When all hope is Gone

Pain & Suffering can lead to a sense of isolation (being alone) (Job 19:7-22)

Explanation: Job is deep in the second round of “counseling” by his comforters, and things were going from bad to worse. Instead of encouraging him, his friends were accusing him of hidden sin even more strongly than before. Job was in bad shape and was crying out for help (v. 7)

Job was in bad shape and was crying out for help (v. 7)

Job thought that God was against him (vv. 8-13)

Job was being shunned by his family / friends / neighbors were against him (vv. 14-20)

Job felt betrayed by his comforters (vv. 21-22)

Illustrate: People who have leprosy (skin disease) are removed from society. They are forced to live with other lepers in colonies, isolated from healthy people.

Argument: We may not be lepers, and we may not have all of the troubles Job had, but when we experience pain and suffering, it can cause it to want to be alone. We get discouraged thinking that everyone is against us, that no one likes us, and the world would be better off without us.

Living for God is no guarantee of a life free from pain and suffering. Serving God and being faithful does not mean that people will understand you. As a matter of fact, you may even get shot at by members of your own team! The Apostle Paul warned the Ephesian elders that, after he left them, savage wolves would arise from among their own fellowship! (). The prophet Jeremiah complained because he also felt as if he had been abandoned by the Lord (Jeremiah 15:17-18)

If we have been attending church for any length of time, we have heard this truth. We know at some level that God never promised that our days would be filled with sunshine and no problems. We know this, BUT when God allows negative situations into our life (sickness, job loss, unfair criticism, wayward children, etc.) we seem to forget these truths and we begin to question everything.

Application: You CAN focus on the promises of God (), you CAN remember that as a believer you have been cured of your sin leprosy, and you CAN remember you aren’t the only one who has ever faced disappointment or loss. In the midst of the darkness, you CAN look up where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-2)

In our pain, we want to defend our record (Job 19:23-24)

Explanation: Job thought he was getting ready to die, and he knew that his friends still did not believe that he was innocent. Job knew they were accusing him of hidden sin, and he wanted a permanent record that showed the truth. He was asking for his life story to be chiseled into a rock. Surely that would be a record that could not be changed. His desire is similar to the modern idea of sayings we put on grave markers

Illustrate: show images of real grave markers

Argument: some of those markers were funny, some were sad, but some were downright vicious! The person who died wanted to leave a permanent statement against another person. He wanted his side of the story for future generations. It doesn’t always work: the wife of Herbert Harband had the marker removed after he died.

The desire to defend ourselves is natural. The old sin nature that remains within us wants to be right! When we face things that are not fair or not our fault we want others to know the real story. When we hear untruths or accusations we want to lash out with the truth. Lashing out is not, however, the way of Jesus. He is the one who told His followers to “turn the other cheek” ()

Application: It is not your job to make sure everyone knows the real story. You have been called to follow Jesus. He knows the Truth, and if He chooses to reveal it to others, that is His call. Remember that not all things will be revealed in this world, but there is a record in heaven that is fixed

The solution is to realize that the only true hope for Redemption is found in God ()

Explanation: In spite of his frustration with his lack of being understood or believed, Job was able to shift his focus enough to let the hope in. Realizing that he had nothing but God, he turned to God for help. God answered Job with the revelation knowledge that He Himself was Job’s Redeemer. There were many things Job was confused about, but he had rock solid knowledge about the reality of God serving as the Ultimate Redeemer.

Giving commentary on verse 25, Robert Alden declares the following:

The New American Commentary: Job (4) Testimony of Hope (19:23–27)

The Redeemer would eventually appear. Though Job would die and his stone testimony would stand in silence, he anticipated a Redeemer who “lives” and acts on behalf of those in need who rely on him.

Illustrate:

Argument: Job did not have the full revelation of Jesus. He could not see the need for God coming to the earth in human form to save sinners. Job could not understand the God-Man as the perfect Kinsman - Redeemer. But, Job did have confidence in the hope of God serving as Redeemer - the One who was able to buy lost humans out of the slave pit of sin.

Living on this side of the Cross, we have the full revelation of the Messiah. We know the story of the Incarnation, how the Eternal Second person of the Trinity left the glory of Heaven to take on humanity. God has given us clear knowledge of Jesus’s perfect sinless life, and how Jesus served as the only acceptable sacrifice to satisfy the wrath of God against sin.

We can, however, have this knowledge without it being our hope. We can allow the darkness and despair to crush us, even though we have a basic understanding of God’s amazing Love shown by His sending a Redeemer. Jesus is the only hope this world has, and when Jesus is all you have, then you can know that Jesus is all you need

Conclusion: As we bring this service to a close, I want to encourage you this morning by reminding believers that you have a powerful Redeemer. He is not overlooking you, and He has not forgotten you. He knows where you are, and He knows what you are going through. After all, He is the One who allowed this to enter your life.

lamentations 3:

“Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormword and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. BUT this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The LORD is my portion says my soul, therefore I will hope in Him.” ()

Lamentations 3:19–24 ESV

Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually remembers it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

And if you are not a believer, I encourage you to come to the Only One who can grant peace and give True Redemption. If the Holy Spirit is convicting you of your need to be taken from the empty life of sin that can never satisfy, come and receive the One who can replace your heart of stone with a new and living heart that beats for Jesus.