“When Job Prays”
Job 1:20-22
We once again look at a prayer in the Bible.
I can say that I have had troubles in my life but never to the level or extent of Job.
I. Permission Given Job 1:6-12
Satan is called in Revelation 12:10 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”
Vs. 8 God asks a question concerning Job. “Hast thou considered my servant Job,”
God also made an observation about the life of Job, “none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?”
Perfect - complete, quite sort of person, to be finished.
Upright - straight, level
Escheweth - depart from way, avoid
Job was a man who walked in a manner that pleased people but most of all pleased God.
Vs. 9-11 Accusation made “Job will curse you if you stopped protecting him.”
Vs. 12 “And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”
I do not believe that I have ever been in this level of dedication toward the Lord that would bring attention from Satan.
Notice the permission and the restrictions.
All that he hath is in thy power; - do what you want to the things that belong to Job.
Only upon himself put not forth thine hand – Do not touch Job. Since Job and Mrs. Job are one flesh she is not touched as well.
II. Troubles Compounded Job 1:13-19
VS. 13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:
This all happened in one day!
VS. 14 “And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”
VS. 16 “While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”
VS. 17 “While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”
VS. 18 “While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house: 19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.”
I have had bad days but never like this day in the life of Job.
1. The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them
2. The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants
3. The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword
4. Thy sons and thy daughters … there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead
As a dad I could live with all the loss but not my children!!!
So what did Job do when all this was reported?
III. Job Mourned Job 1:20
VS. 20 “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,”
1. Rent his mantle, - rent = to rip. Mantle = outer garment.
2. And shaved his head, - shaving head and beard in the east is a sign of morning.
3. And fell down upon the ground – One could look at this action as ether a time of great sorrow or a time of great homage or reverence.
I can only imagine that Satan was waiting for the inevitable of Job cursing God just as he had planned.
4. And worshipped - He resigned himself to his will.
A humble person has nowhere else to go in trial; and will desire to go nowhere else than to the God who has afflicted him.
How Great Thou Art Author: Carl Bobert Written: 1886
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.
When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.
And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
IV. Job Blessed The LORD Job 1:21
Job 1:21 “And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”
Job’s Declaration – “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither”
Job’s Determination “the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away”
The Lord is the giver of all and has the right to take it all away.
Job’s Demeanor “blessed be the name of the LORD”
The character of a person is not formed in the prosperity of one’s life, but is depth of one’s grief.
A question… When troubles come; will you grow angry with God or will you worship God?
Conclusion:
We do not know the prayer that Job brought before the Lord, but we know that Job worshiped the Lord and we see that in Vs. 22 “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”
Many great hymnals are written during or after a great event in one’s life.
It looks like the song writers have come to the same conclusion that Job did.
• 1. “Amazing Grace”
• 2. “Be Still, My Soul”
• 3. “Blessed Assurance” ...
• 4. “Day by Day” ...
• 5. “He Leadeth Me” ...
• 6. “I Need Thee Every Hour” ...
• 7. “It Is Well With My Soul” ...
I wonder what will our song be in the night of troubles?
Let’s Pray
