"THE BOOK OF JOB"
The Great Debate: Third Cycle Of Speeches (22-31)
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION
1) To examine the conclusion of the "great debate", and the feeble
efforts of Job's friends to convince him that he is deserving of his
great suffering
2) To observe how Job maintains his claim to innocence while stating
his complaint that God is not hearing him
SUMMARY
Eliphaz once again takes the initiative, rebuking Job for his claims of
innocence. Accusing Job of great wickedness, for the first time he
specifies sins of which he believes Job must be guilty to have suffered
so greatly. Charging Job of cherishing wicked ways and trusting that
God doesn't see it, Eliphaz ends with another appeal for Job to return
to God that he might enjoy renewed prosperity (22:1-30). Job's
response is to once again express his longing to find God so he can
present his side. While maintaining his claims of integrity and how he
has treasured God's words, he admits he is awed by God's dealings. He
wonders why the wicked often sin with impunity, but then says what he
thinks should and will eventually happen to them. He concludes his
response to Eliphaz with a challenge to show him where he has spoken
falsely (23:1-24:25).
Bildad's third speech is short, adding little. Speaking briefly of
God's greatness, he posits how anyone can be righteous before God
(25:1-6). Job replies with questions which imply that he considers
Bildad's counsel to have been of no help. Perhaps to illustrate how
they have not been much help, Job demonstrates his own ability to
describe God's greatness (26:1-14).
Zophar remains silent in this third cycle of speeches, so Job continues
with his discourse. Though he feels that God has taken away his
justice and made his soul bitter, he refuses to accept his friends'
counsel and maintains his innocence. He accuses them of nonsense and
describes what God will do with the wicked (27:1-23). Job then says
where true wisdom is to be found, that it comes from God Who has
revealed it to man (28:1-28). As his words draw near to their end, Job
recounts how it was in the past when he blessed by God and respected by
men (29:1-25). In contrast, the present finds him being mocked by
others, suffering in pain, with God not answering his plea to be heard
(30:1-31). He concludes by listing various sins, which if he had
committed them, he agrees he would have been guilty of punishment. In
this way he again maintains his claim to innocence and not deserving
his great suffering (31:1-40). For Job and his three friends, this
ends the "Great Debate".
OUTLINE
I. ELIPHAZ SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (22:1-24:25)
A. ELIPHAZ'S FINAL RESPONSE (22:1-30)
1. He rebukes Job again for his claims of innocence (22:1-3)
a. He affirms that God is self-sufficient, needing nothing
from man
b. Therefore Job's claim to be blameless is no way enhances
his standing before God
2. He accuses Job of great wickedness (22:4-11)
a. God is not punishing Job because he fears God
b. It is because of Job's great iniquity, of which Eliphaz
gives examples
c. For such reasons Eliphaz says Job is being punished
3. He charges Job of cherishing wicked ways, trusting that God
doesn't see it (22:12-20)
a. How can Job say that God does not see what he is doing?
b. Will Job continue to keep to the ways of wicked men?
c. Yet the righteous rejoice when the wicked are cut down
4. He exhorts Job to return to God and enjoy renewed prosperity
(22:21-30)
a. Acquaint yourself with God, receive instruction from Him,
you will be at peace
b. Return to Him, and He will bless you, be your delight,
answer your prayers
c. Job's plans would then be successful, and able to save
others (cf. 42:7-10)
B. JOB'S REPLY (23:1-24:25)
1. He reasserts his longing to find God and present his case
(23:1-9)
a. Heavy with bitter complaint and groaning, he wished he
could find God
b. He desired to speak his case before God, confident that he
could reason with Him
c. But God is nowhere to be found
2. Maintaining his claims of integrity, he is awed by God's
dealings (23:10-17)
a. He has not turned aside from God's way
b. He has treasured the words of God
c. But the manner of God's dealings with him have terrified
him
3. He wonders why the wicked often sin with impunity (24:1-17)
a. The wicked often oppress the poor and helpless, forcing
them to live off the land
b. God does not seem to answer the cry of the oppressed, and
punish the wicked
c. There are those who use the darkness to carry out their
misdeeds
4. What Job thinks should happen to the wicked, and will
eventually happen (24:18-24)
a. They should be punished and remembered no more
b. He expresses confidence that God will eventually take the
wicked away
-- Job concludes with a challenge to show were he has spoken
falsely (24:25)
II. BILDAD SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (25:1-31:40)
A. BILDAD'S FINAL RESPONSE (25:1-6)
1. He proclaims the greatness of God (25:1-3)
a. Dominion and fear belong to Him, He makes peace in His high
places
b. His armies are innumerable
2. Can anyone be righteous before God? (25:4-6)
a. No one can be pure in God's sight
b. If the moon and stars pale in God's sight, how much more
man, who is no more than a maggot or worm in comparison to
God
B. JOB'S REPLY (26:1-31:40)
1. He declares that Bildad's counsel has been worthless (26:1-4)
a. Bildad (and the others) have not helped him
b. Have they been speaking to someone with no wisdom?
2. He demonstrates his own ability to describe the greatness of
God (26:5-14)
a. By depicting God's greatness over the dead, and over the
creation
b. Such greatness is but the "mere edges" of God's ways
c. No one can understand the true greatness of His power
3. As he continues his discourse, he maintains his integrity
(27:1-10)
a. Though God has taken away his justice, and made his soul
bitter
b. He will not speak wickedly, but he still claims innocence
c. He knows that there is no hope for the wicked or hypocrite
4. He will teach his friends what God will do to the wicked
(27:11-23)
a. As a rebuke to his friends for what they have said to him
b. The families of the wicked will suffer the consequences
c. The wealth of the wicked will be consumed by others
d. God will eventually remove the wicked from his place
5. He gives a discourse on the true source of wisdom (28:1-28)
a. Precious minerals may found through diligent mining
b. But true wisdom and understanding comes only from God, who
has declared it unto man
6. As he continues his discourse, he recalls the good days of his
past (29:1-25)
a. When God watched over him, and blessed him
b. When he had the respect of others, and administered justice
for the poor, the fatherless, the widow, the blind and lame
c. When he looked to the future with hope
d. When others kept silence to hear his counsel, and he was
like a king
7. He then reflects upon his present condition (30:1-31)
a. He is now mocked by the sons of those he once disdained
b. His is now their "taunt-song", their byword, as they abuse
him
c. He bemoans his agony and the treatment he feels the Lord
has given him
d. Would God not remember how he wept for others in trouble?
e. But all he sees is evil and days of affliction
8. One last time, Job maintains his integrity (31:1-40)
a. He has made a covenant with his eyes, not to look upon a
young woman
1) For he knows the ultimate end of the wicked
2) For God does see and knows all that he does
b. He is willing to accept just punishment, if he has ever...
1) Been deceitful
2) Committed adultery
3) Mistreated his servants
4) Neglected the poor, widows, and fatherless
5) Put his trust in gold, or worshipped the heavenly bodies
6) Rejoiced over the demise of his enemies, or cursed them
7) Not cared for the stranger
8) Tried to hide his iniquity
c. He makes his final cry
1) That God would answer him and tell him what he has done
wrong
2) Willing to accept punishment if he has misappropriated
his land or stolen it from others
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION
1) Of what wickedness does Eliphaz accuse Job? (22:6-9)
- Taking pledges from his brother for no reason
- Stripping the naked of their clothing
- Not giving the weary water to drink; withholding bread from the
hungry
- Sending the widows away empty; crushing the strength of the
fatherless
2) What does Eliphaz accuse Job of saying? (22:13-14)
- What does God know?
- Thick clouds cover Him so that He cannot see
3) What does Eliphaz ask Job? (22:15)
- Will you keep to the old way which wicked men have trod?
4) What does Eliphaz counsel Job to do? (22:21-22)
- Acquaint himself with God, receive instruction from His mouth
5) What does Eliphaz promise Job if he will repent? (22:23)
- He will be built up, and iniquity will be far removed from him
6) What does Job ask for as he begins his response to Eliphaz? (23:3)
- To find God that he might present his case to Him
7) What is Job's response to Eliphaz' charge of wickedness? (23:11-12)
- I have kept His way and not turned aside, I have not departed from
His commandments
8) And yet what does Job feel God has done to him? (23:16)
- Made his heart weak, and terrified him
9) In Bildad's final speech, how does he respond to Job's claim of
innocence? (25:4-6)
- How can a man be righteous before God, who is no more than a worm
in comparison?
10) In replying to Bildad, what does Job ask him? (26:3)
- How have you counseled one who has no wisdom?
11) As Job continues his discourse, what does he steadfastly maintain?
(27:5-6)
- His integrity, righteousness, and clear conscience
12) What does he then describe to his three friends? (27:13-23)
- The true portion of a wicked man with God
13) As his discourse describes the difficulty of finding wisdom, to
what does Job attribute its true source? (28:20-28)
- It comes from God, who has revealed it to man
14) As he described the days gone by when he was respected by all, what
things had he done? (29:12-17)
- Delivered the poor and fatherless; caused the widow's heart to
sing for joy
- Put on righteousness and justice like a robe and turban
- Provided eyes to the blind and feet to the lame
- Was a father to poor and searched out their case
- Broke the fangs of the wicked and plucked the victim from his
teeth
15) In the present, though, who mocks him? (30:1)
- Young men whose fathers Job had disdained to put even with the
dogs of his flock
16) As he draws near to the end of his discourse, what does Job cry out
to God? (30:20-21)
- I cry out to You, but You do not answer
- You have become cruel to me; You oppose me with the strength of
Your Hand
17) In summarizing his plight, what sort of things does he say?
(30:26-31)
- I looked for good, evil came to me; I waited for light, then came
darkness
- My heart is in turmoil and cannot rest; days of affliction
confront me
- I go about mourning, I cry for help
- My skin grows black and falls from me; my bones burn with fever
18) What kind of covenant had Job made with his eyes? Why? (31:1-4)
- Not to look upon a young woman
- Does God not see his ways and count all his steps?
19) List the things that Job says would make him deserving of God's
punishment (31:1-40)
- Walking with falsehood, or hastening to deceit
- Heart enticed by a woman, or lurking at his neighbor's door
- Despising the cause of his servants when they complained against
him
- Keeping the poor from their desire
- Causing the eyes of the widow to fail
- Eating morsels so that the fatherless could not eat of it
- Seeing anyone perish for lack of clothing, or the poor without
covering
- Failing to help the fatherless when it was in his power
- Making gold his hope and confidence; rejoicing over his great
wealth
- Worshipping the sun or moon
- Rejoicing at the destruction of him who hated him
- Not providing food and opening his doors to the traveler
- Trying to hide his transgressions
- Eating off the land without compensation, causing its owners to
lose their lives
20) What is Job's final request as he ends his words? (31:35)
- That he had someone to hear him
- That the Almighty would answer him
- That his Prosecutor had written a book
2/19/12
"THE BOOK OF JOB" The Great Debate: Third Cycle Of Speeches (22-31) by Mark Copeland
2/18/12
Blocking out sin...
I was sick for a few weeks and haven't been doing my walks with Linda. Today, we started walking again and although it was humid, we did the normal two blocks, so when I saw this picture, naturally it caught my eye. Sometimes its hard to walk, sometimes not, but its always worth it. That is what I keep telling myself anyway. It would be easy to walk around the block in the picture, but it probably wouldn't do any good. Facing the reality of that is something we all should do; the Corinthians did...
WEB: I Corinthians Chapter 6
[9] Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God. [11] Such were some of you, but you were washed. But you were sanctified. But you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and in the Spirit of our God.
Today, we call sin by other names; somehow, by changing the name for what we do wrong seems to remove the consequences for our actions. But, the thing is... it really doesn't. We may call adultery "an affair" or homosexuality "gay" or living in sin "cohabitation" but they are what they are and there will be a price to pay. There always is; no matter what the sin may be. Paul told the Corinthians what they had been, in no uncertain terms and what God had done for them in equally descriptive terms. How God had cleansed them from their sins and made them sanctified (set apart for holy purposes). Walking around an "exercise block" on the floor is not the same as taking a real walk around the block and never will be. No matter what society may label sin today, it is still sin and the sooner that is realized, the better.
"THE BOOK OF JOB" The Great Debate: Second Cycle Of Speeches (15-21) by Mark Copeland
"THE BOOK OF JOB"
The Great Debate: Second Cycle Of Speeches (15-21)
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION
1) To observe the progress of the "great debate", in which Job's
friends are unable to convince Job that he is some great sinner who
deserves his suffering
2) To note how Job continues to vent his complaint, and while losing
hope for anything in this life, he does reveal his faith in a
Redeemer and in seeing God after death
SUMMARY
The second cycle of speeches continue in the same format, with the
three friends speaking and Job responding to each one in turn. The
speeches are shorter, and it appears their tempers are becoming short
as well. Eliphaz begins with an attack on Job, ridiculing his wisdom.
Like Bildad, he too appeals to the wisdom of others as he repeats his
main thesis: suffering comes to the wicked, therefore Job must be
wicked (15:1-35). Job's response to Eliphaz begins with a reproach of
his friends as "miserable comforters". Job continues to view his
suffering as an attack by God for reasons unknown to him. Wishing
there was someone who could plead for him, he cries out for relief as
he resumes his complaint. With no wisdom from his friends, he is
losing hope for anything in this life but death (16:1-17:16).
Bildad angrily wonders "how long" will Job keep speaking this way, and
why does he regard his friends as beasts and stupid? In what appears
as an attempt to get Job to confess he is a sinner, Bildad provides a
lengthy description of the suffering of the wicked (18:1-21). Job
responds by asking "how long" would they continue to torment him?
While they accuse him of being a great sinner, they have yet to point
out his errors. As Job resumes directing his complaint to God, he
bewails his loneliness and abandonment by friends and family. And yet,
while Job feels God is treating him as an enemy, he affirms his faith
in a Redeemer who would one day stand on the earth and in seeing God
after his death (19:1-29).
Zophar speaks in what will be his last contribution to this "great
debate". While he offers little that is really new to the discussion,
he does describe the short-lived triumph of the wicked, to whom the
sweetness of sin becomes a bitter curse and whom God will sweep away
into darkness. The only problem is that like his friends, he assumes
that such is always the case in this life (20:1-29). Job's rebuttal
provides examples in which some wicked do prosper in this life, and die
an easy death. Therefore his friends' words have proven to be empty
and without comfort (21:1-34).
OUTLINE
I. ELIPHAZ SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (15:1-17:16)
A. ELIPHAZ'S REBUTTAL (15:1-35)
1. Eliphaz attacks Job, rebuking his behavior and ridiculing his
wisdom (15:1-16)
a. Job is reasoning with unprofitable talk, his own mouth
condemns him
b. Job attempts to limit wisdom to himself, disregarding the
wisdom of others
c. Job cannot be as pure and righteous as he claims; if angels
and the heavens are not pure in God's sight, how much less
one who "drinks iniquity like water"?
2. Eliphaz repeats his main thesis: suffering comes to the wicked
(15:17-35)
a. Appealing to what he has seen, and what wise men have said
b. He then offers a lengthy description of how the wicked one
suffers (is he trying to describe Job?)
B. JOB'S REPLY (16:1-17:16)
1. He reproaches his friends (16:1-5)
a. They are "miserable comforters"
b. He could do what they do, but would offer true comfort if
they were in his place
2. He describes God's treatment of him (16:6-17)
a. Whether he speaks or remain silent, there is no relief
b. God is wearing him out, shriveling him up, gnashing at him
c. God has turned him over to the ungodly, who gape at him and
strike him reproachfully
d. God has shattered him, shaken him, and broken him with
wound upon wound
3. He hopes his cry will be heard (16:18-22)
a. That it not be buried in the dust of the earth, that it be
seen in heaven
b. Scorned by his friends, his eyes pour out tears to God
c. He wished there was one who would plead for him with God,
for he knows his time is short
4. Job asks for relief (17:1-5)
a. He is broken, the grave is ready for him, and mockers are
with him
b. His friends have no understanding, can't God help him?
5. He resumes his complaint (17:6-9)
a. He is despised by others, even as he grows weaker
b. Upright men are astonished by him, the innocent are stirred
up against the hypocrite (is Job saying that is how they
view him?)
c. The righteous holds to his way, and those with clean hands
become stronger and stronger (perhaps Job is referring here
to his friends, and speaking with sarcasm)
6. With no wisdom from his friends, he is losing hope (17:10-16)
a. His days are past, his plans are broken, and all his
friends can do is say "the light is near" when all is dark
b. If death and the grave is all that lies ahead, where is his
hope?
II. BILDAD SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (18:1-19:29)
A. BILDAD'S REBUTTAL (18:1-21)
1. He is incensed at Job (18:1-4)
a. "How long" will Job keep speaking? - cf. 8:2
b. Why does he consider his friends as beasts and stupid?
c. Should the earth be moved because he is angry?
2. He too provides a lengthy description of the suffering of the
wicked (18:5-21)
a. The light of the wicked will go out
b. He is cast down, ensnared
c. Terrors frighten him on every side
d. Destruction comes his way, others will take what is his
e. The memory of the wicked will perish from the earth, there
will be no posterity
f. Such will happen to the wicked, to those who know not God
B. JOB'S REPLY (19:1-29)
1. He responds to his critics (19:1-6)
a. "How long" will you torment my soul? - cf. 18:2
b. They continue to reproach him, but have not pointed out his
error
c. While they magnify themselves against him, he feels God has
wronged him!
2. Job again directs his complaint to God (19:7-12)
a. God does not seem to hear his cry for justice
b. God has broken him down, uprooted any hope that he had
c. God treats him as an enemy
3. He bewails his loneliness (19:13-22)
a. Abandoned by relatives, close friends, even his servants
b. He is repulsive to both wife and children, those he loves
have turned against him
c. He cries for pity from his friends
4. He affirms his faith (19:23-29)
a. In his Redeemer who lives, and who shall stand at last on
the earth
b. In that after death, in the flesh, he shall yet see God
(i.e., the resurrection?)
c. In the judgment, in view of which he warns his friends
III. ZOPHAR SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (20:1-21:34)
A. ZOPHAR'S REBUTTAL (20:1-29)
1. He describes the short-lived triumph of the wicked (20:1-11)
a. Irritated by Job's reproof, Zophar responds
b. What joy or triumph the wicked experience is only momentary
c. The wicked will soon be no more, their children dependent
upon the poor
2. The sweetness of sin will become a bitter curse (20:12-19)
a. It will be like the poison of cobras, making him vomit
b. What he has gained through oppression, he will not be able
to enjoy
3. God will sweep away the wicked into darkness (20:20-29)
a. The wicked will not be at peace, his well-being will not
last
b. God's anger will come upon him, like an iron weapon
c. Losing all, terror and darkness is the portion God has
appointed for the wicked
B. JOB'S REPLY (21:1-34)
1. The wicked don't always suffer, but often prosper in this life
(21:1-16)
a. Job asks that they listen carefully, and then continue
their mocking
b. Some wicked do prosper in this life, even though they
reject God and His ways
2. The wicked often die in comfort (21:17-26)
a. They don't always experience God's wrath in this life
b. Some even say that God lays up the iniquity of the wicked
for his children (though Job wishes God would recompense
the wicked one directly)
c. The fact is, some people die at ease, while others die in
bitterness
3. He rejects their answers as false (21:27-34)
a. They've asked him "Where is the dwelling place of the
wicked?"
b. He asks them "Have you not asked those who travel?"
(implying that the wicked are everywhere)
c. Job understands that the wicked are reserved for the day of
doom and wrath (i.e., the day of Judgment)
d. So his friends' words have proved to be empty and without
comfort
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION
1) How does Eliphaz view Job's attempts to justify himself? (15:2-3)
- Empty knowledge, unprofitable talk
2) In rebuking Job, what does Eliphaz ask of him? (15:9)
- What do you know that we do not know?
3) In responding to Job's claim of innocence, how does Eliphaz describe
man? (15:16)
- Abominable and filthy, who drinks iniquity like water (possibly
directed at Job)
4) In his description of how the wicked suffer, what point is Eliphaz
making? (15:17-35)
- That suffering comes to wicked; i.e., if you are suffering, you
must be wicked
5) As Job responds to Eliphaz, how does he describe his three friends?
(16:2)
- Miserable comforters
6) What does Job say he would do if they were in his place? (16:4-5)
- Strengthen them with his mouth, relieve their grief with
comforting words
7) How does Job feel God has treated him? (16:7-14)
- Worn him out, shriveled him up, tears him in His wrath, gnashes him
with His teeth
- Delivered him up to the ungodly, shattered and shaken him to pieces
8) For what does Job cry out? (16:21)
- That one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his
neighbor
9) What does Job say God has made him? (17:6)
- A byword of the people, one in whose face men spit
10) While Job has not lost his faith, what has he lost? (17:11,15)
- Any purpose or hope pertaining to this life
11) When Bildad responds, how does he feel Job has regarded them?
(18:3)
- As beasts and stupid in his sight
12) In his second speech, what does Bildad provide? (18:5-21)
- A lengthy description of the suffering of the wicked, similar to
what Eliphaz has done
13) In response to Bildad's second speech, what does Job ask him?
(19:2)
- How long will you torment my soul, and break me in pieces with
words?
14) As Job resumes his complaint to God, what does he say God has done?
(19:7-11)
- God has stripped him of his glory, broken him down on every side,
uprooted his hope like a tree, kindled His wrath against him
15) Who else does he feel has now forsaken him? (19:13-19)
- His brothers, relatives, close friends, servants, even his wife
and young children
16) What does Job ask of his friends? Why? (19:21)
- Have pity on him. For the hand of God has struck him.
17) While suffering, in what three things does Job affirm his faith?
(19:25-29)
- That his Redeemer lives and will one day stand on the earth (i.e.,
the Messiah)
- That after death he will in his flesh see God (i.e., the
Resurrection)
- That there will be a judgment (i.e., the Judgment Day)
18) As Zophar begins his second speech, what troubles him? (20:2-3)
- Having heard the reproof (of Job) that reproaches him
19) What does Zophar then describe? (20:1-11)
- The short-lived triumph of the wicked
20) What does Zophar believe concerning the wicked? (20:12-29)
- The sweetness of evil will become like a bitter curse, like cobra
venom
- He will not be able to enjoy what he has accumulated
21) In response to Zophar, what does Job say about the wicked?
(21:7-26)
- The wicked don't always suffer
- The wicked often die of old age and have an easy death
22) While they may prosper in this life, what does Job know concerning
the wicked? (21:30)
- They are reserved for the day of doom, they shall be brought out
on the day of wrath (i.e., the Judgment Day)
23) As the second cycle of speeches ends, what does he say concerning
his friends? (21:34)
- How can you comfort me with empty words, since falsehood remains
in your answers?
2/17/12
Believe in God!
Yesterday I heard that there is a movement afoot to remove God's name from the Bible and replace it with Allah. My initial reaction was disgust, but after some thought, I was overwhelmed by the stupidity of it all. They attempting to do this will fail!!! Although God is referred to in many ways in the scriptures, he alone is God!!! Other "gods" are not really "gods" at all; they are liars, period!!! God has a will for us and just as the scriptures proclaim it; so it will happen. Here is how I know...
WEB: Isaiah Chapter 55
[6] Seek Yahweh while he may be found; call you on him while he is near: [7] let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to Yahweh, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
[8] “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” says Yahweh.
[9] “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
[10] For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky,
and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth,
and makes it bring forth and bud,
and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
[11] so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return to me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please,
and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do.
Over the centuries man has tried to eradicate God. He has tried force, intellectual snobbery, reason, diplomacy, trickery and undoubtedly many, many things I can not even dream would be used. Those who do such things have one father and it is NOT GOD. Christians, its time we assert that there is ONE TRUE GOD!!!! It does not matter what some "liberal", "politically correct", clever proponent of Islam may say. No one can thwart the will of God, no one. There has been a war against Christianity for years and this recent effort to promote religions of the DEVIL is just one more effort. Pray about this situation; pray that God will be exalted and his name praised. Do what you can within this governmental system to promote the creator of the universe and watch as ultimately the words of Isaiah come true once again!!! Believe it; it will happen!!!!
"THE BOOK OF JOB" The Great Debate: First Cycle Of Speeches (4-14) by Mark Copeland
"THE BOOK OF JOB"
The Great Debate: First Cycle Of Speeches (4-14)
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION
1) To examine the counsel of Job's friends, what their observations
were, and upon what they based their conclusions regarding Job's
suffering
2) To consider Job's response to his friends, how he took their
"advice", and how he continued to vent his complaint over his
suffering
SUMMARY
Following Job's outburst in which he cursed the day of his birth and
wondered why those who long for death continue to live, his three
friends begin offering their counsel. Eliphaz the Temanite starts with
expressing his view that the innocent don't suffer, the wicked do. As
support for his position, he refers to a vision that he had.
Chastening Job, Eliphaz then directs Job to seek God's forgiveness,
reminding him of the blessings that would come if Job repented
(4:1-5:22). Job defends his rash words as being prompted by his grief,
and again expresses his desire for death. Reproaching his friends as
being a "deceitful brook", he challenges them to show him where he has
sinned. He then resumes his complaint, asking God a multitude of
questions (6:1-7:21).
Bildad the Shuhite now steps in and rebukes Job for his strong words.
Maintaining that God is just, he implies that Job's sons died because
of their own transgressions, and if Job were only pure and upright he
would be blessed by God. Appealing to wisdom of the ancients, he
contends the wicked are without support, and that God will not cast
away the blameless. If Job would only repent, God would fill him once
again with laughter and rejoicing (8:1-22). Job basically agrees, but
wonders who can really be righteous in God's sight in view of His
wisdom and strength. He then complains of God's inaccessibility, and
maintains his own integrity while concluding that God destroys the
blameless along with the wicked. Feeling hopeless, Job bemoans the
lack of a mediator between him and God. Once again, he gives free
course to his complaint as he lashes out with more questions directed
toward God (9:1-10:22).
Finally, Zophar the Naamathite enters the dialogue with his own rebuke
of Job for his rash words. Indicating that Job has actually received
less suffering than he deserves, he reproaches Job trying to search out
the deep things of God. Instead, Job should be putting away iniquity
and wickedness, for then he would abide in brightness, security and
hope (11:1-20). In response, Job chides his friends for their attempt
to impart wisdom but succeeding only in mocking him. Affirming the
wisdom of God, Job says the advice of his friends has been of little
help. He calls them "forgers of lies" and "worthless physicians" who
have only given him "proverbs of ashes" and "defenses of clay".
Confident of his own integrity, Job again expresses his desire to speak
with God to ask Him what he has done to deserve such suffering. Once
again despairing of hope, he longs for death (12:1-14:22).
OUTLINE
I. ELIPHAZ SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (4:1-7:21)
A. THE COUNSEL OF ELIPHAZ (4:1-5:27)
1. Introductory remarks (4:1-6)
a. Though he does not wish to weary Job, he cannot refrain
from speaking
b. Job has strengthened others in the past, now he needs
strengthening
c. Is Job not trusting in his own confidence and integrity?
2. Eliphaz's view: The innocent don't suffer, the wicked do
(4:7-11)
a. When have the innocent ever perished?
b. But I have seen the wicked perish by the blast of God, just
like the lions
3. In support of his view: Eliphaz appeals to a vision (4:12-21)
a. A terrifying vision, in which he heard a voice
b. A revelation that man cannot be more righteous than God
c. If angels can be charged with error, how much more so men
of clay?
d. Note: Eliphaz is appealing to "subjective revelation"
1) His example shows the error of appealing to such to
determine truth
2) "Nothing is more essential than testing experience by an
objective standard of reality. When God has spoken
concerning a matter, that is decisive for all the issues
involved. His word must be the court of appeal for all
thoughts, impressions, and views." (Newton Wray)
4. Eliphaz warns Job (5:1-7)
a. There is danger in the anger of a foolish man
b. Such a one will see his sons crushed and his harvest
depleted
c. Affliction comes because man is born to trouble
5. Eliphaz directs Job (5:8-16)
a. Seek God and commit your cause to Him
b. For God does great things, catching the wise in their own
craftiness, saving the needy and giving hope to the poor
6. Job reminded of God's blessings on those who accept His
chastening (5:17-26)
a. Happy is the man God corrects; don't despise His chastening
b. God will make him whole, and protect him in times of
trouble
c. God will give him peace, many descendants, and long life
-- Eliphaz's conclusion: "This we have searched out; it is true.
Hear it and know for yourself." (5:27)
B. JOB'S REPLY (6:1-7:21)
1. He justifies his rash words (6:1-7)
a. They are prompted by his heavy grief
b. He is experiencing the poisonous arrows and terrors of the
Almighty
c. Animals don't complain when well fed; but food has become
loathsome to him
2. He longs for death, while his integrity is still intact
(6:8-13)
a. He wishes that God would go ahead and crush him
b. Then he would have some comfort in knowing that he had not
concealed (or denied) the words of God
c. How long can he hope to endure?
3. Job reproaches his friends (6:14-23)
a. They should have shown proper kindness
b. They have been like a deceitful brook, that disappoints
those who come to it
c. They have been afraid of what they have seen
d. He had not asked for their assistance
4. He challenges them to show him where he has sinned (6:24-30)
a. Show him his error and he will be quiet
b. Reproving him with no proof is of no benefit, it is like
overwhelming the fatherless and undermining one's friend
c. Look at him again and treat him justly, there is no
injustice in him
5. Job now resumes his complaint (7:1-10)
a. His life is one of hard servitude, with months of futility
and wearisome nights
b. The condition of his flesh makes him toss all night
c. His days swiftly go by with no hope of ever seeing good
again
d. He expects to descend to the grave and soon forgotten
6. Job speaks out in the anguish of his soul (7:11-21)
a. Why does God terrify him with dreams and visions, so that
he longs for death?
b. Why is God testing him every moment? How long will this go
on?
c. Why can't God just leave him alone?
d. How has he sinned? What has he done to become a target for
God?
e. If he has sinned, why doesn't God pardon his transgression?
f. As it is, he will just go ahead and die, and then God won't
have to bother with him anymore (the sort of foolish
statement for which Job later repents, 42:3,6)
II. BILDAD SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (8:1-10:22)
A. THE COUNSEL OF BILDAD (8:1-22)
1. Introductory remarks (1-7)
a. He rebukes Job for his words
b. He maintains that God deals justly
c. If Job's sons sinned, they were killed for their
transgression
d. Restoration would occur if Job would only seek God and
repent
2. Bildad appeals to the wisdom of the ancients (8-18)
a. Heed what others have already learned, for our time is
short
b. The wicked are like the papyrus with no support, for they
soon wither
c. God will not cast away the blameless, nor will He uphold
the evildoers (the implication is "Job, you are not
blameless")
d. God will yet restore Job (assuming he repents)
B. JOB'S REPLY (9:1-10:22)
1. He agrees with Bildad, but who can truly be righteous before
God? (9:1-13)
a. No one can contend with God, He is too wise and strong
b. Job provides numerous examples of God's power
2. Because of such power, Job's complains of God's inaccessibility
(9:14-20)
a. Even if he were righteous (perfect?), Job would be unable
to answer God
b. For even now God multiplies his wounds without cause
c. His own mouth would condemn him under the weight of God's
strength
3. Maintaining his claim to innocence, he concludes that God
destroys the blameless along with the wicked (9:21-24)
a. Job professes to be blameless, but has lost his will to
live
b. He knows of no other conclusion but that God looks lightly
at the plight of the innocent
4. Feeling hopeless, Job bemoans the lack of a mediator (9:25-35)
a. His days go by, with no good to be seen
b. Why even try, if God has chosen to condemn him?
c. He knows there is no way to reason with God, and there is
no one to mediate between them
d. If God would only take His rod from him, but such is not
the case
5. In pain, Job gives free course to his complaint (10:1-22)
a. God, why do You condemn Me? Tell me why!
b. Does it seem good for You to despise the work of Your
hands?
c. Are You having to search for my iniquity, like a mortal
man?
d. Have You made me, just to destroy me?
e. Whether I am wicked or righteous, Your indignation
increases toward me!
f. Why then did You let me be born? How I wish I had died at
birth!
g. Can't You leave me alone so I can have a little comfort
before I die and enter the "land of darkness"?
III. ZOPHAR SPEAKS AND JOB RESPONDS (11:1-14:22)
A. THE COUNSEL OF ZOPHAR (11:1-20)
1. Affirms that Job has received less than he deserves (11:1-6)
a. The multitude of Job's words call for refutation
b. Job claims innocence; if only God would speak and show his
true guilt
c. God has exacted less from Job than he deserves
2. Reproaches Job for desiring to search out God's hidden ways
(11:7-12)
a. Can Job find that which is beyond his ability to know?
b. God cannot be hindered, and considers the wickedness of man
c. A not-so-subtle rebuke of Job as a foolish empty-headed man
3. Promises restoration upon repentance and confession of sin
(11:13-20)
a. Seek the Lord and put away sin if you wish to be pure and
steadfast
b. You would forget your misery and abide in brightness,
security and hope
c. But the wicked will not escape, and their only hope is loss
of life
B. JOB'S REPLY (12:1-14:22)
1. He chides his accusers (12:1-12)
a. Mocking their wisdom, he also has wisdom
b. Though just and blameless, he has been mocked; meanwhile
the wicked prosper
c. Wisdom is not limited to Job's friends; all nature
testifies of wisdom and it comes with age
2. He affirms God's own wisdom and strength (12:13-25)
a. God can do what He wants, and none can stop Him
b. He can overpower the wise and mighty, even the nations
3. The advice of his friends has been no help (13:1-12)
a. He already knows what they know; he desires to reason with
God
b. They claim to speak for God, but they are worthless
physicians and forgers of lies
c. Their platitudes and defenses are worthless
4. Confident of his own integrity, Job again wishes to speak with
God (13:13-19)
a. Let him speak, for he is willing to take what comes
b. Even if God slays him, he will continue to trust Him
c. He desires to defend himself before God, he cannot remain
silent
5. Job appeals to God for an audience (13:20-28)
a. Upon the conditions of removing His hand and not
overwhelming him with dread, Job would speak with God
b. He desires to know where he has sinned, and why God regards
him as an enemy
c. Why has God so punished him?
6. He expresses hopelessness in this life (14:1-12)
a. Life is brief and troublesome, his days are numbered
b. Cut down a tree, and it will sprout again; but when man
dies, he is no longer here as long as the heavens last
7. He longs for death (14:13-22)
a. That God would so hide him from His wrath until it is past
b. Man's hope is slowly eroded as he goes through life, until
he knows no more of this life
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION
1) Which of his three friends first responded to Job? (4:1)
- Eliphaz the Temanite
2) What was his main argument? (4:7-8)
- Who ever perished being innocent?
- Those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same
3) To what did he appeal in support of his argument? (4:12-13)
- A dream or vision
4) What does he encourage Job to do? (5:8)
- To seek God and commit his cause to Him
5) What does he encourage Job not to do? (5:17)
- Despise the chastening of the Almighty
6) How does Job justify his rash words? (6:2-3)
- They were prompted by his troubles and heavy grief
7) For what does Job long? (6:8-9)
- That God would go ahead and crush him (i.e., he longed for death)
8) How does Job describe his friends? (6:14-15)
- Like a deceitful brook
9) What challenge does Job give his friends? (6:24)
- Show him his error and he will be quiet
10) As Job resumes his complaint, what does he say has been given to
him? (7:3,5)
- Months of futility and wearisome nights
- Flesh caked with worms and dust, skin which cracks and breaks
afresh
11) How does he describe his days? (7:6)
- Swifter than a weaver's shuttle, spent without hope
12) In such anguish, what does Job say he will do? (7:11)
- Complain in the bitterness of his soul
13) What does he ask of God? (7:20-21)
- Have I sinned? What have I done to You?
- If so, why don't you pardon my transgression?
14) Who is the second person to respond to Job? (8:1)
- Bildad the Shuhite
15) For what does he rebuke Job? (8:2)
- His strong words
16) What does he counsel Job to do? (8:5-7)
- Earnestly seek God and be pure if he desires restoration
17) To what did he appeal in support of his argument? (8:8-10)
- Things discovered by their ancestors (i.e., the wisdom of the
ancients)
18) What does Bildad conclude concerning God? (8:20)
- God will not cast away the blameless, nor uphold the evildoers
19) How does Job initially respond to Bildad? (9:2)
- He basically agrees, but how can one be righteous before God?
20) What does Job bemoan? (9:32-33)
- The lack of a mediator between him and God
21) As Job gives continues his complaint, what does he ask of God?
(10:1-2,18,20)
- Show him why He contends with him
- Why did God bring him out of the womb?
- Why can't God just leave him alone and let him die?
22) Who is the third person to respond to Job? (11:1)
- Zophar the Naamathite
23) What does he affirm concerning Job? (11:6)
- He had received less than his iniquity deserved
24) For what does he reproach Job? (11:7)
- Trying to search out the deep things of God
25) What does Zophar say would be true of Job if he repented?
(11:13-16)
- He would be pure, steadfast, free of fear and misery
26) How does Job mock his friends? (12:2)
- By saying that wisdom will die with them
27) How did Job feel he was being treated by his friends? (12:4)
- That they were mocking him
28) How does Job describe his friends? (13:4)
- As forger of lies and worthless physicians
29) How does Job describe their speeches? (13:12)
- As proverbs of ashes, and defenses of clay
30) What two things does Job request if God should grant him an
audience? (13:20-21)
- For God to withdraw His hand far from him
- For God not to make him afraid
31) What does Job wish God would reveal to him? (13:23-24)
- How many are his iniquities and sins
- Why God hides His face and regards Job as an enemy
32) How does Job view the life of man? (14:1-2)
- Of few days and full of trouble
- Like a flower that soon fades away, as a fleeting shadow that is
quickly gone
33) From his earthly perspective, how does Job compare himself with a
tree? (14:7-12)
- There is more hope for a tree, for a tree cut down will rise again
34) What request does Job make again? (14:13)
- That God would go ahead and allow him to die
2/16/12
"THE BOOK OF JOB" Job's Soliloquy (3) by Mark Copeland
"THE BOOK OF JOB"
Job's Soliloquy (3)
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION
1) To consider Job's soliloquy, which starts the "great controversy"
between Job and his friends
2) To appreciate the depth of Job's complaint, why he wished that he
had never been born
3) To note the questions he raised as he sought to understand the
problem of suffering
SUMMARY
Having sat in silence for seven days in the presence of his friends who
had come to comfort him, Job finally speaks. In the form of a
soliloquy, he begins by cursing the day of his birth and the night of
his conception for failing to prevent his sorrow (3:1-10). He then
bemoans why he did not die at birth or even be stillborn, for then at
least he would be at rest, just like those who were great in their
lifetime, or like those who had been oppressed (3:11-19). Job also
wonders why the suffering who long for death are allowed to linger. He
concludes by stating that what he most greatly feared has now come upon
him: trouble, from which there seems to be no rest (3:20-26).
OUTLINE
I. JOB'S CURSE (3:1-10)
A. HE CURSES THE DAY OF HIS BIRTH...
1. Not just the day of his birth, but also the night of his
conception
2. Because of the sorrow that has come his way
-- I.e., he wished he had never been born
B. IN THIS HE RESEMBLES JEREMIAH...
1. Who had an unpopular ministry - Jer 20:14-18
2. Who experienced much suffering like Job
C. AN IMPORTANT POINT TO REMEMBER...
1. Both expressed a desire never to have been born
2. Yet neither Job or Jeremiah for a moment considered the
possibility of suicide
3. They might have questioned the Lord's wisdom, but they did not
dare take the precious gift of life with which He endowed them
(Wayne Jackson)
II. JOB'S QUESTIONS (3:11-19)
A. WHY DID HE NOT DIE AT BIRTH?
1. Then he would have been at rest
2. He would be with those who were great and powerful in their
lifetime
B. WHY WAS HE NOT STILLBORN?
1. Then he would have been at rest, free from those who trouble
him
2. He would be like those at rest, who were troubled in their
lifetime
C. JOB VIEWS DEATH AS AN ESCAPE FROM EARTH'S MISERIES...
1. Job's view of death applies only to those who die in the Lord
- cf. Re 14:13
2. For the wicked, death is no rest! - cf. Lk 16:19-31
III. JOB PONDERS THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING (3:20-26)
A. WHY THE SUFFERING ARE ALLOWED TO LINGER...
1. Why is life given to those who linger in suffering?
2. Even to those who long for death?
B. WHAT JOB FEARED HAS NOW HAPPENED TO HIM...
1. He dreaded the suffering that has come to him
2. And now he is troubled and no longer at ease
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION
1) What are the three main points of this section?
- Job's curse (3:1-10)
- Job's questions (3:11-19)
- Job ponders the problem of suffering (3:20-26)
2) As Job begins his soliloquy, what two things does he curse? (1-3)
- The day of his birth
- The night of his conception
3) Why did he did he curse the day of his birth? (10)
- Because it did not keep him from experiencing sorrow
4) Why did he wish he had died at birth? (11-15)
- Then he would be at rest, just like those who had been great in
their lifetime
5) Why did he wish he had been stillborn? (16-19)
- Then he would be at rest, like those who had been oppressed in
their lifetime
6) As Job ponders the problem of suffering, what does he ask? (20-21)
- Why is life given to those who suffer and long for death?
7) What had come upon Job? (25)
- That which he greatly feared and dreaded (i.e., trouble and
suffering)
2/15/12
An October snow...
Thanks to my oldest daughter, I have this picture of October snow in central New Jersey, 2010. Getting snow before Halloween is a rare thing, but it does happen. I know it has happened before, but it is so long ago that I can't even remember. You just never know what can happen next. Life is full of surprises, so its good to do what you can do to be prepared for anything. Which reminds me of the words of Jesus...
WEB: Matthew Chapter 24
[37] “As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [38] For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, [39] and they didn’t know until the flood came, and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. [40] Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; [41] two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. [42] Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. [43] But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. [44] Therefore also be ready, for in an hour that you don’t expect, the Son of Man will come.
[45] “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? [46] Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. [47] Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. [48] But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ [49] and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, [50] the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it, and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, [51] and will cut him in pieces, and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. There is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be."
One of the most misused passages of scripture, this passage refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, not the end of time. But, aside from that, it teaches a good lesson. Be ready!!! Those of us who are Christians know that we must be faithful, those who are not need to think about our spiritual relationship with God before it is too late. You never know when you might see an unexpected "snow" of judgment. By the way, I have seen it snow in the middle of July in upstate New York as well. What next, snow in Florida?....
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