Tearing Down the Hedge
Text: Job 1:10
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Intro: The life of Job is one that most of us knows about. He was a perfect man by Gods standards, and had a large family. He was very rich with houses, land, livestock and servants.
But with the acceptation of his wife, he lost everything he had in a matter of minutes. Yet because he was faithful, God brought him thru this major trial and So that the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning.
Tonight however, I want us to take a good look at Jobs children and see if there is anything we can learn from them.
Job’s children lived life in the fast lane, going from one party to the next, thinking that things would go on the same without interruption.
Job 1:4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
Ec 11:9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
Job did all that he could for his family, for as long as he could.
Something we must learn in life is that there is only so much your parents can do for you, and then you are on your on. There is only so fare that they can go.
Job was praying for them day and night. But they were not praying for themselves.
Job 1:5
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
But when God was talking to Satan, He said consider Job, not his children
Job 1:8
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God,and escheweth evil?
Escheweth means: to flee from
Job’s relationship with God brought a hedge about him, his family, his works, & his substance.
V.10 Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
Job offered sacrifice for them because he knew the life they were living.
But the Children’s careless lifestyle was one of rebellion.
The Bible teaches that “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft”
1Sa 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
When they knew the truth, they refused to heed to it!
Jer 6:16
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
I am talking about when young people tare down the hedge that parents or elders have built.
Ecc 10:8
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Pr 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Conclusion:
Eccl 11:10 (AMP)
10 Therefore remove [the lusts that end in] sorrow and vexation from your heart and mind and put away evil from your body, for youth and the dawn of life are vanity [ idle, empty, and devoid of truth].
Eccl 12:1 (AMP)
1 REMEMBER [earnestly] also your Creator [that you are not your own, but His property now] in the days of your youth, before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], I have no enjoyment in them—
