Suffering and the Hope of Resurrection
Job: Faithful Suffering & The Faithful Sufferer • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 41 viewsSince life is stained with sin, passes like a brief shadow, and ends in death; we must cling to the hope of resurrection found in Christ.
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“For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.
Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil,
yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant.
But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?
As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up,
so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep.
Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.
Prayer
Suffering and the Hope of Resurrection:
Till Renewal Shall Come
Since life is stained with sin, passes like a brief shadow, and ends in death; we must cling to the hope of resurrection found in Christ.
Zophar the Zealot
Zophar the Zealot
“Brutalizing the Sufferer”
We are now introduced to Job’s third friend.
I am calling him, Zophar the Zealot.
A zealot is simply a person who is burning with great passion.
He speaks with even greater intensity and passion.
Zophar is rude and blunt with Job, likely because he is so passionate to show Job he is in the wrong.
Zophar’s name is fitting, which means “rough.”
For Zophar, the only kind of suffering is “deserved suffering.” (Clines)
Zophar’s Cruel Accusation
Zophar’s Cruel Accusation
“Doubtless Punishment”
“Should a multitude of words go unanswered, and a man full of talk be judged right?
Should your babble silence men, and when you mock, shall no one shame you?
Zophar is inciting Job that he is a man who does not understand anything.
Much like Bildad the Brut who said that Job was a man of deep wind..
Zophar says that Job is babbling and deserving of shaming for his words.
Zophar is claiming that Job is a “proud talker” or “a man of lips”
Zophar’s point is that just because Job talks a lot does not mean he is correct.
Zophar believes that he needs to stand up and speak on behalf of God to Job.
He needs to defend God’s integrity before Job.
Zophar is trying to prop up this concept of God…
When we speak to others about Christ, we never defend Christ as though he is a weak Christ.
We speak what is true because it is the truth.
For you say, ‘My doctrine is pure, and I am clean in God’s eyes.’
Zophar claims that Job has said this..
Job has never made such a claim, but Zophar interprets what has been said to be that.
Zophar’s accusation is that if God were to show up, He would show Job just how guilty he is.
If only God would speak; if only he would tell you what he thinks!
If only he would tell you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom is not a simple matter. Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!
What’s ironic here is while Zophar tells Job that he doesn’t understand what God is doing, he says that he does understand what God is doing!
“Job, you don’t understand what God is doing! But don’t worry, let me explain it to you.”
“Job if only God would show you his secret wisdom which He has already shown me!”
Zophar is right in placing Job’s suffering in the mystery of God.
He GOES WRONG when he says its a mystery that he understands!
Zophar’s Challenge
Zophar’s Challenge
“God is Mysterious to Everyone but Me”
“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?
Its measure is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.
If he passes through and imprisons and summons the court, who can turn him back?
It’s at this moment that Zophar says some true things about God, but then his conclusions are all messed up.
Zophar questions Job whether he can find out the deep things of God.
“Can you know God’s deep ways?”
“Can you find out how far God goes?”
He says many true things about God and yet his conclusion is…
Job 11:6 (NLT)
Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!
How do those two things go together?
God is great and mysterious.
But I know completely what is going on in your life.
The implication is…
“I may not be able to see you secret sin but God sure does!”
For he knows worthless men; when he sees iniquity, will he not consider it?
But a stupid man will get understanding when a wild donkey’s colt is born a man!
Zophar is again jabbing at Job that he is one of those “worthless men”
Zophar is saying that wrongdoers are typically beyond help.
They have gone too far!
But not you, Job!
“But you, Job, are not so stupid; you are teachable, and I will teach you!” (WBC, Clines)
Zophar’s Deceptive Offer
Zophar’s Deceptive Offer
I want you to notice the similarities that Zophar sounds to what Satan has said earlier..
Satan has said that Job only loves God to get something from God.
He asserted that Job would curse him to his face to just get “good things” from God.
“If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to him in prayer!
Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you.
Repent & Pray
Repent & Pray
“Then God Will Bless You”
Again, Zophar much like Eliphaz and Bildad are claiming that Job has sinned in some way.
If Job would simply repent from his sins then God will restore him.
“Your sins have been kept secret, but God will find them out, just repent already!”
Zophar says that if Job does so, the result will be as follows...
Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and free of fear.
You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away.
Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning.
Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.
You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help.
Notice how in line Zophar is with Satan’s agenda.
Satan’s agenda was to destroy Job but he did so by saying that Job just loves God because God blesses him.
In this moment Zophar is in complete accord with Satan, and yet has NO clue.
Just because a person is passionate, does not mean they are correct.
We have a fallacy in our own culture that since a person means well and is extremely devoted to an idea means that they’re correct.
It’s possible to have a ZEAL without KNOWLEDGE.
This is everyone apart from a knowledge of Christ!
Every system, even religious systems!
The Apostle Paul before his conversion was a great example.
After Saul stood over the stoning of Stephen by giving approval to it.
But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest
and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
Saul believed he was being faithful to God.
He believed he was acting in a way that would be please to the Lord.
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh—
though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more:
circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
This was all prior to coming to Christ.
Paul was an extremely passionate man, but the reality was he was wrong.
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—
Zophar is passionate, but incorrect.
He is a zealot without knowledge.
Listen to Job’s response to him...
Job’s Response
Job’s Response
“The Bankruptcy of this System”
Then Job answered and said:
“No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you.
But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you. Who does not know such things as these?
Job is reminding Zophar that he as well has shared their views previously.
He’s now going to express to Zophar the insufficiency of his system of thought.
The System is Harsh
The System is Harsh
“Cruel & Unrelenting”
“I have become a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God and he answered— a mere laughingstock, though righteous and blameless!
Those who are at ease have contempt for misfortune as the fate of those whose feet are slipping.
Job is saying that this system that Zophar is asserting is harsh.
It’s a system that heaps contempt on those who have had misfortune.
“I am a just and blameless man, and I am despised and mocked by you all.”
This system is harsh.
It’s cruel.
It’s unrelenting toward Job.
The System is Small Minded
The System is Small Minded
“Shallow & Simple”
Now notice the kinds of characters that Job asks to attest to the small mindedness of this system.
“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;
or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.
“The animal you ride on, he will teach you.”
“That inanimate bush, it will teach you.”
“The bird who is extremely small minded, they will tell you.”
Job’s rebuke to his friends that even the animals know that evil sometimes overcomes good.
Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?
In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.
Does not the ear test words as the palate tastes food?
Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.
He reminds his friends again that this is all from the hand of a Sovereign God.
Their system of put “good in” and “get good out” is too small minded.
Their system is too narrow minded.
Their system is too surface level.
Their system is harsh, and small minded...
The System is Domesticated
The System is Domesticated
“Tame & Docile”
Their system is also domesticated.
To say domesticated is to say that their system is like a little house cat.
It’s simple, its tame, and sweet.
Job is saying that God is more like a LION, who is untameable.
Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 17: Job 1–20 (Comment)
The God he has encountered is no placid governor of a universe of order, but an unconventional deity, equally inapprehensible and untameable whether he stands aloof from humans or frenetically and obnoxiously interferes in their lives.
Now Zophar has hinted at this reality by saying...
“Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?
But his conclusion is…
Job 11:6 (ESV)
For he is manifold in understanding. Know then that God exacts of you less than your guilt deserves.
But Job is about to remember the kind of God that they serve!
“With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
If he tears down, none can rebuild; if he shuts a man in, none can open.
If he withholds the waters, they dry up; if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.
With him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.
He leads counselors away stripped, and judges he makes fools.
He looses the bonds of kings and binds a waistcloth on their hips.
He leads priests away stripped and overthrows the mighty.
His estimation is that your system is too tame.
“Your system is like a little house cat compared to the Sovereign Creator God!”
Job has responded with scathing critique, their system is harsh, small minded, domesticated, and ultimately it is fraudulent.
The System is Fraudulent
The System is Fraudulent
“The Devil’s Bidding”
But I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to argue my case with God.
As for you, you whitewash with lies; worthless physicians are you all.
Oh that you would keep silent, and it would be your wisdom!
Zophar is now taking the most extreme position of all the friends and he is MOST inaccurate.
He is speaking as one who is speaking on Satan’s behalf, and he has no idea.
“Your medicine to me is like a placebo!”
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
“If you’d be quiet, it would be for everyone’s good.”
Will you speak falsely for God and speak deceitfully for him?
Will you show partiality toward him? Will you plead the case for God?
Will it be well with you when he searches you out? Or can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?
He will surely rebuke you if in secret you show partiality.
Will not his majesty terrify you, and the dread of him fall upon you?
Your maxims are proverbs of ashes; your defenses are defenses of clay.
These men have brought to Job a system that is harsh, small minded, domesticated, and fraudulent.
I want to pause here and remind you the kind of system that Job is discussing here.
It’s a system that says, “put good in, get good out.”
Prosperity & Therapeutic Gospel
They are a reconstructed version of what Zophar is presenting here.
“If you come to Jesus, he will give you prosperity.”
“If you come to Jesus, he will make you feel at peace.”
All of these systems have a focal point of humanity.
They have a man-centered, man-focused agenda.
On the surface they appear to offer life but they are harsh, small minded, domesticated, and fraudulent.
This leads Job to plead for another.
Job’s plea is for God to answer him.
Pleading for Another
Pleading for Another
“Though He Slay Me, Yet…”
“Let me have silence, and I will speak, and let come on me what may.
Why should I take my flesh in my teeth and put my life in my hand?
Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face.
Job’s analysis is that he has nobody else to plead his case with.
He has nobody else who understands and sees him.
God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him.
“I have to speak to him, because The System doesn’t work and I have no choice; but I don’t know how it is going to end.”
The Problem of Sin
The Problem of Sin
How many are my iniquities and my sins? Make me know my transgression and my sin.
Why do you hide your face and count me as your enemy?
Will you frighten a driven leaf and pursue dry chaff?
Job recognizes that the depravity of his heart before his maker is his greatest problem.
It’s not just his problem...
It’s all of our problems..
The Weakness of Flesh
The Weakness of Flesh
Man wastes away like a rotten thing, like a garment that is moth-eaten.
“Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.
He comes out like a flower and withers; he flees like a shadow and continues not.
Not only is his sin his biggest problem.
The frailness of his flesh is equally as much as a problem.
The End of Death
The End of Death
“For there is hope for a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its shoots will not cease.
Though its root grow old in the earth, and its stump die in the soil,
yet at the scent of water it will bud and put out branches like a young plant.
If you cut a tree down, it will grow again.
But it’s not so with mankind.
But a man dies and is laid low; man breathes his last, and where is he?
As waters fail from a lake and a river wastes away and dries up,
so a man lies down and rises not again; till the heavens are no more he will not awake or be roused out of his sleep.
Job knows that if sin is not handled by God, then our humanness will lead to death.
Which is what leads him to his hope…
Hope for Resurrection
Hope for Resurrection
Job’s hope is that God in His mercy will eventually deal with his sin.
He will eventually deal with his sin and grant him resurrection after his death.
Oh that you would hide me in Sheol, that you would conceal me until your wrath be past, that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!
If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my service I would wait, till my renewal should come.
Job’s longing here is simply for renewal.
He longs for renewal.
He longs for newness.
There is a great tension here at this moment that Job looks forward to an amazing reality.
That God in His just mercy and love that He would bring resurrection to His people.
And this renewal and newness is only seen in resurrection!
You would call, and I would answer you; you would long for the work of your hands.
For then you would number my steps; you would not keep watch over my sin;
my transgression would be sealed up in a bag, and you would cover over my iniquity.
Job’s saying that for resurrection to occur, his transgressions must be dealt with!
His transgressions much be covered over!
We will return to this…
But Job finds himself again in despair..
Despair without Resurrection
Despair without Resurrection
“But the mountain falls and crumbles away, and the rock is removed from its place;
the waters wear away the stones; the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; so you destroy the hope of man.
You prevail forever against him, and he passes; you change his countenance, and send him away.
The Resurrection
The Resurrection
“The Grounds of Christian Hope”
Job shows in his response to Zophar an important desire for resurrection.
There are two marks of a believer in this response.
The first is the absolute seriousness about sin.
Job knows that death is only ever a result of judgment.
But Job also knows that there is hope in resurrection.
And both of these realities are seen most clearly in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Romans 4:24–25 (ESV)
It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Paul says in one place that Jesus was delivered for our transgression and raised for our right standing.
Christ Jesus died for sinners but more than that was raised to show that all those who by faith trust Him will one day also be raised!
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
The only ultimate hope in suffering is resurrection!
“Job foreshadows all men and women in Christ, who experience in their own bodies something of the misery of living in a world under judgment, who will know what it is in life to be surrounded by death, and who, because they are in Christ, will suffer not because they are sinners (though they are) but because they are blameless and because in some way their sufferings are a sharing in the sufferings of Christ.” (Ash, Job—The Wisdom of the Cross)
Since life is stained with sin, passes like a brief shadow, and ends in death; we must cling to the hope of resurrection found in Christ.