Poor Comfort… (3 points)

• 1^st – The complaint of Job – Chapter 3 
  • 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…
    • As we come into the SECOND section of Job – we will see this extensively!
    • An idea will be stated – then a number of verses will be dedicated to COMPARING it…
    • Then we will see the idea CONTRASTED – giving us a RHYME of ideas!
  • Four ROUNDS…
    • The SECOND section of Job – Chapters 3-37 – the Wisdom of Men…
    • Is broken up into FOUR rounds of debate – THREE between Job and his THREE friends…
    • After each FRIEND gives their OPINION – Job will respond and defend himself!
    • Then a final FOURTH section when a young man named Elihu gives his opinion…
    • After which God will give His TRUTH – which is the THIRD and final section of the Book!
  • 1^st – A CURSED day… vs. 1-13
    • After this Job opened his mouth and CURSED the day… vs. 1
      • CURSED [piel] – the word means to count something as insignificant…
      • In light of suffering the loss of EVERYTHING – money / family / health…
      • Job looked back on THE day he was BORN – and wished it had NOT happened!
    • Now we begin the Hebrew POETRY … vs. 2-9
      • Job will COMPARE ideas that reinforce how much he wished he had NOT been born…
      • May THE day PERISH [be destroyed] on which I was born… vs. 3
      • May THE day become [jussive] darkness – may God [אֱלוֹהַּ] NEVER [אַֽל] seek it… vs. 4
      • The GENERIC name of God is used almost exclusively in this SECOND section…
      • Which gives us a good HINT at the underlying problem ALL these men had…
      • They knew ABOUT God – but they did not have a personal relationship WITH God!
      • [May men be] TERRIFIED [piel] with the darkness of THE day… vs. 5 
      • May it NOT [jussive] rejoice [join] among the days of the year [calendar] … vs. 6
      • May the night be [jussive] BARREN [childless] – let it NOT [jussive] have joy… vs. 7
      • May the stars of the morning look [piel[ for dawn – but NEVER EVER [וָאַיִן וְאַל] see it… vs. 9
      • Let them curse THE day – who can raise LEVIATHAN… vs. 8
    • What is LEVIATHAN…
      • LEVIATHAN [לִוְיָתָן] – 5x in OT – is described to us in Job 41 [entire chapter]
      • The description is unmistakable that of a DRAGON – breathes fire – Job 41:19
      • God also describes a sauropod – tail like a cedar / bone of bronze – Job 40:17
      • We have been taught in school – dinosaurs lived MILLIONS of years ago…
      • But that would be in direct contrast to the Bible – day FIVE and SIX of creation – Genesis 1
      • The great sea creatures [תַּנִּין] mentioned in Genesis 1:21 – Dinosaurs!
      • Many cultures have stories about dragons (Egypt / China / Greece)!
      • Dinosaurs did NOT live millions of years ago – they were still around in the time of Job!
    • Why the DAY should be cursed… vs. 10-13
      • Because THE day did not shut up the door of my mothers womb… vs. 10
      • Which could have caused my SORROW to be hidden [hiphil] from my eyes…
      • Why did I not die at birth – why did the knees not prevent [piel] me… vs. 11-12
      • Then I would have had PEACE – I would have had REST!
      • Job wanted to ESCAPE the sorrows of LIFE – rather than LEARN from them!
      • Which I am sure we can all RELATE to – no one WANTS to SUFFER…
      • We want Jesus to take us OUT of the trials of life – we want the easy way…
      • But more often than not God does NOT take away our PROBLEMS…
      • Instead – He gives us the grace to ENDURE – go through the valleys of life…
      • If life is easy – we tend not to think about God – or take the time to talk to Him…
      • It is in the midst of SUFFERING – we hit our knees – we cling onto Jesus!
      • And Jesus never leaves us alone in our trials – He is always right beside us!
      • Psalms 23:4 – “Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me…” [NLT]
  • 2^nd – Better to be DEAD… vs. 14-26
    • Job assumes DEATH would be easier – THREE ways [three sources of TRIALS] …
    • No HOPE in WEALTH… vs. 14-15
      • With – kings and counselors of the earth build RUINS for themselves…
      • Or with – princes who had GOLD and filled their houses… 
      • Job here realizes the foolishness of seeking WEALTH…
      • Men can build great palaces – but they will ultimately fall apart…
      • Men can fill their houses with GOLD – but it cannot keep them from DEATH!
      • Solomon tried everything – looking for happiness – Ecclesiastes 2:1-11
      • But Solomon learned instead it was all EMPTY – like chasing after the WIND!
      • There is nothing wrong with having MONEY – the problem is when MONEY has us…
      • Looking for happiness – answers in MONEY – is chasing the WIND…
      • It is not about chasing something that is hard to catch – NOTHING there to catch!
    • No HOPE in RELATIONSHIPS… vs. 16-19
      • [In DEATH] the [prisoners] cease from troubling – and there the [workers] are at rest…
      • The [prisoners] do not hear the voice of their oppressors…
      • And the [workers] are free from their masters!
      • Job realizes the futility of POSITION – because it does NOT last…
      • In the end both WORKER and MASTER – PRISONER and GUARD – all end up together!
      • Romans 2:11 – “For there is no respect of persons with God.” [KJV]
    • No HOPE in HEALTH… vs. 20-22
      • I LONG to DIE more than hidden treasures – but it does not come…
      • I will rejoice exceedingly when I can find the GRAVE…
      • The physical state of Job was so bad – covered in sores – he just wanted to DIE!
      • When we buy food – we often check the expiration date…
      • As our bodies wear out – they are telling us we have an expiration date!
      • Aging is GRACE – as we look in the mirror – we see we are getting OLD…
      • If we never aged – just one day died – there would be no warning to prepare…
      • We are going to see Jesus soon – aging is His way to get us ready!
      • We get tired of this old achy body – it makes us long for the new model!
    • When TROUBLE comes… vs. 23-26
      • My SCREAMS [roar] pour out like water before I eat…
      • Because the TERROR I FEARED has happened to me…
      • I had no comfort / peace / rest – when TROUBLE came!
      • Life FELL apart for Job – because Job was not looking to the Lord – Job fell apart as well…
      • But he should NOT have feared the TROUBLE – he should have WELCOMED it!
      • Romans 5:3-4 – “We also GLORY in [TROUBLES], knowing that [TROUBLE] produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
      • Why do we believe the sun will rise tomorrow morning – maybe it will fail…
      • We are confident the sun will rise – because it always has – it has never failed!
      • In the same way we know TROUBLE brings HOPE – because we have learned…
      • That just because we are in the pitch black of night – we know the dawn is coming!
      • So we do not PANIC when TROUBLE comes – we PERSEVERE and wait on the Lord…
      • Trusting in the Lord – our HOPE in Jesus – because we have learned He is trustworthy…
      • Therefore we have GLORY in TROUBLES – because we know it has a purpose!

• 2^nd – The first accusation – Chapter 4-5
  • 1^st – ASSUMING sin… vs. 1-11
    • The FIRST – and longest – of THREE responses from Eliphaz… vs. 1-2
      • Eliphaz [my god is gold] – from Teman [south] – a descendant of Esau – Genesis 36:11
      • The THREE friends had been sitting in silence for SEVEN days…
      • Eliphaz asks if speaking would offend Job – but adds he CANNOT hold back a response!
      • As we will see – it might have been BETTER if they had STAYED quiet!
    • Painter – paint your house… vs. 3-5
      • [Job] had instructed [piel] and strengthened [piel] the hands of many…
      • [His] words upheld the those who were stumbling – the knees of the feeble…
      • But now [trouble] comes to you and you FAINT!
      • It is easy to tell others what to do – when we our lives are going smooth…
      • But it when life falls apart – do we listen to our own counsel!
    • Questioning the INTEGRITY… vs. 6-11
      • Is not your REVERENCE your confidence – INTEGRITY [תֹּם] of your ways your hope…
      • Interestingly – just like the wife of Job – Eliphaz questions the INTEGRITY of Job…
      • The same INTEGRITY – God had complimented Job on before Satan – Job 2:3
      • REMEMBER now [imperative] – who being INNOCENT perished – or the righteous cut off…
      • As I have SEEN – those who plow iniquity – sow trouble – reap the same…
      • By the BLAST of God they perish – by the breath of His anger they are consumed!
      • Eliphaz compares the judgement to what can happen to a FIERCE lion…
      • Even though they are STRONG – God can break their teeth / and die from lack of food!
      • The idea being it did not matter how GREAT Job was – he was not above God…
      • The command here is to admit – Job SUFFERED – as a result of his sin…
      • This did not happen to a GOOD man – Job was REAPING the results of his wickedness!
      • Which is TRUE – we do REAP what we SOW in life – Galatians 6:7
      • The problem – Eliphaz was NOT judging ACTIONS – he admitted those were GOOD…
      • He was making assumptions about sin in the HEART of Job!
      • We absolutely can JUDGE the actions of someone – by comparing them to the Word…
      • If what someone is doing in CONTRARY to the Word – then we can say it is WRONG!
      • But 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 – WHISPERED sin… vs. 12-21
    • The God angle…
      • Eliphaz had a SECRET word – a whisper in his ear… vs. 12-15
      • A thought from the VISIONS of the night – when deep sleep falls on men…
      • Fear came upon him – trembling – which made his bones shake…
      • A spirit passed before his face – causing his hair to stand on end!
    • He could NOT make out the form – but he HEARD the voice… vs. 16-19
      • Can a [man] be more righteous than God!
      • God who puts no trust in His servants – the Angels…
      • How much less those who dwell in houses – who foundation is DUST – Genesis 2:7
      • Again – it is TRUE no man is as RIGHTEOUS as God – Matthew 5:48
      • But the argument here is that a SPIRIT accused Job of CLAIMING to be more righteous…
      • Eliphaz had to default to a listening to a WHISPER – because there was NO evidence!
      • Two PROBLEMS – FIRST – do NOT listen to WHISPERS [especially from unknown spirits]
      • When people WHISPER to us – we call that GOSSIP – and it is SIN – Leviticus 19:16
      • SECOND – do not invoke the THUS SAYS THE LORD – unless you are absolutely sure…
      • People LIKE to bring God into their arguments to try and END a debate…
      • But God does not take it lightly when we misspeak on His behalf!
      • Deuteronomy 18:20 – “[Anyone] who falsely claims to speak in my name… must die.”
  • 3^rd – PROJECTING sin… vs. 1-5
    • Call [imperative] out NOW… vs. 1
      • Is there ANYONE who will answer you – to which of the HOLY ones will you turn…
      • Eliphaz points out that Job has no choice – there is nowhere left to go…
      • There is NO one and NO other god [holy one] who can save Him!
    • Describing the SIN… vs. 2
      • WRATH kills a foolish man – and ENVY slays a simple one…
      • Eliphaz ASSUMES that WRATH and ENVY must be the sins of Job…
      • Both are sins that cannot been PROVEN – they are issues in the HEART!
    • PROJECTING the SIN… vs. 3-5
      • I – EVEN I [emphasized in Hebrew] have seen FOOLISH [אֱוִיל] take root…
      • But I CURSED his dwelling place suddenly!
      • Ironic that the word FOOLISH – is pronounces EVIL…
      • Eliphaz had seen WRATH and ENVY – EVIL – take root in HIS heart…
      • But he says that he REBUKED it – knowing where it LED!
      • His sons are far from SAFETY – they will be CRUSHED in COURT [lawsuits]
      • The hungry eat up his HARVEST – the thirsty drinks up his WEALTH [losing everything]
      • We are sensitive to the SINS we are convicted about ourselves…
      • If we are greedy – we see greed in others / if we are prideful – we see pride…
      • Our sin always looks worse on someone else – it is easy to see our sins in their lives…
      • But we need to first deal with our own hearts before we reach out to help others!
      • Luke 6:42 – “Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.” [NLT]
  • 4^th – ORIGIN of Sin… vs. 6-7
    • Affliction does not come from the dust – nor does TROUBLE spring from the ground…
    • Yet man is born to trouble – as the sparks fly upward!
    • The conclusion of Eliphaz – is that TROUBLE comes from somewhere…
    • Problems do not just SPRING up from the GROUND – they have a SOURCE…
    • His argument is the SOURCE is MEN – TROUBLE springs up from them…
    • Just as often as SPARKS fly upward from a roaring bonfire!
    • The problem again – is that this generalizes the TROUBLES we face in life…
    • That is why we are NOT called to POINT out the SOURCE of TROUBLE in the lives of others…
    • We are called to POINT them to the SOLUTION – which is ALWAYS Jesus!
    • Because Jesus DOES know what is in our hearts – and He alone has the power to fix it!

Point them to the ONE who see EVERYTHING – and has ALL the asnwers!

3^rd – You must Repent – Chapter 5

1^st – GO to God… vs. 8-17

I – EVEN I [emphasized in Hebrew] would SEEK God – to God would I commit my [words] …

Why go to the Lord – here comes more Hebrew POETRY…

He gives rain on the earth – and sends waters on the fields…

He sets on high those who are lowly – those who mourn are lifted to safety – James 4:6

He [breaks] the [plans] of the crafty – so their hands cannot carry out their plans…

They will meet with darkness in daytime [confusion] – grope at noontime as at night!

But He saves the needy from the sword – so the poor have HOPE!

God can either be FOR us – or He can be AGAINST us…

Of God AGAINST us – we are in trouble – we will SUFFER!

Therefore – it is incredibly important that we are NOT prideful!

James 4:6 / I Peter 5:5 – “God resists the proud, but give grace to the humble.”

Considering what God can do – HELP or HINDER…

Behold HAPPY [straight path] is the man who God corrects…

Therefore do NOT [jussive] despise the chastening of the Almighty!

God loves us too much to let us get away with our sin – so He INSTRUCTS us…

Not because He is angry – or mad at us – but because of His great love for us!

God desires to teach us – His kids – how to live a RIGHTEOUS and holy life

Like any child – we have a hard time believing it is for our own good…

But when we are punished by the Lord – is proves we are His kids!

Hebrews 12:5 – “Whom the LORD loves He chastens [same word] …”

2^nd – There is HOPE… vs. 18-27

Eliphaz finishes his FIRST response to Job – with an attempt at comfort…

[God] bruises – but He binds up / He wounds – but His hands make whole…

He shall deliver you in six troubles – yes – in seven [complete] no evil shall touch you…

In famine He shall redeem you from death – and in war from the power of the sword…

You shall be hidden from the scourge of the tongue [gossip]

You shall laugh at destruction and famine [lack of food]

And you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth…

You shall visit your dwelling and find nothing amiss [no theft]

You shall also know that your descendants shall be many [lots of kids / grandkids]

You shall come to the grave at a full age [die an old man]

Command to LISTEN… vs. 27

Behold – WE [three friends] have searched out – and it is TRUE…

HEAR it [imperative] – and KNOW it [imperative] for yourself!

The problem with the COUNSEL of Eliphaz – is it HIS opinion…

He mixes it with some TRUTH – but makes a lot of ASSUMPTIONS…

Because he did NOT know the WHOLE story – Job 1-2

The result is he ends up giving EMPTY words to Job that have no POWER!

We all have opinions – just ask us – and we will tell you…

But people do NOT need our ideas – no matter how well meaning…

Because we do NOT know the WHOLE story – we just end giving people EMPTY words!

When people come to us with problems – do NOT – give them OUR solutions…