Job Sixteen and Seventeen
Transcript of Job Sixteen and Seventeen
JobResponds
ChapterSixteenandSeventeen
Job16:1-5“ThenJobansweredandsaid:“Ihaveheardmanysuchthings;miserablecomfortersareyouall.Shallwindywordshaveanend?Orwhatprovokesyouthatyou
answer?Ialsocouldspeakasyoudo,ifyouwereinmyplace;Icouldjoinwordstogetheragainstyouand
shakemyheadatyou.Icouldstrengthenyouwithmymouth,andthesolaceofmylipswouldassuageyour
pain.”
MiserableComforters• Jobrespondstohisfriendsandpointsoutthattheyare“miserablecomforters”.
• Jobonceagainattemptsexplaintohisfriendsthateveryonehas“heard”thethingsyouaretryingtocommunicate.
• Theonlyproblemisthatthe“things”thateveryonehasheardinrelationshiptosufferingdoesnotapplytoJobbecauseJob’ssituationisuniquetohim.
• ApersoncanalmostsensethedeepfrustrationtheJobhasatthispointinhistrialthatheisenduring.
• Job’sfriendsinsteadofhelpingwithhissorrowfulafflictionareaddingtohissufferingthroughtheirwords.
• “Thesesayingsoftheancientsarenotstrangetome;buttheydonotapplytomycase:yeseemeinaffliction,yeshouldendeavourtoconsoleme.Thisyedonot;andyetyepretendtodoit!Miserablecomfortersareyeall.”-Clarke,Adam
• Jobpointedoutwhathisfriendsweredoinghealsocouldtothemiftheywereinhisshoes:“Ialsocouldspeakasyoudo,ifyouwereinmyplace”-(Vs.4)
• Jobcouldbelikethemby:– Speakingwordsthatdestroy.-(Vs.4)– Shakinghisheadindisappointmentanddisgustattheirmisfortune.-(Vs.4)
• OrJobcouldbenotlikehisfriendsand:– Strengthenthemwithhiswords.-(Vs.5)– Bringcomforttothemwithwordsthatwouldrelievetheirpain.-(Vs.5)
• “ThechiefreasonforbeingsuspiciousofthetheologyofJob’sfriendsisthatitissoobviouslylackinginmercy.”-Mason,Mike
• OneoftheGodlyattributesthatisdevelopedintheBelieverthatcomesoutofsufferingistheabilitytobecompassionateandmercifultootherswhoaregoingthroughsufferingthemselves.
• Insteadofbeing“miserablecomforters”inharshandjudgmentalwordsandattitudesthosewhohavesufferedareoftenmorewillingtogivecomfortandstrengthtowardsothersthatsuffer.
• “BlessedbetheGodandFatherofourLordJesusChrist,the and ,who
usinallouraffliction,sothatwemaybeabletothosewhoareinanyaffliction,withthe
withwhichweourselvesare byGod.”-2Corinthians1:3-4
• “Evenspiritualcomfortsarenotgivenusforourusealone;they,likeallthegiftsofGod,aregiventhattheymaybedistributed,orbecomeinstrumentsofhelptoothers.”-Clarke,Adam
ThePowerOfTheTongue• Itissuchasmallmemberofthebodyyetweshould
thepoweritplays,eitherforgoodorevil,toeffectthelivesofothers.
• Jamessaidinhisletterthatunlessthetongueiscontrolledithasthepowerofbeingusedtodirectormisdirectthelivesofothers(James3).
• Godhasgivenustheabilitytocommunicateourthoughtsthroughwords.
• Wordsthatwespeakarepowerfultobuildupapersonortodestroythesouloftheperson.
• “Themouthoftherighteousisawelloflife,butviolencecoversthemouthofthewicked.”-Proverbs10:11
• “Wisdomisfoundonthelipsofhimwhohasunderstanding….Whoeverhideshatredhaslyinglips,andwhoeverspreadsslanderisafool.
Thetongueoftherighteousischoicesilver;theheartofthewickedisworthlittle. ,butfoolsdieforlackofwisdom.”-Proverbs10:13,18:21
SpiritualRestoration• WhatJob’sfriendsshouldhavedonewastrytorestoreJobin
spiritofgentlenessandhumilitynotaspritofcondemnationandsuperiority.
• Theultimategoalisalwaysrestoration!• “Brothers,ifanyoneiscaughtinanytransgression,youwhoare
spiritualshouldrestorehiminaspiritofgentleness.Keepwatchonyourself,lestyoutoobetempted.”-Galatians6:1
• LettheministersoftheGospellearnfromPaulhowtodealwiththosewhohavesinned.‘Brethren,’hesays,‘ifanymanbeovertakenwithafault,donotaggravatehisgrief,donotscoldhim,donotcondemnhim,butlifthimupandgentlyrestorehisfaith.”-Luther,Martin
Job16:6-14“IfIspeak,mypainisnotassuaged,andifIforbear,howmuchofitleavesme?SurelynowGodhaswornmeout;hehasmadedesolateallmycompany.Andhehasshriveledmeup,whichisawitnessagainstme,andmyleannesshasrisenupagainstme;ittestifiestomyface.Hehastornmeinhiswrathandhatedme;hehasgnashedhisteethatme;myadversarysharpenshis
eyesagainstme.”
“Menhavegapedatmewiththeirmouth;theyhavestruckmeinsolentlyonthecheek;theymass
themselvestogetheragainstme.Godgivesmeuptotheungodlyandcastsmeintothehandsofthewicked.Iwasatease,andhebrokemeapart;heseizedmebytheneckanddashedmetopieces;hesetmeupashistarget;hisarcherssurroundme.Heslashesopenmy
kidneysanddoesnotspare;hepoursoutmygallontheground.Hebreaksmewithbreachuponbreach;he
runsuponmelikeawarrior.”
JobLaments• OnceagainJobisinadarkplacewhereevenwordsfailtobeexpressedinawaythatbringsrelieffromhissuffering.
• Jobfeelslikeheisstuckbetweentwooptions:IfJobspeaksandexpresseshisfeelingshefindsnorelieffromhisunsympatheticfriends;yetsilencedoesnothingtoeasehissuffering.
• Thatisthewayitofteniswhenwearegoingthroughatrial.Wecan’tquitearticulatewhatwearetrulyexperiencinginwordsorpeoplemisunderstandwhatwetryingtosay.
Job’sConflict• JobknewthathisstrugglewasnotwithhisfriendsbutwithGod.
• TheconflictthatJobwasstrugglingwithwaswhyhadGodabandonedhimwhenheknewthathehaddonenothingsinfultodeservesuchsuffering.
• OfcourseweknowthatGodhadnotabandonedhimnordoesheabandonuswhenwecan’tseehishandworkingouthisplanforourlives.
JobIsWornOut• Jobsaysthat“Godhasworn”himoutthoughthetrialhewasexperiencing.
• JobfeltthatGodwaspouringoutHiswrathuponhimforsomeunknownsinthathehadcommitted.
• InJob10:2,JobwishedthatGodwouldrevealwhyHewascontendingagainsthim.
• Job’sfriendshadfeltthatJobwasattackingGod.JobfeltthatGodwasattackinghim.
• “HeseeshimselfastheobjectofGod’swrath.HepicturesGodasasavagebeast,huntinghimdown,andtearinghimapartlimbfromlimb.OursufferingcangiveusadistortedviewofGod,can’tit?”-Lawson,Steven
• JobseesGodattackinghimlikeapredatorgoesaftertheweakandtired.
• Jobdescribestheconditionofhishealthas“shriveled”and“myleannesshasrisenupagainstme;ittestifiestomyface.”
• JobseeshimselfastheloneisolatedstragglerintheherdandGodhaszeroedinonhim.-(Vs.9)– GodhatesJobandhastornhiminhiswrath.-(Vs.9)– GodhasgnashedHisteethlikeawildanimal.-(Vs.9)– GodgrabsJobbythenecktearinghimintopieces.-(Vs.12)
– GodisahunterandJobisthetargetofGod’sarrows.-(Vs.12,13)
– GodgutsJoblikeaslainanimal.-(Vs.13)
• “ItisinfinitelypainfultoJobthatGodisnowinexplicablyactinglikeanenemy…OnlyaliteraltranslationcandojusticetothesavageryofJob’sdescriptionofGod’sviciousattack.Heislikeaferociousbeast(16:9f.),atraitor(16:11),awrestler(16:12a,b),anarcher(12c,13a),aswordsman(13b,14).”-Andersen,Francis
• ElsewhereinJobhereferstoGodashisRedeemer(19:25),hishope(13:15),andhissalvation(13:16).
• Itishumantovacillateinouremotionswhenundergoingatrial.JobteachesusthatIt’sO.K.tobehuman!
ATypeOfChrist• SomepeopleseeJobasatypeforJesusinchaptera16.
• TypesarepicturesorobjectlessonsbywhichGodhastaughtHisredemptiveplan.Theyareashadowofthingstocome.(Col.2:17)DakeBible
• JobisseentobeatypeforthesufferingthatJesuswouldendureduringHisowntrial.
• “OurSaviourwassoservedaccordingtotheletter;theygapeduponhim,mowedathim,buffetedhimontheface,gatheredthemselvestogetheragainsthim,ashere.HencesomeoftheancientscallJobafigureandtypeofChrist,whowasthusdealtwithbothliterallyandalsofiguratively.”-Trapp,John
Job16:15-17“Ihavesewedsackclothuponmyskinandhavelaid
mystrengthinthedust.Myfaceisredwithweeping,andonmyeyelidsisadeepdarkness,althoughthereisnoviolenceinmyhands,
andmyprayerispure.”
PurePrayer• JobsaysthathisprayerissingularlyfocuseduponGodandGodalone.
• JobisindeepmourningoverthelossofhisFriend.
• JobcannotunderstandwhathehasdonethathisFriendwouldturnonhimandattackhim.
• “Thereisonethingthathewillnotletgo–thetestimonyofhisconscience,thathehaslivedasthefriendofGod,notashisenemy.Heiscertainthathedoesnotbelongtotheclasswhosesinsandpunishmenthisfriendshavesetbeforehimforawarning.Tothiscertaintyheclingsastoaplankinthedevouringwaves.Deepishisanguish,butheisconscience-free.”-Bradley
Job16:18-22“Oearth,covernotmyblood,andletmycryfindnorestingplace.Evennow,behold,mywitnessisinheaven,andhewhotestifiesformeisonhigh.Myfriendsscornme;myeyepoursouttearstoGod,
thathewouldarguethecaseofamanwithGod,asasonofmandoeswithhisneighbor.ForwhenafewyearshavecomeIshallgothewayfromwhichIshall
notreturn.”
Blood• Jobmakesaclaimthatifheweretodiebeforebeingvindicatedthathisbloodwouldcryoutfromtheearth.
• ThisiswhatGodsaidtoCainabouthisbrotherAbel:“AndtheLORDsaid,“Whathaveyoudone?Thevoiceofyourbrother’s iscryingtomefromtheground.”-Genesis4:10
• JustasAbelwaskilledforbeingrighteousandhisbloodcriedoutforvindicationsoalsowillJob’sbloodcryoutafterheisdead.
GodisJob’sWitness• AfewversesbeforeshowedJob’smentalandspiritualstateasdespairingtowardsGodWhoisattackinghiminHiswrath.
• NowGodisJob’sadvocateWhotestifiesonbehalfofJob.• GodisgoingtoargueonJob’sbehalflikeaman“doeswithhisneighbor”.
• InanticipationoftheMessiah,Jobessentiallysaid:“Christ,whoisGodandman,willpleadmycausewithhisFather;hecanprevail,becauseheisGodequaltotheFather;hewillundertakeit,becausehewillbemanliketome.”-Trapp,John
• JobhadfaithinGodashisRedeemer,hissalvationandhishopewhichmayhavebroughthimalittlecomfortduringhistrial.
• WeasBelieverstodayhavesomuchmoreavailabletousinlightofthefinishedworkofJesusandHisascensiontotherighthandofGodwhereHeintercedescontinuallyonourbehalf(1John2:1-2;Hebrews7:25)
JesusIsOurPropitiation• Thereareonlytwooptions:
1. ApersoncanstandbeforetheholyGodoftheuniverseandpresenthisworksbeforeHimonhisown.
2. ApersoncanstandbeforetheholyGodoftheuniverseandletJesusadvocateonhisbehalf.
• “ForHemadeHimwhoknewnosintobesinforus,thatwemightbecometherighteousnessofGodinHim.”-2Corinthians5:21
• Thekeyworldis“propitiation”foroursins.BeforeJesus,theofferingwasmadetocoversin,butafterJesus’deathandresurrectionoursinsnowhavebeennotonlycoveredbutmadevoid.
• “ThisistheeffectoftheshedbloodofChrist:ithassatisfiedallDivineclaimsagainstus,andhasredeemedusfromsinuntoGod,separatingusuntoGodforeverwithanabsolute,infinitetie.”-Newell
FivePartsToOurSalvation1. Christ’spropitiatoryworktowardGodthroughHisblood:bearingthe
guiltandcondemnationofoursins.2. Christ’sidentificationwithusasconnectedwithAdam,“becomingsinfor
us,”and“ouroldman”beingcrucifiedwithChrist.3. TheHolySpirit’swholeworkinus,as“theSpiritofgrace,”involving
conviction,regeneration,andsanctification.4. Christ’spresentworkinHeaven;Intercedingforusshouldwesin,asour
AdvocatewiththeFather.5. Christ’ssecondcomingtoredeemourbodies,andreceiveustoHimself
inglory:TheRapture.• Newell
Job17:1-2“Myspiritisbroken;mydaysareextinct;
thegraveyardisreadyforme.Surelytherearemockersaboutme,
andmyeyedwellsontheirprovocation.”
Job’sSpiritIsBroken• Inchapter16,Jobdescribehimselfasbeing“wornout”bythetrialthathewasenduring.
• Hecontinuestodescribehismentalandspiritualstateasbeing“broken”inspirit.
• Jobsensesatthispointthatdeathisknockingonthedoor.Hesaysthathis“daysareextinct”.
• Job’sfriendscouldn’tconvinceJoboftheirtheologythat“sinalwayscausessufferingandrighteouspeopledonotsuffer”insteadtheybecamedogmaticandaddedtoJob’smiseryby“mocking”him.
Job17:3-5“Laydownapledgeformewithyou;whoistherewhowillputupsecurityforme?Sinceyouhave
closedtheirheartstounderstanding,thereforeyouwillnotletthemtriumph.Hewhoinformsagainsthisfriendstogetashareoftheirpropertytheeyes
ofhischildrenwillfail.”
JobSeeksGod• TheMessageBibleisusefulinthiscasetogetthegistofJob’s
meaninginverse3,“OGod,pledgeyoursupportforme.Giveittomeinwriting,withyoursignature”.-Petersen,Eugene
• JobcriedouttoGodtomakethingsrightintheirrelationshipthatJobbelievedhehadlostwithGod.Hisfriendswon’tcometohisdefensesoJobasksGodtoo.
• ThiswouldbeanewideatoJob’sfriendsthatbelieveditwasJob’sresponsibilitytorepentandmakethingsrightbetweenhimselfandGod.
• InJob’stheologyGodistheinitiatorofrestorationbetweenmanandGod;inJob’sfriend’stheologymanistobetheinitiatorofrestoration.
GodSearchesForMan• AdamandEve’sbrokenfellowshipwithGodsetthestandardforall
mankindwhosinagainstGod.• Theguiltandshamethatpeoplefeelwhenoutofrelationshipwith
GoddrivesthemtohidefromHimeventhoughHeseeseverything.• “AndtheyheardthesoundoftheLORDGodwalkinginthegardenin
thecooloftheday,andthemanandhiswifehidthemselvesfromthepresenceoftheLORDGodamongthetreesofthegarden.AndAdamsaid,“I thesoundofyouinthegarden,andIwas ,becauseIwasnaked,andI myself.”-Genesis3:8,10
• AdamheardGodbutdidnotrespond.• “ButGod,whoisrichinmercy,becauseofHisgreatlove
withwhichHelovedus…”(Ephesians2:4)callsouttomanwithadeepconcernformanandhispositionbeforeHim.
• ButtheLORDGod tothemanandsaidtohim,“ ?”-Genesis3:9
• “Why,whenIcame,wastherenoman?Why,whenIcalled,wastherenonetoanswer?”-Isaiah50:2
• “TheLORDlooksdownfromheavenuponthechildrenofmen,toseeifthereareanywhounderstand,
.Theyhaveallturnedaside,theyhavetogetherbecomecorrupt;thereisnonewhodoesgood,no,notone.”-Psalm14:2-3
• “fortheSonofManhascome andtosavethatwhichwaslost.”-Luke19:10
• ItiseasiertohideandnotconfrontGodwithwherewearebecauseitcanbeverypainfultoacknowledgeoursinbutthereisnootherwayforhealingtotakeplace.
• Therewereconsequencesforman’sFallbutGoddidnotmaninsteadHe theconversationandformanthroughtheofferingofskinstocoverthem
which manintoarightrelationship.• TheLordmadethefirstbloodysacrificeHimselftorestorethe
relationshipwithman.• ThisdemonstratesthatGodisamerciful,gracious,and
compassionateGod.Wholovesmanandprovidesrighteousnessforhimevenwhenmanisathisworst.
ClosedHearts• JobbelievesthatGodhasclosedhisfriends“heartsto
understanding”.• Wehaveallheardthephrase“closedmind”buta“closedheart”is
aninterestingidea.• PaulprayedinEphesians,“thattheGodofourLordJesusChrist,
theFatherofglory,maygiveyoutheSpiritofwisdomandofrevelationintheknowledgeofhim,
…”-Ephesians1:17,18• Theword‘heart’inScripturesignifiestheverycoreandcentreof
life,wheretheintelligencehasitspostofobservation,wherethestoresofexperiencearelaidup,andthethoughtshavetheirfountain.”(Alford)
• “Butwhatdoesitsay?“Thewordisnearyou,inyourmouthandinyourheart”(thatis,thewordoffaiththatweproclaim);because,ifyouconfesswithyourmouththatJesusisLord
thatGodraisedhimfromthedead,youwillbesaved.Forwiththe andisjustified,andwiththemouthoneconfessesandissaved.”-Romans10:9-10
• Apersonwhobelievesinhisheartdoesn’tsimplyknowcertainfactsabouttheBiblebuthebelievestotheverycoreofhisbeinginthepromisesofGodandtrustshislifewiththosepromises.
• Job’sunderstandingatthispointisthatGodhasblindedhisfriendsintheirheartwhichaffectedtheirunderstanding.ThemouthwillconfesswhattheheartunderstandsandthemouthofJob’sfriendsareconfessingtheirblindness.
AProverb• “Verse5isaproverb.Jobwasremindinghiscounselorsofthedireconsequencesofslander.”-Smick,Elmer
• Slanderisanaccusationwickedlyutteredwiththesolepurposeoreffectofruiningthereputationofanother.
• ItusuallyinvolvessayingfalsestatementsaboutanindividualhoweverBiblically,itcanalsoinvolvesayingtruthfulthingsthatruinthereputationofsomeone.
Job17:6-9“Hehasmademeabywordofthepeoples,
andIamonebeforewhommenspit.Myeyehasgrowndimfromvexationandallmymembersarelikeashadow.Theuprightareappalledatthis,andtheinnocentstirshimselfupagainstthegodless.Yet
therighteousholdstohisway,andhewhohascleanhandsgrowsstrongerandstronger.”
LossOfDignity• Jobspeaksofhishumiliationandlossofdignity.
• Peoplewhisperabouthisconditionandlookuponhimwithdisgust.
• JobonceagainplacesGodatthecenterofhistrialholdingHimresponsibleforthelossofdignityheisnowexperiencing.
TheRighteousPerson• JobsaystherighteouspersonisappalledbythenotionthatGod
iscausingJob’shumiliation.• ThewordthatJobusesfor“appalled”literallymeansto
“stunnedinhorror”likeadeerinheadlights.Job’sfriendsareinhisviewasamongthosewhoarestunnedbythisrighteousman’saffliction.
• “Ourownhumiliationisinevitable.Thefrailtyofhumanityandthefallennatureofthisworldcombinetogethertomakethehumiliationofmancertain,yetitmaycomeinmanyforms.Ourhumiliationmaycometousthroughourownsin,throughourownweaknesses,throughcircumstancesbeyondourcontrol,orbywhatothersputuponus.”-Guzik,David
• JobandhisfriendsdisagreedtothereasonthathewassufferingbutbothagreedthatGodhadhishandinthesituation.
• NomatterthedirenessofanysituationwecanhavehopethatGodisalwaysgoodandhashislovinghandincontrolofourlives.
• “Myafflictionsandcalamitieshavebecomeasubjectofgeneralconversation,sothatmypovertyandafflictionareproverbial.AspoorasJob,AsafflictedasJob,areproverbsthathaveevenreachedourtimesandarestillinuse.”–Clarke,Adame
• Jobdeepinhisheartbelieveshimselftobeinnocentand“holdstohisway”andknowsthatGodwillrestorehim.
• “InseveraloftheseversesJobissupposedtospeakpropheticallyofhisfuturerestoration,andofthegoodwhichreligioussocietyshouldderivefromthehistoryofhisoriginalaffluence,consequentpovertyandaffliction,andfinalrestorationtohealth,peace,andprosperity.”-Clarke,Adame
• “YouhaveheardofthesteadfastnessofJob,andyouhaveseenthepurposeoftheLord,howtheLordiscompassionateandmerciful.”-James5:11
HoldingTotheWay• “YoushallholdonyourwaybecauseJesusholdsyouinhis
stronghand.HeisyourShepherd;Hehasvanquishedallyourfoes,andyoushallneverperish.”
• “YoushallholdonyourwaybecausetheFatherhasdesignedthroughyoutoglorifyHisSon;andtheremustbenogapsinhiscrownwherejewelsoughttobe.”
• “YoushallholdonyourwaybecausetheHolySpirithasdesignedtomakeyouhisresidenceandhome;andHeiswithinyoutheperennialspringofaholylife.”-Meyer,F.B.
Job17:10-16“Butyou,comeonagain,allofyou,andIshallnotfindawisemanamongyou.Mydaysarepast;myplansarebrokenoff,thedesiresofmyheart.Theymakenightintoday:‘Thelight,’theysay,‘isneartothedarkness.’IfIhopeforSheolasmyhouse,ifI
makemybedindarkness,”
“ifIsaytothepit,‘Youaremyfather,’andtothe
worm,‘Mymother,’or‘Mysister,’wherethenismyhope?Whowillseemyhope?WillitgodowntothebarsofSheol?Shallwedescendtogetherintothe
dust?”
JobNeedsHope• Jobissensinghopelessnessinhissituation.• Hesaysthehis,“…plansarebrokenoff,thedesiresofmyheart.”-(Vs.11)
• Jobisfeelingthathis“daysarepast”andthepurposefulplansthathehadforhislifehavecomeupempty.
• JobisechoingwhatIbelievemanyindividualsinthisworldexperienceasdaysaregoingby.
• ThereLordhasbuiltintotheuniversesincetheFallalevelofdiscontentmentthatshoulddrivepeopletoseekHimbutcanalsodrivepeopleawayfromHim.
• “Forthecreationwassubjectedto ,notwillingly,butbecauseofhimwhosubjectedit,inhope”-Romans8:20
DelightInTheLord• “DelightyourselfintheLORD,andhewillgiveyouthe
.”-Psalm37:4• ObviouslywhenPsalm34:4,saysthatGodwillgiveusour“desires”itdoesn’tmeanthatGodalignsHisdesireforourlifewithourdesires.
• GodisthesourceofourcreationthereforewebecomefulfilledwhenwealignourdesireswithHisdesireforourlife.
• PlansbasedonourowndesiresoutsideofGod’splanwillleadtodiscontentment.
• Hereiscommentsaboutthephrase“DelightyourselfintheLord”:
• “Expectallthyhappinessfromhim,andseekitinhim.”-Clarke,Adame
• “Itincludesadeliberateredirectionofone’semotions…[suchas]PaulandSilasinprison,singingaswellaspraying.”-Kidner,Derek
• “Wecannotdelightthuswithouteffort.Wemustwithdrawoureagerdesiresfromthethingsofearth,fasteningandfixingthemonHim.”–Meyer,F.B.
• “Inacertainsenseimitatethewicked;theydelightintheirportion—takecaretodelightinyours,andsofarfromenvyingyouwillpitythem.”-Spurgeon,Charles
• “ThereasonmanyapparentChristiansdonotdelightinGodisthattheydonotknowhimverywell,andthereasontheydonotknowhimverywellisthattheydonotspendtimewithhim.”-Boice,JamesMontgomery
• “Donotthinkfirstofthedesiresofthyheart,butthinkfirstofdelightingthyselfinthyGod.IfthouhastacceptedhimasthyLord,heisthine;sodelightinhim,andthenhewillgivetheethedesiresofthyheart.”-Spurgeon,Charles
• HaveastubbornfixeddelightinGodevenifyouhavenofeelingsorenergytodosoandtheLordwillmakeHisdesiresourdesires.
JobAndHope• JobasksthequestionofGod:“wherethenismyhope?”.-(Vs.
15).• BiblicalhopeisaconfidenceandanexpectationthatwhatGod
haspromisedandsaidwillcometopass.Itisdifferentthantheworldsideaofhopeinpeople,inthings,orinwealthbutishopeinthecreatorandsustaineroftheuniverse.
• “Remembermyafflictionandmywanderings,thewormwoodandthegall!Mysoulcontinuallyremembersitandisboweddownwithinme.ButthisIcalltomind,andthereforeIhavehope:ThesteadfastloveoftheLORDneverceases;hismerciesnevercometoanend;theyareneweverymorning;greatisyourfaithfulness.“TheLORDismyportion,”saysmysoul,thereforeIwillhopeinhim.”-Lamentations3:19-24
• Jeremiahsaysthatwhenhefocusesontheafflictionhissouliscastdownwithinhim,butwhenhe“callstomind”themerciesofGodhehashope.
• “IlovethewaythepsalmistswrestleandfightandstruggletomaintaintheirhopeinGod.ThisisanormalChristianexperiencewhilewearestilljustsavedsinners.Andwebetterownuptoit,orelsewemaygrowsluggishandnegligentinourfightforhope.Andthatisverydangerous”.-Piper,John
• JobisfightingwitheveryounceofenergyhehastomaintainhopeintheLordwhichaccordingtoPiperisa“normalexperience”inaFallenworld.