Class 2 from this series was used in GCT Episode 284.
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This is the 1981 Texas
Christadelphian Bible School.
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This is the 1981 Texas
Christadelphian Bible School.
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This is the first in a series of
classes by Brother Warren
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Phillips titled Hostile
Considered My Servant Joe,
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Brother 1
Morning, Everyone find that the
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Book of Job is a book that I
know that we’re all reasonably
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well acquainted with to a
degree.
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I’m sure that we also look at
the Book of Job as a rather
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difficult book to be understood.
Perhaps we’re quite familiar
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with the first two chapters, the
last chapter, and perhaps a few
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verses snuggled out in the
middle of the book that we make
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use of as proof verses when we
want to discuss with those who
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do not see eye to eye with us on
doctrinal subjects.
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But when it comes to examining
the Book of Job as a whole, to
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understand it as a whole, it is
a rather difficult book for us
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to grasp.
We also find that perhaps
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because of the way in which it’s
written, it may even seem to be
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somewhat on the boring side.
And therefore we might not take
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quite the amount of time that we
ought to to study it and try to
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comprehend it.
And to think that we’re taking
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it up into the Bible school.
Perhaps we might think that,
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well, maybe this period will be
a washout for the week.
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I hope it won’t be.
We’re going to try to make the
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Book of Job interesting.
Even though the Book of Job may
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be somewhat difficult to
understand, we hope will make it
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both interesting and
understandable.
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So that as we go away from this
Bible school this week, we will
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have felt that this hour that
we’ve spent with the Book of Job
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each day has been very, very
profitable.
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We do find that we’re in very
good company.
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When we consider Job, we find
that Job was put together with
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some very remarkable in
individuals in the scriptures.
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Job is spoken of in number of
places in the scriptures.
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For instance, in the book of
James, chapter 5, verse 11, we
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read you have heard of the
patience of Job and have seen
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the end of the Lord.
What a commendation this is for
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Job.
Job is held up very highly not
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only within the book of Job but
elsewhere in the scriptures.
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When we turn to the book of
Ezekiel, the 14th chapter, we
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come across two very interesting
verses that say essentially the
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same thing about Job.
Job is put in company with two
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other very righteous individuals
that are held for us in the word
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of God.
We find that in the 14th 1st we
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read these words though these
three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job
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were in it, they should deliver
but their own souls by their
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righteousness.
And the 20th verse of that same
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chapter we read almost
essentially the same thing,
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though Noah, Daniel and Job were
in it, as I live, saith the Lord
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God, they shall deliver neither
son nor daughter.
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They shall but deliver their own
souls by their righteousness.
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And here we find that Job is
upheld as a very righteous
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individual and placed alongside
of Noah and Daniel.
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And it’s interesting for us to
note that in the case of Noah
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and Daniel, these individuals
are held forth as righteous
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throughout the entire account of
their life, both before the
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action, during the action, and
after the action has been
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completed.
And I know that there are a
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variety of opinions in regard to
not only the Book of Job and its
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meaning, but also to the
righteousness of Job, so that
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some would even challenge the
thought of whether or not Job
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really was righteous.
Some would go so far as to say
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that the complimentary
statements, if we find in the
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book of Job about Job is merely
only the opinion that he has of
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himself and not really the type
of character that he actually
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had.
And when he suffers, he’s
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suffering for something that he
really deserves.
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I’d like you to reserve your
judgement until the end of the
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classes this week.
We’re not going to take up
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everything obviously in the
first period.
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I’d like to follow the book of
Job this week in the way in
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which it’s written.
I feel that the Almighty had a
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purpose in arranging the book in
the way in which he did.
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Instead of just picking out
themes and working our way
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through Job, taking verses,
perhaps out of context, I’d like
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to work through Job the way the
Lord has outlined it, so that we
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might actually see the
progression of thought as we
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work through the Book of Job and
bring out various lessons that
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will be helpful to us in
understanding the purpose of the
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Book of Job.
Now there’s a very distinct
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purpose in the writing of the
Book of Job as there is in many
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other books of the Scriptures,
probably all of them.
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We find that many books of the
scriptures have distinct themes,
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and those themes are returned to
again and again and again.
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For instance, the Book of
Daniel.
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We find the theme of the Book of
Daniel is that they might know
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that the Most High rule within
the kingdoms of men and set up
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whomsoever he will to rule over
them.
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It seems to be a theme.
It’s repeated again and again
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and again.
And when we look at the book of
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Daniel in an overall purpose, we
find that really does seem to be
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the theme of Daniel.
When we come to the Book of
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Ezekiel, we find there’s a
distinct theme there. 70 times
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in the Book of Ezekiel, a
statement is made that they
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shall know that I am Yahweh.
Of course the King James says
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they shall know that I am the
Lord.
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But that’s the purpose of the
Book of Ezekiel.
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That the Jews might recognize
that Yahweh is the only true and
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living God.
That the people that were living
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at the time of the action of
Ezekiel might recognize that
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Yahweh, the God of Israel, was
the only true and living God.
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And also in the future with the
remarkable prophecies that are
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made that are being fulfilled in
our day and yet on into the
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future.
The purpose is that the world as
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a whole, even now, might
eventually recognize that Yahweh
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is the only true and living God.
When we come to the Book of Job,
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we find that there is a distinct
purpose in the book of Job, and
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we have it for you in the post
that’s right in front of me.
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The purpose of the book of Job
is the problem of evil in
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relation to the righteousness of
God.
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Now, if we were to say that the
purpose of the book of Job is to
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explain the problem of pain and
suffering, we would be right to
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a degree, but it’d be an
oversimplification.
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It’s a little bit more than
that.
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The question is, is it right or
right?
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Chess for a good and loving and
kind and beneficent God to
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permit more than that to cause a
righteous man such as Job to
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suffer.
And it’s because of this problem
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that many people have been
confronted with, that they’ll
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turn around and look at Job and
say, well, when it speaks about
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his righteousness, that’s only
his opinion of himself, and he
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really wasn’t righteous after
all, and that’s why God caused
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him to suffer.
I’m not going to take up that
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idea, although I’d like to
discuss that in just a couple of
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moments to a very limited
degree.
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Once again asking that you wait
until the class has been
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completed this week to form your
final opinions.
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Although I’m sure you’ve all
come with opinions to begin
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with, the actual purpose of the
Book of Job is righteousness,
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and we’re going to find that
that is going to be really the
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case.
As we work our way through, we
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find that the Book of Job is
divided into 5 distinct
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sections.
We also have a poster that
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outlines that for us.
I also have a few sets of notes
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on the Book of Job.
Before I left Meriden, I thought
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I’d have notes enough for
everybody, but I find that by
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giving this talk in a number of
places, they’ve been greatly
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depleted and I ended up with
only a handful.
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I’ll drag them out later in the
week and we’ll have to see what
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we can do for those that would
like to have them.
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We’ll do the best we can with
the number that we have with us.
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You notice the Book of Job is
divided into 5 distinct
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divisions.
First of all we have the
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prologue, then the debate
between Job and his three
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friends, which takes up 30
chapters almost.
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We have the speeches of Eli, who
the young man, chapters 32
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through 37.
We have the voice of the
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Almighty chapter 38 through 42
up to the 6th, 1st, and finally
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the epilogue at the end, the
last 11 verses.
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Now there’s something that I
think we should mention in
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regard to the book of Job.
It is a somewhat difficult book
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to understand for two particular
reasons.
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First of all, we find that the
Book of Job is one of the five
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books of wisdom in the
scriptures.
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It’s not a book that we can sit
down and read through like we
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might read, say, the Book of
Esther or Some of those are the
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very fascinating books where we
can pick up a wealth of meaning
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at one cursory reading.
The Book of Job is one of the
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books of wisdom.
Therefore, we have to sit down
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and think a little bit about it
if we’re going to understand it.
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It’s a book that we can go back
to again and again throughout
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our lives and be able to gain
something more each and every
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time that we go back to it.
It’s not a book that is a very
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simple book, even though this
week we’re going to do the best
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we can to digest it for you and
put it into simple language,
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hoping that perhaps some
thoughts and ideas will be
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forthcoming from you will help
me in the future to make it a
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more interesting and more
profitable, and I hope a much
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more correct the outline of the
Book of Job.
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We also find there’s another
problem with the Book of Job.
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I don’t really mean a problem,
but a problem for our
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understanding of the Book of
Job.
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It’s written mostly in poetry,
as some other books of the
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scriptures are written in
poetry.
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And here we have a twofold
problem.
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First of all, understanding
poetry itself, with its flowery
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picture language with its poetic
license, is not always the
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easiest thing to do.
We have enough difficulty
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considering poetry that’s
written in the English language
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that we’re all very familiar
with.
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But when we come to a book such
as Joel, which was written in
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poetry in the Hebrew language
and then translated from that
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language into the English, we
find that there’s an added
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difficulty.
First of all, have the
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translators captured the picture
that was really intended in the
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original writing in Hebrew?
It’s very difficult and we come
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against problems.
And of course we lose the rhyme
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and the rhythm by translating
poetry from one language to
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another.
Not the whole of the book of Job
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is written in poetry form.
We do find that the first two
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chapters, the epilogue, is
written as prose.
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We’ve read one of those chapters
this morning, and we find that
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it’s quite readily understood,
at least to a degree, and I hope
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we get reasonably far through
that this morning.
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Then we come to one other
section in the book of Job,
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which is written as prose, and
that’s the epilogue, the last 11
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verses.
That’s not too difficult to
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understand, although we’ll
certainly have a number of
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things to say about that.
And I hope that we’ll be able to
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bring out some very, very
beautiful and to me, inspiring
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thoughts from that epilogue.
But the center section with the
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exception of just a.
Very few verses.
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Are all written in poetry, and
that is difficult to understand,
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difficult, especially when it’s
translated from one language to
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another.
So what we’re going to do is
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take up the various sections as
they come up in the book of Job
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to try to get the construction
that the Almighty intended us to
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have and to work through it
together to get the thoughts and
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the lessons that are there for
us.
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I think they’ll be very
profitable and I’m going to try
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to do my best to make it
interesting as we go.
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I do think we’d like to have
just two or three more minutes
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of introduction for the book of
job.
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What about the setting, the
time, the date, the location,
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first of all, the time in which
the action actually took place?
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I think this would be very
helpful for us.
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To be able to.
Drop it into a historical time
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period so that we might better
understand what took place.
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00:12:05,600 –> 00:12:11,320
Probably it took place sometime
between the end of the life of
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00:12:11,320 –> 00:12:15,000
Joseph and the beginning of the
life of Moses.
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00:12:16,000 –> 00:12:18,640
We find that there are a number
of individuals mentioned in Job.
220
00:12:19,680 –> 00:12:23,720
We could tediously go through
references that seem to make
221
00:12:23,720 –> 00:12:26,000
reference to this and other
parts of the scriptures.
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00:12:26,640 –> 00:12:29,640
First of all, we find that Job
was in the land of Oz.
223
00:12:30,400 –> 00:12:35,760
Oz is the first born of Nahor,
one of another nephew of
224
00:12:35,760 –> 00:12:37,600
Abraham, one of Abraham’s
brother.
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00:12:38,440 –> 00:12:39,960
We.
Also have Oz.
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00:12:40,560 –> 00:12:45,480
As the son of Abram, who was
from Shem back in the 10th
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00:12:45,480 –> 00:12:48,280
chapter of Genesis, I have all
of these references if you’d
228
00:12:48,280 –> 00:12:50,160
like.
I’m not going to spend a long
229
00:12:50,160 –> 00:12:53,000
lot of time on this.
It seems as though he also may
230
00:12:53,000 –> 00:12:57,400
have been a possibility of being
a descendant of Seer Oz has
231
00:12:57,400 –> 00:12:59,160
mentioned a number of times in
the scriptures.
232
00:12:59,400 –> 00:13:01,640
The question is, is it all
referring to one particular
233
00:13:01,640 –> 00:13:05,120
individual, or are there a
number of individuals named us?
234
00:13:06,040 –> 00:13:10,240
We have Elihu, who was a buzzite
or a buzzite, depending how you
235
00:13:10,240 –> 00:13:13,680
wish to pronounce it.
Buzz was one of Abraham’s other
236
00:13:13,680 –> 00:13:18,520
nephews, and we seem to have
this action taking place
237
00:13:18,520 –> 00:13:25,160
sometime after Abraham Aliphas
came from Timon, a name which is
238
00:13:25,160 –> 00:13:28,920
connected with Esau or Edom,
which of course we also know as
239
00:13:28,920 –> 00:13:30,560
one of the descendants of
Abraham.
240
00:13:30,800 –> 00:13:34,280
And here we have quite a list of
references that seemed to
241
00:13:34,440 –> 00:13:39,600
indicate that this individual
did exist at that time and was
242
00:13:39,640 –> 00:13:42,120
indeed a descendant that we
could play.
243
00:13:42,120 –> 00:13:47,040
Sometime after the life of
Abraham, we move down to Bill,
244
00:13:47,200 –> 00:13:50,240
Bill, Dad, one of the other
characters within the book of
245
00:13:50,240 –> 00:13:52,640
Job.
We find that he was a Shoehite
246
00:13:52,640 –> 00:13:56,040
and sure, from whom he probably
descended, was the youngest son
247
00:13:56,040 –> 00:13:59,960
of Abraham by Ketura, who you
remember, Abraham married after
248
00:13:59,960 –> 00:14:04,520
Sarah had died.
We find that there are a number
249
00:14:04,520 –> 00:14:10,040
of references in regard to that.
Also so far was a Namathite and
250
00:14:10,040 –> 00:14:13,840
there’s not too much that’s
conclusive about sofar, although
251
00:14:13,840 –> 00:14:16,480
it’s possible that he may have
been related to someone by the
252
00:14:16,480 –> 00:14:21,720
name of either Zepho or Zephy,
which was a grandson of Esau.
253
00:14:22,160 –> 00:14:25,200
This is not conclusive, but it
is interesting that in the
254
00:14:26,720 –> 00:14:31,600
Sartorjan translation both of
these names are translated sofar
255
00:14:32,160 –> 00:14:35,080
they may have a connection, they
may not, we can’t be actually
256
00:14:35,080 –> 00:14:38,320
sure.
However, it does seem that this
257
00:14:38,320 –> 00:14:42,400
action took place sometime after
the time of Abraham and when we
258
00:14:42,400 –> 00:14:48,440
come to Eliphaz he claims to be
more aged than Job.
259
00:14:48,840 –> 00:14:54,480
We have a quotation which reads.
Thus amongst us is 1, both Gray
260
00:14:54,480 –> 00:14:58,800
headed and very aged, one older
in Dazed and thy father.
261
00:14:59,280 –> 00:15:01,840
And when we look at the Hebrew,
we find that the term Gray
262
00:15:01,840 –> 00:15:05,240
headed and aged are in the
singular, which would seem to
263
00:15:05,240 –> 00:15:08,400
give an indication that what
he’s actually doing is referring
264
00:15:08,400 –> 00:15:12,360
to himself, although in a rather
polite and proper way.
265
00:15:13,240 –> 00:15:18,080
So he suggested that he may have
been contemporary or slightly
266
00:15:18,080 –> 00:15:21,640
older than Job’s father, or
perhaps about the age of Job’s
267
00:15:21,640 –> 00:15:24,760
grandfather.
Now, with all of these things in
268
00:15:24,760 –> 00:15:29,760
consideration, we could safely
say that Job lived sometime
269
00:15:30,160 –> 00:15:35,280
after the death of Joseph.
Or very close, he may have been
270
00:15:35,280 –> 00:15:36,960
born just before the death of
Joseph.
271
00:15:36,960 –> 00:15:40,480
There’s a possibility, and
before the time that Moses was
272
00:15:40,480 –> 00:15:43,520
born, it’s possible that he
might have even spent that
273
00:15:43,520 –> 00:15:47,080
entire time.
The total age of Job is not
274
00:15:47,080 –> 00:15:49,760
absolutely certain.
I’ll make a suggestion in regard
275
00:15:49,760 –> 00:15:54,880
to that later on.
Also, the date of the book when
276
00:15:54,880 –> 00:15:56,480
it was written should be
considered.
277
00:15:57,120 –> 00:16:00,120
We find that it was after the
memorial name Yahweh had been
278
00:16:00,120 –> 00:16:05,760
given, and therefore most likely
it was given after the Exodus
279
00:16:05,760 –> 00:16:08,600
from Egypt.
There’s a possibility there.
280
00:16:09,280 –> 00:16:12,400
It certainly seems that though
it was written sometime after
281
00:16:12,400 –> 00:16:15,960
the book of Genesis and probably
before the book of Exodus was
282
00:16:15,960 –> 00:16:20,680
written, we also have the
location of the action that took
283
00:16:20,680 –> 00:16:23,080
place.
And by examining the various
284
00:16:23,080 –> 00:16:26,800
lands that are considered, we
would have to put it somewhere
285
00:16:26,800 –> 00:16:30,120
on the east of Jordan, which
would suggest down in the area
286
00:16:30,120 –> 00:16:33,240
of Edom.
It seemed to be in an area where
287
00:16:33,240 –> 00:16:37,400
both the Chaldeans and the
Arabians could have be, could
288
00:16:37,400 –> 00:16:40,200
have come upon the wealth of Job
and fallen upon it.
289
00:16:40,520 –> 00:16:43,600
By the readings that we found in
this morning’s readings, it
290
00:16:43,600 –> 00:16:47,240
would therefore have to be
somewhere on the east of the
291
00:16:47,240 –> 00:16:50,200
Jordan River, perhaps in the
ancient area of Edom.
292
00:16:50,200 –> 00:16:52,840
What we would know now is the
country of Jordan.
293
00:16:54,520 –> 00:16:57,720
We also find that the location
of his three three friends seem
294
00:16:57,720 –> 00:17:00,760
to indicate a connection with
that particular part of the
295
00:17:00,760 –> 00:17:05,359
world, all combined to suggest
that it may have been somewhere
296
00:17:05,359 –> 00:17:07,640
on the fringes of the Arabian
Desert.
297
00:17:08,400 –> 00:17:10,440
There’s one other thing we
should think of before we jump
298
00:17:10,440 –> 00:17:14,000
into that first chapter of Job,
and that’s the authorship of the
299
00:17:14,000 –> 00:17:17,280
Book of Job.
The suggestion has been made
300
00:17:17,280 –> 00:17:21,119
that it was probably Moses.
Although when we go to the
301
00:17:21,119 –> 00:17:23,640
critics we find that they
wouldn’t quite agree with this
302
00:17:23,640 –> 00:17:26,359
idea.
And perhaps it’s because some of
303
00:17:26,359 –> 00:17:31,000
their thinking seems to be very
much involved with the idea of
304
00:17:31,000 –> 00:17:35,360
evolution, that man himself as
involved, has evolved and so
305
00:17:35,360 –> 00:17:40,400
hasn’t his knowledge and his
literate literary capability.
306
00:17:40,680 –> 00:17:43,720
And they look at the book of Job
and they say, now this is a very
307
00:17:43,720 –> 00:17:47,040
complicated book.
And therefore it must have been
308
00:17:47,040 –> 00:17:51,280
written very late and not very
early, because man would not
309
00:17:51,280 –> 00:17:54,560
have had the ability to write
the book of Job at a very early
310
00:17:54,560 –> 00:17:58,040
date, such as many would ascribe
the writing of Job that is back
311
00:17:58,040 –> 00:18:01,240
around the time of Moses.
And so they would suggest that
312
00:18:01,240 –> 00:18:04,840
the book of Job was written
considerably later in history, a
313
00:18:04,840 –> 00:18:08,480
number of 100 years.
But when we stopped to think
314
00:18:08,480 –> 00:18:12,600
that the word of God has been
inspired by God, would it be a
315
00:18:12,600 –> 00:18:16,640
difficult thing for the Almighty
to inspire the writing of a very
316
00:18:16,640 –> 00:18:18,960
complicated book at any time in
history?
317
00:18:19,760 –> 00:18:22,960
And of course it would not.
And there are many suggestions
318
00:18:23,360 –> 00:18:27,320
in the book of Job in relation
to the other books of the
319
00:18:27,320 –> 00:18:29,760
Scriptures that would bring us
to the thought that it probably
320
00:18:29,760 –> 00:18:33,360
was written after the book of
Genesis was written but before
321
00:18:33,360 –> 00:18:36,640
the Book of Exodus was written.
And so we have a number of
322
00:18:36,640 –> 00:18:41,440
reasons for suggesting that Job
action took place after the life
323
00:18:41,440 –> 00:18:45,320
of Joseph, but before the life
of Moses, that the setting was
324
00:18:45,320 –> 00:18:48,600
indeed in that corner of the
world, close to the Arabian
325
00:18:48,600 –> 00:18:52,560
desert, and the chances are
pretty good that Moses was the
326
00:18:52,560 –> 00:18:54,440
author.
This is the traditional view,
327
00:18:55,000 –> 00:18:57,160
although it’s not absolutely
conclusive.
328
00:18:57,520 –> 00:19:00,320
But there is a rather
interesting thing in regard to
329
00:19:00,320 –> 00:19:03,320
the writing of Job.
We’ve already mentioned that
330
00:19:03,320 –> 00:19:06,360
most of the book of Job was
written in portrait, and we
331
00:19:06,360 –> 00:19:11,880
cannot compare a poetic book
with books that were written in
332
00:19:11,880 –> 00:19:15,040
pole the prose, except for the
section that was written in
333
00:19:15,040 –> 00:19:17,560
prose.
And in those first two chapters
334
00:19:17,560 –> 00:19:20,880
of Job.
In the last 11 verses we find
335
00:19:20,880 –> 00:19:24,520
that there are many phrases that
are peculiar to the other
336
00:19:24,520 –> 00:19:27,680
writings of Moses and not made
use of and many other the books
337
00:19:27,680 –> 00:19:30,520
of the scriptures.
There are many of them.
338
00:19:30,680 –> 00:19:33,920
I have a list of a few.
We could certainly enhance that
339
00:19:33,920 –> 00:19:37,200
list by quite a bit.
I will not take the time to
340
00:19:37,200 –> 00:19:41,760
outline them all for you, but
the indication is that it may
341
00:19:41,760 –> 00:19:44,880
very well have been Moses who
would have written the Book of
342
00:19:44,880 –> 00:19:46,840
Job.
The possibility is there.
343
00:19:47,040 –> 00:19:48,920
I don’t wish to be dogmatic
about it.
344
00:19:49,960 –> 00:19:53,280
I would like now to jump into
the Book of Job and to see what
345
00:19:53,280 –> 00:19:54,720
we can do with the time
allotted.
346
00:19:55,560 –> 00:19:59,280
Wherever we end up with time
this morning, we’ll merely pick
347
00:19:59,280 –> 00:20:01,560
up with it as time goes on
through the week.
348
00:20:01,920 –> 00:20:05,480
On every other occasion when
I’ve had to give classes on the
349
00:20:05,480 –> 00:20:08,360
Book of Job, I’ve been assigned
different periods of time,
350
00:20:08,360 –> 00:20:10,520
anywhere from one class to 1/2 a
dozen.
351
00:20:11,120 –> 00:20:13,520
And therefore, it’s very
difficult to break it up and say
352
00:20:13,520 –> 00:20:15,440
this day will go exactly this
far.
353
00:20:15,560 –> 00:20:18,200
We’ll go as far as we can.
We’ll try to keep one eye on the
354
00:20:18,200 –> 00:20:21,480
clock, try to end on time, and
then pick it up tomorrow where
355
00:20:21,480 –> 00:20:24,280
we leave off today.
And so we start with the book of
356
00:20:24,280 –> 00:20:26,720
Job, and I wonder if we could
open to that first chapter that
357
00:20:26,720 –> 00:20:30,480
we’ve had read for us and take a
little bit of a look at it
358
00:20:31,960 –> 00:20:33,680
there.
We start out in the first verse
359
00:20:33,680 –> 00:20:36,560
by reading that there was a man
in the name of Oz whose name was
360
00:20:36,560 –> 00:20:40,960
Job, and that man was perfect
and upright, one that feared God
361
00:20:40,960 –> 00:20:43,880
and his true evil.
And I think we all realize that
362
00:20:43,880 –> 00:20:47,880
if we could ever be spoken of by
the inspired word of God in such
363
00:20:47,880 –> 00:20:51,880
complimentary ways, we would be
very, very happy indeed.
364
00:20:52,560 –> 00:20:56,920
And yet, not everyone feels that
Job really was, as described
365
00:20:56,920 –> 00:21:02,240
here in that first verse, as one
who was perfect and upright, a
366
00:21:02,240 –> 00:21:04,240
man that feared God and his true
evil.
367
00:21:04,440 –> 00:21:07,440
Some would even go so far as to
say that’s the opinion that Job
368
00:21:07,440 –> 00:21:11,160
had of himself, but it’s not
really what Job was.
369
00:21:11,640 –> 00:21:15,680
If this was the case, I think
we’d have quite a few problems.
370
00:21:16,120 –> 00:21:17,720
I’d like to review a few of
those.
371
00:21:17,720 –> 00:21:20,760
I’ve heard that many think that
actually Job was somewhat of a
372
00:21:20,760 –> 00:21:24,000
scoundrel and the suffering that
he underwent was what he really
373
00:21:24,000 –> 00:21:27,080
deserved after all, for the
purpose of bringing him to a
374
00:21:27,080 –> 00:21:29,840
position of righteousness which
eventually, perhaps, he may be
375
00:21:29,840 –> 00:21:32,720
obtained.
If indeed we’re going to take
376
00:21:32,720 –> 00:21:35,720
this position, what we’re going
to have to say is the Bible
377
00:21:35,720 –> 00:21:37,280
doesn’t really mean what it
says.
378
00:21:38,200 –> 00:21:41,160
And if this is the case, we’re
going to have to look at many
379
00:21:41,160 –> 00:21:43,880
passages in the Bible that we
use as proof verses for the
380
00:21:43,880 –> 00:21:46,400
doctrines that we most assuredly
believe and say.
381
00:21:46,520 –> 00:21:47,880
Well, they don’t.
Really mean what they say.
382
00:21:47,880 –> 00:21:51,040
They mean exactly the opposite.
And this is exactly what many of
383
00:21:51,040 –> 00:21:55,320
those who our opponents do when
it comes to very basic points of
384
00:21:55,320 –> 00:21:57,760
doctrine.
When it says there’s one God,
385
00:21:57,760 –> 00:21:59,440
they’ll say, well, it really
means it’s three.
386
00:22:00,200 –> 00:22:03,320
And we have all kinds of
problems such as that When it
387
00:22:03,320 –> 00:22:05,560
says the wages of sin is death,
they’ll say, oh, that means the
388
00:22:05,560 –> 00:22:07,640
body died.
But still, a person’s actually
389
00:22:07,640 –> 00:22:09,400
immortal because their soul
lives on forever.
390
00:22:09,680 –> 00:22:11,720
And we have all kinds of
problems such as that.
391
00:22:11,880 –> 00:22:14,720
If we’re going to say that the
Bible doesn’t really mean what
392
00:22:14,720 –> 00:22:18,760
it says, we’re going to have a
great deal of difficulty here.
393
00:22:18,760 –> 00:22:22,800
We find that Job is upheld by
the inspired word of God here in
394
00:22:22,800 –> 00:22:26,400
the book of Job and also in
other books of the Scriptures as
395
00:22:26,400 –> 00:22:28,720
being a man who was indeed
righteous.
396
00:22:29,320 –> 00:22:32,320
We already mentioned how that he
was put together with Noor and
397
00:22:32,320 –> 00:22:36,320
Daniel, individuals who were
righteous before the action,
398
00:22:36,560 –> 00:22:38,960
during the action, and after the
action.
399
00:22:39,160 –> 00:22:42,960
When we look at Job, if indeed
he can be compared with them, it
400
00:22:42,960 –> 00:22:45,840
would not be unreasonable for us
to assume that he indeed was
401
00:22:45,840 –> 00:22:49,440
righteous before the action,
during the action, and after the
402
00:22:49,440 –> 00:22:52,080
action.
That doesn’t mean that Job
403
00:22:52,080 –> 00:22:55,520
couldn’t learn anything by what
took place, and later on in the
404
00:22:55,520 –> 00:22:58,960
week we’re going to consider a
problem that Job had.
405
00:22:59,320 –> 00:23:03,560
But this is not going to
conflict with the mechanical
406
00:23:03,560 –> 00:23:08,520
righteousness that Job had, that
he was indeed perfect and
407
00:23:08,520 –> 00:23:12,520
upright in his actions, that he
was indeed a man who feared God
408
00:23:12,520 –> 00:23:14,880
and his true evil.
And by that I don’t mean that he
409
00:23:14,880 –> 00:23:17,560
never made a mistake.
We know that only the Lord Jesus
410
00:23:17,560 –> 00:23:21,080
Christ lived an absolutely
perfect life, but nevertheless
411
00:23:21,080 –> 00:23:25,680
He made righteousness a way of
life and he is upheld and
412
00:23:25,680 –> 00:23:28,320
commended for it by the Lord
Himself.
413
00:23:28,960 –> 00:23:31,600
Not only here in the first
verse, but also in the
414
00:23:31,600 –> 00:23:35,200
discussion he has with the enemy
that comes on the scene a few
415
00:23:35,200 –> 00:23:40,440
verses down in the book of Job.
So here we have him upheld.
416
00:23:40,760 –> 00:23:42,720
There are a number of other
reasons that could be
417
00:23:42,720 –> 00:23:45,480
considered.
To outline them now or later is
418
00:23:45,480 –> 00:23:49,920
a question we do find a little
bit later.
419
00:23:49,920 –> 00:23:51,880
We’re going to be considering
the doctrine of exact
420
00:23:51,880 –> 00:23:55,720
retribution, if indeed the
scripture doesn’t mean what it
421
00:23:55,720 –> 00:23:58,720
says.
We wouldn’t have any argument
422
00:23:58,720 –> 00:24:02,480
for exact retribution or against
exact retribution, which is
423
00:24:02,480 –> 00:24:05,920
actually what the case is.
Therefore we come to the
424
00:24:05,920 –> 00:24:08,600
conclusion that we would find
that the Almighty was wrong when
425
00:24:08,600 –> 00:24:11,080
he condemned Job’s three friends
at the end of the book in that
426
00:24:11,080 –> 00:24:14,520
very last chapter, and said Thou
hast not spoken that which is
427
00:24:14,520 –> 00:24:16,880
right concerning me as my
servant.
428
00:24:16,880 –> 00:24:21,760
Job has a very interesting
commendation for the things that
429
00:24:21,760 –> 00:24:25,800
Job had to say in his debates
with his three friends.
430
00:24:26,800 –> 00:24:29,640
And perhaps the most important
thing, a subject that we’ll get
431
00:24:29,640 –> 00:24:31,960
to a little bit later in the
week.
432
00:24:31,960 –> 00:24:37,640
Not too much.
And that is the the fact that
433
00:24:37,640 –> 00:24:42,280
the innocent can indeed suffer
for the benefit of the guilty, a
434
00:24:42,280 –> 00:24:45,120
point which we’re going to have
to hammer home a number of times
435
00:24:45,120 –> 00:24:47,680
this week.
And even though this is slightly
436
00:24:47,680 –> 00:24:50,720
out of line from where it’s
presented in the Book of Job, I
437
00:24:50,720 –> 00:24:52,920
think we have to keep in the
back of our mind that the
438
00:24:52,920 –> 00:24:57,320
Almighty in His wisdom.
I saw to it that the Book of Job
439
00:24:57,320 –> 00:25:01,480
was inspired to be written very,
very early in history, very
440
00:25:01,480 –> 00:25:03,920
early in the list of the Canon
of books of the Scriptures.
441
00:25:03,920 –> 00:25:08,200
And I think there’s a reason for
if we did not realize this basic
442
00:25:08,200 –> 00:25:12,880
principle that the innocent can
suffer for the benefit of the
443
00:25:12,880 –> 00:25:17,000
guilty, when we would come to
view the suffering of the Lord
444
00:25:17,040 –> 00:25:20,680
Jesus Christ, it’d be
unintelligible to us.
445
00:25:21,280 –> 00:25:25,120
We have to realize that an
individual can indeed suffer for
446
00:25:25,120 –> 00:25:29,760
the benefits of others, and that
was placed very early in the
447
00:25:29,760 –> 00:25:33,480
inspired writings of the Holy
Writ, even back here in the book
448
00:25:33,480 –> 00:25:36,000
of Job.
There are a number of reasons
449
00:25:36,000 –> 00:25:39,080
for us to accept the fact that
Job was a mechanically righteous
450
00:25:39,080 –> 00:25:41,440
individual.
His attitude toward his
451
00:25:41,440 –> 00:25:44,520
righteousness is something that
we’re going to consider later in
452
00:25:44,520 –> 00:25:48,960
the week, and also, I hope, the
attitude we may have toward our
453
00:25:48,960 –> 00:25:51,440
righteousness, if indeed we have
any.
454
00:25:53,320 –> 00:25:57,040
We also find that a very
interesting thing took place.
455
00:25:57,520 –> 00:26:01,240
We have a list next of what
happened in regard to his
456
00:26:01,240 –> 00:26:05,720
children, how that his sons came
together to offer sacrifices,
457
00:26:05,720 –> 00:26:10,120
verse two, and they were born
unto him, seven sons and three
458
00:26:10,120 –> 00:26:13,040
daughters.
We also have a list of his
459
00:26:13,040 –> 00:26:16,040
substance.
We have it outlined here and I’d
460
00:26:16,040 –> 00:26:20,680
like to turn up one more poster
and we won’t go beyond this
461
00:26:20,680 –> 00:26:25,800
particular poster this morning.
We have in this poster of course
462
00:26:25,800 –> 00:26:31,080
a comparison of the wealth of
Job both before the action and
463
00:26:31,080 –> 00:26:34,160
then after the action was over
and God had current turn the
464
00:26:34,160 –> 00:26:37,880
captivity of Job and we notice,
I don’t know if you can all see
465
00:26:37,880 –> 00:26:39,720
that perhaps it’s a little bit
low down.
466
00:26:40,760 –> 00:26:43,720
You have the same thing written
down for you in the third verse
467
00:26:43,720 –> 00:26:47,080
of this book.
How that his substance also was
468
00:26:47,080 –> 00:26:55,080
7000 sheep, 3000 camels, 500
yokovacs, oxen, 500 Shias is in
469
00:26:55,080 –> 00:26:58,480
a very great household, so that
this man was the greatest of all
470
00:26:58,480 –> 00:27:00,600
of the East.
And you notice how that that’s
471
00:27:00,600 –> 00:27:04,520
written in one column on the
right side of the page or left
472
00:27:04,520 –> 00:27:06,640
side of the page, Excuse me,
your left is my right.
473
00:27:07,520 –> 00:27:10,880
And on the other column we have
what he received after the
474
00:27:10,880 –> 00:27:14,560
action was over, how that the
Lord had given him twice as much
475
00:27:14,560 –> 00:27:17,920
as he had had before.
You also notice a rather
476
00:27:17,920 –> 00:27:19,800
interesting thing, and we’re
going to bring this up on
477
00:27:19,800 –> 00:27:23,880
Saturday now that he had seven
sons and three daughters to
478
00:27:23,880 –> 00:27:27,720
begin with, and how he also has
seven sons and three daughters
479
00:27:27,720 –> 00:27:30,560
to end with.
We do wish to discuss that on
480
00:27:30,560 –> 00:27:33,840
Saturday, and I think to me at
least, it’s one of the most
481
00:27:33,840 –> 00:27:37,360
beautiful things in the whole of
the book of Job, but let’s set
482
00:27:37,360 –> 00:27:41,840
that aside for a while.
We also have the age that Job
483
00:27:41,840 –> 00:27:45,920
lived after the action took
place, but we’re not told how
484
00:27:45,920 –> 00:27:48,760
old Job was when the action took
place.
485
00:27:49,560 –> 00:27:52,600
I’m going to make a suggestion
as to how old I think he was,
486
00:27:53,080 –> 00:27:55,640
and I’ll give you the reason for
that on Saturday.
487
00:27:56,000 –> 00:27:59,040
Although I don’t mind telling
you now how old I think Job was
488
00:27:59,480 –> 00:28:02,200
when the action took place.
I think he was 70 years of age,
489
00:28:03,240 –> 00:28:05,920
but I’d like to leave the
reasons for that when we get to
490
00:28:05,920 –> 00:28:09,120
the 42nd chapter and find that
the Lord had turned the
491
00:28:09,120 –> 00:28:12,040
captivity of Job.
So let’s leave that.
492
00:28:12,040 –> 00:28:14,760
We do find that he had seven
sons and three daughters to
493
00:28:14,760 –> 00:28:19,320
begin with.
Some had made a suggestion that
494
00:28:19,320 –> 00:28:22,880
these seven sons and three
daughters did not actually die,
495
00:28:23,360 –> 00:28:27,320
that there was merely a report
that they had died and they had
496
00:28:27,320 –> 00:28:29,160
been hidden away somewhere
because they said it wouldn’t be
497
00:28:29,160 –> 00:28:33,800
very nice of the Almighty to
kill 10 of Job’s children, if
498
00:28:33,800 –> 00:28:35,520
indeed they were righteous.
And others have made the
499
00:28:35,520 –> 00:28:38,520
suggestion of saying, well, you
know, the children of Job were
500
00:28:38,880 –> 00:28:41,920
not such very good individuals
and that’s why the Lord did
501
00:28:41,920 –> 00:28:45,040
permit them to be killed,
because they really didn’t
502
00:28:45,040 –> 00:28:47,560
deserve to live.
I’m going to take another
503
00:28:47,560 –> 00:28:51,360
position and say that I feel
that these seven sons and three
504
00:28:51,360 –> 00:28:55,080
daughters were righteous
children and that they actually
505
00:28:55,080 –> 00:28:58,320
did die.
And there are another seven sons
506
00:28:58,320 –> 00:29:02,240
and three daughters that were
born unto Job after the action
507
00:29:02,240 –> 00:29:06,120
had taken place.
If you wish to do a little
508
00:29:06,320 –> 00:29:10,160
research, I’d recommend that you
take a look at the Septuagint
509
00:29:10,160 –> 00:29:13,960
translation, For there we find
that at the beginning of the
510
00:29:13,960 –> 00:29:18,480
Book of Job, this man had seven
sons and three daughters.
511
00:29:18,600 –> 00:29:20,720
They were already there.
They were in existence.
512
00:29:21,400 –> 00:29:24,400
At the end of the Book of Job,
after the captivity of Job is
513
00:29:24,400 –> 00:29:27,640
turned by the Lord, we find that
they were born unto him.
514
00:29:27,800 –> 00:29:32,920
Seven sons and three daughters.
Another seven sons, another
515
00:29:32,920 –> 00:29:35,440
three daughters.
And we’re going to have quite a
516
00:29:35,440 –> 00:29:38,320
bit to say about that when we
come to Saturday.
517
00:29:39,640 –> 00:29:44,480
But would it be unrighteous of
the Lord for those 10 if they
518
00:29:44,480 –> 00:29:47,080
were righteous children to be
put to death?
519
00:29:48,600 –> 00:29:51,320
You know, death is a temporary
thing for those who are
520
00:29:51,320 –> 00:29:55,440
righteous, isn’t it, For them to
sleep in the dust of the grave,
521
00:29:55,440 –> 00:29:58,200
and the very next thing that
they would consciously realize
522
00:29:58,200 –> 00:30:01,440
would be to be alive at the feet
of the Lord Jesus?
523
00:30:02,320 –> 00:30:04,040
Would it really be all that
cruel?
524
00:30:04,600 –> 00:30:06,600
Did you ever stop to think of
that for yourself?
525
00:30:07,680 –> 00:30:10,960
For those who are in the Lord
Jesus Christ to fall asleep in
526
00:30:10,960 –> 00:30:15,880
death and rest in the grave?
Is it really all that bad when
527
00:30:15,880 –> 00:30:17,880
you think that the next thing
that we would know?
528
00:30:18,560 –> 00:30:20,840
Would be that we would be
standing before the Lord Jesus
529
00:30:20,840 –> 00:30:23,520
Christ.
So what happened in regard to
530
00:30:23,520 –> 00:30:25,880
Job’s seven sons and three
daughters, we find that they
531
00:30:25,880 –> 00:30:30,240
made a feast starting at their
the elder son’s house, working
532
00:30:30,240 –> 00:30:32,080
down through the seven.
Now that would take a week,
533
00:30:32,080 –> 00:30:34,320
wouldn’t it?
And on each day they would.
534
00:30:34,320 –> 00:30:37,560
Assemble at one of the sons
homes and the three daughters
535
00:30:37,560 –> 00:30:40,120
were invited as well.
Some have.
536
00:30:40,120 –> 00:30:42,520
Suggested that it certainly
wasn’t a very good assembly.
537
00:30:42,520 –> 00:30:47,440
It was, well, somewhat of a wild
party, if we may put it in
538
00:30:47,720 –> 00:30:51,160
polite phrase.
But others have suggested that
539
00:30:51,160 –> 00:30:55,240
it was indeed a very holy union,
where that they were there
540
00:30:55,240 –> 00:30:58,640
together to feast and to give
Thanksgiving to the Lord.
541
00:30:59,120 –> 00:31:00,560
For the wonderful.
Life that he had.
542
00:31:00,560 –> 00:31:03,440
Given them and the glorious
promise of a future life to
543
00:31:03,440 –> 00:31:07,800
come, this is a position that
I’d like to take myself at this
544
00:31:07,800 –> 00:31:11,960
point and also note that on the
1st.
545
00:31:11,960 –> 00:31:15,000
Day of the week, which would
also be if it was a repeated
546
00:31:15,000 –> 00:31:17,240
thing.
Whether every week they had
547
00:31:17,240 –> 00:31:21,080
rounds such as this going from
one son to another and it would
548
00:31:21,080 –> 00:31:23,560
be continual feasting.
Or perhaps it may have taken
549
00:31:23,560 –> 00:31:25,640
place only periodically through
the year.
550
00:31:25,640 –> 00:31:28,280
We don’t know.
But on the first day of the week
551
00:31:28,280 –> 00:31:32,160
Job offered sacrifices.
And it’s because of the way that
552
00:31:32,160 –> 00:31:34,960
it’s worded in the scriptures
that I would like to suggest
553
00:31:35,320 –> 00:31:38,560
that his sons and daughters were
indeed righteous individuals.
554
00:31:39,240 –> 00:31:44,040
We noticed that Job offered
sacrifices because he said
555
00:31:44,040 –> 00:31:48,880
perhaps they’ve sinned against
God in their heart.
556
00:31:49,840 –> 00:31:53,360
If indeed their sins had been
obviously external.
557
00:31:53,880 –> 00:31:57,720
If they had been committed in
any terrible sins, it would have
558
00:31:57,720 –> 00:32:00,360
been obvious, and that would be
the reason that Job would be
559
00:32:00,360 –> 00:32:02,720
offering sacrifices.
But he wasn’t offering
560
00:32:02,720 –> 00:32:05,640
sacrifices for any particular
sin that they had sinned
561
00:32:05,640 –> 00:32:08,800
outwardly.
But he was so interested in the
562
00:32:08,800 –> 00:32:12,960
well-being of his offspring that
he said it just might be that
563
00:32:12,960 –> 00:32:17,440
their hearts might not quite be
right with God, and he was even
564
00:32:17,440 –> 00:32:20,880
interested in their internal
attitude toward the Creator.
565
00:32:21,720 –> 00:32:25,400
My suggestion is therefore that
they really were righteous, at
566
00:32:25,400 –> 00:32:28,800
least outwardly, and Job was
hoping that their righteousness
567
00:32:29,040 –> 00:32:30,920
would be inward as well as
outward.
568
00:32:31,800 –> 00:32:34,840
The suggestion is there, and
it’s left up for your
569
00:32:34,840 –> 00:32:38,400
consideration.
And so we do find that.
570
00:32:38,400 –> 00:32:42,000
Then there was a meeting between
the sons of God who came before
571
00:32:42,000 –> 00:32:45,000
the Lord.
All, and I know that our friends
572
00:32:45,000 –> 00:32:47,520
and many of the churches around
about us have got all sorts of
573
00:32:47,960 –> 00:32:50,840
great and wonderful ideas about
this particular passage.
574
00:32:51,240 –> 00:32:54,960
Perhaps the most popular is that
here is a meeting of the angels
575
00:32:54,960 –> 00:32:58,600
of God up in heaven.
And amongst that meeting of the
576
00:32:58,600 –> 00:33:02,880
angels of God, along comes a bad
fellow that’s called Satan, who
577
00:33:02,880 –> 00:33:06,480
had been a rebellious Angel and
had spent his time walking to
578
00:33:06,480 –> 00:33:08,960
and fro on the earth trying to
get people to turn against God.
579
00:33:09,800 –> 00:33:13,640
And here God challenges them and
says, have you considered my
580
00:33:13,640 –> 00:33:15,360
servant Job?
That there’s none like him in
581
00:33:15,360 –> 00:33:17,560
all the earth?
One who is perfect and upright.
582
00:33:17,560 –> 00:33:21,440
One who fears God and his true
evil, almost as though he’s
583
00:33:21,440 –> 00:33:25,720
gloating to this fallen Angel.
And the fallen Angel said, well,
584
00:33:25,720 –> 00:33:27,720
you know the only reason.
He’s a righteous man, as he
585
00:33:27,720 –> 00:33:29,680
recognizes as a good business
deal.
586
00:33:29,840 –> 00:33:32,600
You’ve paid him to be righteous.
You’ve given him everything that
587
00:33:32,600 –> 00:33:36,840
he has, you’ve given him a fine
wife and 10 children, and you’ve
588
00:33:36,840 –> 00:33:39,240
given him a lots of wealth and
good health.
589
00:33:39,440 –> 00:33:42,360
Why shouldn’t he be righteous?
You’ll pay him to be righteous,
590
00:33:42,880 –> 00:33:45,240
and he recognizes a good
business deal, is willing to
591
00:33:45,240 –> 00:33:48,680
accept the pay and pay you back
by being a servant of yours.
592
00:33:50,920 –> 00:33:55,480
Is it possible that this meeting
took place up in heaven by the
593
00:33:55,480 –> 00:33:57,720
angels of God?
You know, there is one passage
594
00:33:57,720 –> 00:34:01,120
in the Scriptures where the sons
of God are spoken of, and it
595
00:34:01,160 –> 00:34:03,800
obviously is angels.
And we’ll have to admit that
596
00:34:03,800 –> 00:34:06,000
that passage is in the book of
Job.
597
00:34:06,000 –> 00:34:08,760
It’s over there in the 38th
chapter that we’ll get to a few
598
00:34:08,760 –> 00:34:12,400
days from now, and there it
speaks about the creation and
599
00:34:12,400 –> 00:34:14,880
how at the creation.
All the sons of God rejoiced.
600
00:34:15,920 –> 00:34:18,080
Obviously that has to be the
angels of heaven.
601
00:34:18,360 –> 00:34:20,560
Because human beings weren’t
around beginning.
602
00:34:22,000 –> 00:34:24,560
Not until the 6th day when man
was indeed created.
603
00:34:24,800 –> 00:34:27,679
Therefore the sons of God in
that particular reference must
604
00:34:27,679 –> 00:34:30,239
be the angels.
And Sir, surely the angels of
605
00:34:30,239 –> 00:34:33,000
heaven are the sons of God.
But there are many passages
606
00:34:33,000 –> 00:34:36,159
throughout the Scriptures where
sons of God are referred to, in
607
00:34:36,159 –> 00:34:40,280
fact the bulk of them, where it
obviously is human beings, we
608
00:34:40,280 –> 00:34:43,800
read in the Scriptures.
Now are we the sons of God?
609
00:34:44,080 –> 00:34:48,840
And we could bring up literally,
probably 20 passages which speak
610
00:34:48,840 –> 00:34:54,120
of us human beings as being the
sons and daughters of God.
611
00:34:54,360 –> 00:34:56,639
It’s there again and again
through the Scriptures.
612
00:34:56,760 –> 00:34:59,800
And unless we’re given very good
reason to believe that when it
613
00:34:59,800 –> 00:35:04,960
speaks of the sons of God it is
God’s heavenly angels, we would
614
00:35:04,960 –> 00:35:09,320
be in much, much better
perspective to expect that it
615
00:35:09,320 –> 00:35:12,200
would be human beings, because
the Bible has to do with God’s
616
00:35:12,200 –> 00:35:16,800
relationship with man.
We have another problem,
617
00:35:16,800 –> 00:35:20,200
however, and we’re immediate.
It’s immediately pointed out
618
00:35:20,200 –> 00:35:21,800
that these.
Sons of God.
619
00:35:22,160 –> 00:35:26,120
Came before the Lord.
And that Lord the Lord dwelleth
620
00:35:26,120 –> 00:35:29,000
in a man, that God dwells in a
light that no man can approach
621
00:35:29,000 –> 00:35:32,560
unto, that he dwells in heaven.
And therefore the coming before
622
00:35:32,560 –> 00:35:34,320
the Lord must indeed have been
up in heaven.
623
00:35:34,520 –> 00:35:37,040
And since we don’t have access
to heaven, it must have been
624
00:35:37,040 –> 00:35:41,400
God’s heavenly angels.
And so the argument goes, Is
625
00:35:41,400 –> 00:35:45,440
that the case?
Do we not find in the scriptures
626
00:35:46,040 –> 00:35:48,840
that very often men?
Were to come.
627
00:35:48,840 –> 00:35:51,640
Before the Lord.
In fact, there are two other
628
00:35:51,640 –> 00:35:54,760
places in the scriptures.
It uses this exact phraseology
629
00:35:55,040 –> 00:35:59,080
to present themselves before the
Lord, and in both cases it has
630
00:35:59,080 –> 00:36:01,600
to do with the men of Israel
presenting themselves before the
631
00:36:01,600 –> 00:36:05,160
Tabernacle of the congregation.
We do find that in the
632
00:36:05,160 –> 00:36:08,640
wilderness, when the Tabernacle
of the congregation was there,
633
00:36:08,640 –> 00:36:12,080
all Israel on a number of a
number of times presented
634
00:36:12,080 –> 00:36:15,680
themselves before the Lord.
We also find that under the
635
00:36:15,680 –> 00:36:19,800
Mosaic Law, after they had
settled in the land, and 1st
636
00:36:19,800 –> 00:36:22,280
when the House of the Lord was
at Shiloh, and later after the
637
00:36:22,280 –> 00:36:26,200
Temple had been built by
Solomon, that all of the males
638
00:36:26,200 –> 00:36:30,440
of Israel were to present
themselves 3 * a year before the
639
00:36:30,440 –> 00:36:33,000
Lord.
And that didn’t mean that every
640
00:36:33,000 –> 00:36:37,200
man in Israel went to heaven 3 *
a year didn’t have anything to
641
00:36:37,200 –> 00:36:39,800
do with that.
The presenting of themselves
642
00:36:39,800 –> 00:36:42,240
before the Lord was right here
on the earth.
643
00:36:44,240 –> 00:36:48,000
Did you ever stop to think we
present ourselves before the
644
00:36:48,000 –> 00:36:51,840
Lord often, don’t we?
Certainly every Sunday when we
645
00:36:51,840 –> 00:36:54,000
come together to break bread and
drink wine?
646
00:36:54,400 –> 00:36:57,520
And I hope we present ourselves
before the Lord on many other
647
00:36:57,520 –> 00:37:00,000
occasions as well.
Not only when we get together
648
00:37:00,000 –> 00:37:02,240
with those of light, precious
faith for various meetings
649
00:37:02,240 –> 00:37:07,000
throughout the week, but also
whenever we draw before the Lord
650
00:37:07,000 –> 00:37:11,520
in prayer, we’re presenting
ourselves before the Lord And
651
00:37:11,520 –> 00:37:14,480
the idea of saying that in order
for the sons of God to present
652
00:37:14,480 –> 00:37:17,000
themselves before the Lord, it
must have been a heavenly
653
00:37:17,000 –> 00:37:19,480
meeting.
Something off this planet
654
00:37:20,240 –> 00:37:23,320
certainly doesn’t stand up to
very close scrutinization.
655
00:37:24,040 –> 00:37:28,360
Instead we find that it most
likely has to do with an earthly
656
00:37:28,360 –> 00:37:33,120
meeting where that those within
the Ecclesia, within the
657
00:37:33,120 –> 00:37:36,520
community of believers had come
before the Lord and amongst them
658
00:37:36,840 –> 00:37:41,880
came an enemy, someone who was
not quite right with God.
659
00:37:42,040 –> 00:37:46,520
One who was a self-made man, one
who saw no real reason for being
660
00:37:46,520 –> 00:37:49,960
of service to God.
And the Lord directs his
661
00:37:49,960 –> 00:37:55,080
attention to a very righteous
individual, even Job, and said,
662
00:37:55,080 –> 00:37:59,440
hast thou considered my servant
Job one that fears God and his
663
00:37:59,440 –> 00:38:02,360
choose evil, that there’s no one
like him in all the earth.
664
00:38:02,560 –> 00:38:07,440
And the suggestion is that,
look, Satan or enemy, which is
665
00:38:07,440 –> 00:38:09,880
actually what the word means,
and that’s all it means.
666
00:38:10,160 –> 00:38:13,880
Why don’t you take Job’s life as
an example for yourself?
667
00:38:14,040 –> 00:38:16,800
Why don’t you try to emulate the
way in which he lives?
668
00:38:17,120 –> 00:38:20,920
He’s living in the right way and
this enemy doesn’t see any real
669
00:38:20,920 –> 00:38:23,400
reason for it and says, you
know, it’s only a business deal
670
00:38:23,400 –> 00:38:25,240
that you’ve got going between
yourself and Job.
671
00:38:25,800 –> 00:38:27,840
You’ve given Job everything that
he has.
672
00:38:28,040 –> 00:38:29,640
You’ve given him a wonderful
life.
673
00:38:29,800 –> 00:38:32,840
You’ve given him a wonderful
wife, 10 wonderful children.
674
00:38:32,960 –> 00:38:35,400
You’ve given him wealth that
nobody else on the earth has.
675
00:38:35,720 –> 00:38:38,400
He’s the richest in the East.
You’ve given him good health.
676
00:38:38,840 –> 00:38:44,400
Why shouldn’t he return that
business deal by giving you his
677
00:38:44,400 –> 00:38:48,240
righteousness?
So all you’re really doing, God
678
00:38:48,800 –> 00:38:53,360
is buying Job’s righteousness,
and all He’s doing is selling it
679
00:38:53,360 –> 00:38:56,920
to you.
In fact, this was a real enemy,
680
00:38:56,920 –> 00:38:59,480
wasn’t it?
It was an enemy not only of Job,
681
00:38:59,520 –> 00:39:04,400
but also of God as well, because
he was accused of seeing both of
682
00:39:04,400 –> 00:39:08,680
this unsavory practice, That
this righteousness that Job was
683
00:39:08,680 –> 00:39:12,720
exhibiting was only a business
deal between himself and God.
684
00:39:12,920 –> 00:39:16,120
And therefore this enemy
suggests that if God was to
685
00:39:16,120 –> 00:39:21,400
remove all of Job’s wealth, that
Job would curse him to his face.
686
00:39:21,400 –> 00:39:23,600
And then God gives him a very
remarkable power.
687
00:39:23,720 –> 00:39:27,200
He says go ahead, take it away
from him, but don’t you touch
688
00:39:27,200 –> 00:39:30,320
his body.
And then we find that there are
689
00:39:30,320 –> 00:39:34,280
four quick hammer blows that
fall upon Job to test his
690
00:39:34,280 –> 00:39:38,600
integrity, to see if he was
really serving God because he
691
00:39:38,600 –> 00:39:41,480
wanted to serve him for
righteousness sake or just
692
00:39:41,480 –> 00:39:44,760
because it’s a business deal.
And consequently we find that
693
00:39:44,760 –> 00:39:46,320
these things.
Fall.
694
00:39:46,320 –> 00:39:49,480
Upon him in quick hammer blows.
First of all, we find that the
695
00:39:49,480 –> 00:39:53,440
Sabians come and take away his
camel and asses, and only one
696
00:39:53,440 –> 00:39:55,320
servant remains to come and tell
Job.
697
00:39:55,840 –> 00:40:00,280
And isn’t it interesting that
this most likely takes place on
698
00:40:00,280 –> 00:40:03,840
the first day of the week, the
very day that Job has offered
699
00:40:03,840 –> 00:40:07,200
sacrifices to God?
We find this later on because
700
00:40:07,200 –> 00:40:10,720
when it’s his, it’s when his
children are eating and drinking
701
00:40:10,720 –> 00:40:13,520
in the elder brother’s house.
It was probably that first day
702
00:40:13,520 –> 00:40:15,480
of the week.
And job had already.
703
00:40:15,480 –> 00:40:18,880
Offered his sacrifices.
And by these things taking place
704
00:40:18,880 –> 00:40:22,440
and being smitten as he was, it
would seem in Job’s mind as if
705
00:40:22,440 –> 00:40:25,280
God had turned against him, that
God had removed all the
706
00:40:25,280 –> 00:40:29,120
blessings that he had heretofore
given it, and therefore his
707
00:40:29,120 –> 00:40:31,880
sacrifice had not been accepted
by Almighty God.
708
00:40:32,040 –> 00:40:35,960
First the Sabians take away his
oxen and asses, and the
709
00:40:35,960 –> 00:40:38,000
Messenger hasn’t even completed
his message.
710
00:40:38,120 –> 00:40:40,920
When another Messenger comes on
the scene and says that his
711
00:40:40,920 –> 00:40:44,600
sheep were destroyed by fire and
that Messenger hasn’t finished
712
00:40:44,600 –> 00:40:48,120
talking before, 1/3 Messenger
comes on the scene and says the
713
00:40:48,120 –> 00:40:52,520
Chaldeans took away your camels.
And then the 4th messenger with
714
00:40:52,520 –> 00:40:56,120
the saddest message of all comes
on the scene and says there was
715
00:40:56,120 –> 00:41:00,400
a great wind which killed your
ten children as they were dining
716
00:41:00,400 –> 00:41:01,760
in the elder brother’s house.
He said.
717
00:41:01,760 –> 00:41:05,640
And I alone am escaped to tell
thee if there is any time in
718
00:41:05,640 –> 00:41:09,680
Job’s light where his emotions
would have been brought to a
719
00:41:09,680 –> 00:41:13,960
very low condition, and when, if
at any time, he would curse God,
720
00:41:13,960 –> 00:41:18,160
it would have been that we know
how we feel when we’re pretty
721
00:41:18,160 –> 00:41:21,280
down in the dumps.
Emotionally, we find that that’s
722
00:41:21,280 –> 00:41:25,120
when that we don’t react in
nearly as righteous A manner as
723
00:41:25,120 –> 00:41:29,720
we would when we feel highly
spiritual by being uplifted by
724
00:41:29,720 –> 00:41:31,440
perhaps a Bible school such as
this.
725
00:41:32,120 –> 00:41:33,840
You know it’s.
It’s a lot easier to remain
726
00:41:33,840 –> 00:41:36,760
righteous at a time like this
than it is when we’re out in the
727
00:41:36,760 –> 00:41:39,560
world and everything seems to be
going wrong here.
728
00:41:39,560 –> 00:41:41,440
Everything had gone wrong in
Job’s life.
729
00:41:41,520 –> 00:41:45,000
Even his sacrifice, it seems,
had been rejected by God.
730
00:41:45,600 –> 00:41:49,080
But now we find that he had lost
all that he had in the way of
731
00:41:49,080 –> 00:41:53,680
wealth, everything that we find
in that list, including the ten
732
00:41:53,680 –> 00:41:56,600
children.
And yet we find that Job
733
00:41:56,600 –> 00:42:00,760
maintained his integrity.
He amazes us in the way in which
734
00:42:00,760 –> 00:42:03,840
he received this very
unfortunate news.
735
00:42:04,200 –> 00:42:08,360
He falls down before God, and he
worships, and he says, the Lord
736
00:42:08,360 –> 00:42:12,560
giveth, the Lord taketh away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
737
00:42:14,040 –> 00:42:18,200
and I’ve often wondered myself,
and I wonder if you have, how we
738
00:42:18,200 –> 00:42:20,440
would react under similar
circumstances.
739
00:42:20,840 –> 00:42:24,360
Why would we have just a little
problem, just one thing happened
740
00:42:24,360 –> 00:42:26,480
at a time?
And isn’t it interesting that
741
00:42:26,480 –> 00:42:29,720
very often when the problems
come in life, they do come one
742
00:42:29,720 –> 00:42:31,520
at a time?
If they mounted up upon us, it’d
743
00:42:31,520 –> 00:42:32,920
be pretty hard for us to stand
it.
744
00:42:33,560 –> 00:42:36,360
But even when they come one at a
time, very often we look at it
745
00:42:36,360 –> 00:42:38,440
and say, why could God let this
happen to me?
746
00:42:39,800 –> 00:42:43,880
How often do we say the Lord
give it and the Lord taketh away
747
00:42:44,680 –> 00:42:47,840
and really say and mean it?
Blessed be the name of the Lord,
748
00:42:49,440 –> 00:42:53,760
but we find that job did.
He maintained his integrity?
749
00:42:55,160 –> 00:42:57,840
He maintained his integrity.
What a beautiful thing.
750
00:42:58,680 –> 00:43:01,760
I wish we could go on, but I do
know by the time that we’ve gone
751
00:43:01,760 –> 00:43:04,520
about two minutes overtime, I
was hoping to get through the
752
00:43:04,520 –> 00:43:06,960
2nd chapter.
But let’s take a look at that
753
00:43:06,960 –> 00:43:10,000
tomorrow morning with perhaps a
one or two-minute review of this
754
00:43:10,000 –> 00:43:10,720
first chapter.
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