A Life of Resolve: Job (2)

Introduction

This morning as we continue in our Life of Resolve series we take a look at Job. Job is a name that is familiar to each of you likely, however, his full story may be less familiar. He is known yet unknown. We know the basics to some degree, but not the full background. Unfortunately, this morning will not be a bible study or character study on the person of Job, or the purpose of all that happened to him. Simply a survey of his life, and seeing his resolve to stay faithful to God.

Now, I want to address the word faith in a better way. Lexham bible dictionary tells us there are three biblical concepts of faith which regularly overlap; Covenantal Faith, Epistemological Faith, and Eschatological Faith.

There are define this way:

Covenantal Faith is a commitment. Faith in action. “a relationship of faithfulness and cooperation”. Loyalty.

Epistemological Faith: “Christians capacity for a kind of spiritual perception that allows them to interpret the world in a godly way. God’s people are able to see and perceive His work in the world, while the rest of the world ignores or rejects it.” (Hays, “Salvation by Trust”, 218-223).

Eschatological Faith: Faith as the living eschatological expression of christian hope. A hope for a brighter future, a restored future, a future where God will make all things new.

In Hebrew we have emunah, “trust” or “reliability” as well as emeth, “faithfulness” or “truth”. Emunah “often refers to those who have the capacity to remain stable amid the unsettling circumstances of life”

And as we will see, Job certainly experienced unsettling circumstances in life!

We begin, at the beginning, let’s meet Job:

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Job 1:1

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil.

So, we have a name, a place, and a character witness from scripture. Job, lived in Uz, and he was blameless and upright. He feared God, and he turned away from evil. Easy enough, simple enough, but things start to get weird very quickly with Job.

Job 1:9–11 NASB95

Then Satan answered the Lord, “Does Job fear God for nothing? “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.”

And after this Satan wipes out everything Job has. Now we pause, we wonder. What will Job do? Well, how about a better question, what would you do?

Here is Jobs’ response:

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Job 1:20–22

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped.

21 He said,

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

And naked I shall return there.

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.

Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

22 Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.

Job holds fast, he is faithful, still fearing God and still blameless. And now his wife, the one Satan left. Says this:

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Job 2:9–10

Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!”

10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

You know, when you are going through hard times, look who is around you, and then ask why they are around you! Perhaps they are a help, a real friend, an angel sent from God. Or, perhaps they are like Jobs’ wife, a messenger from Satan! Not only no help, but they are encouraging you to sinfulness and a lack of faithfulness.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Job 3:1–4

Afterward Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

2 And Job said,

3 “Let the day perish on which I was to be born,

And the night which said, ‘A boy is conceived.’

4 “May that day be darkness;

Let not God above care for it,

Nor light shine on it.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Job 6:10

But it is still my consolation,

And I rejoice in unsparing pain,

That I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Job 19:25

As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

And at the last He will take His stand on the earth

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Job 38:2

Who is this that darkens counsel

By words without knowledge?

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Job 42:1–6

Then Job answered the LORD and said,

2 “I know that You can do all things,

And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.

3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’

“Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,

Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak;

I will ask You, and You instruct me.’

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;

But now my eye sees You;

6 Therefore I retract,

And I repent in dust and ashes.”

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Job 42:17

And Job died, an old man and full of days