Job's Journey: Faith, Suffering, and Christ's Mediation
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound and complex book of Job, focusing on how Job's life and experiences point us to Jesus Christ. We began by understanding that Jesus is the center of all biblical revelation, both Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament, through prophecy, typology, and foreshadowing, points to the need for a more sufficient redemption, a greater King, and a more righteous priest, all fulfilled in Jesus.
We delved into the life of Job, a man described as blameless and upright, who feared God and shunned evil. Despite his righteousness, Job faced immense suffering, losing his wealth, children, and health. This suffering was initiated by a heavenly conversation between God and Satan, where Satan challenged Job's faithfulness, suggesting that Job only served God because of his blessings. God allowed Satan to test Job, but within limits, demonstrating His sovereignty over all creation, including Satan.
Job's friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, offered poor counsel, adhering to a simplistic view of retributive justice—believing that suffering is always a direct result of sin. This bad theology drove Job further from God, leading him to question God's justice and even accuse God of wrongdoing. However, a fourth friend, Elihu, corrected both Job and his friends, emphasizing God's justice and sovereignty.
God eventually responded to Job, not with answers, but with questions that highlighted His immense power and wisdom. Through a series of questions about creation and divine justice, God reminded Job of His sovereignty and Job's limited understanding. Job's final response was one of humility and repentance, acknowledging God's ultimate authority and wisdom.
The book of Job teaches us about the sovereignty, value, and transcendence of God. It challenges us to remain faithful to God, not for the blessings we receive, but for the surpassing worth of knowing Him. Ultimately, Job's story points us to Jesus Christ, our mediator, who bridges the chasm between a holy God and sinful humanity. Jesus, by His sacrifice, allows us to approach God with confidence, finding mercy and grace in our time of need.
### Key Takeaways
1. God's Sovereignty Over All Things: The book of Job vividly illustrates God's absolute control over all aspects of creation, including Satan. This sovereignty is evident from the heavenly staff meeting to the natural elements and Job's personal suffering. Understanding God's sovereignty helps us trust Him even when we don't understand our circumstances. [07:55]
2. The Value of Knowing God: Job's story challenges us to examine why we follow God. Is it for the blessings we receive, or is it for the intrinsic value of knowing Him? True faithfulness to God is not contingent on our circumstances but on the surpassing worth of a relationship with Him. [31:23]
3. The Transcendence and Holiness of God: God is infinitely beyond and above us in wisdom, power, and moral perfection. Job's encounter with God in the whirlwind underscores the vast difference between the Creator and His creation. This realization should lead us to humility and reverence before God. [33:07]
4. The Danger of Bad Theology: Job's friends adhered to a narrow view of retributive justice, which led them to wrongly accuse Job and ultimately drove him further from God. Bad theology can distort our understanding of God and His ways, leading to misguided actions and beliefs. [21:34]
5. Jesus as Our Mediator: Job longed for a mediator who could bridge the gap between him and God. This mediator is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who by His sacrifice, reconciles us to God. Through Jesus, we can approach God's throne with confidence, receiving mercy and grace. [36:54]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:43] - Introduction to the Series
[03:11] - The Life and Mystery of Job
[04:50] - Job's Historical Context
[06:24] - Job's Wealth and Righteousness
[07:55] - The Heavenly Staff Meeting
[09:28] - Satan's Challenge and Job's Suffering
[12:44] - The Unsettling Reality of Job's Trials
[14:22] - Job's Despair and His Wife's Counsel
[16:09] - The Friends' Counsel and Retributive Justice
[19:26] - Job's Increasing Indignation
[21:34] - The Danger of Bad Theology
[23:30] - Elihu's Intervention
[25:38] - God's Response from the Whirlwind
[27:26] - God's Sovereignty and Job's Humility
[29:42] - Job's Restoration and the Book's Lessons
[31:23] - The Value of Knowing God
[33:07] - The Transcendence and Holiness of God
[34:59] - The Need for a Mediator
[36:54] - Jesus as Our Mediator
[38:53] - Conclusion and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Job 1:6-12
2. Job 38:1-7
3. Job 42:1-6
### Observation Questions
1. What was the nature of the conversation between God and Satan in Job 1:6-12? What did Satan challenge about Job's faithfulness? [07:55]
2. How did God respond to Job's questioning in Job 38:1-7? What was the purpose of God's questions to Job? [23:30]
3. What was Job's final response to God in Job 42:1-6? How did Job's understanding of God change? [27:26]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the heavenly conversation in Job 1:6-12 illustrate God's sovereignty over all creation, including Satan? [07:55]
2. In what ways does Job's story challenge us to examine why we follow God? Is it for the blessings we receive, or for the intrinsic value of knowing Him? [31:23]
3. How does the book of Job highlight the danger of bad theology, as seen in the counsel of Job's friends? How can this apply to our understanding of suffering and God's justice? [21:34]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you faced a difficult situation. How did your understanding of God's sovereignty help you trust Him, even when you didn't understand your circumstances? [07:55]
2. Job's story challenges us to value our relationship with God above the blessings we receive. How can you cultivate a deeper relationship with God that is not dependent on your circumstances? [31:23]
3. Job's friends offered poor counsel based on a narrow view of retributive justice. How can you ensure that your understanding of God and His ways is not limited or distorted by bad theology? [21:34]
4. Job's encounter with God in the whirlwind underscored the vast difference between the Creator and His creation. How can this realization lead you to greater humility and reverence before God? [33:07]
5. Job longed for a mediator to bridge the gap between him and God. How does Jesus fulfill this role, and how can you approach God's throne with confidence because of Jesus' sacrifice? [36:54]
6. Think about a time when you questioned God's justice or accused Him of wrongdoing. How did you come to a place of humility and repentance, acknowledging God's ultimate authority and wisdom? [27:26]
7. How can you apply the lessons from Job's story to remain faithful to God, not for the blessings you receive, but for the surpassing worth of knowing Him? [31:23]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting God's Sovereignty in All Circumstances
God's sovereignty is a central theme in the book of Job, vividly illustrated through Job's trials and the heavenly conversation between God and Satan. Despite Job's righteousness, he faced immense suffering, losing his wealth, children, and health. This suffering was not a result of Job's sin but was allowed by God to demonstrate His sovereignty and to test Job's faithfulness. Understanding that God is in control of all aspects of creation, including Satan, helps us trust Him even when we don't understand our circumstances. This trust is crucial, especially in times of suffering and uncertainty, as it anchors us in the truth of God's ultimate authority and wisdom. [07:55]
Job 42:2 (ESV): "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted."
Reflection: Think of a current situation in your life where you feel out of control. How can you trust in God's sovereignty and submit to His will in this situation today?
Day 2: The Intrinsic Value of Knowing God
Job's story challenges us to examine why we follow God. Is it for the blessings we receive, or is it for the intrinsic value of knowing Him? Job was described as blameless and upright, yet he faced severe trials. His faithfulness was tested to reveal whether his devotion was based on God's blessings or on a genuine relationship with Him. True faithfulness to God is not contingent on our circumstances but on the surpassing worth of a relationship with Him. This calls us to a deeper, more authentic faith that values God for who He is, not just for what He gives. [31:23]
Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your relationship with God. Are there areas where you seek Him more for His blessings than for who He is? How can you shift your focus to value knowing God above all else?
Day 3: Reverence for God's Transcendence and Holiness
God's response to Job from the whirlwind underscores His immense power, wisdom, and moral perfection. Through a series of questions about creation and divine justice, God reminded Job of His sovereignty and Job's limited understanding. This encounter highlights the vast difference between the Creator and His creation, leading Job to humility and repentance. Recognizing God's transcendence and holiness should lead us to a posture of reverence and awe, acknowledging our limited perspective and His infinite greatness. [33:07]
Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV): "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: How does recognizing God's transcendence and holiness change the way you approach Him in prayer and worship? What steps can you take to cultivate a deeper reverence for God in your daily life?
Day 4: The Importance of Sound Theology
Job's friends adhered to a narrow view of retributive justice, believing that suffering is always a direct result of sin. This bad theology led them to wrongly accuse Job and ultimately drove him further from God. Bad theology can distort our understanding of God and His ways, leading to misguided actions and beliefs. It is crucial to seek a sound understanding of God's character and His Word, as this shapes our faith and our response to life's challenges. [21:34]
2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV): "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."
Reflection: Are there any beliefs or assumptions you hold about God that might be based on bad theology? How can you seek a more accurate understanding of God's character and His Word?
Day 5: Jesus as Our Mediator
Job longed for a mediator who could bridge the gap between him and God. This mediator is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who by His sacrifice, reconciles us to God. Through Jesus, we can approach God's throne with confidence, receiving mercy and grace. Jesus' role as our mediator highlights the profound truth that we are not left to bridge the chasm between a holy God and sinful humanity on our own. His sacrifice provides the way for us to have a restored relationship with God, offering us hope and assurance in our faith journey. [36:54]
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV): "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."
Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as your mediator impact your relationship with God? In what ways can you approach God with greater confidence and seek His mercy and grace today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Jesus Christ is the very center and the climax of the biblical revelation. The Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John certainly proclaim His coming and His ministry. And then the remainder of the New Testament reveal His message and His followers and how it spread. But the Old Testament, the Old Testament, the Old Testament, the Old Testament, the Old Testament, the Old Testament, points to His arrival, not only through direct prophecy, but also through typology and foreshadowing and illusions." [01:43] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Satan alleges that Job is only faithful to God because God has blessed him so much. Take it away and he'll curse you to your face. And so God gives Satan full reign over everything Job has except his health. And then what unfolds is one of the most tragic experiences I believe any one man can suffer." [09:28] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Friends, I cannot imagine the pain and the loss and the anguish that Job is experiencing. I mean, his heart has been ripped from his chest and his soul, like his robe, has been rent in two. But beyond these tragic events, we see something very interesting here. What caused all of this death and destruction? Sabaeans, Chaldeans, Satan could certainly have influenced them, but it says, fire from God and a mighty wind. I mean, these are things that God controls. Satan is weak. He doesn't control the elements. He can do nothing without permission from God." [12:44] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The reality is there is no answer to Job's question. He didn't get the answer he was seeking, but there is a lesson that Job learned. And I've heard it said this way before. If God were to give me all of his power for a day, I would certainly make some changes. But if he also gave me his wisdom, I would leave everything exactly the way it is." [29:42] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The book of Job shows us the sovereignty of God. We cannot miss it. I mean, we see it from the heavenly staff meeting to the tour through creation of God's total and utter control over all things. God is sovereign over creation, storms, nations, armies, wind, our own bodies, and Satan." [31:23] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Bad counsel drives people further from God. Bad theology drives people further from God. Think about this. Chapters 1 and 2, when this all came crashing down on him, Job was in, Job had a good perspective. Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I will depart. The Lord has, gives and the Lord takes away. Praise be the name of the Lord. After his wife comes to him and says, you know what? I can't believe this happened to you. Just curse God and die. He says, shall we accept good from God and not trouble? And now after the counsel from these friends, he's accusing God of wrongdoing." [21:34] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "God then gives Job just a glimpse into his sovereign control over all creation. Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Verse 4, tell me if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know. Who stretched a measuring line across it? Or on where were its footings set? Or who laid its cornerstone while the morning stars sang together and all the angels or sons of God shouted for joy? Do you know? Do you know how this works? Do you know what was going on when I spoke everything into existence?" [25:38] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The book of Job shows us the transcendence and the holiness of God. I know those are big words. The transcendence means that God is so far beyond and above and other and just different than us. We can't even fathom a tiny sliver of all of the wisdom that He possesses. We think a lion and an elephant is powerful. They are a mere speck of a fraction of His power. He is almighty and immense and infinite, and we are finite and limited. And fragile. God is not like us. Just a little bit better. He's nothing like us." [33:07] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Friends, this mediator, this arbiter that comes between God and man is Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2, 5 says, for there is one God and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Jesus comes between sinful man, and a holy God. And Jesus removes that rod of punishment from us. How? By taking it upon Himself. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross. And because He is our mediator, now Hebrews 4, 16 says that we can approach the throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." [36:54] (52 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "The book of Job, yes, gives us lessons about enduring suffering, certainly. It declares God to be sovereign over all, but it also captures for us the great chasm between God and humanity. And it points us to Christ, the mediator who stands between God and man, who by His blood and by His body reconciles man and God. Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea, a great high priest whose name is love, whoever lives and pleads." [38:53] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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