We don't know what we don't know (Job)

This week we finished the book of Job. All the characters have something to learn, as do we.

The issues? [Suffering, Access to God, Theology vs Reality, Friendship, Blame, Perseverance]

Have we learned anything?

Job 17

17:1 "...My spirit is broken, my days are extinguished, The grave is ready for me...”

17:7 “... My eye has also grown dim because of grief, And all my members are as a shadow...”

Loss of normal function.

Job 18

Bildad is insulted.

18:3 “... Why are we regarded as beasts, As stupid in your eyes?...”

Claims that 18:5 “...Indeed, the light of the wicked goes out, And the flame of his fire gives no light...”

18:6-21 Implies again that all the trouble originates from sin.

Does it? Satan’s? Man’s?

Job 19

Now Job is insulted.

19:6 “...Know then that God has wronged me And has closed His net around me...”

Do we attribute to God things that Satan is doing? And vice versa?

It’s getting worse. It’s becoming a real pity party.

19:21 “...Pity me, pity me, O you my friends, For the hand of God has struck me...”

And yet from the depths of his heart, rising up against the mental anguish, comes ...

19:25,26 “... As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, And at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God;..”

Despair may come in waves, but you can still verbalize what you know to be true in your heart.

Job 20

Zophar speaks from inner agitation. [Ever felt the need to speak out about something?]

Another discourse focused on the consequences of wickedness.

They just can’t get off the cause and affect mantra.

Job 21

Job says 21:2 “...Listen carefully to my speech, And let this be your way of consolation...”

Basically saying, I don’t see it that way.

21:7 “..."Why do the wicked still live, Continue on, also become very powerful?...”

21:13 “...They spend their days in prosperity, And suddenly they go down to Sheol...”

To Job, it seems more random.

21:23 “...One dies in his full strength, Being wholly at ease and satisfied;...”

21:25 “... While another dies with a bitter soul, Never even tasting anything good...”

Job 22

Eliphaz speaks again.

You can hear the arguments getting more vicious as they move from relationship to theoretical debate.

22:5 “...Is not your wickedness great, And your iniquities without end?...”

22:9 “... You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the orphans has been crushed...”

Do you think Job was guilty of these things?

Why bring them up? [Job’s situation has to align with their religious presuppositions]

22:21-30 Is this good theology?

Job 23

Again Job expresses a longing to reason with God.

23:8 “... Behold, I go forward but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him;...”

Life’s struggles require perseverance.

When we can’t find answers, we must live faithfully in what we know.

Job is still confident.

23:10 “...But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold...”

Job 24

Job picks up the discourse about orphans and widows being abused, about the poor and needy being ignored.

24:12,13 “... "From the city men groan, And the souls of the wounded cry out; Yet God does not pay attention to folly. "Others have been with those who rebel against the light; They do not want to know its ways Nor abide in its paths...”

Job 25

Bildad claims men are maggots and worms when compared to God. [Made in His image??]

Job 26

Job gets a bit sarcastic about Bildad’s help and counsel.

But also proclaims the greatness of God.

Job 27

27:2 “...As God lives, who has taken away my right, And the Almighty, who has embittered my soul,...”

Is this true or false?

27:5-6 Job continues to cling to his integrity and righteousness.

27:7-23 A discourse on the hopeless state of the godless.

Job 28

28:1-11 The earth’s treasures are easy to find.

28:12-22 The search for wisdom is not that easy.

28:23-28 “...God understands its way, And He knows its place. "For He looks to the ends of the earth And sees everything under the heavens. "When He imparted weight to the wind And meted out the waters by measure, When He set a limit for the rain And a course for the thunderbolt, Then He saw it and declared it; He established it and also searched it out. "And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.'..."

Job 29

Now Job remembers the goodness he has experienced with God.

29:4 “...As I was in the prime of my days, When the friendship of God was over my tent;...”

29:12,13 “...Because I delivered the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper. "The blessing of the one ready to perish came upon me, And I made the widow's heart sing for joy...”

He’s recounting the good old days, BUT

Job 30

30:1 “... But now those younger than I mock me, Whose fathers I disdained to put with the dogs of my flock...”

He isn’t getting the respect anymore.

30:9 “...And now I have become their taunt, I have even become a byword to them...”

And then, again, he makes some erroneous assumptions about God.

30:20,21 “...I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me. "You have become cruel to me; With the might of Your hand You persecute me...”

Job 31

Job creates quite a list, proclaiming his righteous ways.

31:1 “...I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?...”

31:6 “...Let Him weigh me with accurate scales, And let God know my integrity...”

31:7-9 “...If my step has turned from the way, Or my heart followed my eyes, Or if any spot has stuck to my hands, Let me sow and another eat, And let my crops be uprooted. "If my heart has been enticed by a woman, Or I have lurked at my neighbor's doorway,...”

Will our heart follow our eyes? Where are we looking? What entices us?

31:16-19 Again talking about the poor, the widow, the orphans, and the needy.

31:24-25 Claims he was not distracted or proud of his wealth.

31:29,30 He was not pleased when evil came to his enemies.

31:35 “...Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature; Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written,...”

The Almighty will indeed answer him.

Job 32

Now the young man Elihu appears in the discussion.

He isn’t one of the original 3 friends, who now have 32:1 “...ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes...”

32:,17,18 “...I too will answer my share, I also will tell my opinion. "For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me...”

32:20 “... Let me speak that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer...”

Have you ever felt this way - just had to say something?

The words are piling up inside him, and are about to spill out.

Job 33

33:12,13 “...Behold, let me tell you, you are not right in this, For God is greater than man. "Why do you complain against Him That He does not give an account of all His doings?...”

True or False? Amos 3:7 “...Surely the Lord God does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets...”

Now Elihu gets right at it 33:33 “...If not, listen to me; Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom...."

Job 34

34:10,11 “...Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, And from the Almighty to do wrong. "For He pays a man according to his work, And makes him find it according to his way...”

Alas, it’s so true - we don’t know what we don’t know.

Elihu feels the need to defend God 34:12 “...Surely, God will not act wickedly, And the Almighty will not pervert justice...”

34:21 “...For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, And He sees all his steps...”

Does this remind you of 2 Chron.16:9 “...For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His....”

But Elihu is still reinforcing the chastisement for sin theme.

Job 35

35:12,13 “...There they cry out, but He does not answer Because of the pride of evil men. "Surely God will not listen to an empty cry, Nor will the Almighty regard it...”

Accusation made in 35:16 “...So Job opens his mouth emptily; He multiplies words without knowledge..."

Are we all guilty of this? [perhaps teachers more than anyone]

Job 36

36:15 “...He delivers the afflicted in their affliction, And opens their ear in time of oppression...”

Couldn’t resist pulling this verse out for analysis.

It’s reads much like the Valley of Achor IS the Door of Hope

I can’t resist emphasizing that IN is not OUT OF.

Job 37

37:1-24 Pretty good discourse on the power and majesty of God.

How many God facts can we spout and still not come close to understanding the reality of our situations?

Job 38

Finally, 38 chapters into this story, God speaks.

38:2 “...Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?...” To Whom is He referring? All involved?

38:4 “...Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding,..”

38:7 Here’s the fifth reference to the “Sons of God”. They’re shouting for joy as the world is created.

38:5-11 God of the land and the sea.

38:12 Controller of night and day.

38:17 The One who understands the gates of death.

38:22-28 The One who controls snow and hail, floods and thunderbolts.

38:29,30 The maker of ice - which is an incredible state of matter.

38:31-33 Ruler of constellations and heaven.

38:34-38 Controller of rain, One who can “...tip the water jars of the heavens...”

38:39-41 Provider for lions and ravens.

Job 39

God made all, knows all, watches over all: goats, donkeys, oxen, ostriches, horses, hawks.

Job 40

40:1-2 “...Then the Lord said to Job, "Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it..."

What is Job’s response?

40:4 “... Then Job answered the Lord and said, "Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth...”

Why do we think we can tell God how things should be and what He should do?

40:15-24 talks of Behemoth

Job 41

41:1-34 talks of Leviathan.

Commentaries like to say Leviathan is a crocodile. What do you think?

41:21 “...His breath kindles coals, And a flame goes forth from his mouth...”

Have you ever seen a fire breathing crocodile?

Job 42

42:1-6 “...Then Job answered the Lord and said, "I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted. 'Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' "Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." 'Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.' "I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You; Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes..."

What do you think is a good response when faced with unusual and difficult situations?

God isn’t happy with the three friends

42:7 “... It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has...”

Sacrifices and prayer are needed for restoration.

God doubles the blessings and Job lives to be 140.