Why is this happening to me?
Series: Wisdom
Speaker: Steve Jeffrey
Date: 17th June 2012
Passage: Job 6:1-30
00:00:00 --> 00:00:01 This is not a sermon on Job 6.
00:00:01 --> 00:00:06 This is a sermon on Job 3 to 27, probably.
00:00:07 --> 00:00:11 So you might need to be able to flick quickly.
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 So grab a Bible if one's there.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:19 If not, at very least, grab a piece of paper and a pen
00:00:19 --> 00:00:21 to be able to write down the references
00:00:21 --> 00:00:23 so you can flick through it a little bit later.
00:00:25 --> 00:00:26 Let's pray.
00:00:26 --> 00:00:33 Father God, we again thank you for your revelation to us in your word
00:00:33 --> 00:00:36 and the revelation that we have,
00:00:36 --> 00:00:38 final revelation that we have in Christ.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:43 Lord, when this world doesn't make a lot of sense
00:00:43 --> 00:00:47 and we can't understand your sovereign hand,
00:00:48 --> 00:00:51 we pray that we might, like Job, look to our Redeemer
00:00:51 --> 00:00:56 and to realise, Lord, that you are the just God
00:00:56 --> 00:00:58 who will vindicate in the end.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:01 You're the God who will bring justice.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:04 And so, Lord, I pray that in the meantime
00:01:04 --> 00:01:06 that we might have wisdom
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 and that we might be people of faith.
00:01:09 --> 00:01:12 And we ask it now as we look at your word again.
00:01:12 --> 00:01:12 Amen.
00:01:13 --> 00:01:14 We pray that you would come
00:01:14 --> 00:01:16 and that you would speak
00:01:16 --> 00:01:19 so that your people might be strengthened in Christ
00:01:19 --> 00:01:23 and that we might treasure him above all else.
00:01:23 --> 00:01:24 And we ask it for your sake.
00:01:25 --> 00:01:25 Amen.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:30 In Colorado in 1995,
00:01:30 --> 00:01:34 a police officer arrived at a single car accident
00:01:34 --> 00:01:37 where a car ended up on its roof
00:01:37 --> 00:01:42 and with a baby girl pinned under the car
00:01:42 --> 00:01:44 which was sinking into the mud.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:48 And the officer lifted the car
00:01:48 --> 00:01:52 and the mother pulled the girl out from the mud.
00:01:53 --> 00:01:56 People have been known to do those sorts of things,
00:01:56 --> 00:02:00 to lift incredible weights after an accident
00:02:00 --> 00:02:03 and then later to collapse under the shock of what's happened.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:07 There's also the case where the helicopter
00:02:07 --> 00:02:09 from the TV show Magnum P.I.,
00:02:09 --> 00:02:11 if you remember Tom Selleck from years ago.
00:02:12 --> 00:02:14 This is a generation that will understand who Tom Selleck is.
00:02:15 --> 00:02:20 It crashed in 1988
00:02:20 --> 00:02:24 and it pinned the pilot in shallow water
00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 and one of the pilot's burly friends,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 a guy named Tiny,
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 ran over and lifted the one-ton helicopter enough
00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 to pull the pilot out.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:40 People have been known in that moment of tragedy
00:02:40 --> 00:02:42 to lift incredible weights.
00:02:43 --> 00:02:46 There's a spiritual parallel to tragedy here.
00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 In the moment of tragedy,
00:02:48 --> 00:02:51 when a Christian has been given the grace
00:02:51 --> 00:02:53 to faithfully be able to say,
00:02:53 --> 00:02:56 the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away,
00:02:56 --> 00:02:57 blessed be the name of the Lord.
00:02:57 --> 00:03:01 And then later on to realise what it means
00:03:01 --> 00:03:05 in day-to-day, week-by-week existence
00:03:05 --> 00:03:12 to in fact could collapse in dismay over time.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 You see, there's one thing to bear a sudden tragedy
00:03:16 --> 00:03:20 with your rush of adrenaline and clear thinking.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:27 It's quite another to suffer weeks, months, years of pain.
00:03:27 --> 00:03:32 Job 1 and 2 reveal that in one afternoon,
00:03:33 --> 00:03:35 Job lost his 10 children and all his wealth
00:03:35 --> 00:03:36 and shortly afterwards,
00:03:37 --> 00:03:39 he was afflicted with a terrible disease
00:03:39 --> 00:03:41 and in both these tragedies,
00:03:41 --> 00:03:42 he kept his faith.
00:03:42 --> 00:03:43 1.21 says,
00:03:43 --> 00:03:44 The Lord gave,
00:03:44 --> 00:03:45 the Lord has taken away,
00:03:46 --> 00:03:47 blessed be the name of the Lord.
00:03:47 --> 00:03:49 And then in chapter 2, verse 10,
00:03:49 --> 00:03:50 he says,
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 Shall we receive good at the hand of God
00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 and shall we not receive evil?
00:03:56 --> 00:04:00 He affirmed God's control over everything
00:04:00 --> 00:04:03 and he bowed in humble submission.
00:04:05 --> 00:04:09 But Job's faith and his reverence towards God
00:04:09 --> 00:04:13 were not rewarded with a quick healing
00:04:13 --> 00:04:14 of his disease.
00:04:15 --> 00:04:19 In chapter 7, he says this in verses 2 to 3,
00:04:20 --> 00:04:22 Like a slave who longs for the shadow
00:04:22 --> 00:04:26 and like a hailing who longs for his wages,
00:04:27 --> 00:04:30 so I am allotted months of emptiness
00:04:30 --> 00:04:34 and nights of misery are apportioned to me.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 Job's misery had dragged on for months
00:04:39 --> 00:04:44 and now the Job who stood firm
00:04:44 --> 00:04:46 in chapters 1 and 2
00:04:46 --> 00:04:49 seem to be completely rocked
00:04:49 --> 00:04:51 as you move into chapter 3.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:54 Chapter 3, verse 1.
00:04:54 --> 00:04:56 This is after he's been silent
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 and after he has said,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:00 The Lord has given,
00:05:00 --> 00:05:01 the Lord has taken away,
00:05:01 --> 00:05:02 blessed be the name of the Lord.
00:05:02 --> 00:05:04 The next thing he says,
00:05:04 --> 00:05:06 he opens his mouth
00:05:06 --> 00:05:08 and he cursed the day of his birth.
00:05:08 --> 00:05:08 He said,
00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 May the day of my birth perish
00:05:11 --> 00:05:12 and the night it was said,
00:05:13 --> 00:05:14 a boy is born.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 That day may it turn to darkness.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:19 May God above not care about it.
00:05:19 --> 00:05:21 May no light shine upon it.
00:05:22 --> 00:05:23 And then down in verse 11,
00:05:23 --> 00:05:26 Why did I not perish at birth
00:05:26 --> 00:05:29 and die as I came from the womb?
00:05:29 --> 00:05:30 And 23,
00:05:31 --> 00:05:33 Why is life given to a man
00:05:33 --> 00:05:34 whose way is hidden,
00:05:35 --> 00:05:36 whom God has hedged in?
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 For sighing comes to me instead of food.
00:05:39 --> 00:05:42 My groans pour out like water.
00:05:43 --> 00:05:46 This is a different Job
00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 than the one we discovered last week
00:05:48 --> 00:05:49 in chapters 1 and 2.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:51 It almost seems here
00:05:51 --> 00:05:53 that his faith is gone.
00:05:53 --> 00:05:55 He wishes he is dead.
00:05:56 --> 00:05:58 And so now we come to the Job
00:05:58 --> 00:05:59 who says,
00:06:00 --> 00:06:00 Why?
00:06:02 --> 00:06:03 Why the suffering?
00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 Where's the justice?
00:06:06 --> 00:06:09 Where's the vindication in this world?
00:06:10 --> 00:06:11 And so what we're going to do this morning
00:06:11 --> 00:06:12 is we're going to look at,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:12 you know,
00:06:12 --> 00:06:14 basically chapters 3 to 27,
00:06:15 --> 00:06:16 you know,
00:06:16 --> 00:06:16 very broadly.
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 And what we enter into here
00:06:19 --> 00:06:21 is the huge section of Job
00:06:21 --> 00:06:23 where he's debating his three mates,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:25 the guys who turned up
00:06:25 --> 00:06:27 at the end of chapter 2.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:30 After hearing Job say
00:06:30 --> 00:06:32 that he wished he'd never been born,
00:06:32 --> 00:06:33 each of his friends
00:06:33 --> 00:06:36 jump in to explain to Job
00:06:36 --> 00:06:37 why he's suffering
00:06:37 --> 00:06:38 the way he is.
00:06:39 --> 00:06:40 So Eliphaz goes first
00:06:40 --> 00:06:42 and then Job replies to him.
00:06:42 --> 00:06:43 Then Bildad goes next,
00:06:43 --> 00:06:44 Job replies to him.
00:06:44 --> 00:06:46 And then Zophar goes last
00:06:46 --> 00:06:47 and Job replies to him.
00:06:47 --> 00:06:48 And the whole cycle
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 is repeated twice
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 and the debate comes to a gridlock
00:06:53 --> 00:06:56 as both sides refuse to budge.
00:06:56 --> 00:06:58 And so the big chunk of Job
00:06:58 --> 00:06:59 is quite repetitive.
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 Job's friends
00:07:03 --> 00:07:05 sitting a little way off
00:07:05 --> 00:07:08 and they hear what Job has to say
00:07:08 --> 00:07:09 when he sounds off about his grief
00:07:09 --> 00:07:11 and his anguish in chapter 3.
00:07:11 --> 00:07:12 And basically
00:07:12 --> 00:07:14 you could sum up
00:07:14 --> 00:07:16 the main section of Job
00:07:16 --> 00:07:17 is that they all
00:07:17 --> 00:07:20 basically say the same kind of thing.
00:07:21 --> 00:07:22 They serve up
00:07:22 --> 00:07:24 theologically rigid answers
00:07:24 --> 00:07:27 seasoned with a bit of a condemning spirit.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:29 That's kind of what they do.
00:07:30 --> 00:07:33 They are partly correct
00:07:33 --> 00:07:37 and so they are unwise.
00:07:37 --> 00:07:40 What we discover here
00:07:40 --> 00:07:43 is in our search for wisdom
00:07:43 --> 00:07:45 a lack of wisdom.
00:07:47 --> 00:07:48 Their basic position
00:07:48 --> 00:07:49 is summed up nicely
00:07:49 --> 00:07:50 by Eliphaz
00:07:50 --> 00:07:51 in chapter 4
00:07:51 --> 00:07:54 verse 7 to 8
00:07:54 --> 00:07:56 where he poses a question.
00:07:57 --> 00:07:58 Consider now
00:07:58 --> 00:08:00 who being innocent
00:08:00 --> 00:08:01 has ever perished?
00:08:02 --> 00:08:04 Where were the upright
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 ever destroyed?
00:08:05 --> 00:08:08 As I have observed
00:08:08 --> 00:08:10 those who plough evil
00:08:10 --> 00:08:13 and those who sow trouble
00:08:13 --> 00:08:15 reap it.
00:08:17 --> 00:08:18 See his idea?
00:08:19 --> 00:08:19 Job
00:08:19 --> 00:08:22 you've done something wrong
00:08:22 --> 00:08:24 to deserve
00:08:24 --> 00:08:26 this sort of suffering.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:28 Their basic position is
00:08:28 --> 00:08:29 you reap what you sow
00:08:29 --> 00:08:31 and there is truth in it.
00:08:31 --> 00:08:32 We looked at it last week.
00:08:33 --> 00:08:35 That is proverbial wisdom.
00:08:35 --> 00:08:36 That is the wisdom
00:08:36 --> 00:08:37 of the Proverbs.
00:08:38 --> 00:08:40 But it is never meant
00:08:40 --> 00:08:40 to be applied
00:08:40 --> 00:08:41 as a rigid rule.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:43 There are plenty of people
00:08:43 --> 00:08:44 who sow evil
00:08:44 --> 00:08:45 and never seem to reap it.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 They just go on
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 from strength to strength
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 and there are those
00:08:49 --> 00:08:50 who never seem
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 to get a break
00:08:51 --> 00:08:52 from misery.
00:08:54 --> 00:08:55 Good people
00:08:55 --> 00:08:55 who seem to never
00:08:55 --> 00:08:56 get a break
00:08:56 --> 00:08:56 from misery.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 And Job's friends
00:08:58 --> 00:08:59 have taken this
00:08:59 --> 00:09:00 generalization
00:09:00 --> 00:09:01 and have made it a rule.
00:09:01 --> 00:09:02 They have concluded
00:09:02 --> 00:09:03 that because Job
00:09:03 --> 00:09:04 is reaping over here
00:09:04 --> 00:09:06 then he is sowed
00:09:06 --> 00:09:06 over there.
00:09:07 --> 00:09:08 So let me illustrate
00:09:08 --> 00:09:08 it for you.
00:09:08 --> 00:09:09 I did this very quickly
00:09:09 --> 00:09:10 last week.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:10 I'll do it again.
00:09:12 --> 00:09:14 Proverbs 24
00:09:14 --> 00:09:16 verses 33 and 34
00:09:16 --> 00:09:17 says this.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:18 A little sleep
00:09:18 --> 00:09:19 and a little slumber
00:09:19 --> 00:09:20 a little folding
00:09:20 --> 00:09:20 of the hands to rest
00:09:20 --> 00:09:21 and poverty
00:09:21 --> 00:09:23 will come on you
00:09:23 --> 00:09:24 like a bandit
00:09:24 --> 00:09:25 and scarcity
00:09:25 --> 00:09:27 like an armed man.
00:09:27 --> 00:09:28 basically
00:09:28 --> 00:09:32 if you are lazy
00:09:32 --> 00:09:34 then you can expect
00:09:34 --> 00:09:35 to be poor.
00:09:36 --> 00:09:37 That's a fairly
00:09:37 --> 00:09:39 general principle.
00:09:39 --> 00:09:40 It's a fair enough
00:09:40 --> 00:09:41 kind of principle.
00:09:42 --> 00:09:42 However,
00:09:42 --> 00:09:44 it's totally at a place
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 to conclude
00:09:44 --> 00:09:44 that just because
00:09:44 --> 00:09:46 somebody is poor
00:09:46 --> 00:09:47 then they must have
00:09:47 --> 00:09:48 been lazy.
00:09:50 --> 00:09:51 Just because
00:09:51 --> 00:09:52 they are reaping poverty
00:09:52 --> 00:09:53 doesn't mean
00:09:53 --> 00:09:54 that they've sown it
00:09:54 --> 00:09:55 through laziness.
00:09:55 --> 00:09:57 and you know
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 take refugees
00:09:58 --> 00:09:59 for example.
00:10:00 --> 00:10:01 That would be a really
00:10:01 --> 00:10:03 inappropriate application
00:10:03 --> 00:10:04 for those
00:10:04 --> 00:10:05 who are living
00:10:05 --> 00:10:07 in a shantytown
00:10:07 --> 00:10:08 somewhere
00:10:08 --> 00:10:10 escaping war
00:10:10 --> 00:10:10 from another country.
00:10:12 --> 00:10:14 And this is what
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 Job's friends have done.
00:10:15 --> 00:10:15 They have reduced
00:10:15 --> 00:10:16 God and his actions
00:10:16 --> 00:10:17 to their ability
00:10:17 --> 00:10:19 to grasp order
00:10:19 --> 00:10:20 in the world.
00:10:22 --> 00:10:23 They forgot to take
00:10:23 --> 00:10:23 into account
00:10:23 --> 00:10:25 the mystery of God.
00:10:25 --> 00:10:26 We don't know
00:10:26 --> 00:10:27 everything.
00:10:27 --> 00:10:28 We can't know
00:10:28 --> 00:10:28 everything.
00:10:29 --> 00:10:29 We won't know
00:10:29 --> 00:10:30 everything.
00:10:30 --> 00:10:31 Which is one reason
00:10:31 --> 00:10:32 why humility
00:10:32 --> 00:10:33 is a really good
00:10:33 --> 00:10:34 stance to take
00:10:34 --> 00:10:35 day by day.
00:10:37 --> 00:10:38 And Job's friends
00:10:38 --> 00:10:39 also show
00:10:39 --> 00:10:39 little compassion
00:10:39 --> 00:10:40 in the way
00:10:40 --> 00:10:41 they spoke
00:10:41 --> 00:10:41 of his character.
00:10:42 --> 00:10:43 Eliphaz makes
00:10:43 --> 00:10:44 a sly swipe
00:10:44 --> 00:10:44 of Job
00:10:44 --> 00:10:45 in chapter 4
00:10:45 --> 00:10:46 verse 5.
00:10:46 --> 00:10:47 But now trouble
00:10:47 --> 00:10:48 comes to you
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 and you are
00:10:49 --> 00:10:50 discouraged.
00:10:50 --> 00:10:51 It strikes you
00:10:51 --> 00:10:51 and you are
00:10:51 --> 00:10:52 dismayed.
00:10:52 --> 00:10:53 You see this is
00:10:53 --> 00:10:54 what he's saying
00:10:54 --> 00:10:54 is Job
00:10:54 --> 00:10:56 the sufferer.
00:10:56 --> 00:10:57 You used to be
00:10:57 --> 00:10:58 Job the righteous
00:10:58 --> 00:10:59 man who used
00:10:59 --> 00:11:00 to offer advice
00:11:00 --> 00:11:01 and help people
00:11:01 --> 00:11:03 who were suffering.
00:11:03 --> 00:11:04 And Eliphaz's charge
00:11:04 --> 00:11:05 here is more than
00:11:05 --> 00:11:06 one of just
00:11:06 --> 00:11:07 inconsistency.
00:11:07 --> 00:11:08 In verse 6
00:11:08 --> 00:11:09 he says,
00:11:09 --> 00:11:09 should not your
00:11:09 --> 00:11:10 piety be your
00:11:10 --> 00:11:11 confidence
00:11:11 --> 00:11:12 and your blameless
00:11:12 --> 00:11:13 ways your hope?
00:11:14 --> 00:11:15 If you put both
00:11:15 --> 00:11:16 those verses together
00:11:16 --> 00:11:17 what Eliphaz is
00:11:17 --> 00:11:17 saying here
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 it's a real
00:11:18 --> 00:11:20 nasty sarcasm.
00:11:21 --> 00:11:22 It's even more
00:11:22 --> 00:11:23 than a nasty
00:11:23 --> 00:11:24 sarcasm.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:25 He's actually
00:11:25 --> 00:11:26 accusing Job
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 of rank hypocrisy.
00:11:31 --> 00:11:32 But there's also
00:11:32 --> 00:11:32 a note of
00:11:32 --> 00:11:34 self-righteousness
00:11:34 --> 00:11:36 as he accuses
00:11:36 --> 00:11:37 Job of rank
00:11:37 --> 00:11:37 hypocrisy.
00:11:40 --> 00:11:42 In chapter 5
00:11:42 --> 00:11:42 verse 8
00:11:42 --> 00:11:43 Eliphaz says,
00:11:43 --> 00:11:44 but if it were
00:11:44 --> 00:11:45 I,
00:11:45 --> 00:11:46 I would appeal
00:11:46 --> 00:11:47 to God.
00:11:47 --> 00:11:48 I would lay
00:11:48 --> 00:11:49 my cause
00:11:49 --> 00:11:50 before him.
00:11:51 --> 00:11:52 In other words
00:11:52 --> 00:11:55 I would make
00:11:55 --> 00:11:56 the same mistake
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 you're making
00:11:56 --> 00:11:56 Job.
00:11:59 --> 00:12:00 I would recognise
00:12:00 --> 00:12:01 God as the one
00:12:01 --> 00:12:01 who is capable
00:12:01 --> 00:12:02 of restoring me.
00:12:02 --> 00:12:03 I would shut
00:12:03 --> 00:12:03 my mouth.
00:12:04 --> 00:12:04 I would confess
00:12:04 --> 00:12:05 my sins and I
00:12:05 --> 00:12:06 would plead for
00:12:06 --> 00:12:07 my deliverance.
00:12:08 --> 00:12:08 And you see
00:12:08 --> 00:12:09 more of it in
00:12:09 --> 00:12:09 chapter 5
00:12:09 --> 00:12:11 verses 17
00:12:11 --> 00:12:12 and onwards.
00:12:12 --> 00:12:13 Blessed is the
00:12:13 --> 00:12:14 man whom God
00:12:14 --> 00:12:15 corrects.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:16 So do not
00:12:16 --> 00:12:17 despise the
00:12:17 --> 00:12:18 discipline of
00:12:18 --> 00:12:19 the Almighty.
00:12:20 --> 00:12:21 In other words
00:12:21 --> 00:12:21 Job,
00:12:21 --> 00:12:22 if you just
00:12:22 --> 00:12:23 confess your
00:12:23 --> 00:12:24 sin and
00:12:24 --> 00:12:25 plead for
00:12:25 --> 00:12:26 God's mercy
00:12:26 --> 00:12:27 then you
00:12:27 --> 00:12:28 will be
00:12:28 --> 00:12:28 restored.
00:12:33 --> 00:12:34 Then his
00:12:34 --> 00:12:35 mate Bildad
00:12:35 --> 00:12:36 has a crack
00:12:36 --> 00:12:36 in chapter
00:12:36 --> 00:12:37 8
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 verse 6
00:12:39 --> 00:12:50 He is saying
00:12:50 --> 00:12:51 that because
00:12:51 --> 00:12:52 God has not
00:12:52 --> 00:12:53 restored you
00:12:53 --> 00:12:53 Job
00:12:53 --> 00:12:55 to your
00:12:55 --> 00:12:55 rightful place
00:12:55 --> 00:12:56 that is the
00:12:56 --> 00:12:57 place where
00:12:57 --> 00:12:57 a righteous
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 person
00:12:58 --> 00:13:00 lives the
00:13:00 --> 00:13:01 good life
00:13:01 --> 00:13:02 again the
00:13:02 --> 00:13:03 proverbial wisdom
00:13:03 --> 00:13:04 coming out here
00:13:04 --> 00:13:05 and because
00:13:05 --> 00:13:06 he has not
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 restored you
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 then you are
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 clearly impure
00:13:09 --> 00:13:10 and unrighteous.
00:13:11 --> 00:13:11 Again
00:13:11 --> 00:13:13 a crack on
00:13:13 --> 00:13:13 his
00:13:13 --> 00:13:14 integrity.
00:13:15 --> 00:13:16 Then number
00:13:16 --> 00:13:16 three
00:13:16 --> 00:13:17 Zophar stands
00:13:17 --> 00:13:18 up and
00:13:18 --> 00:13:18 weighs in
00:13:18 --> 00:13:19 and he
00:13:19 --> 00:13:19 really weighs
00:13:19 --> 00:13:20 in.
00:13:20 --> 00:13:21 He reckons
00:13:21 --> 00:13:22 Job's
00:13:22 --> 00:13:23 suffering is
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 much less
00:13:23 --> 00:13:23 than he in
00:13:23 --> 00:13:24 fact actually
00:13:24 --> 00:13:25 deserves.
00:13:26 --> 00:13:27 Take it on
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 the chin Job
00:13:28 --> 00:13:28 because you
00:13:28 --> 00:13:29 deserve a lot
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 worse than
00:13:29 --> 00:13:29 this.
00:13:31 --> 00:13:32 He's saying
00:13:32 --> 00:13:33 that Job's
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 sin is so
00:13:34 --> 00:13:36 great that
00:13:36 --> 00:13:37 God has
00:13:37 --> 00:13:38 forgotten some
00:13:38 --> 00:13:38 of it.
00:13:40 --> 00:13:40 He says
00:13:40 --> 00:13:41 this in
00:13:41 --> 00:13:41 chapter 11
00:13:41 --> 00:13:42 verse 11
00:13:42 --> 00:13:42 Surely he
00:13:42 --> 00:13:43 God is
00:13:43 --> 00:13:45 recognises
00:13:45 --> 00:13:46 deceitful men
00:13:46 --> 00:13:47 and when he
00:13:47 --> 00:13:49 sees evil
00:13:49 --> 00:13:50 does not he
00:13:50 --> 00:13:51 take note?
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 So Job
00:13:54 --> 00:13:56 is deceitful
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 and evil.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 He really
00:14:00 --> 00:14:01 just tears
00:14:01 --> 00:14:02 his character
00:14:02 --> 00:14:03 to shreds
00:14:03 --> 00:14:05 and so
00:14:05 --> 00:14:06 in chapter
00:14:06 --> 00:14:06 6 which
00:14:06 --> 00:14:07 was just
00:14:07 --> 00:14:07 read out
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 to us
00:14:08 --> 00:14:08 Job
00:14:08 --> 00:14:09 responds
00:14:09 --> 00:14:09 to his
00:14:09 --> 00:14:10 friend
00:14:10 --> 00:14:10 Eliphaz
00:14:10 --> 00:14:12 Job
00:14:12 --> 00:14:13 never
00:14:13 --> 00:14:13 throughout
00:14:13 --> 00:14:14 the book
00:14:14 --> 00:14:14 never
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 claims
00:14:15 --> 00:14:15 sinless
00:14:15 --> 00:14:16 perfection.
00:14:18 --> 00:14:18 In
00:14:18 --> 00:14:19 verses 1
00:14:19 --> 00:14:20 to 13
00:14:20 --> 00:14:21 of chapter
00:14:21 --> 00:14:21 6
00:14:21 --> 00:14:22 are Job's
00:14:22 --> 00:14:23 declaration
00:14:23 --> 00:14:24 of his
00:14:24 --> 00:14:25 innocence
00:14:25 --> 00:14:26 and his
00:14:26 --> 00:14:27 desire to
00:14:27 --> 00:14:27 die.
00:14:27 --> 00:14:28 Such was
00:14:28 --> 00:14:28 his torment.
00:14:28 --> 00:14:29 Such was
00:14:29 --> 00:14:30 the load
00:14:30 --> 00:14:31 he felt.
00:14:31 --> 00:14:31 He just
00:14:31 --> 00:14:32 wishes he
00:14:32 --> 00:14:32 was dead.
00:14:33 --> 00:14:35 And in
00:14:35 --> 00:14:35 the second
00:14:35 --> 00:14:36 half of
00:14:36 --> 00:14:37 the chapter
00:14:37 --> 00:14:38 verses 14
00:14:38 --> 00:14:39 to 30
00:14:39 --> 00:14:40 are Job's
00:14:40 --> 00:14:41 words to
00:14:41 --> 00:14:41 his careless
00:14:41 --> 00:14:42 friends.
00:14:43 --> 00:14:43 Job
00:14:43 --> 00:14:44 actually
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 resents
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 his
00:14:45 --> 00:14:45 friend's
00:14:45 --> 00:14:46 lack of
00:14:46 --> 00:14:46 compassion.
00:14:48 --> 00:14:49 So verse
00:14:49 --> 00:14:49 14
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 a despairing
00:14:50 --> 00:14:51 man
00:14:51 --> 00:14:52 should have
00:14:52 --> 00:14:52 the devotion
00:14:52 --> 00:14:53 of his
00:14:53 --> 00:14:53 friends
00:14:53 --> 00:14:54 even though
00:14:54 --> 00:14:55 he forsakes
00:14:55 --> 00:14:55 the fear
00:14:55 --> 00:14:56 of the
00:14:56 --> 00:14:56 almighty.
00:14:58 --> 00:14:58 But my
00:14:58 --> 00:14:59 brothers
00:14:59 --> 00:14:59 are
00:14:59 --> 00:15:00 undependable
00:15:00 --> 00:15:01 as
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 intermittent
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 streams
00:15:03 --> 00:15:03 as the
00:15:03 --> 00:15:04 streams
00:15:04 --> 00:15:05 that
00:15:05 --> 00:15:06 overflow.
00:15:06 --> 00:15:06 flow.
00:15:10 --> 00:15:10 They
00:15:10 --> 00:15:12 are
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 fickle.
00:15:12 --> 00:15:12 They
00:15:12 --> 00:15:13 are
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 undependable.
00:15:13 --> 00:15:13 I
00:15:13 --> 00:15:14 cannot
00:15:14 --> 00:15:15 trust
00:15:15 --> 00:15:15 the
00:15:15 --> 00:15:16 words
00:15:16 --> 00:15:16 coming
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 out of
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 my
00:15:17 --> 00:15:17 friends
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 mouths.
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 Job is
00:15:22 --> 00:15:22 saying
00:15:22 --> 00:15:23 no matter
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 what I
00:15:23 --> 00:15:23 say and
00:15:23 --> 00:15:24 what I
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 do
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 you are
00:15:24 --> 00:15:24 my
00:15:24 --> 00:15:25 mates.
00:15:26 --> 00:15:26 But he
00:15:26 --> 00:15:27 says you
00:15:27 --> 00:15:27 are like
00:15:27 --> 00:15:28 those puddles
00:15:28 --> 00:15:28 of water
00:15:28 --> 00:15:29 that form
00:15:29 --> 00:15:29 really
00:15:29 --> 00:15:30 quickly in
00:15:30 --> 00:15:30 the heavy
00:15:30 --> 00:15:31 rain but
00:15:31 --> 00:15:32 which disappear
00:15:32 --> 00:15:33 in the
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 sand.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 They're
00:15:33 --> 00:15:33 gone.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:34 They're here
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 one moment
00:15:34 --> 00:15:34 gone.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:35 The next.
00:15:36 --> 00:15:38 Instead of
00:15:38 --> 00:15:39 being dependable
00:15:39 --> 00:15:39 and a
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 source of
00:15:40 --> 00:15:41 hope and
00:15:41 --> 00:15:42 life in
00:15:42 --> 00:15:43 a desert
00:15:43 --> 00:15:44 you're
00:15:44 --> 00:15:46 fickle and
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 you bring
00:15:46 --> 00:15:47 no hope
00:15:47 --> 00:15:49 no comfort.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:51 And Job's
00:15:51 --> 00:15:52 plea here to
00:15:52 --> 00:15:52 his friends is
00:15:52 --> 00:15:53 quite emotional
00:15:53 --> 00:15:54 and quite
00:15:54 --> 00:15:55 pitiable in
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 verse 28.
00:15:58 --> 00:15:58 But now be
00:15:58 --> 00:15:59 so kind as
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 to look at
00:16:00 --> 00:16:01 me.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 Just
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 look at
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 me.
00:16:04 --> 00:16:06 would I
00:16:06 --> 00:16:06 lie to
00:16:06 --> 00:16:07 your face
00:16:07 --> 00:16:08 that is
00:16:08 --> 00:16:09 by hiding
00:16:09 --> 00:16:10 this evil
00:16:10 --> 00:16:10 and sinful
00:16:10 --> 00:16:11 life that
00:16:11 --> 00:16:11 you accuse
00:16:11 --> 00:16:12 me of?
00:16:13 --> 00:16:13 Relent.
00:16:14 --> 00:16:14 Do not
00:16:14 --> 00:16:15 be unjust.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:16 Reconsider
00:16:16 --> 00:16:16 for my
00:16:16 --> 00:16:17 integrity
00:16:17 --> 00:16:18 is at
00:16:18 --> 00:16:18 stake.
00:16:20 --> 00:16:21 He's
00:16:21 --> 00:16:21 saying to
00:16:21 --> 00:16:22 his friends
00:16:22 --> 00:16:22 guys you've
00:16:22 --> 00:16:23 got it all
00:16:23 --> 00:16:23 wrong.
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 Your
00:16:24 --> 00:16:24 understanding
00:16:24 --> 00:16:25 of God
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 is too
00:16:25 --> 00:16:25 neat.
00:16:27 --> 00:16:27 You've
00:16:27 --> 00:16:28 taken away
00:16:28 --> 00:16:28 all the
00:16:28 --> 00:16:29 mystery.
00:16:29 --> 00:16:31 And so
00:16:31 --> 00:16:32 the result
00:16:32 --> 00:16:33 is their
00:16:33 --> 00:16:34 counsel is
00:16:34 --> 00:16:35 both naive
00:16:35 --> 00:16:36 and cruel.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 The God
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 of their
00:16:39 --> 00:16:39 neat theology
00:16:39 --> 00:16:40 would not
00:16:40 --> 00:16:41 allow someone
00:16:41 --> 00:16:41 to suffer
00:16:41 --> 00:16:43 unless they
00:16:43 --> 00:16:43 deserved it
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 and because
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 Job is
00:16:45 --> 00:16:46 suffering he
00:16:46 --> 00:16:46 must have
00:16:46 --> 00:16:47 deserved it.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:51 Something
00:16:51 --> 00:16:52 happens with
00:16:52 --> 00:16:55 Job from
00:16:55 --> 00:16:56 chapter 3
00:16:56 --> 00:16:57 right
00:16:57 --> 00:16:57 throughout
00:16:57 --> 00:16:58 the course
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 of this
00:16:58 --> 00:16:58 debate
00:16:58 --> 00:16:59 with his
00:16:59 --> 00:16:59 friends
00:16:59 --> 00:17:01 which is
00:17:01 --> 00:17:02 quite profound
00:17:02 --> 00:17:02 here.
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 We know
00:17:04 --> 00:17:04 in chapter
00:17:04 --> 00:17:05 1 and 2
00:17:05 --> 00:17:05 the Lord
00:17:05 --> 00:17:06 gave the
00:17:06 --> 00:17:06 Lord has
00:17:06 --> 00:17:07 taken away
00:17:07 --> 00:17:07 blessed be
00:17:07 --> 00:17:08 the name
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 of the
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 Lord.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:08 Chapter
00:17:08 --> 00:17:09 3
00:17:09 --> 00:17:10 he says
00:17:10 --> 00:17:10 I wish
00:17:10 --> 00:17:11 I was
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 dead.
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 He cries
00:17:15 --> 00:17:16 out against
00:17:16 --> 00:17:17 the wisdom
00:17:17 --> 00:17:17 of God
00:17:17 --> 00:17:18 in giving
00:17:18 --> 00:17:18 him birth.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:21 The duration
00:17:21 --> 00:17:22 of his
00:17:22 --> 00:17:23 disease
00:17:23 --> 00:17:24 and his
00:17:24 --> 00:17:24 tragedy
00:17:24 --> 00:17:26 has almost
00:17:26 --> 00:17:27 defeated
00:17:27 --> 00:17:28 the initial
00:17:28 --> 00:17:29 stand of
00:17:29 --> 00:17:29 faith
00:17:29 --> 00:17:30 in chapters
00:17:30 --> 00:17:31 1 and 2
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 but
00:17:33 --> 00:17:35 from chapter
00:17:35 --> 00:17:36 3
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 all the way
00:17:37 --> 00:17:38 through to
00:17:38 --> 00:17:39 chapter 19
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 there is
00:17:41 --> 00:17:42 this little
00:17:42 --> 00:17:43 by little
00:17:43 --> 00:17:44 gaining and
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 regaining of
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 the faith
00:17:46 --> 00:17:46 of Job
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 until
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 you get
00:17:50 --> 00:17:50 to chapter
00:17:50 --> 00:17:51 19
00:17:51 --> 00:17:52 and his
00:17:52 --> 00:17:53 faith
00:17:53 --> 00:17:54 breaks out
00:17:54 --> 00:17:54 in victory.
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 In every
00:17:57 --> 00:17:57 speech
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 up until
00:17:58 --> 00:17:58 then
00:17:58 --> 00:17:59 Job
00:17:59 --> 00:17:59 has
00:17:59 --> 00:18:00 expressed
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 the
00:18:00 --> 00:18:00 conviction
00:18:00 --> 00:18:01 that
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 he
00:18:01 --> 00:18:01 would
00:18:01 --> 00:18:02 certainly
00:18:02 --> 00:18:03 die
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 in
00:18:03 --> 00:18:03 misery.
00:18:05 --> 00:18:06 He
00:18:06 --> 00:18:06 longs
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 for it
00:18:07 --> 00:18:08 but then
00:18:08 --> 00:18:09 there is a
00:18:09 --> 00:18:09 gradual
00:18:09 --> 00:18:10 change in
00:18:10 --> 00:18:11 the way
00:18:11 --> 00:18:11 he talks
00:18:11 --> 00:18:12 about his
00:18:12 --> 00:18:12 dying.
00:18:13 --> 00:18:14 At first
00:18:14 --> 00:18:14 in chapter
00:18:14 --> 00:18:15 7 verses
00:18:15 --> 00:18:16 9 to 10
00:18:16 --> 00:18:16 during his
00:18:16 --> 00:18:17 response to
00:18:17 --> 00:18:18 Eliphaz
00:18:18 --> 00:18:19 he is sure
00:18:19 --> 00:18:19 that death
00:18:19 --> 00:18:20 is the end
00:18:20 --> 00:18:21 of everything.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:21 as the
00:18:21 --> 00:18:22 cloud
00:18:22 --> 00:18:22 vanishes
00:18:22 --> 00:18:23 and is
00:18:23 --> 00:18:23 gone
00:18:23 --> 00:18:24 so one
00:18:24 --> 00:18:25 who goes
00:18:25 --> 00:18:25 down to
00:18:25 --> 00:18:26 the grave
00:18:26 --> 00:18:27 does not
00:18:27 --> 00:18:27 return
00:18:27 --> 00:18:28 he will
00:18:28 --> 00:18:29 never come
00:18:29 --> 00:18:29 back to
00:18:29 --> 00:18:30 his house
00:18:30 --> 00:18:30 again.
00:18:31 --> 00:18:31 That's it
00:18:31 --> 00:18:32 death is
00:18:32 --> 00:18:33 what waits
00:18:33 --> 00:18:33 me
00:18:33 --> 00:18:34 and death
00:18:34 --> 00:18:34 is the
00:18:34 --> 00:18:35 end.
00:18:36 --> 00:18:37 That is
00:18:37 --> 00:18:39 there is not
00:18:39 --> 00:18:39 even anything
00:18:39 --> 00:18:40 good to look
00:18:40 --> 00:18:40 for after
00:18:40 --> 00:18:41 death.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:44 And as he
00:18:44 --> 00:18:44 responds to
00:18:44 --> 00:18:45 Bildad in
00:18:45 --> 00:18:46 chapter 10
00:18:46 --> 00:18:46 verses 20
00:18:46 --> 00:18:47 to 22
00:18:47 --> 00:18:49 he is still
00:18:49 --> 00:18:49 sunk in
00:18:49 --> 00:18:50 despair about
00:18:50 --> 00:18:51 death.
00:18:51 --> 00:18:51 Are not
00:18:51 --> 00:18:52 my few
00:18:52 --> 00:18:53 days almost
00:18:53 --> 00:18:53 over?
00:18:54 --> 00:18:54 Turn away
00:18:54 --> 00:18:55 from me so
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 I can have
00:18:56 --> 00:18:56 a moment's
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 joy before
00:18:57 --> 00:18:58 I go to
00:18:58 --> 00:18:58 the place
00:18:58 --> 00:18:59 of no
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 return.
00:18:59 --> 00:18:59 To the
00:18:59 --> 00:19:00 land of
00:19:00 --> 00:19:00 gloom and
00:19:00 --> 00:19:01 utter darkness
00:19:01 --> 00:19:02 to the
00:19:02 --> 00:19:02 land of
00:19:02 --> 00:19:03 deepest night
00:19:03 --> 00:19:03 of utter
00:19:03 --> 00:19:04 darkness and
00:19:04 --> 00:19:05 disorder where
00:19:05 --> 00:19:06 even the
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 light is
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 like darkness.
00:19:10 --> 00:19:11 Then in
00:19:11 --> 00:19:12 his response
00:19:12 --> 00:19:12 to Zophar
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 in chapter
00:19:13 --> 00:19:14 14 verses
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 7 to 14
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 he again
00:19:16 --> 00:19:17 faces the
00:19:17 --> 00:19:18 certainty of
00:19:18 --> 00:19:19 death in
00:19:19 --> 00:19:21 suffering and
00:19:21 --> 00:19:21 he cries
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 out to be
00:19:22 --> 00:19:23 released to
00:19:23 --> 00:19:24 die in
00:19:24 --> 00:19:25 verse 13.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 But this
00:19:27 --> 00:19:27 time he
00:19:27 --> 00:19:28 asks a
00:19:28 --> 00:19:29 question in
00:19:29 --> 00:19:30 verse 14.
00:19:31 --> 00:19:32 If someone
00:19:32 --> 00:19:34 dies will
00:19:34 --> 00:19:34 they live
00:19:34 --> 00:19:35 again?
00:19:36 --> 00:19:36 All the
00:19:36 --> 00:19:37 days of my
00:19:37 --> 00:19:38 hard service
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 I will
00:19:39 --> 00:19:40 wait for
00:19:40 --> 00:19:41 my renewal
00:19:41 --> 00:19:42 to come.
00:19:43 --> 00:19:44 And again
00:19:44 --> 00:19:47 in a second
00:19:47 --> 00:19:47 response to
00:19:47 --> 00:19:48 Eliphaz in
00:19:48 --> 00:19:49 chapter 17
00:19:49 --> 00:19:50 verses 13
00:19:50 --> 00:19:51 to 16
00:19:51 --> 00:19:53 the reference
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 to the
00:19:53 --> 00:19:53 place of
00:19:53 --> 00:19:54 the dead
00:19:54 --> 00:19:55 is one
00:19:55 --> 00:19:56 of question
00:19:56 --> 00:19:58 rather than
00:19:58 --> 00:19:58 despair.
00:20:00 --> 00:20:01 And then
00:20:01 --> 00:20:02 in chapter
00:20:02 --> 00:20:03 19
00:20:03 --> 00:20:05 verse 25
00:20:05 --> 00:20:06 Job reaches
00:20:06 --> 00:20:07 an answer
00:20:07 --> 00:20:08 and the
00:20:08 --> 00:20:09 victory comes.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:11 I know
00:20:11 --> 00:20:12 that my
00:20:12 --> 00:20:13 redeemer
00:20:13 --> 00:20:14 lives.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:15 God
00:20:15 --> 00:20:16 and that
00:20:16 --> 00:20:17 in the
00:20:17 --> 00:20:17 end he
00:20:17 --> 00:20:18 will stand
00:20:18 --> 00:20:18 on the
00:20:18 --> 00:20:20 earth and
00:20:20 --> 00:20:20 after my
00:20:20 --> 00:20:21 skin has
00:20:21 --> 00:20:22 been destroyed
00:20:22 --> 00:20:23 yet in my
00:20:23 --> 00:20:24 flesh I
00:20:24 --> 00:20:25 will see
00:20:25 --> 00:20:26 God.
00:20:27 --> 00:20:28 I myself
00:20:28 --> 00:20:28 will see
00:20:28 --> 00:20:29 him with
00:20:29 --> 00:20:30 my own
00:20:30 --> 00:20:30 eyes,
00:20:31 --> 00:20:32 I and
00:20:32 --> 00:20:32 not another,
00:20:34 --> 00:20:34 how my
00:20:34 --> 00:20:35 heart yearns
00:20:35 --> 00:20:36 within me.
00:20:38 --> 00:20:38 There's the
00:20:38 --> 00:20:39 victory.
00:20:40 --> 00:20:41 My redeemer
00:20:41 --> 00:20:42 lives and I
00:20:42 --> 00:20:42 will see God
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 face to
00:20:43 --> 00:20:43 face.
00:20:44 --> 00:20:44 Death is
00:20:44 --> 00:20:45 not the
00:20:45 --> 00:20:45 end.
00:20:46 --> 00:20:47 Job is
00:20:47 --> 00:20:48 finally sure
00:20:48 --> 00:20:48 that beyond
00:20:48 --> 00:20:49 the grave he
00:20:49 --> 00:20:49 will meet
00:20:49 --> 00:20:50 God as
00:20:50 --> 00:20:51 his vindicator
00:20:51 --> 00:20:52 and not
00:20:52 --> 00:20:53 as an
00:20:53 --> 00:20:53 angry judge.
00:20:54 --> 00:20:54 He will be
00:20:54 --> 00:20:55 vindicated from
00:20:55 --> 00:20:56 all his
00:20:56 --> 00:20:56 suffering.
00:20:56 --> 00:20:57 Even if it
00:20:57 --> 00:20:58 will only be
00:20:58 --> 00:20:59 after death,
00:20:59 --> 00:21:00 even if it's
00:21:00 --> 00:21:01 to suffer for
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 the rest of
00:21:01 --> 00:21:01 his life,
00:21:02 --> 00:21:02 he knows that
00:21:02 --> 00:21:03 vindication will
00:21:03 --> 00:21:04 come in the
00:21:04 --> 00:21:04 end.
00:21:05 --> 00:21:06 There will be
00:21:06 --> 00:21:07 life and
00:21:07 --> 00:21:08 light and not
00:21:08 --> 00:21:09 death and
00:21:09 --> 00:21:09 darkness.
00:21:09 --> 00:21:10 The victory
00:21:10 --> 00:21:11 for Job is
00:21:11 --> 00:21:11 in his
00:21:11 --> 00:21:12 redeemer,
00:21:12 --> 00:21:13 in his
00:21:13 --> 00:21:14 vindicator.
00:21:15 --> 00:21:16 Someone who
00:21:16 --> 00:21:16 can stand
00:21:16 --> 00:21:18 before God
00:21:18 --> 00:21:19 and plead
00:21:19 --> 00:21:20 his case.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:23 He realized
00:21:23 --> 00:21:24 his friends
00:21:24 --> 00:21:24 weren't going
00:21:24 --> 00:21:25 to do it.
00:21:26 --> 00:21:27 No one
00:21:27 --> 00:21:27 else will
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 stand with
00:21:28 --> 00:21:28 him.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 He even
00:21:30 --> 00:21:31 raised the
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 possibility of
00:21:32 --> 00:21:32 a need for
00:21:32 --> 00:21:33 a mediator
00:21:33 --> 00:21:34 between God
00:21:34 --> 00:21:35 and himself
00:21:35 --> 00:21:35 back in
00:21:35 --> 00:21:36 chapter 9
00:21:36 --> 00:21:37 verse 33.
00:21:38 --> 00:21:39 And then in
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 chapter 17
00:21:40 --> 00:21:40 verse 3,
00:21:40 --> 00:21:41 Job thought
00:21:41 --> 00:21:42 that he
00:21:42 --> 00:21:43 himself might
00:21:43 --> 00:21:43 be the
00:21:43 --> 00:21:44 person who
00:21:44 --> 00:21:45 will stand
00:21:45 --> 00:21:45 before God
00:21:45 --> 00:21:46 and vindicate
00:21:46 --> 00:21:47 himself.
00:21:48 --> 00:21:49 And now he
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 realizes he
00:21:50 --> 00:21:51 needs someone
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 else.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 Someone else
00:21:54 --> 00:21:55 who won't be
00:21:55 --> 00:21:56 crushed by God's
00:21:56 --> 00:21:56 awesome power.
00:21:57 --> 00:21:57 Someone that
00:21:57 --> 00:21:58 can approach
00:21:58 --> 00:21:59 God without
00:21:59 --> 00:22:00 fear that
00:22:00 --> 00:22:01 their sin is
00:22:01 --> 00:22:02 going to exclude
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 them from the
00:22:03 --> 00:22:04 presence of God.
00:22:04 --> 00:22:05 Someone who can
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 present to God
00:22:06 --> 00:22:07 Job's struggles
00:22:07 --> 00:22:08 and to ask God
00:22:08 --> 00:22:09 to have mercy
00:22:09 --> 00:22:10 on Job.
00:22:10 --> 00:22:11 Someone on
00:22:11 --> 00:22:12 the inside
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 who pleads
00:22:13 --> 00:22:14 with God
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 for Job.
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 Who took
00:22:16 --> 00:22:16 his struggles
00:22:16 --> 00:22:17 to God
00:22:17 --> 00:22:17 and who
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 represented
00:22:18 --> 00:22:18 Job to
00:22:18 --> 00:22:19 God.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:21 And Job
00:22:21 --> 00:22:22 says,
00:22:22 --> 00:22:22 that is my
00:22:22 --> 00:22:23 only avenue
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 to God's
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 justice
00:22:25 --> 00:22:28 is my
00:22:28 --> 00:22:28 redeemer
00:22:28 --> 00:22:30 who lives.
00:22:30 --> 00:22:31 God
00:22:31 --> 00:22:32 is my
00:22:32 --> 00:22:33 love.
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 God
00:22:34 --> 00:22:34 is my
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 love.
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 Interestingly
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 enough though,
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 this confidence
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 in a redeemer
00:22:40 --> 00:22:42 does not
00:22:42 --> 00:22:43 answer all
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 of Job's
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 questions about
00:22:45 --> 00:22:46 his suffering.
00:22:49 --> 00:22:50 It doesn't
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 solve all of
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 his theological
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 problems.
00:22:53 --> 00:22:55 He is still
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 totally confused
00:22:56 --> 00:22:57 as to why
00:22:57 --> 00:22:58 he should have
00:22:58 --> 00:22:59 to suffer
00:22:59 --> 00:23:00 as he
00:23:00 --> 00:23:00 does.
00:23:01 --> 00:23:02 And even
00:23:02 --> 00:23:02 though he has
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 a confidence
00:23:03 --> 00:23:03 in his
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 redeemer,
00:23:04 --> 00:23:05 his suffering
00:23:05 --> 00:23:06 goes right
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 on.
00:23:09 --> 00:23:09 But Job's
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 confidence of
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 new life
00:23:11 --> 00:23:11 after death
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 does enable
00:23:12 --> 00:23:13 him to hold
00:23:13 --> 00:23:13 on to three
00:23:13 --> 00:23:14 of his
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 convictions.
00:23:15 --> 00:23:16 The sovereign
00:23:16 --> 00:23:17 power of
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 God,
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 the goodness
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 and justice
00:23:21 --> 00:23:21 of God,
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 and the
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 faithfulness
00:23:24 --> 00:23:24 of his own
00:23:24 --> 00:23:25 heart.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 God
00:23:26 --> 00:23:28 and with
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 those convictions
00:23:29 --> 00:23:29 he holds
00:23:29 --> 00:23:30 out against
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 the simplistic
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 doctrine of
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 justice from
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 the mouth of
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 his three
00:23:36 --> 00:23:36 friends.
00:23:41 --> 00:23:44 I was in
00:23:44 --> 00:23:45 a library the
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 other day,
00:23:46 --> 00:23:46 Bible College
00:23:46 --> 00:23:47 library,
00:23:47 --> 00:23:48 and the
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 section on
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 Job was
00:23:51 --> 00:23:52 huge.
00:23:52 --> 00:23:54 So I
00:23:54 --> 00:23:55 feel quite
00:23:55 --> 00:23:57 encouraged to
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 be able to
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 not cover all
00:23:59 --> 00:23:59 the bases
00:23:59 --> 00:24:02 when I
00:24:02 --> 00:24:02 looked at the
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 section on
00:24:03 --> 00:24:03 Job.
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 And so
00:24:07 --> 00:24:07 there's at
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 least a couple
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 of things that I
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 want us to
00:24:09 --> 00:24:09 pick up,
00:24:10 --> 00:24:10 acknowledging that
00:24:10 --> 00:24:11 it's not
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 everything and
00:24:11 --> 00:24:11 not that I
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 can nail
00:24:12 --> 00:24:12 everything.
00:24:16 --> 00:24:16 Let's just
00:24:16 --> 00:24:17 pick up a few
00:24:17 --> 00:24:17 things.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 Firstly,
00:24:19 --> 00:24:20 there is
00:24:20 --> 00:24:21 order in this
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 world, but
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 we don't
00:24:23 --> 00:24:23 see it all.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 We don't
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 see it all.
00:24:27 --> 00:24:27 And so
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 suffering and
00:24:28 --> 00:24:29 prosperity are
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 not distributed
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 in the world
00:24:31 --> 00:24:33 in proportion
00:24:33 --> 00:24:34 to the evil
00:24:34 --> 00:24:35 or good
00:24:35 --> 00:24:35 that a person
00:24:35 --> 00:24:36 does.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 And so
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 to be wise
00:24:39 --> 00:24:41 is not to
00:24:41 --> 00:24:41 judge one
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 another before
00:24:42 --> 00:24:43 the time.
00:24:45 --> 00:24:46 That's one
00:24:46 --> 00:24:47 element of
00:24:47 --> 00:24:47 wisdom.
00:24:48 --> 00:24:48 To not
00:24:48 --> 00:24:49 judge one
00:24:49 --> 00:24:51 another before
00:24:51 --> 00:24:51 the time.
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 And the
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 time is
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 the end
00:24:55 --> 00:24:55 of time.
00:24:57 --> 00:24:57 That's the
00:24:57 --> 00:24:58 time.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 Those who
00:25:00 --> 00:25:03 suffer may
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 be the best
00:25:04 --> 00:25:04 and those
00:25:04 --> 00:25:05 who prosper
00:25:05 --> 00:25:06 may be the
00:25:06 --> 00:25:07 worst amongst
00:25:07 --> 00:25:07 us.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:10 Secondly,
00:25:11 --> 00:25:11 God reigns
00:25:11 --> 00:25:12 over all the
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 affairs of
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 people, from
00:25:13 --> 00:25:14 the greatest
00:25:14 --> 00:25:14 to the
00:25:14 --> 00:25:15 smallest.
00:25:15 --> 00:25:17 and one
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 of the
00:25:17 --> 00:25:17 most common
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 means used
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 by people
00:25:19 --> 00:25:20 today to
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 solve the
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 mystery of
00:25:22 --> 00:25:22 suffering,
00:25:23 --> 00:25:24 inevitably, is
00:25:24 --> 00:25:25 the limitation
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 of God.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:28 That's how we
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 generally solve
00:25:29 --> 00:25:29 it.
00:25:29 --> 00:25:30 Particularly the
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 limitation of
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 God's sovereign
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 control over
00:25:32 --> 00:25:33 all things.
00:25:34 --> 00:25:35 That is, God
00:25:35 --> 00:25:35 couldn't have
00:25:35 --> 00:25:36 willed that
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 sickness or
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 that explosion
00:25:38 --> 00:25:38 or the death
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 of that child.
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 He must not
00:25:42 --> 00:25:42 be in control.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:45 He's a
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 limited God.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 Let me tell
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 you that for
00:25:48 --> 00:25:49 Job and his
00:25:49 --> 00:25:50 three friends,
00:25:51 --> 00:25:53 that never
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 occurred to
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 them as an
00:25:55 --> 00:25:55 option.
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 On either
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 side of the
00:25:58 --> 00:25:58 camp, it
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 never occurred
00:25:59 --> 00:25:59 to them.
00:26:00 --> 00:26:01 The common
00:26:01 --> 00:26:01 ground of
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 Job and his
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 three friends
00:26:03 --> 00:26:03 is that God
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05 reigns.
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 He's
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 sovereign.
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 And no
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 solution to
00:26:10 --> 00:26:10 the problem
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 of suffering
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 that questions
00:26:12 --> 00:26:15 this, that
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 is God's
00:26:16 --> 00:26:17 sovereignty, will
00:26:17 --> 00:26:19 ever satisfy
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 in the long
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 run.
00:26:23 --> 00:26:24 But we
00:26:24 --> 00:26:25 tend to limit
00:26:25 --> 00:26:27 God in an
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 attempt to
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 alleviate the
00:26:29 --> 00:26:29 pain of
00:26:29 --> 00:26:30 suffering.
00:26:31 --> 00:26:33 We think
00:26:33 --> 00:26:33 that if we
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 can comprehend
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 why suffering
00:26:36 --> 00:26:38 happens, then
00:26:38 --> 00:26:39 by default,
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 that will
00:26:40 --> 00:26:43 limit or
00:26:43 --> 00:26:44 alleviate the
00:26:44 --> 00:26:44 pain of
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 suffering.
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 And so in
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 an attempt to
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 explain suffering,
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 ultimately we
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 limit the
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 sovereignty of
00:26:54 --> 00:26:56 God or the
00:26:56 --> 00:26:57 goodness of
00:26:57 --> 00:26:57 God.
00:26:59 --> 00:27:00 And it
00:27:00 --> 00:27:01 will never
00:27:01 --> 00:27:01 alleviate the
00:27:01 --> 00:27:02 pain of
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 suffering.
00:27:02 --> 00:27:02 suffering.
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 You bring
00:27:06 --> 00:27:07 God down
00:27:07 --> 00:27:09 and all of
00:27:09 --> 00:27:09 a sudden we
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 are just
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 random.
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 And that
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 never alleviates
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 the pain of
00:27:16 --> 00:27:17 suffering.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 Thirdly,
00:27:24 --> 00:27:25 true theology
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 should lead to
00:27:26 --> 00:27:26 love and
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 humility.
00:27:27 --> 00:27:29 If you
00:27:29 --> 00:27:30 take most
00:27:30 --> 00:27:30 of the
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 statements of
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 Job's
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 friends
00:27:32 --> 00:27:32 separately,
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 it sounds
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 like good
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 theology.
00:27:38 --> 00:27:39 And on
00:27:39 --> 00:27:39 most part,
00:27:40 --> 00:27:40 it is.
00:27:42 --> 00:27:43 But their
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 application is
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 shallow and
00:27:45 --> 00:27:46 insensitive.
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 In fact,
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 the proverbial
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 wisdom that
00:27:49 --> 00:27:50 they lean on
00:27:50 --> 00:27:52 itself warns
00:27:52 --> 00:27:53 against such
00:27:53 --> 00:27:54 an application
00:27:54 --> 00:27:55 of proverbial
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 wisdom.
00:27:55 --> 00:27:55 wisdom.
00:27:56 --> 00:27:56 It says
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 this in
00:27:57 --> 00:27:57 Proverbs
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 26,
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 verse 9,
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 like a
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 thorn bush
00:28:01 --> 00:28:01 in a
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 drunkard's
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 hand is a
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 proverb in
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 the mouth
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 of a
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 fool.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 His
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 mates
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 weren't
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 wise.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:14 Their
00:28:14 --> 00:28:14 advice
00:28:14 --> 00:28:15 wasn't
00:28:15 --> 00:28:16 trustworthy.
00:28:18 --> 00:28:19 There is
00:28:19 --> 00:28:20 a wrong
00:28:20 --> 00:28:21 application of
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 proverbial
00:28:21 --> 00:28:21 wisdom,
00:28:22 --> 00:28:22 so let us
00:28:22 --> 00:28:23 be warm
00:28:23 --> 00:28:24 friends.
00:28:24 --> 00:28:25 Good
00:28:25 --> 00:28:25 theology
00:28:25 --> 00:28:27 does not
00:28:27 --> 00:28:27 make you
00:28:27 --> 00:28:28 wise.
00:28:30 --> 00:28:30 Good
00:28:30 --> 00:28:31 theology
00:28:31 --> 00:28:31 can be
00:28:31 --> 00:28:32 made
00:28:32 --> 00:28:33 false and
00:28:33 --> 00:28:34 destructive
00:28:34 --> 00:28:35 in the
00:28:35 --> 00:28:35 way it
00:28:35 --> 00:28:36 is applied.
00:28:36 --> 00:28:37 Good
00:28:37 --> 00:28:37 theology
00:28:37 --> 00:28:38 does not
00:28:38 --> 00:28:39 make you
00:28:39 --> 00:28:39 wise and
00:28:39 --> 00:28:40 it does
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 not make
00:28:40 --> 00:28:40 you
00:28:40 --> 00:28:41 trustworthy.
00:28:43 --> 00:28:43 Knowledge
00:28:43 --> 00:28:45 puffs up
00:28:45 --> 00:28:45 and love
00:28:45 --> 00:28:47 builds up.
00:28:49 --> 00:28:49 All our
00:28:49 --> 00:28:50 correct theology
00:28:50 --> 00:28:51 is meant to
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 result in
00:28:52 --> 00:28:52 humility and
00:28:52 --> 00:28:53 love,
00:28:53 --> 00:28:54 not arrogance.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 love.
00:28:54 --> 00:28:54 God
00:28:54 --> 00:28:56 should help
00:28:56 --> 00:28:57 us to
00:28:57 --> 00:28:57 see that,
00:28:57 --> 00:28:58 that we
00:28:58 --> 00:28:59 only know
00:28:59 --> 00:28:59 in part.
00:29:00 --> 00:29:00 We are
00:29:00 --> 00:29:01 limited.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:04 Even after
00:29:04 --> 00:29:04 the revelation
00:29:04 --> 00:29:05 of Christ,
00:29:05 --> 00:29:06 we are still
00:29:06 --> 00:29:06 limited.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:07 Wisdom is not
00:29:07 --> 00:29:08 knowing everything,
00:29:09 --> 00:29:10 it is in
00:29:10 --> 00:29:11 relationship with
00:29:11 --> 00:29:12 the God who
00:29:12 --> 00:29:13 knows everything.
00:29:13 --> 00:29:16 humility and
00:29:16 --> 00:29:17 love must be
00:29:17 --> 00:29:18 the application
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 and it must
00:29:20 --> 00:29:21 accompany the
00:29:21 --> 00:29:23 application of
00:29:23 --> 00:29:24 our theology.
00:29:25 --> 00:29:26 Job's friends
00:29:26 --> 00:29:28 would have done
00:29:28 --> 00:29:29 well to practice
00:29:29 --> 00:29:30 the old saying,
00:29:30 --> 00:29:31 let love stand
00:29:31 --> 00:29:33 as a watchman at
00:29:33 --> 00:29:33 the gate of your
00:29:33 --> 00:29:34 mouth.
00:29:34 --> 00:29:34 love.
00:29:36 --> 00:29:37 1 Corinthians
00:29:37 --> 00:29:38 13 tells me
00:29:38 --> 00:29:39 that even this
00:29:39 --> 00:29:40 side of the
00:29:40 --> 00:29:41 cross we do
00:29:41 --> 00:29:42 not see clearly.
00:29:42 --> 00:29:43 Verse 12 of
00:29:43 --> 00:29:44 1 Corinthians
00:29:44 --> 00:29:44 13.
00:29:46 --> 00:29:46 Knowing of
00:29:46 --> 00:29:47 course 1
00:29:47 --> 00:29:47 Corinthians 13
00:29:47 --> 00:29:48 is the great
00:29:48 --> 00:29:48 chapter of
00:29:48 --> 00:29:49 love.
00:29:50 --> 00:29:50 Now we
00:29:50 --> 00:29:51 shall see,
00:29:52 --> 00:29:53 now we see
00:29:53 --> 00:29:53 but a poor
00:29:53 --> 00:29:54 reflection as
00:29:54 --> 00:29:55 in a mirror,
00:29:56 --> 00:29:57 then we shall
00:29:57 --> 00:29:57 see face to
00:29:57 --> 00:29:58 face.
00:29:58 --> 00:29:59 Now I know
00:29:59 --> 00:30:00 in part,
00:30:00 --> 00:30:01 then I shall
00:30:01 --> 00:30:02 know fully even
00:30:02 --> 00:30:03 as I am fully
00:30:03 --> 00:30:04 known but
00:30:04 --> 00:30:05 now these
00:30:05 --> 00:30:06 three remain,
00:30:06 --> 00:30:06 faith,
00:30:07 --> 00:30:07 hope and
00:30:07 --> 00:30:09 love and
00:30:09 --> 00:30:09 the greatest
00:30:09 --> 00:30:10 of these is
00:30:10 --> 00:30:11 love.
00:30:14 --> 00:30:15 We don't see
00:30:15 --> 00:30:15 clearly,
00:30:16 --> 00:30:16 we don't know
00:30:16 --> 00:30:19 everything and
00:30:19 --> 00:30:20 so I'd love us
00:30:20 --> 00:30:21 to be known as
00:30:21 --> 00:30:21 a church that
00:30:21 --> 00:30:22 holds theological
00:30:22 --> 00:30:25 conviction with
00:30:25 --> 00:30:26 humility and
00:30:26 --> 00:30:28 love, with a
00:30:28 --> 00:30:29 steadfast faith
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 and a redeemer in
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 the face of
00:30:30 --> 00:30:31 uncertainty and a
00:30:31 --> 00:30:31 firm hope for
00:30:31 --> 00:30:32 the future in
00:30:32 --> 00:30:32 the middle of
00:30:32 --> 00:30:33 calamity.
00:30:33 --> 00:30:37 There is one
00:30:37 --> 00:30:38 thing that we
00:30:38 --> 00:30:38 can say with
00:30:38 --> 00:30:40 certainty and
00:30:40 --> 00:30:41 that is that
00:30:41 --> 00:30:41 our redeemer
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 lives.
00:30:44 --> 00:30:45 Over it all,
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 hold fast to
00:30:46 --> 00:30:47 the redeemer,
00:30:47 --> 00:30:47 look to the
00:30:47 --> 00:30:48 redeemer,
00:30:48 --> 00:30:48 treasure the
00:30:48 --> 00:30:50 redeemer who
00:30:50 --> 00:30:51 knows and
00:30:51 --> 00:30:52 will bring
00:30:52 --> 00:30:53 vindication and
00:30:53 --> 00:30:54 justice and
00:30:54 --> 00:30:55 in the end,
00:30:56 --> 00:30:57 faith in the
00:30:57 --> 00:30:58 redeemer and
00:30:58 --> 00:30:59 wisdom go
00:30:59 --> 00:31:00 together.
00:31:00 --> 00:31:02 and so in
00:31:02 --> 00:31:02 the middle of
00:31:02 --> 00:31:04 calamity and
00:31:04 --> 00:31:04 we're standing
00:31:04 --> 00:31:05 beside someone,
00:31:05 --> 00:31:06 may we put our
00:31:06 --> 00:31:07 arm around them
00:31:07 --> 00:31:07 and say I
00:31:07 --> 00:31:08 don't know why
00:31:08 --> 00:31:08 this happens but
00:31:08 --> 00:31:10 let me point you
00:31:10 --> 00:31:10 to the redeemer
00:31:10 --> 00:31:11 because he
00:31:11 --> 00:31:12 lives.
00:31:13 --> 00:31:14 Cling to the
00:31:14 --> 00:31:15 redeemer, he
00:31:15 --> 00:31:17 lives and he
00:31:17 --> 00:31:18 will bring
00:31:18 --> 00:31:20 vindication in
00:31:20 --> 00:31:20 the end.
00:31:20 --> 00:31:21 So let me
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 finish with the
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 words of
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 Hebrews 4.14.
00:31:24 --> 00:31:25 Therefore, since
00:31:25 --> 00:31:27 we have a
00:31:27 --> 00:31:27 great high
00:31:27 --> 00:31:29 priest, a
00:31:29 --> 00:31:30 great advocate,
00:31:30 --> 00:31:32 a mediator, a
00:31:32 --> 00:31:33 redeemer who
00:31:33 --> 00:31:34 has gone through
00:31:34 --> 00:31:35 the heavens,
00:31:35 --> 00:31:36 Jesus the
00:31:36 --> 00:31:36 Son of God,
00:31:37 --> 00:31:38 let us hold
00:31:38 --> 00:31:38 firmly to the
00:31:38 --> 00:31:39 faith we
00:31:39 --> 00:31:41 profess for we
00:31:41 --> 00:31:42 do not have a
00:31:42 --> 00:31:44 high priest that
00:31:44 --> 00:31:45 is a mediator, a
00:31:45 --> 00:31:47 redeemer who is
00:31:47 --> 00:31:48 unable to
00:31:48 --> 00:31:49 sympathize with
00:31:49 --> 00:31:49 our weaknesses
00:31:49 --> 00:31:52 but we have one
00:31:52 --> 00:31:52 who is being
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 tempted in every
00:31:53 --> 00:31:54 way just as we
00:31:54 --> 00:31:56 are yet was
00:31:56 --> 00:31:57 without sin.
00:31:58 --> 00:31:59 Let us then
00:31:59 --> 00:31:59 approach the
00:31:59 --> 00:32:00 throne of grace
00:32:00 --> 00:32:01 with confidence
00:32:01 --> 00:32:02 so that we may
00:32:02 --> 00:32:04 receive mercy and
00:32:04 --> 00:32:05 find grace to
00:32:05 --> 00:32:06 help us in our
00:32:06 --> 00:32:07 time of need.
00:32:08 --> 00:32:08 Amen.