The Book of Job!

And as much as said, but you don’t seem to have that in your heart and in your life. He really felt betrayed by his friends. There came a point where his wife said, why don’t you just curse God and die to say Job was having a bad day is an understatement. But the book of Job begins with these words.

Job was a man who lived in Uz. I want to pause just even right there and tell you I did some digging and found out something I didn’t know before. You know that I like the genealogies. I like to get who. It is thoroughly believed that he is a grandson of Esau. Most interesting. So the Lord has it written for us.

Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out. A man of his word who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. You’d never know that by the testimony of his friends. He had seven daughters and three sons, seven sons and three daughters. He was very, very wealthy indeed.

It’s recorded for us how many thousands of animals that he had. It was like he had a ginormous zoo. Most successful in every way. And God says to the enemy, Satan, have you noticed my friend Job? There’s nobody quite like him. That’s a huge statement. There’s nobody quite like him.

He may have been in the Lord’s eyes the most righteous man alive on the planet at the time. You don’t find the Lord using those kinds of words very often. Nobody quite like him. Honest, true to his word. Devoted. Loves God, hates evil.

Satan replies. So do you think Job does all of that out of the goodness of his heart? Why no one ever had it so good as your friend Job. You pamper him like a pet. Making sure nothing bad ever happens to him. Or his family. Or his possessions.

You bless everything that he does. He can’t lose. But what do you think would happen? If you reach down and take away everything that is his, he’d curse you right to your face. That’s what I believe. And God replies, well, we’re going to see. Do what you want, but you’re not allowed to kill.

The will of God. And the interaction of the Lord with us. I’m going to be careful how I bring this out to you. Because I don’t believe that God beats us up every day for things that we do or things that we fail to do. He’s not that kind of a friend, that kind of a God. Does God ever allow difficult things to come our way?

You betcha. Life is a bowl of cherries and there’s pits all the way. I was remembering even very, very early this morning as I thought about this very factor. Lord God, Satan says, do you take those things away? Do you really think he’ll stick it out with you? Satan says with those words, you have to allow me, you know. I can’t touch him if you don’t let me. And God let him.

God let the enemy go after Job. Why? We don’t know. I found a couple of Jewish scholars who believe that being a grandson of Esau, he might have done some things that the Lord was displeased with. I don’t find any evidence of that in the Word of God. And again, I will remind you of the opening words. He was honest.

He was just, he was a man of integrity, hated evil. He was a good man. The record is there for us also in the opening chapter that his sons and his daughters were great party animals. And just in case one of them or more were to displease the Lord in their partying antics after every party and they partied a lot. Job would offer a sacrifice to God, saying, Lord, if you’re upset with my kids, can I help this out?

And he would make an offering for his own children. The fact that God allowed the enemy to come against Job. I struggle with that a little bit until I get to Isaiah chapter 53. The Roman guards punished Jesus and they did so at the behest of the Pharisees, the religious people of the day. We know that.

It was a Roman spear that went into his side. It was a Roman that pounded the nails in his hands. It was the whip on Jesus’ back driven by Roman soldiers. They stripped him of his clothes and then they gambled for his clothes. They were ruthless and they were terrible.

But isn’t it interesting in Isaiah 53, it pleased the Lord to bruise him. It doesn’t say it pleased the Lord to allow the bruising. It says it pleased the Lord to bruise him. And Job somehow feels this. And when you read the book of Job, you find him calling out to God and saying, what are you doing to me? I’m at the end of my rope. I don’t think I can handle this anymore. 

So I want to take you to some scripture that bears that out in Roman, or not Romans, but in Job the 16th chapter. And by the way, as I read this to you, that’s not a lot of verses, but it’s more than I usually read, listen to Job talking, but in your mind also hear Jesus in the hour of his difficulty. Now Job uses allegorical,

symbolical words to describe how he feels. The whole world wasn’t against him, but he as much as says, I think everybody’s against me. There weren’t animals biting at him, but that’s how he felt. He felt like everything but everything was against him. He said, though I speak, my grief is not assuaged. And though I forbear, what ease do I get?

But now he has made me weary. He’s talking about the Lord, the one that he has served with passion, and he’s made me desolate. He’s made all my company desolate. The disciples forsook him and fled. You’ve filled me with wrinkles, which are a witness against me. He’s saying, I feel like my body is wasting away because of the turmoil. And my leanness is rising up in me.

It bears witness to my face. Speaking of the Lord in an allegorical fashion, he’s tearing me in his wrath. I think he hates me. He gnats. It’s allegorical. They have gaped upon me with their mouth. They have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully.

They’ve gathered themselves together against me. God has delivered me to the ungodly and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. I was at ease, but he has turned me to shreds. He’s taken me by the neck and he’s shaken me to pieces. He set me up for his mark and his archers have surrounded me. He cleaves my reigns asunder

and he does not spare me. He pours out my gall upon the ground. Are you getting blessed and excited yet? This is Job and his agony. It was Jesus in his agony. He breaks me with breach upon breach. He runs upon me like a giant. I’ve sowed a sackcloth to cover my skin and I’ve defiled my horn in the dust.

My face is foul with weeping and on my eyelids eyelids is the shadow of death. Not for any injustice in my hands. Even my prayer I believe is pure. O earth, don’t you cover up my blood and let my cry have no place. Also, now behold my record in heaven. My record is on high. It’s their Lord. My friends are scourning me, but my eye pours out tears unto God and then a glorious statement in the midst of all of this. He says, oh, oh, that one might plead for a man with God as a man would plead on behalf of his neighbor. So I suggest to you in that 16th chapter of Job, he’s obsessed with the feeling of being condemned. And also as he comes to the end, there’s this crescendo. 

Oh, it’s kind of like the climax after he says, I’ve gone through this and this and this and the climax is a ray of hope. All that there would be one who would plead on my behalf. Interesting. That word pleading on my behalf. The original Hebrew word is goal, G-O-E-L. You know that word, but you know it in a different fashion.The story of Ruth and Naomi. It was discovered without a lot of digging that Boaz was a kinsman of Ruth. And she was able to implore him in a proper fashion to stand up like a man and honor her as her kinsman, Redeemer. Because you see, he was related to her.

And in their culture, in their family style, remember, all of Israel is composed of 12 families.

And it was discovered originally that if a man, if a woman lost her husband, it was up to a kinsman, a relative, to come to her aid and to help her. And in this case, Boaz prepared to be her kinsman Redeemer, to redeem, to pull her out of the difficult place. Now, a kinsman can redeem her, could also come to your aid if you were falsely accused of some things. So if somebody accused you of stealing or of hurting or bringing harm, you could call upon a kinsman Redeemer, somebody that you could really trust.

A friend. This man, Job, calls out not for a family member, but what about a neighbor that I’ve been so helpful? Could any neighbor come and stand up and plead on my behalf and be my stand in kinsman Redeemer? A kinsman would be responsible if you were about to lose your property because of something unfortunate. The kinsman Redeemer’s responsibility was within his capability to come and rescue

you to the kinsman Redeemer. It’s a beautiful picture of salvation that’s beginning to unfold here. He’s saying, if only I had a Redeemer. If only it was one person on the planet who knew me, these are false allegations. I’m not guilty of Russian collusion. I didn’t help,

I didn’t help that fellow with that famous, non-existent laptop. I didn’t do that. I’m falsely accused, but is there one person who can stand up and help me? He’s crying out, he’s obsessed. I’ve got to find somebody who will take my place. He’s even thinking, is there not somebody in heaven? Are my ancestors not there?

Is there not? What does Father Abraham do? Does he, wherever he is in spirit, he’s implying that if I could find somebody who would believe in me, he’s obsessed. He’s obsessed. He doesn’t want to die in this darkened without hope condition. He’s crying for help.

He says, all that is a goal, a kinsman Redeemer would come and help me as I’m being dealt with unjustly. So the kinsman Redeemer could help the oppressed, could be a champion for someone who’s suffering. If they’ve done wrong, they could be their advocate, act as a lawyer. Jesus said, it’s absolutely important that I leave you. I’m going to be with my father in my father’s house or in many rooms and I’m going to prepare a house just for you. But I’ll not leave

you without a goal. G-O-E-L. I will not leave you without a kinsman Redeemer, a kinsman, somebody related to you, somebody who’s actually already related to you. In fact, he’s with you right now. And I see the disciples in house 12. Well, what’s he talking about?

He said, he’s here now. He’s with you and the day is coming when he will be with you. Your kinsman, your helper, your defender, your uplifter, your glory in the lifter of your head will not be down at the mayor’s office. It’ll not be like a lawyer that costs you a fortune. We have to hire him to bail you out. No, he will be within you. He’s with you now because you see Jesus and the Holy Spirit and the Father are one. He’s with you now. You just don’t recognize him. But the hour is coming, Acts chapter 2, when he will be in you, there to defang you, there to rescue you, there to help you in your time of sorrow and grief. Have you ever been in the place where you felt that 

God let you down?

You haven’t been there. You just might be in for a surprise. I’ve never met a perfect saint. I’m not talking about their weaknesses. I’m not talking about their failures. I’m not talking about. I’ve never met a perfect saint, a person who can meet every situation and every moment and never begin to cry out there, God, what’s happening to me? If that’s you, we’re all sharing the same. . . We’re all sharing the same oxygen.

We’re all there with you. And it’s really important for every one of us as a family, as a community, that we recognize just by countenance, by the reflection of our voices, by the way we look at each other. When a person’s going through difficulty, have you not noticed that they often won’t even look at you. They’re cast down. They’re more comfortable looking at the floor than they are to you. People go through difficulties. Might surprise you, but God’s people filled with their spirit can go through times of depression. I feel low and they get so low that they might even start to doubt, God, where are you? How come I’m living under this dark cloud?

I’ve been praying. I’ve done everything that I know how. When April was sick with cancer, I did everything that I knew. I fashioned. I prayed. I begged. I begged. I did everything that I knew, meaning the more I prayed, the worse she got. And it felt like a complete failure. Dear God, what have I done wrong? Why are you doing this to me and therefore to her? I felt guilty. We can all go through difficulties, but there’s a message in this book.

There is a Redeemer. There is one who can lift you up. There is one who can rescue you. There’s one who understands you. There’s one who knows you. Not like they’ve studied a book or studied your biography, but that one knows you because that one lives within you. He actually says at one point where it seems like there’s a little bit of light coming in. He says, you know what? I think my story is going to turn out a little bit better somewhere down the way. His sons were dead. His daughters were dead. The storms and whatever had wiped out his flocks.

His body is covered with boils. He’s a mess, but he cries out and says, oh, that somebody could put my story in writing, and that they would use hard elements to record it, like steel, so that it can’t be worn away by time. He’s crying out, I believe I have a story. And why does he believe that? He believes that his record in heaven is pure and it’s true, and somehow his faithfulness is going to ring true.

Somehow there’s going to be a kinsman Redeemer. God has allowed these ugly things to come, driving him almost to the edge of his grave, and yet he still believes there’s going to be hope for me somewhere. All that my story could be recorded. Well, it was his story, the book of Job. I want to go over now to verse 25 of chapter 19. Yeah, oh that my words were written, oh that they were printed in a book, so they’re graven with an iron pen in a rock forever. And then he says this, he says, oh, that my story could be recorded. And then he tells you why his story would be worth recording. He says, for I know my Redeemer is alive, but there’s more. I was so excited as I went over this again and again and again. Even earlier this morning, I got so excited about this, I actually trembled. I got so excited. Until this 19th chapter of the book of Job, there’s no record of anyone rising from the dead, not that I’ve seen. I think that’s accurate.

So where did this come from? I know my Redeemer lives and that he will stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though my skin is destroyed and my body is reduced to dust, yet in my flesh I will see him, whom I will see for myself. My eyes will see him. I’ll not see him through the eyes of another.

When I read the Gospels, I’m seeing Jesus through the eyes of Matthew and Mark and Luke and John. I’m seeing him through the epistles of men like Paul and Peter. These guys aren’t slouches. They bring such vista to me. They make Jesus shine like a glorious headlight in the dark, like the most glorious star in the sky.

I read the record of these men who knew Jesus, some of them knew him personally, walked with him, ate with him. So I see Jesus through their eyes. Job is saying, may I throw this in, I don’t have that privilege, Dave. Hey, church on Victoria, I don’t have that privilege. You’re seeing him through Paul. You’re seeing him through the epistles of Peter.

You’ve read the book of life revelation. I have no access to such a writing, but I’ve got one up on you or so I think, I’m going to see him face to face. And the interesting thing is, no, not in heaven. No, no, no, no. He said, I’ll see him here. He is actually prophesying. Did he know he was prophesying?

I think not. But he was prophesying. The clouds of the sky will part. Look, there he comes. It’s Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, Revelation 21, and every eye shall see him. But this man says, not all will see him as I see him. Some will be filled with fear and trepidation and rightly so.

Amas, shaking your sandals if you should survive the stupid war that you are waging. Every eye will see him. Some will tremble, but Job says, bring it on and make my day. I’ll see him in my flesh with these eyes. You better get excited. I’m good till five o’clock this afternoon. What are we going to be like past your day when we rise from the dead, just like Jesus?

He says, let’s sit down and eat. Simon, talk to me, Simon. Do you love me? They hurt his voice. On the road to Emmaus, their hearts burned within them when he opened up the scriptures. He touched their minds. He touched their hearts. To the doubter, he said, here, put your hand in the spear mark on my side. They saw him. They touched him. When he rose again from the dead, physical body still showed the marks of death, but very much alive. I will see him. He says, all hell my heart yearns within me for that day.

So here he is in the book of Job. And at this point in the 19th chapter, God has not redeemed his family. God has not brought back and blessed him with temporal blessings. Restored his flocks. Restored everything to him. That hasn’t happened. So at this junction in this chapter, he’s still without, but he says, I’m counting on something that will be far superior to anything that I’ve ever had, anything I’ve ever known. I will meet my personal Redeemer. And what he’s saying is that when my Redeemer shows up, I’ll not be ashamed. I’ll not hide. You see, here in these chapters, he feels so condemned by his own spiritual friends that he almost, when he sees them coming, I can see him telling his wife, tell him I’m not home. Well, you know you’re home. I can’t lie to them. 

Well, tell him I’m too busy. You know you’re not busy, Job. He didn’t even want to face his accusers. He wanted to get out of my face. Leave me alone. But boy, no, they had to, they were on a mission. We’re going to help you, Job. You poor, pathetic, loser. They were determined to be there. He’s saying, when the Redeemer comes, I can stand tall, bring it on. I can hardly wait for the day. Revelation 1, Grace and peace to you from him who is and who was and who is to come. I need somebody on the piano, I think. I need somebody on the guitar, I think. Grace and peace to you from him who is and who is and who is to come. And from the seven spirits before his throne. And from Jesus Christ, who’s the faithful witness, comforter, redeemer, defender. He’s the faithful witness. Jesus is a faithful witness. Have you ever paused to think about what that means?

When the enemy accuses you, you have Jesus who’s a witness. Sorry, devil, you missed out on this one. Dave is fine. I paid his debt. He paid a debt he did not owe. And I owed a debt I could not pay. And Jesus is known in Revelation chapter 1 verses 4 to 7. He’s known as the witness,

the witness of what? You are redeemed and your names are imprinted in the nail prince of his hands. He’s the faithful witness. He’s the first one, the firstborn rising from the dead. The firstborn, why is that wording? He was the first of us. He rose from the dead. We’re going

to rise from the dead. The firstborn of the church from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth to him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood and has made us to be a kingdom and priest to serve his God and father to him be glory, power forever and ever a man. And then one of the great apex verses of scripture, if you stand, will I read this one? John has recorded this for us. And if it isn’t John shouting this, then it’s a pretty powerful angel who shouts, look, he’s coming with the clouds.

What are the clouds? Well, we saw clouds all this week. They brought rain. What are the clouds? Oh, the clouds of the church. When he comes, we’re coming with him. We are coming with him. Look, there he comes with the clouds, with the church of the Redeep. There he’s coming with the clouds and everybody who’s alive at that time will see him, even the ones who pierced him. You see, they’ll be raised up from the dead for judgment and they will see him coming. They’ll cry for mercy to no avail.

And all the people on the earth will mourn because of him. And the writer says, so shall it be. And then he says, amen. How soon is he coming? Sooner, sooner than you think. The marketplace is going to become meaningless. You’re stocks and you’re RSVPs, whatever the RSV.

They’re going to become useless. Well, to you, somebody will grab them. All of that’s going to be meaningless because the king is coming. You’re going to have to join in in a minute. All the builders who’re silent, no more time to harvest. We are busy house wise. See Sir Labor in the courtroom. No debate. Work on earth has been suspended as the king comes to the game.

Oh, the king is coming.

Yes, the king is coming.