1stBBC
Fighting another King
Luk 14:31-32 Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.
Job 42:1-6 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained. Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee: Wherefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.
Job was no an ordinary man. Living like a king in his own world.
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.
Satan raised two questions!!
First …
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
The answer was:
Job 1:21-22 and he said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: Jehovah gave, and Jehovah hath taken away; blessed be the name of Jehovah. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
Second …
Job 2:4 And Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
The answer was:
Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
His 3 friends stepped in.
Job 4:7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? Or where were the upright cut off?
Job 8:6 If thou wert pure and upright: Surely now he would awake for thee, And make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
we can summarize their theological argument by this: God is good + you are suffering => that you have done something wrong and you deserve it. (God rebuked them for this Job:42:7)
Job in his reply admitted that God is good and that He is in control but was not convinced that he deserved it and asked why?
Job 10:8 Thy hands have framed me and fashioned me Together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.
Job 10:18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb?
They continued with their theology.
Job 11:14 If iniquity be in thy hand, put it far away, And let not unrighteousness dwell in thy tents.
And Job continued with his question why? Addressed to God!!!
Job 12:9 Who knoweth not in all these, That the hand of Jehovah hath wrought this,
Job 13:1-3 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, Mine ear hath heard and understood it. What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. Surely I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God.
Job 13:14 Wherefore should I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hand?
Job 13:24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, And holdest me for thine enemy?
They never comforted him but to the contrary added to his grief.
Job 16:2-3 I have heard many such things: Miserable comforters are ye all. Shall vain words have an end
Job 19:2-3 How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words? These ten times have ye reproached me: Ye are not ashamed that ye deal hardly with me.
He added to say …
Job 21:7-9 Wherefore do the wicked live, Become old, yea, wax mighty in power? Their seed is established with them in their sight, And their offspring before their eyes. Their houses are safe from fear, Neither is the rod of God upon them.
Job 21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
When you question God, your questioning his goodness!!
Elihu appeared. Introduction to God’s direct answer.
Job 32:1-3 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
Job 33:13 Why dost thou strive against him, For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?
Job 37:23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out He is excellent in power; And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict.
The other king now spoke, asking him some questions!
1. Where were you?
2. What do you know?
3. Can you order anything or anybody?
Job 38:1-7 Then Jehovah answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel By words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; For I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. Who determined the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who stretched the line upon it? Whereupon were the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the corner-stone thereof, When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:19 Where is the way to the dwelling of light? And as for darkness, where is the place thereof,
Job 38:39 Canst thou hunt the prey for the lioness, Or satisfy the appetite of the young lions
Job 39:1 Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? Or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?
Job 39:19 Hast thou given the horse his might? Hast thou clothed his neck with the quivering mane?
Job 39:27 Is it at thy command that the eagle mounteth up, And maketh her nest on high?
Job 40:7-9 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. Wilt thou even annul my judgment? Wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be justified? Or hast thou an arm like God? And canst thou thunder with a voice like him?
Rom 11:33-36 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever. Amen.
Isa 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard? The everlasting God, Jehovah, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary; there is no searching of his understanding.
Pro 3:5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:
Psa 34:8 Oh taste and see that Jehovah is good: Blessed is the man that taketh refuge in him.
Finally when Job lost the battle, he cried these words:
Job 42:1-5 Then Job answered Jehovah, and said, I know that thou canst do all things, And that no purpose of thine can be restrained. Who is this that hideth counsel without knowledge? Therefore have I uttered that which I understood not, Things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; But now mine eye seeth thee:
What did he see? Not his power nor his providence as these were already known to Job but he saw something new to Him .. the power of love.
Not wealth nor health, not even knowledge now!!
He saw that with all this and even with all his unfair questions, he was kept safe by the power …..the power of God’s love.
The king he fought won over him but instead of destroying him, he was kept by the power of love.
Rom 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Pastor Tony Skaff
2006
