Death Valley: Life Between the Gardens
Job: Faithful Suffering & The Faithful Sufferer • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 37:43
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· 20 viewsWe live in death valley, between the gardens, the only way out is through the righteous sufferer.
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“And now I have become their song; I am a byword to them.
They abhor me; they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me.
Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.
On my right hand the rabble rise; they push away my feet; they cast up against me their ways of destruction.
They break up my path; they promote my calamity; they need no one to help them.
As through a wide breach they come; amid the crash they roll on.
Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.
Prayer
Today we will be picking back up in the book of Job.
I want to begin briefly, by reviewing some of the high points of the book of Job.
If you remember, at the beginning of Job, we are presented with a righteous man who God has said, he was blameless before him.
Although he was blameless, God presents Job before Satan.
God allows all the Job has to be taken from him.
His family,
his possessions,
his well-being,
and all that he has.
Lessons from Job
“God blesses those who do good, and he curses those who do bad.”
“If I do good, God will bless me.”
“Something bad is happening in my life, I must have sinned in some way.”
We see through this book a righteous man suffering.
A man who God declared as blameless suffering.
The pattern of the book of Job is the pattern that we have seen in Christ’s life.
But it is also seen in the pattern of humanity as a whole.
The First Adam
The First Adam
“The Man in the Garden”
Humanity began in the garden.
Eden was a place of perfection and beauty.
It was a place of peace and tranquility.
But when man fell, we have been in a state of death and suffering ever since.
When we think about this pattern of Job, we need to see something beyond Job.
We need to see the pattern of the Messiah.
But we also need to see the pattern of humanity.
Eden began at this heightened place of perfection.
But the fall into sin cursed everything.
Everything that you and I have ever experienced occured in this Genesis 3 reality.
Its upon this reality that I want to enter our time.
The Experience of a Third World Country....
Why the suffering?
How long will it last?
How long in the valley of death?
We live in death valley, between the gardens, the only way out is through the righteous sufferer.
The Adam of Death Valley
The Adam of Death Valley
“Life Between the Garden’s”
Death Valley, is a valley in Southeastern, California.
It is one of the lowest points in North America.
In summer it is thought to be the hottest place on earth.
They call it death Valley for one simple reason.
If you go into it, you will die.
When we look at Death Valley, we are reminded of a parable of sorts of our own present age.
Job is that “Adam” of sorts who finds himself in this death valley.
I’m calling this Death Valley.
We all live in death valley in this sense.
We live between two gardens, the garden of Eden and the garden of the new Jerusalem.
When we first saw Job lamenting immediately after his life fell apart, his focus was on the immediate circumstances and the pain of extreme loss. (Anderson)
All that he once had.
All that he will miss.
Which is similar to what he said in chapter 29 when he was looking back on all he once had..
Our text today shows Job is more aware of the social and spiritual underpinnings of his problem. (Anderson)
Job is no longer hopeful and of any friendliness of others or from God. (Anderson)
He is much more aware of the brokenness of the world at large.
He is far less resistant to his situation.
Job—The Wisdom of the Cross Chapter 25: The Lament: The Stripping of Dignity (Job 30)
“I long for a paradisal past, but all I can experience is a hellish present.”
Suffering
Suffering
“Present Misery”
As one commentator said… “If chapter 29 described life under the smile of God, chapter 30 throbs with the drumbeat of the terrible wrath of God.” (Ash)
This section seems to describe what Job’s current situation is like.
Men who Job once viewed as utterly disgustful are now laughing and mocking Job.
Unruly Men
In every society, there are people who an older generation would refer to as delinquents.
These will be people who are troublesome, difficult, disobedient, and uncontrollable.
We’re not talking about people who are in a lowly position because of choice or upbringing.
But purely because they desire to be rebellious.
“But now they laugh at me, men who are younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to set with the dogs of my flock.
That word for “laugh” is the same word that is used to describe the way Job dealt with those under him.
His smile was used for blessing whereas these worthless men use their smile for mockery.
“Job has exchanged the respect of the most respectable for the contempt of the most contemptible.” (Anderson)
These men are characterized as DESOLATE with great WANTING...
Vain
Vain
“Gnawing the Ground”
Job compares himself to the “worthless men” who he formerly perceived were under divine punishment because of their iniquity.
Through want and hard hunger they gnaw the dry ground by night in waste and desolation;
Job is not describing the poor.
He is describing men who are so detestable that he wouldn’t even put them over his sheep dogs.
Which are the most despised creatures in his society.
By the brush they would gather herbs from the salt marshes, and the root of the broom tree was their food.
Dishonor
Dishonor
“Driven Out”
They were banished from the community— people shouted at them as they would shout at thieves—
so that they had to live in the dry stream beds, in the holes of the ground, and among the rocks.
They are described as SENSELESS...
They are also described as NAMELESS...
Those men who are so utterly destructive that they don’t even deserve to be named.
It’s because of their speech that Job can say this…
Degenerate
Degenerate
“Senseless and Nameless”
Among the bushes they bray; under the nettles they huddle together.
A senseless, a nameless brood, they have been whipped out of the land.
He is describing men who are more highly praised then he currently is.
Job is being mocked by the degenerate of the society.
Job is being laughed at by the dishonorable.
Job is being made fun of by vain and foolish people.
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered.
And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,
Application
If you are really a Christian here today, then people will persecute you.
It may be in subtle ways, like such snide remarks.
We should not be cast down if we are despised, reviled, and hated by wicked men. We should look to Jesus, who endured the contradiction of sinners.
Like when you walk in obedience in raising your children and the disgusted remarks unbelievers make.
Or when you walk in holiness in some way and another person accuses you of being “holier than thou”
If you are a Christian, you will be persecuted.
And to be persecuted is to follow in line with our Savior.
We do not stand as ones who have been persecuted for the first time, but we follow after our Lord, who was first persecuted.
Not only is Job presently in great misery from those around him...
“And now I have become their song; I am a byword to them.
Humiliation
Humiliation
“Taunt Song”
“And now I have become their taunt song; I have become a byword among them.
Essentially when these worthless men make fun of someone, its Job.
The man who God said has been “blameless” before Him.
Mantra of Shame
Mantra of Shame
“The Notorious Job”
They basically are saying now that when a person is ‘cursed’, then they have become “a Job” (Ash)
Utter Disgust
Utter Disgust
“Abomination of Job”
They abhor me; they keep aloof from me; they do not hesitate to spit at the sight of me.
To abhor a person is to “regard as an abomination” (BDB)
Their conclusion is, since Job is such a curse we should keep far away from him.
Keep Away
Keep Away
“Distance Themselves”
They abhorred him to the point of saying,
“let’s keep our distance from this Job fellow.”
“Don’t even go near him, lest we catch whatever dreadful disease this one has.”
How does this happen?
How can something like this come about?
Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, they have cast off restraint in my presence.
Job remembers that God is the ONE who has brought him to this position.
God is the ONE who has held NOTHING back. (The NET Bible)
Because God has allowed NOTHING to hold back these worthless men…
The Rabble Rise
The Rabble Rise
“Enemies Hatred”
On my right hand the rabble rise; they push away my feet; they cast up against me their ways of destruction.
They break up my path; they promote my calamity; they need no one to help them.
As through a wide breach they come; amid the crash they roll on.
Terrors are turned upon me; my honor is pursued as by the wind, and my prosperity has passed away like a cloud.
Honor Gone
Honor Gone
“Empty as Wind”
The honor that he once held was completely gone.
He now held the least honorable position.
Salvation Removed
Salvation Removed
“A Vapor”
Job is not simply about Job.
Job as we’ve seen elsewhere in scripture is prophetic.
He points forward to someone greater than himself.
I’ve just presented of death valley as the life between the gardens.
This maximumly expressed in the sufferings and death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus was likewise presented with the mantra of shame, he was presented with utter disgust.
People kept far from him as to be associated with him.
Even upon his death, there the rabble rose up against him.
Even at his crucifixion, thugs and rebels, who were dying with him, slandered and blasphemed him.
Then two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right and one on the left.
And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads
and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Not only did the thugs and rebels curse at him, but even the chief priests.
So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying,
“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.
He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”
And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way.
Job points us forward to the ultimate suffer.
The God-Man.
Jesus Christ, the son of God incarnate.
Came into this world, not to be served, but to serve. (Mark 10:45)
Not to make people suffer, but to suffer on their behalf.
Why should we expect anything else for us?
If the author of our faith chose the path of suffering, why would we ever avoid it?
We need to reject any form of Christianity that is merely an easy “believeism”, and requires nothing.
Now, I am not calling us to become martyrs for the sake of martyrdom.
I’m not calling us to be like a Buddhist monks who mutilate themselves to become holy.
But the call of the gospel is not easy.
It will cost you everything.
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
To turn from our sin and trust Christ will cost us everything.
But there is no other way out of Death Valley.
We live in death valley, between the gardens, the only way out is through the righteous sufferer.
The last section we will focus on the last Adam....
The Last Adam
The Last Adam
“The Necessity of Suffering for the Righteous”
These verses now present the misery and hopelessness of Job.
Hopelessness
Hopelessness
“Necessity of Silence”
“And now my soul is poured out within me; days of affliction have taken hold of me.
The night racks my bones, and the pain that gnaws me takes no rest.
Job’s whole inner being is being poured out before him.
There will soon be nothing remaining for Job to lament.
With great force my garment is disfigured; it binds me about like the collar of my tunic.
God has cast me into the mire, and I have become like dust and ashes.
Notice the one who is doing this.
Job does not say,
“God, You never wanted this to happen to me.”
“Satan is the one doing this and You have somehow lost control of him.”
Job says that God is the ONE who has cast him into the mud.
I cry to you for help and you do not answer me; I stand, and you only look at me.
You have turned cruel to me; with the might of your hand you persecute me.
Job is saying that in the moment of biggest need, he stands and asks God for help and there is silence.
You lift me up on the wind; you make me ride on it, and you toss me about in the roar of the storm.
For I know that you will bring me to death and to the house appointed for all living.
Notice the darkened days that Job is living in..
Darkened Days
Darkened Days
“Darkness Came”
“Yet does not one in a heap of ruins stretch out his hand, and in his disaster cry for help?
Did not I weep for him whose day was hard? Was not my soul grieved for the needy?
But when I hoped for good, evil came, and when I waited for light, darkness came.
Job again reflects back on his former belief system.
Hoping for Good
Hoping for Good
“Evil Came”
His former belief system was that if you put good in, you’ll get good out.
“If I just do good enough, God will bless me.”
“If I just try hard enough, I will reap what I’ve sown.”
Job’s reminded that...
“When I hope for good, evil came...” (verse 26)
“When I waited for light, darkness came...” (verse 26)
This is the experience of suffering.
We expect the suffering to end any day now, and it just continues.
What are we to do with this?
But we need to look beyond Job.
As we have seen, Job is prophetic and he points us to the ONE who has suffered unjustly and unrighteously.
Job—The Wisdom of the Cross Redemptive Suffering Is so Necessary that There Must Be No Answer from God to Job’s Cries (vv. 16–23)
And yet at a deeper level Job is right, for his sufferings foreshadow the pain of a man who had to go right down to death, even death on a cross, before his cries would be answered. There is a terrible divine necessity about redemptive suffering. God is doing something so ultimately wonderful that unanswered prayer is the necessary price of achieving it, and Job begins to experience this.
Job is like a shadow.
A shadow that is cast from the substance that is Christ.
Job—The Wisdom of the Cross Redemptive Suffering Is so Necessary that Job Needs to Endure Unjust Suffering (vv. 24–31)
There is a divine necessity about the sufferings of Job. There is something so deeply necessary that it justifies injustice and the unanswered prayer of a righteous man.
How can that be?
How can it be that the righteous be unanswered in their affliction?
49er’s Gold Rush
In 1849, during what is called “the gold rush.”
There was a group of travelers heading to California.
On their way there, they’re leader would only go as fast as the slowest wagon in the group.
You can imagine the frustration with such a slow pace.
Many grew dissatisfied.
During that time, a young man rode into the camp to show the people a “short cut“ across the desert.
The group who were dissatisfied with the slow pace of the wagon train, began following the supposed “shortcut”
The so called "short cut" led these men away from the original train and took them four months longer and cost the lives of many men through the entire ordeal.
We cannot seek the “short cut”
The “short cut” would be any path away from the call of Christ to follow easier paths.
The “short cut” would only want the blessings of being a part of the Christian community without the pain.
The blessings of community without having to “bear one another's burdens” (Galatians 6:2).
The
What Job shows us is a shadowy picture of Christ.
A shadowy picture of a Christ who would be unrighteously rejected.
A shadowy picture of a Christ who was answered with silence when He cried out, “Take this cup from me.”
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.
For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
Job—The Wisdom of the Cross Redemptive Suffering Is so Necessary that There Must Be No Answer from God to Job’s Cries (vv. 16–23)
In a similar way it is yet the same for Christian people today; when God remains silent in answer to our urgent cries, it is not that he does not hear, but rather that it is somehow necessary for us to cry in vain and wait in hope until he achieves in us, and in his world, what he wills to achieve.
We live in death valley, between the gardens, the only way out is through the righteous sufferer.
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?
Job—The Wisdom of the Cross Redemptive Suffering Is so Necessary that Job Needs to Endure Unjust Suffering (vv. 24–31)
Ultimately we shall see that there is a good purpose and a great purpose achieved by these sufferings. But not now, not yet.
Video
Child Dedication
What are we doing today?
The word dedicate means:
to set apart;
to consecrate to the Lord;
to devote wholly and earnestly to Christ.
It’s NOT mandated in Scripture.
It’s NOT declaring that these children are saved.
There is no salvific merit in this!
It IS meant to be a public display of covenant accountability and humility.
It is just as much a parent dedication as it is a child dedication! (God I need you…Church I need you)
Jared & Chrystal, if you agree with the following vows, would you be willing, as promises to God and promises to your children to signify such by saying, “We do” after each one?
· Do you today recognize YOUR Children as a gift from God and give heartfelt thanks for God’s blessing?
· Do you dedicate YOUR Children to the Lord who gave them to you, surrendering all worldly claims upon their life in the hope that they will entirely belong to God?
· Do you pledge as parents that, with God’s Fatherly help, you will bring YOUR Children up “in the discipline and instruction of the Lord,” making every reasonable effort, with patience, grace, and love, to build the Word of God, the character of Christ, and the joy of the Lord into their life?
· Do you promise to provide for YOUR Children, through God’s blessing, nurture, and support for the physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual care of their soul, looking to your own heavenly Father for the grace, wisdom, and strength to serve, guide, & love them?
· Do you promise, with God’s help, to make it your regular prayer that, by God’s grace, YOUR Children will come to trust in Jesus Christ alone for the forgiveness of their sins and for the fulfillment of all His promises, even eternal life; and in this faith follow Jesus as Lord and obey His teachings?
If you agree with the following vows, answer “We will”
· Will you obey the biblical commendation to come alongside the Saints of God in the visible church and will you remain connected to, serving in, worshipping with, and accountable to the people of God in a local church?
Will you purpose by the grace of God to make it your ongoing practice to demonstrate to your children a love for the bride of Christ, His church?
Will you make every attempt to be in close fellowship with the saints and seek to love the church as Christ loves the church?
To the Church & witnesses:
Do you Church promise to pray for God’s grace to work in the life of the Showalter children, and promise to help guide them in the authority of the scriptures, and love them unconditionally, trusting the Master to use them to reflect His glory?
If so answer, “We will”.
Eva, Amiah, Uriah, Hannah, and Olivia, together with your parents, who love you dearly, and these people who care about the outcome of your faith, I now dedicate you to God, surrendering together with them all worldly claims upon your life, in the hope that you will belong wholly to God, finding your joy in Him, and live for His Glory!
Prayer