Hast thou considered my righteous servant, Job? |
.READING: JOB 42:1-17 TEXT: v10
JOB'S
CAPTIVITY REVERSED
And the LORD turned
the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job
twice as much as he had before.
The NT commentary on Job's many/varied experiences: James 5:11
Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
Job's sufferings/experiences had become proverbial - cp. even today
4 main points:
1) JOB'S EXPERIENCES HAD BEEN A TIME OF CAPTIVITY:
A/ Captivity
is usually an involuntary thing.
People are carried away into captivity (Psalm 137:3)
Job never knocked Heaven's door and asked to be so afflicted
People are carried away into captivity (Psalm 137:3)
Job never knocked Heaven's door and asked to be so afflicted
B/ Satan was
Job's captor (chapters 1-2)
A more cruel, vicious, malignant jailer could hardly be found
Away above any physical afflictions, he wanted Job to curse God and die
Came to Job (cp Adam/Eve) through his wife (2:9-10)
A more cruel, vicious, malignant jailer could hardly be found
Away above any physical afflictions, he wanted Job to curse God and die
Came to Job (cp Adam/Eve) through his wife (2:9-10)
C/ It had been
long, wearisome and very painful for Job
Job's longings for death etc., all catalogued and may be mulled over
Job's longings for death etc., all catalogued and may be mulled over
D/ No earthly
help had been afforded to Job during this time:
His wife & family (as seen) was no help
His friends (Job's comforters) were no comfort at all
He relates his social problems: compare/contrast style (29/30)
His wife & family (as seen) was no help
His friends (Job's comforters) were no comfort at all
He relates his social problems: compare/contrast style (29/30)
E/ Who is to
say that it could not happen again?
Or similar to any of us? Hence: Romans 15:4/1 Corinthians 10:11
Or similar to any of us? Hence: Romans 15:4/1 Corinthians 10:11
2) THE LORD REVERSED JOB'S TIME/CAPTIVITY:
A/ Not enough to say that God was able to do
so.
Allies were able to defeat Hitler, but only after a great effort, much delay and bloodshed
Allies were able to defeat Hitler, but only after a great effort, much delay and bloodshed
Touch and go
Humanly speaking, Hitler could've won
B/ God was able to do
so, because God had given Satan permission in the first place to so
afflict/captivate Job (1/2)
It was all planned/executed and totally controlled by a Sovereign God
It was all planned/executed and totally controlled by a Sovereign God
[i] Bible teaches this everywhere/Scripture:
Eph 1:11/
Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? (Proverbs 20:24)
Not only in a general sense…but particular sense re: saints:
Romans 8:28/Psalm 37:23
Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? (Proverbs 20:24)
Not only in a general sense…but particular sense re: saints:
Romans 8:28/Psalm 37:23
[ii] Job admitted to
such: 1:21 The Lord...taketh away
(Dake's notes say Job was greatly mistaken here…not so)
It was this which kept Job during those long, painful hours
(Dake's notes say Job was greatly mistaken here…not so)
It was this which kept Job during those long, painful hours
[iii] Had this been out
of control at any time,God would have ceased to have been sovereign and
therefore ceased to be God!
.C/ At the correct
moment, God brought the trial/Job to an end
Satan had to back off - a defeated foe, exposed (again) as a shameless liar and tin pot wannabe god!
Satan had to back off - a defeated foe, exposed (again) as a shameless liar and tin pot wannabe god!
.3) JOB PROSPERED
SPIRITUALLY DURING HIS TIME/CAPTIVITY:
A/ Although Job was in pretty good shape spiritually
(1:1) before the captivity begun, there is no doubt it took its toll upon
him.
If Elihu was sent of God (Some commentators dispute that he was) then Job stood in need of some rebuke (32:2) [Note: Elihu was not condemned/God]
If Elihu was sent of God (Some commentators dispute that he was) then Job stood in need of some rebuke (32:2) [Note: Elihu was not condemned/God]
B/ Yet even in
the midst of his sufferings/failures, Job yields us gems like the
following:
Though He slay me…yet will I trust in Him (13:15)
I know my Redeemer liveth etc., (19:25-27)
Though He slay me…yet will I trust in Him (13:15)
I know my Redeemer liveth etc., (19:25-27)
C/ Job himself
gives a wonderful picture of why he was tested: To come forth/gold
(23:10) He would be a better believer
D/ Even/text: He was
able to pray for his 3 so called friends who instead of bringing him comfort,
only added to his afflictions (v9-10)
.4) JOB PROSPERED
MATERIALLY AFTER HIS TIME/CAPTIVITY:
A/ Given twice as much as before
Two lots of "head counts" are in 1:3/42:10-13
Two lots of "head counts" are in 1:3/42:10-13
B/ It need not be
necessarily so
No health/wealth gospel here!
No health/wealth gospel here!
[i] But it can be so,
according as God sees our fitness to cope with such added
responsibilities
[ii] Better it is not so, if such riches would pierce us
through with many sorrows etc., (1 Timothy 6:9-10)
[iii] A good desire:
Proverbs 30:8-9
Give us this day, our daily bread
But if God goes a lot further, let us use it as Job would (ch. 31)
Give us this day, our daily bread
But if God goes a lot further, let us use it as Job would (ch. 31)
Conclude:
How good it is to be in God's hands and under the great promise of Romans 8:28 and the following verses, not least v37!
How good it is to be in God's hands and under the great promise of Romans 8:28 and the following verses, not least v37!
THE END
ALL INDEXES:
* PROTESTANT INDEX
* CALVINISM INDEX
* CH SPURGEON INDEX
* EVANGELISM INDEX
* HERE AND THERE INDEX
* PROTESTANT INDEX
* CALVINISM INDEX
* CH SPURGEON INDEX
* EVANGELISM INDEX
* HERE AND THERE INDEX
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