1 "Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. 2 He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue. 3 And do You open Your eyes on such a one, And bring me to judgment with Yourself?” Job 14:1-3 (NKJV)
THE FELLOWSHIP OF MANKIND
Job continues his response to Zophar. (Chapters 12, 13 and 14) In this chapter the emphasis is on the mortality of man. Verse one Job shows the condition of man. "We’re all adrift in the same boat: too few days, too many troubles.” Job 14:1 (MSG) There is such a thing as the fellowship of being human. As mankind we are all in the same boat – too few days – to much pain. In the first Adam we are destined to pain and sorrow. In the second Adam we are destined to be children of God. In Christ we are in the same boat.
“Picture fellowship this way - we are on the same ship. We are fellow passengers. We have the same destination. The relationship that we have with Christ puts us in same boat. Our sins have been forgiven, we have a purpose for living, and we have a home in heaven. We have the same Savior. We have the same goals: to glorify God, to worship Him, to learn more about Jesus and become like Him, to use our gifts and talents for the building of God’s kingdom and to share the good-news with everyone we meet. We have the same Father. We have the same Savior. We have the same destination.” (From My Sermon – Three Benefits Of Fellowship)
A flower will fade and a shadow will disappear – they are short when compared to the life of a man. Yet, how short is the life of man in the big scheme of things. On this earth we are but a blink of the eye. The shortness of man’s life on earth is certain. But from the time of our conception we are destined to eternity. We will live forever or will die forever. We are created for eternity. From the time of conception we are now eternal. Where we spend eternity is a choice we make in our lifetime. It is a decision that we make in our life times on earth – the most important decision we will ever make.
Verse three reminds us of: “What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him?” Psalms 8:4 (NKJV) The Holman translation of verse three says, “Do You really take notice of one like this? Will You bring me into judgment against You?” Job 14:3 (HCSB) God does take notice of us. He has created us in His image after His likeness. Do we think that we will go unnoticed? We feel unnoticed sometimes – but reality is more than just feelings.
In a short paraphrase of these verses Job seems to be saying: “My life is short. Why don’t You let me live it in peace?”
4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one! Job 14:4 (NKJV)
TRANSFORMED
Job asks a profound question in verse four, “Can anyone make a clean thing from the unclean?” His answer is that, “No one can.” This is not the Christian message. The Christian message is that a transformation can take place in ones life. It is a rags to riches story. One can be changed by God’s power. But let us be very careful with this. It is not the transformation that saves us. We should be transformed – that is the work of the Holy Spirit – but we are saved because of the sacrificial work of Jesus. God sees us as pure because of the purity of Jesus. In other words I am not saved because I have become transformed – I am saved therefore I should become transformed. I am saved because I have accepted what Christ has done for me. This is salvation by grace. Because I have accepted Him I become transformed. Matthew Henry’s commentary says; “The Chaldee paraphrase has an observable reading of this verse: ‘Who can make a man clean that is polluted with sin? Cannot one? That is, God. Or who but God, who is one, and will spare him?’ God, by his almighty grace, can change the skin of the Ethiopian, the skin of Job, though clothed with worms.” “Can an African change skin? Can a leopard get rid of its spots? So what are the odds on you doing good, you who are so long-practiced in evil?” Jeremiah 13:23 (MSG)
Sanctification is the process of becoming holy. It can be pictured in this way: We are in a row boat on a river, headed downstream. We have three choices:
1. We can row against the current and resist the change – not getting very far very fast.
2. We can just float along allowing the change to take place – this is a slow process.
3. Or we can row with the current – this is the fastest method of growth.
The choice is ours. Christian growth is not automatic. We can help the process along. We can be involved in the process. We need to practice holiness and pursue godliness.
The Bible tells us to: “Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18 (MSG)
5 Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass. 6 Look away from him that he may rest, Till like a hired man he finishes his day. Job 14:5-6 (NKJV)
MAN’S DAYS ARE NUMBERED
Verse five says that man’s days are numbered. God knows how long we each shall live. “We live for seventy years or so (with luck we might make it to eighty), And what do we have to show for it? Trouble. Toil and trouble and a marker in the graveyard.” Psalms 90:10 (MSG) But then Job goes on to request that God would look the other way so a man could work till the end of the day.
Five things are set:
1. Our life will come to an end.
2. Our days upon earth are not numberless.
3. God knows how long we shall live.
4. God knows when we shall die.
5. God has fixed the boundaries of our lives.
7 "For there is hope for a tree, If it is cut down, that it will sprout again, And that its tender shoots will not cease. 8 Though its root may grow old in the earth, And its stump may die in the ground, 9 Yet at the scent of water it will bud And bring forth branches like a plant. 10 But man dies and is laid away; Indeed he breathes his last And where is he? 11 As water disappears from the sea, And a river becomes parched and dries up, 12 So man lies down and does not rise. Till the heavens are no more, They will not awake Nor be roused from their sleep. Job 14:7-12 (NKJV)
In verses seven through twelve Job gives a contrasting illustration of trees still having life even after they are cut down and that of humans. Job implies that life is better for trees than for people. When a tree falls, it can sprout again. Job does not see that this is an option for mankind. The contrast is even made greater, for a tree even “the smell of water makes it thrive and produce twigs like a sapling.” Job 14:9 (HCSB)
13 "Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath is 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 hard service I will wait, Till my change comes. 15 You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands. 16 For now You number my steps, But do not watch over my sin. 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, And You cover my iniquity. Job 14:13-17 (NKJV)
ARE SINS FORGOTTEN?
In verse thirteen Job asks to be hidden in the grave – but only to an appointed time. Then in verse fourteen Job asks a profound question: “When a man dies, will he come back to life?” Job 14:14 (HCSB) Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.” John 11:25 (HCSB) We who stand on this side of the resurrection – should know the answer to Job’s question.
There are many in our time that have been resuscitated. They were dead and brought back to life. There is only one who has been resurrected – that of course is Jesus. Christ is the “first fruit” of the resurrection – there are many more to come.
Some believe that God forgives and forgets our sins – this is not what the Bible says. He covers them, He removes them, He chooses to remember them no more, He will not bring them up again, He seals them in a bag – but He does not forget them. He forgave them. He sent Jesus to pay for our sin. He knew and knows what it cost for our redemption. He will not forget the sacrifice of Christ. Forgetfulness is a human quality – not a divine one. God chooses to remember no more.
Job’s view of the grave differs from his earlier remarks concerning the grave. He views the grave [Sheol] as a refuge – a “hiding place” from God’s wrath. It is a place where God will also visit and rescue. (For a study on Sheol see "What Really Happened To People Who Died Before The Resurrection Of Jesus" a sermon by Tom Shepard at www.sermoncentral.com)
18 "But as a mountain falls and crumbles away, And as a rock is moved from its place; 19 As water wears away stones, And as torrents wash away the soil of the earth; So You destroy the hope of man. 20 You prevail forever against him, and he passes on; You change his countenance and send him away. 21 His sons come to honor, and he does not know it; They are brought low, and he does not perceive it. 22 But his flesh will be in pain over it, And his soul will mourn over it." Job 14:18-22
HOPE OR HOPELESS
Job now gives a series of illustrations:
1. As the mountains fall and crumble away.
2. As the rock is removed from its place.
3. As water wears away stones.
4. As torrents wash away soil.
- So God destroys the hope of man. Job seems to state that God at this point is his adversary.
Does God destroy our hope? Job seems to state at this point of the discourse that God is his adversary by not leaving him with any hope. Despite hope against hope the Old Testament believer admits that he sees little evidence for a blessed afterlife. This is the importance of Jesus’ resurrection – until Jesus there was no resurrection – until then they had to live by faith. (Our hope is still in the resurrection.)
The Life Application Bible says: “The Old Testament does not say much about the resurrection of the dead. This is not surprising because Jesus had not yet conquered death. Job's pessimism about death is understandable. What is remarkable is his budding hope (Job 14:14). If only God would hide him with the dead and then bring him out again! If only he could die and live again! When we must endure suffering, we have an advantage over Job. We know that the dead will rise. Christ arose, and we have hope based on Christ's promise in John 14:19.”
