No Help… (3 points)

• 1^st – Rebuke of Bildad – Chapter 8
  • REMINDER: Hebrew POETRY…
    • Hebrew POETRY does not attempt to RHYME words – it is not based on similar sounds…
    • Hebrew POETRY is formed by the COMPARING or CONTRASTING ideas…
    • An idea will be stated – then a number of verses will be dedicated to COMPARING it…
    • OR we will see the idea CONTRASTED – a RHYME of COMPARING or CONTRASTING ideas!
  • 1^st – DEFENDING God… vs. 1-7
    • Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said… vs. 1
      • The SECOND section of Job – Chapters 3-37 – the Wisdom of Men…
      • Is broken up into FOUR rounds of debates – between Job and his THREE friends!
      • Bildad [confusing love] – from Shuah [wealthy] …
      • The SECOND of the THREE friends of Job who came to COMFORT him…
      • Felt obligated to ANSWER – because of the way Job QUESTIONED God!
    • STRONG wind… vs. 2
      • How long will you speak [piel] – and the words of your mouth be like a STRONG wind!
      • Bildad was NOT impressed by the way Job questioned God…
      • He accused Job of being a full of hot air – LOTS of words – but no substance!
    • Does God PERVERT justice… vs. 3
      • Does God subvert judgment – or does the Almighty pervert justice…
      • It would seem Bildad felt the NEED to DEFEND God from Job…
      • God in NO WAY needs us to defend Him – as we will see we are the ones who need HELP!
      • We often feel pressured by the world to JUSTIFY our FAITH in God…
      • But the truth is those in the world are the ones who have to DEFEND their choices…
      • One day we will all stand in JUDGEMENT before a HOLY God…
      • And we will NOT be the ones asking the questions!
      • Job 38:3 – “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me!”
    • Death of his CHILDREN… vs. 4
      • If your [children] sinned against [God], He has cast them away for their transgression…
      • Addressing the elephant in the room – the DEATH of the children of Job…
      • Bildad argues their DEATH was a result of their lifestyle of SIN [perfect] …
      • There may be some truth to this – we did see his children liked to get DRUNK – Job 1:4
      • But it was WRONG to judge their salvation – even worse to do so to their FATHER!
      • One of the hardest things I have every had to do – is a funeral for an unbeliever…
      • There is a hopelessness – an emptiness and sorrow that is overwhelming!
      • But you certainly NEVER provoke the family by saying God CAST them away!
      • We NEVER know who might get into heaven – in fact I think we will be surprised…
      • Solomon – one of the wisest men ever to live – is NOT mentioned in – Hebrews 11
      • Samson – who NOTHING good is said about – is LISTED in the Hall of FAITH!
      • Because our salvation is NOT based on our actions – but on the finished work of Christ!
    • SEEK God… vs. 5-7
      • IF – you would earnestly SEEK God – and make your supplication to the Almighty… vs. 5
      • IF – you were pure and upright – surely now He would AWAKE for you… vs. 6
      • Though your beginning was small – yet your latter end would increase abundantly… vs. 7
      • Bildad points out there is STILL time for Job to REPENT [not suffer the fate of his kids] …
      • If Job SOUGHT [piel] God now – asked for the GRACE [חָנַן] of the ALMIGHTY [שַׁדַּי] …
      • If Job asked with a PURE and UPRIGHT heart – then God would AWAKE for him…
      • Even though he had lost everything [small] – in the end he would have ABUNDANCE!
      • Which is TRUE – we do FIND the Lord when we SEEK Him – Jeremiah 29:13
      • The problem – Bildad was DOING exactly what Eliphaz did…
      • He was making assumptions about sin in the HEART of Job!
      • And we CANNOT judge WHY someone does something – what their MOTIVE is…
      • Only God knows the motive of the heart – only He can Judge that – Psalm 44:21
  • 2^nd – Look to TRADITION… vs. 8-22
    • What do we KNOW… vs. 8-10
      • Inquire [imperative] of the former age – consider the things discovered by their fathers…
      • For we were born yesterday – and know nothing – because our days on earth are a shadow…
      • Will they not teach you and tell you – and utter words from their heart?
      • To VALIDATE his PLEA for Job to repent and SEEK God…
      • Bildad goes to the WISDOM of the FATHERS – looking to the TRADITION of men…
      • The ASSUMPTION is the FATHERS who came before us – were WISER than us…
      • Therefore – the TRADITIONS they passed down should be our source for TRUTH!
      • The Bible say NEVER forbid a leader from being married – I Timothy 4:3
      • The Bible says to NEVER call any leader FATHER – Matthew 23:9
      • Why then do we have TRADITIONS of priests NOT marrying – and being called FATHER!
      • There can only be ONE source of TRUTH – and it should NOT be TRADITIONS…
      • Because it turns out our FATHERS were not WISER – they were just like us!
      • And if we look to the TRADITIONS they handed down – we will NOT look to the Word!
      • Mark 7:13 – “Making the word of God of no effect through your TRADITIONS.”
    • The WISDOM of the FATHERS… vs. 11-19
      • Like a papyrus plant that tries to grow without water – and WITHERS… vs. 11-12
      • So are the paths of all who forget God – the hope of the HYPOCRITE shall perish… vs. 13
      • Like someone who leans on a SPIDER WEB – their confidence will be cut off… vs. 14
      • He leans on his house [possessions] – but it does NOT stand… vs. 15
      • Like a plant that grows in a GARDEN – but is uprooted never to be seen again… vs. 16-19
      • Hebrew poetry that all says the same thing – the HYPOCRITE will NOT prosper!
      • HYPOCRITE – [חָנֵף] – someone who does NOT believe in God!
      • The problem is FATHERS were wrong – the HYPOCRITES do prosper [at least in this life]!
      • When we look at the evil world around us – it can be very upsetting…
      • We see people living immoral lives – rejecting the truth of God…
      • And the worst part is they seem to be getting away with it…
      • They are not suffering – they may even PROSPER – and it seems unfair!
      • Psalm 73:16-17 – “I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is. Then I went into your sanctuary… and thought about the destiny of the wicked.”
    • The BLAMELESS… vs. 20-22
      • God will not cast away the blameless – He will yet fill your mouth with laughing…
      • Those who hate you will be clothed with shame – the dwelling of the wicked come to nothing!
      • Bottom line – seek God and REPENT – and life will be AMAZING…
      • Do not REPENT – and there will be nothing left – God will wipe you out!
      • Almost identical to the COUNSEL given to Job by Eliphaz – Job 4
      • Accusing him of HIDDEN sin – and commanding him to REPENT and come back to God!

• 2^nd – No mediator – Chapter 9
  • 1^st – God is GREATER… vs. 1-13
    • Then Job answered and said… vs. 1
      • As BOTH Eliphaz and Bildad had argued Job had SIN in his life…
      • Job responds to their accusations – by arguing it is IMPOSSIBLE to be RIGHT before God…
      • Although he was INNOCENT – who can STAND before a HOLY God!
    • God is SMARTER… vs. 2-4
      • Truly I know [perfect] it is so – how can a man be RIGHTEOUS before God… vs. 2
      • If someone wanted to DEBATE God – they would NOT win one out of thousand times… vs. 3
      • He is wise and mighty – who has hardened against Him and prospered… vs. 4
      • Job points out NO one can outwit God – he is SMARTER than everyone!
    • God is STRONGER… vs. 5-9
      • Without warning – He moves the mountains – overturning them in his anger [NLT] …
      • He shakes the earth from its place – and its foundations trembles [earthquakes] … vs. 5-6
      • He commands the sun – and it does not rise [eclipse] – He seals off the stars… vs. 7
      • He does great things past finding out – Yes – wonders without number… vs. 9
      • Job points out God has POWER over both the earth and the heavens!
      • He does [participle] things we will NEVER understand – AMAZING things beyond counting!
    • Among those amazing things…
      • He made the Bear – Orion – and the Pleiades – and the chambers of the south… vs. 8
      • This is quite the AMAZING comment by Job – talking about CONSTELLATIONS…
      • The BEAR – Ursa Major [Latin for bear] – also known as the Big Dipper…
      • Orion – [כְּסִיל] – with his BELT – Job 38:31
      • The Pleiades – seven sisters [stars] – also known as Taurus!
      • Recall – Job was written in the time of Abraham – they had the SAME constellations…
      • Most likely because God gave them to Adam as a SIGN in the heavens – Genesis 1:14
      • What we call the Zodiac today – is a perversion of the Hebrew Mazzaroth – Job 38:32
      • TWELVE CONSTELLATIONS – the story of the Gospel written in the STARS ^{[Signs in the Heavens – Missler]}
      • Satan is not very creative – he tends to just copy what the Lord does…
      • But everything satan does is only a counterfeit / copy of God – SECOND best!
    • God is in CONTROL… vs. 11-13
      • If He goes by me – I do not see Him – If He moves past – I do not perceive Him… vs. 11
      • If He takes away who can hinder Him – who can say to Him – what are You doing… vs. 12
      • God will not withdraw His anger – the allies of the proud [are flattened] beneath Him… vs. 13
      • Job might not SEE God – but there was no DENYING He is in CONTROL…
      • If God wants to take something away – who can ARGUE with him…
      • If God is ANGRY – then whoever is opposed to Him gets flattened!
      • Which is encouraging – it means no matter how crazy things get – God is ALWAYS in control…
      • It gives us hope – because we know everything in life unfolds according to His plan!
      • Daniel 4:35 – “All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth…”
  • 2^nd – I am INNOCENT… vs. 14-21
    • SINCE God is GREAT – SMARTER / STRONGER / and in CONTROL of everything…
      • How then can I answer Him – and choose my words to reason with Him… vs. 14
      • For though I were RIGHTEOUS – I could NOT answer Him – I would beg mercy of my Judge…
      • If I called and He answered me – I would not believe that He was listening to my voice… vs. 16
      • For He crushes me with a tempest – and multiplies my wounds without cause… vs. 17
      • This may be a reference to HOW his children were killed – Job 1:19
      • He will not allow me to catch my breath – but fills me with bitterness… vs. 18
      • If it is a matter of STRENGTH – indeed He is STRONG!
      • And if of JUSTICE – who will appoint my day in COURT… vs. 19
      • Job likens God to the ultimate BULLY who is too STRONG for ANYONE to stand up too…
      • A BULLY you cannot even take to COURT over the wrong He did to you!
    • Job assumed he was BLAMELESS – but…
      • Though I were RIGHTEOUS – my own mouth would condemn me…
      • Though I were BLAMELESS – [my mouth] would prove me perverse… vs. 20
      • I am BLAMELESS – yet I do NOT know myself – I despise my life!
      • The moment Job said he was BLAMELESS – his own mouth betrayed him…
      • Like the person who says they are not a LIAR – and LIED by starting that!
      • No matter what he thought of himself – he recognized he did not KNOW his HEART!
      • We might think we are a GOOD person – convince ourselves we are RIGHTEOUS…
      • But we are just looking at our ACTIONS – the question is what is in our HEART!
      • Jeremiah 17:9 – “The heart is deceitful above all things… who can know it.”
  • 3^rd – God is NOT good… vs. 22-31
    • God lets the innocent suffer…
      • It is all one thing – therefore I say – He destroys the blameless and the wicked… vs. 22
      • If the scourge slays suddenly – He laughs at the plight of the innocent… vs. 23
      • It is ALL the same [one thing] – because BAD things happen to the blameless and wicked…
      • And when the BAD things come – God LAUGHS at the struggles of the INNOCENT!
      • It is TRUE that BAD things [destroy] happen to both GOOD and BAD people…
      • And it is equally TURE that GOOD things happen to both GOOD and BAD people!
      • Matthew 5:45 – “[God] makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
      • It is NOT true – that God LAUGHS when His children struggle…
      • It breaks the heart of our Heavenly Father when His children are hurting…
      • But like any GOOD Father – He understands the need to CORRECT His children!
      • Proverbs 3:12 – “The LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child…”
    • God lets the WICKED rule…
      • The earth is given into the hand of the wicked…
      • He covers the faces of its judges – if it is NOT He – [then] who else could it be… vs. 24
      • Job saw the same INJUSTICE coming from the government of his day we still see today…
      • Rulings from the COURT that pervert TRUTH – and God was ALLOWING it!
      • Romans 13:1 – “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”
      • Paul wrote this during the time Caesar Nero was the emperor of Rome…
      • The ruler who clothed Christians in animal skins – then fed them alive to the lions…
      • Who rode his chariot down the road lined with burning Christians for light…
      • This was the Government of Paul – the one he was saying to SUBMIT to!
      • If we want all people to have a rich and easy life – all governments should be PERFECT…
      • But if we want people in heaven – BAD governments work best!
      • If governments were PERFECT – we would never learn to look to and trust in God…
      • It is in the imperfections of our governments we see our NEED for the Lord!
      • It is NOT that all the governments are good – God just USES them all for our GOOD!
    • Life has no PURPOSE…
      • Now my days are swifter than a runner – they flee away – they see no good… vs. 25
      • They pass by like swift ships – like an eagle swooping on its prey… vs. 26
      • Three vivid images depicting how fast life was passing by!
      • If I say – I will forget my complaint – I will put off my sad face and wear a smile… vs. 27
      • I would still dread all the pain – for I know YOU will not find me innocent – O God…
      • Whatever happens – I will be found guilty – so what is the use of trying [NLT] … vs. 28-29
      • If I wash myself with snow [pure] water – and cleanse my hands with soap…
      • Yet You will plunge me into the pit – and my own clothes will [hate] me… vs. 30-31
      • Job recognized as essential TRUTH – it is impossible to be RIGHTEOUS before God!
      • We can put on a HAPPY face [wear a smile] – we can WASH with soap and water…
      • But everything we do ONLY affects the OUTSIDE – it does not change our HEART!
      • Romans 7:24 – “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death.”
  • 4^th – No MEDIATOR… vs. 32-35
    • No one between us…
      • [God] is not a man – that I may answer Him – and that we should go to court together… vs. 32
      • Nor is there any MEDIATOR between us – who may lay his hand on us both… vs. 33
      • Job saw the NEED for there to be a BRIDGE between Him and God!
      • There is no other way for SINFUL men to approach a HOLY God – than through Jesus!
      • Jesus died on the cross so that we could enter the HOLIEST – Hebrews 4:16
      • It is only through Him we have complete access – to our Holy and Perfect God!
      • I Timothy 2:5 – “There is one God and one Mediator between God and men – Jesus Christ!”
    • Fear of the Lord…
      • Let Him take His rod away from me- and do not let dread of Him TERRIFY me… vs. 34
      • Then I would speak and not FEAR Him – but it is not so with me… vs. 35
      • What a CONTRAST – apart from Jesus coming to God is TERRIFYING – Hebrews 10:31
      • But with Jesus we are ENCOURAGED to COME and find REST!
      • Matthew 11:28 – “Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden – and I will give you REST…”

Not just here in this life – but in ETERNAL life with Him!

3^rd – The PLEA of Job – Chapter 10

1^st – Do NOT condemn me… vs. 1-16

Speaking from the HEART… vs. 1-2

I will give free course to my complaint – speak [piel] in the bitterness of my soul…

I will say to God – do NOT condemn me – show me [imperative] WHY You contend with me!

If Job could STAND before the Lord – he rehearsed to his THREE friends what he would say…

He would SPEAK from the HEART – NOT hold back!

Are you like a MAN… vs. 3-7 [NLT]

What do you gain by oppressing me – why do you reject me – the work of your own hands…

While smiling on the schemes of the wicked!

Are your eyes like those of a human – do you see things only as people see them…

Is your lifetime only as long as ours – is your life so short…

That you must quickly probe for my guilt – and search constantly [imperfect] for my sin…

Although you know I am not guilty – NO ONE [אֵין] can rescue me from your hands!

Job was trying to comprehend the actions of the Lord from a human perspective!

But we ONLY see the moment – we cannot see what tomorrow holds…

That is why we CANNOT understand MANY of the things God does…

Because God does sees things from an ETERNAL point of view – Isaiah 55:8-9

You made me… vs. 8-12

Your hands have made me and fashioned me – an intricate unity – yet You would destroy me!

Remember – I pray – You have made me like clay – and will You turn me into DUST again?

Did You not pour me out like milk – and curdle me like cheese [reference to conception] …

Clothe me with skin and flesh – and knit me together with bones and sinews…

You have granted me life and [GRACE] – and Your care has preserved my spirit!

Job points out from the moment of conception – he was the work of God…

Let a precious work of art – would God now destroy His masterpiece!

Ephesians 2:10 – “We are his workmanship [ποίημα] …”

None of us are a MISTAKE – God made us each a work of ART [poem]!

So you could JUDGE me… vs. 13-16 [NLT]

Yet your real motive – your true intent…

Was to watch me – and if I sinned – you would NOT forgive my guilt…

If I am guilty – too bad for me – and even if I am innocent – I cannot hold my head high…

I am filled with shame and misery if I hold my head high…

Because you hunt me like a lion – display your awesome power against me!

Job FELT like God ONLY made him – so he could JUDGE him for EVERY mistake…

The moment Job dared to lift his head up – God cane HUNTING him like a lion!

We assume that God is up there with His holy 2×4 ready to smack us down when we sin…

But it is just the OPPOSITE – Jesus – who is working to FINISH the work he began in us!

Philippians 1:6 – “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

2^nd – LEAVE me alone… vs. 17-22 [NLT]

Why was a BORN…

Again and again you witness against me – you pour out your growing anger on me…

And bring fresh armies [arguments from his friends] against me!

Why then did you deliver me from the womb – why did you not let me die at birth…

It would be as though I had never existed – going directly from the womb to the grave!

I have only a few days left – so leave me alone – that I may have a moment of comfort…

Before I leave – never to return – for the land of darkness and utter gloom…

It is a land as dark as midnight – of gloom and confusion – even the light is dark as midnight!

Job was so CONSUMED by the moment – he never even considered WHY…

God did create him – God did give him life and GRACE…

Not so that He could judge him – but so that Job might know the Lord!

Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope…”

This is a verse a LOT of people put on their walls – memorize for comfort…

But most do not remember the CONTEXT – Jeremiah 29:10

God told Israel they were going to go into captivity for SEVENTY years!

Life has good days – and life has bad days…

It can be easy to forget in the hard times – that God is still on OUR side…

Everting that God allows into our lives has ONE purpose – to draw us closer to Him…

His thoughts towards us are ALWAYS peace – not evil – to give us a future and a hope…