Notes on Job 21-23

Chapter 21

Bildad and Zophar's reasoned that God blesses the righteous and the wicked suffer.  If Job was suffering then, according to their reasoning, Job was wicked.

Job tells them their words of supposed comfort were based on false assumptions and therefore meaningless. They had a view of God that was shallow and took the "what is in it for me"approach to obedience.  .Job had seen the wicked proposer and gives example after example to back up his claim.

As I said in earlier studies, I believe Job's three friends were living in fear of suffering and trials.  They comforted themselves with wrong doctrine...if they obeyed...God would bless and protect them.  If they did not obey, they would suffer.  This gave them the an illusion of control.  Job refuted their reasoning and this made them angry!

Jesus told us that in this world we would have tribulation.  He was obedient to the point of death...the death of the cross.  Jesus was not wealthy nor was His life filled with much physical comfort. Job's friend's looked at the outside...by their estimation then Jesus would have been among the wicked.  Religion is not outward.  God desires truth in the inward parts.  Man looks upon the outward, God looks at the heart.

Chapter 22


Even though Job's children were dead, his possessions gone and his body wracked with illness, Job held on to God and continued to trust Him.  What a witness Job is for God...what an example of endurance he is for us.  Chapter 22 continues with more of the same from Job's comforters.  Job you are a sinner.  Get right with God and things will get better.  Eliphaz introduces a new twist but still more of the same.

Chapter 23


Chapter 23 is a beautiful chapter of faith from start to finish.  Job expresses his longing here for God.  He wants to present his case before Him.  He wants to understand why he is suffering.  He affirms God's sovereignty (13-17) and his own faithfulness. (verse 11-12) For more on 23 see study called Refining Fire.  Here is the link.

Job 23 - Refiner's Fire...

“Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.--Job 23:8-10

To My Daughters,

What wonderful words of faith from Job once again.  Chapter 23 begins with Job wanting to present his case before God.  

Oh, that I knew where I might find Him,  That I might come to His seat!  I would present my case  before Him,  

And fill my mouth with arguments.

Often I find myself doing the same thing that Job wants to do here. I lay all that is on my heart out before the Lord...I cry out to Him and present my arguments.   He knows them all but oh how wonderful that I can turn my heart upside down before Him...that I can trust Him with it all!  How wonderful it is also that I never win the argument.  But, of course, in losing I WIN!  As I read the word and pray, a beautiful thing occurs  The Spirit of God changes my heart that at the time is full of "me" to one that is aligned with the will of my Father in Heaven.  The word of God is alive...it is living and powerful and the Spirit of God uses it to make us more like God's Son. 

I, like Job, say, Lord...Though I do not understand what you are doing, I know that in the end you will bring me forth as gold.  I trust you to see me through.  With your help I will obey, I will cling to your word and I will endure through these trials that you have allowed in my life...You will be my strength and your word will be my song. 1 Peter 1:6-9 says this:

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,  that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,  whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 

Aaah...faith...the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.  It is by faith that we obtain a good testimony. Faith is our access to grace and it is also a gift from Him.  It is nothing of ourselves...it is all Him.  Our job is to cry out in our time of need and let Him do the rest.  

So glad that our God uses our trials when we believe as a refining process.  He takes away the dross and the impurities and brings us forth as gold. Remember what James has to say about Job in chapter 5 of his letter.  HANG ON TO IT...

My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.  Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. 

Love

Mom