everyone out of the Holy of Holies. God has torn the heavens to make the way open for you!
Are you distress? Be obedient. Open the Word and let God talk with you. Prayer |
Pastor Bob Fromm, North Valley Calvary Chapel, Yuba City, California