WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.060 If you've been here for the past three weeks, you'll know that we've looked at chapters 1, chapter 2, and chapter 3. 00:00:07.020 --> 00:00:15.540 And what we learned there is that by God's own admission, Job was a blameless and an upright man, 00:00:15.540 --> 00:00:21.280 who, God himself said, fears God and shuns evil. 00:00:21.280 --> 00:00:32.439 And so God gave Satan permission to take away from Job his wealth, his family, and in the end, even his health. 00:00:33.219 --> 00:00:40.320 To show that Job really, as God said, is like no other man, and that his faith is genuine. 00:00:41.579 --> 00:00:44.740 And Job proved God right. 00:00:44.740 --> 00:00:51.320 He responded to all of this with the words, the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. 00:00:51.660 --> 00:00:54.040 May the name of the Lord be praised. 00:00:55.020 --> 00:01:00.520 And the Bible says that in all of this, Job did not sin in what he said. 00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:08.460 And we're now in the main part of the book after that prologue, which is all written in poetry, 00:01:08.460 --> 00:01:13.719 from chapter 3 that we looked at last week, all the way to the last chapter in the book, 42. 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:21.640 Rather than narrating events, the author uses poetry to report to us the words of Job, 00:01:21.980 --> 00:01:26.680 the words of his friends, there's four of them, and the words of God himself. 00:01:28.260 --> 00:01:34.359 And what we saw last week in chapter 3 was Job's desperate first speech. 00:01:35.079 --> 00:01:38.780 And today we start looking at his friends' speeches. 00:01:38.780 --> 00:01:46.620 Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, to begin with, will all have something to say to Job. 00:01:47.060 --> 00:01:52.540 And the way it works is that one of them speaks, like we saw with Eliphaz in chapters 4 and 5, 00:01:52.700 --> 00:01:59.120 and then Job will reply, like he does today in chapters 6 and 7. 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:05.380 And there are three, sorry, two full cycles with the three of them and Job going back and forth. 00:02:06.180 --> 00:02:10.900 And then there will be more speeches with a fourth friend and that God himself will speak. 00:02:13.900 --> 00:02:20.180 Seven days and seven nights his friends sat with Job. 00:02:20.719 --> 00:02:21.819 They were in shock. 00:02:22.020 --> 00:02:24.300 They couldn't even recognize him when they saw him. 00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:28.900 They wept, they tore their robes, and they sat with him. 00:02:30.340 --> 00:02:34.160 And no one said a word, not one word, for seven days, 00:02:34.200 --> 00:02:38.300 because they could see, the Bible says, how great his suffering was. 00:02:39.520 --> 00:02:41.920 But now Job has spoken. 00:02:42.300 --> 00:02:44.520 He's let out all of his pain, 00:02:44.900 --> 00:02:48.880 and he's cursed the day that he was born, 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:50.740 in his lament, in chapter 3. 00:02:50.740 --> 00:02:55.280 And so now the friends are going to give their two cents. 00:02:56.300 --> 00:02:59.840 The friends who were supposed to act as wise counselors, 00:03:00.939 --> 00:03:05.180 but will in fact prove themselves quite the disappointment for Job. 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:10.740 To the point that God himself at the end will tell them that he is not pleased with them. 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:15.520 Above all, what is missing in these dialogues 00:03:15.520 --> 00:03:19.540 between Job and his friends is one thing. 00:03:20.300 --> 00:03:20.700 Hope. 00:03:21.460 --> 00:03:27.140 There is no hope, you might have noticed in the wisdom that Eliphaz has to offer. 00:03:27.660 --> 00:03:31.780 And there is no hope in Job's reply to him either. 00:03:32.920 --> 00:03:35.200 So today I have three points for us, 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:37.000 as we look at these four chapters. 00:03:37.260 --> 00:03:38.879 All without hope. 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:41.180 Hopeless religion. 00:03:42.019 --> 00:03:43.259 Hopeless friendship. 00:03:44.180 --> 00:03:45.939 And hopeless suffering. 00:03:47.139 --> 00:03:50.019 Let's begin with hopeless religion. 00:03:52.419 --> 00:03:56.680 Job's friends have a very clear view of the world, 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:58.939 which is in line with the Jewish tradition. 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:01.379 And it's basically determinism. 00:04:01.859 --> 00:04:04.840 Determinism means that everything that happens 00:04:04.840 --> 00:04:10.120 was already determined by events that happened before that. 00:04:10.920 --> 00:04:13.980 And so in this case, they have a very simple equation. 00:04:14.879 --> 00:04:16.860 You are faithful, you prosper. 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:20.280 You sin, you're afflicted. 00:04:21.019 --> 00:04:23.699 Which isn't too different from today's prosperity gospel. 00:04:25.060 --> 00:04:28.620 Eliphaz makes it clear that he embraces this worldview 00:04:28.620 --> 00:04:31.300 in chapter 4, verses 7 and 8. 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:33.340 Read with me, 4, 7, 8. 00:04:33.339 --> 00:04:37.359 Consider now who being innocent has ever perished. 00:04:37.959 --> 00:04:39.979 Where were the upright ever destroyed? 00:04:41.119 --> 00:04:42.419 As I have observed, 00:04:42.939 --> 00:04:46.759 those who plough evil and those who sow trouble reap it. 00:04:47.799 --> 00:04:51.339 So Eliphaz is reminding his friend Job 00:04:51.339 --> 00:04:53.659 of these deterministic truths 00:04:53.659 --> 00:04:58.099 that probably Job himself had believed in up until this point. 00:04:58.919 --> 00:05:02.120 Job, you reap what you sow. 00:05:02.120 --> 00:05:03.540 Remember? 00:05:04.540 --> 00:05:08.240 And Eliphaz allegedly even received a vision about it. 00:05:09.300 --> 00:05:12.899 A revelation that we see in chapter 4, verses 12 to 16. 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:18.079 He describes what seems to be a very scary vision that came to him. 00:05:18.399 --> 00:05:19.939 He struggles to sleep. 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:23.139 There's even a spirit gliding past his face. 00:05:24.079 --> 00:05:25.899 It's a chilling experience, he says, 00:05:25.939 --> 00:05:28.259 that makes his hair stand on end. 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:33.199 But he builds all this tension as he retells the vision. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:36.759 But when the revelation finally comes in verse 17, 00:05:37.219 --> 00:05:39.019 it's quite disappointing, don't you think? 00:05:40.279 --> 00:05:40.899 It says, 00:05:41.180 --> 00:05:44.800 Can a mortal be more righteous than God? 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:52.120 So all the vision reveals is that man cannot be more righteous than God. 00:05:52.540 --> 00:05:55.079 In fact, he goes on to say in the following verses, 00:05:55.400 --> 00:06:00.220 man is weak, is fragile, and God cannot put any trust in him. 00:06:01.220 --> 00:06:03.340 So man is mortal, basically. 00:06:03.339 --> 00:06:08.839 We don't know where Eliphaz thinks this revelation comes from. 00:06:08.919 --> 00:06:09.959 He doesn't really say. 00:06:10.399 --> 00:06:13.719 And if he really had a vision in the first place at all. 00:06:14.539 --> 00:06:17.879 But it wouldn't seem like a vision that would come from God 00:06:17.879 --> 00:06:20.439 because of how hopeless it is. 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:27.120 What it does achieve is making Eliphaz's position clear. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:31.399 He thinks that Job is in trouble because he sinned. 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:36.740 So you, Job, must stop declaring your innocence 00:06:36.740 --> 00:06:39.079 because no innocent was ever destroyed. 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:42.199 You, Job, have to stop declaring your innocence 00:06:42.199 --> 00:06:45.379 because a mortal cannot be more righteous than God. 00:06:46.860 --> 00:06:48.300 If God is afflicting you, 00:06:48.519 --> 00:06:51.340 then it must mean that you are in the wrong. 00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:54.000 How dare you think you know better than God? 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.819 You're basically saying that God is wrong. 00:06:57.120 --> 00:07:01.699 Now, there's one thing that we have to be careful about 00:07:01.699 --> 00:07:04.920 as we look at the words of Job's friends today 00:07:04.920 --> 00:07:06.300 and over the next few Sundays. 00:07:07.139 --> 00:07:09.199 And it's that we must not assume 00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:11.920 that everything they say is wrong. 00:07:13.660 --> 00:07:15.620 Because many of the things that they say 00:07:15.620 --> 00:07:18.160 are actually biblical truths. 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:20.660 But as we'll see, it's how they say them 00:07:20.660 --> 00:07:23.560 and it's also what they don't say 00:07:23.560 --> 00:07:27.699 that ultimately betrays a lack of wisdom 00:07:27.699 --> 00:07:31.780 that then will lead God to say in chapter 42, 00:07:31.780 --> 00:07:35.280 I am angry with you and your two friends 00:07:35.280 --> 00:07:38.360 because you've not spoken the truth about me 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:40.480 as my servant Job has. 00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:43.519 So if we think about this vision, for instance, 00:07:44.139 --> 00:07:46.639 the central message of it is not wrong. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:52.300 It is true that man is not more righteous than God. 00:07:53.879 --> 00:07:56.060 And the Bible misses no opportunity really 00:07:56.060 --> 00:07:57.779 to remind us that God is sovereign, 00:07:58.279 --> 00:08:01.180 God is just, God is righteous, God is perfect, 00:08:01.599 --> 00:08:05.019 and that we are nothing more than broken sinners. 00:08:06.759 --> 00:08:09.699 But if the message stops at that, 00:08:09.959 --> 00:08:13.219 then you're only left with a hopeless religion. 00:08:13.220 --> 00:08:14.800 What is missing? 00:08:16.660 --> 00:08:18.180 God's love is missing. 00:08:18.780 --> 00:08:20.800 That love that makes us, 00:08:21.140 --> 00:08:23.060 these useless broken sinners, 00:08:23.840 --> 00:08:25.860 his very own children. 00:08:26.520 --> 00:08:29.160 Not acquaintances, not close friends. 00:08:29.500 --> 00:08:32.360 We are his beloved children 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:35.540 who are loved no matter what. 00:08:38.519 --> 00:08:40.820 There's one other thing that Eliphaz gets right 00:08:40.820 --> 00:08:43.120 in chapter 5, verse 17. 00:08:43.540 --> 00:08:44.139 He says, 00:08:44.620 --> 00:08:48.240 Blessed is the one whom God corrects. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:51.240 And he says that Job should not despise 00:08:51.240 --> 00:08:52.879 the discipline of the Almighty. 00:08:54.440 --> 00:08:56.340 The obvious reference here would be 00:08:56.340 --> 00:08:58.399 Proverbs 3, 12. 00:08:59.160 --> 00:09:01.560 The Lord disciplines those he loves, 00:09:01.740 --> 00:09:04.420 as a father the son he delights in. 00:09:05.700 --> 00:09:07.660 But again, the problem here is that 00:09:07.660 --> 00:09:09.540 Eliphaz is jumping to conclusions. 00:09:09.539 --> 00:09:12.759 He assumes that what is happening to Job 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.379 is the result of the Lord's discipline. 00:09:16.519 --> 00:09:20.339 Which means that what he's offering to his friend 00:09:20.339 --> 00:09:21.980 at this specific point in time 00:09:21.980 --> 00:09:24.899 is utterly hopeless religion. 00:09:24.899 --> 00:09:27.759 Now imagine with me, 00:09:28.259 --> 00:09:29.659 you are Job. 00:09:30.299 --> 00:09:33.279 And you know that you are right before God. 00:09:33.279 --> 00:09:35.899 And that isn't because Job isn't a sinner. 00:09:35.899 --> 00:09:39.720 But it's because he didn't deny God. 00:09:40.120 --> 00:09:41.799 He wasn't hiding sin from God. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:44.159 He wasn't actively living in sin. 00:09:45.819 --> 00:09:48.019 And so imagine being him in that position 00:09:48.019 --> 00:09:50.399 and hearing that you lost everything 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:51.779 because you are being disciplined. 00:09:52.500 --> 00:09:54.299 And you must repent of your sin 00:09:54.299 --> 00:09:57.299 if you want God to restore you. 00:09:57.299 --> 00:10:00.839 What hope is there for Job? 00:10:02.099 --> 00:10:03.259 Absolutely none. 00:10:04.419 --> 00:10:06.319 And so the truth is that Eliphaz 00:10:06.319 --> 00:10:10.219 has a simplistic and a short-sighted view 00:10:10.219 --> 00:10:12.479 of how God operates. 00:10:13.579 --> 00:10:15.079 It's a simplistic view of God 00:10:15.079 --> 00:10:17.199 because it assumes that there is this 00:10:17.199 --> 00:10:21.099 direct correlation between our relationship with God 00:10:21.099 --> 00:10:23.679 and our material blessings. 00:10:23.679 --> 00:10:26.759 in the here and now, 00:10:27.699 --> 00:10:29.299 determinism, as we said. 00:10:29.719 --> 00:10:32.779 And it's a short-sighted view of God 00:10:32.779 --> 00:10:36.659 because it assumes that the harvest is now. 00:10:37.739 --> 00:10:39.179 Because while it's true 00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:41.500 that we will reap what we sow 00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:42.799 and we know that the Bible 00:10:42.799 --> 00:10:45.939 talks about rewards and punishments 00:10:45.939 --> 00:10:47.719 but it's called the judgment 00:10:47.719 --> 00:10:50.699 and it isn't until the end of times. 00:10:50.700 --> 00:10:54.960 We know that for as long as we are in this world 00:10:54.960 --> 00:10:56.980 there is hope for any of us 00:10:56.980 --> 00:10:58.560 to become children of God. 00:10:59.320 --> 00:11:00.540 And that's why the harvest 00:11:00.540 --> 00:11:03.280 will only happen then, not now. 00:11:05.740 --> 00:11:08.660 And ultimately, Eliphaz is offering 00:11:08.660 --> 00:11:10.040 a hopeless religion 00:11:10.040 --> 00:11:12.320 because he tells Job 00:11:12.320 --> 00:11:15.160 that it all depends on him. 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:18.679 God's favor will come back 00:11:18.679 --> 00:11:19.980 if Job accepts 00:11:19.980 --> 00:11:22.039 his alleged discipline. 00:11:22.899 --> 00:11:23.759 And so on the one hand 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.419 he's saying that man is weak 00:11:25.419 --> 00:11:26.819 and on the other 00:11:26.819 --> 00:11:28.919 he seems to think that man's fate 00:11:28.919 --> 00:11:31.259 depends on his own strength 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.679 to please God. 00:11:32.939 --> 00:11:34.399 That's why Job himself says 00:11:34.399 --> 00:11:35.480 I have no more strength 00:11:35.480 --> 00:11:36.579 what are you asking of me? 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:38.139 Do you see the contradiction? 00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:40.819 And it's a hopeless religion 00:11:40.819 --> 00:11:42.799 because all that seems to matter 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:43.919 to Eliphaz really 00:11:43.919 --> 00:11:45.679 is that Job's wealth 00:11:45.679 --> 00:11:46.859 is restored. 00:11:47.699 --> 00:11:49.000 If you look at chapter 5 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.439 verses 24 to 26 00:11:50.439 --> 00:11:52.199 you'll see that 00:11:52.199 --> 00:11:54.199 it's those same blessings 00:11:54.199 --> 00:11:56.120 that Satan argued 00:11:56.120 --> 00:11:57.000 were the only reason 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:58.799 that Job feared God 00:11:58.799 --> 00:12:00.779 that Eliphaz is now listing 00:12:00.779 --> 00:12:03.559 as reasons for Job to fear God. 00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:04.959 How ironic. 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:09.320 So what this hopeless religion 00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:10.800 of Eliphaz does 00:12:10.800 --> 00:12:13.460 is project on God 00:12:13.460 --> 00:12:14.780 human behaviors. 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:16.200 God is like this teacher 00:12:16.200 --> 00:12:17.500 who will give you a sticker 00:12:17.500 --> 00:12:18.820 if you behave well 00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:19.840 but will send you 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:20.820 to the naughty corner 00:12:20.820 --> 00:12:21.940 if you don't. 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:26.139 But if we go to the Gospel of John 00:12:26.139 --> 00:12:27.160 in chapter 9 00:12:27.160 --> 00:12:29.660 when the disciples ask Jesus 00:12:29.660 --> 00:12:31.840 whose fault it was 00:12:31.840 --> 00:12:34.080 that the blind man was blind 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:35.940 was it because of his own sin 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:37.860 or was it because of his parents' sin? 00:12:38.740 --> 00:12:40.000 Jesus says neither. 00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:42.040 He was blind 00:12:42.040 --> 00:12:43.759 so that the works of God 00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:45.440 might be displayed in him 00:12:45.440 --> 00:12:46.440 is what Jesus says. 00:12:46.820 --> 00:12:48.100 And on Jesus goes 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:49.500 to perform a miracle 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:50.980 and then be praised for it. 00:12:51.160 --> 00:12:52.860 Nothing to do with anyone's sin. 00:12:53.620 --> 00:12:54.480 And Paul tells us 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:55.480 in 2 Corinthians 00:12:55.480 --> 00:12:57.900 that when he asked God 00:12:57.900 --> 00:13:00.040 to take his suffering away from him 00:13:00.040 --> 00:13:02.440 his proverbial thorn in the flesh 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:03.620 God says 00:13:03.620 --> 00:13:05.560 my grace is sufficient for you 00:13:05.560 --> 00:13:06.780 for my power 00:13:06.780 --> 00:13:08.200 is made perfect 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.180 in weakness. 00:13:11.500 --> 00:13:12.820 So the truth 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:14.200 not the truth of Eliphaz 00:13:14.200 --> 00:13:15.520 but the truth of the Bible 00:13:15.520 --> 00:13:16.760 is that God 00:13:16.760 --> 00:13:17.480 works 00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.440 in mysterious 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:19.580 ways. 00:13:20.020 --> 00:13:21.160 There will be times 00:13:21.160 --> 00:13:21.840 when 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:22.780 what happens 00:13:22.780 --> 00:13:23.540 on this earth 00:13:23.540 --> 00:13:24.940 is a direct consequence 00:13:24.940 --> 00:13:25.920 of where we're at 00:13:25.920 --> 00:13:26.460 with God 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:27.560 and we know 00:13:27.560 --> 00:13:29.540 we know from our own experience 00:13:29.540 --> 00:13:30.540 day in, day out 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:31.620 that sin has 00:13:31.620 --> 00:13:32.980 negative consequences 00:13:32.980 --> 00:13:33.639 even here. 00:13:34.860 --> 00:13:36.139 But let's not make 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:37.159 Eliphaz's mistake 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:37.719 of judging 00:13:37.719 --> 00:13:39.379 all the people's worth 00:13:39.379 --> 00:13:40.039 or faith 00:13:40.039 --> 00:13:41.059 or our own 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:42.399 worth or faith 00:13:42.399 --> 00:13:43.179 for that matter 00:13:43.179 --> 00:13:45.240 based on our material blessings 00:13:45.240 --> 00:13:46.240 or based on our 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:47.299 misfortunes 00:13:47.299 --> 00:13:48.120 in this life. 00:13:48.839 --> 00:13:50.099 If we are struggling 00:13:50.099 --> 00:13:51.579 to make ends meet 00:13:51.579 --> 00:13:53.539 if we are disabled 00:13:53.539 --> 00:13:54.579 if we're fighting 00:13:54.579 --> 00:13:55.120 an illness 00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.620 that is not 00:13:56.620 --> 00:13:57.559 what defines us 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:58.719 not before God. 00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:00.480 it says nothing 00:14:00.480 --> 00:14:00.920 to God 00:14:00.920 --> 00:14:01.540 and it should say 00:14:01.540 --> 00:14:01.960 nothing 00:14:01.960 --> 00:14:03.620 to any of us 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.920 about our worth 00:14:04.920 --> 00:14:06.040 as a person 00:14:06.040 --> 00:14:06.940 let alone 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.220 about our faith. 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:10.540 Because good for good 00:14:10.540 --> 00:14:11.500 and bad for bad 00:14:11.500 --> 00:14:12.200 is not 00:14:12.200 --> 00:14:13.080 how the God 00:14:13.080 --> 00:14:14.300 of the Bible operates. 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:15.500 That would be 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.639 a hopeless religion 00:14:16.639 --> 00:14:17.860 and it would be 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:18.920 a hopeless religion 00:14:18.920 --> 00:14:19.360 because 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:20.580 the hope 00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:21.820 of the cross 00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:22.800 is missing. 00:14:23.940 --> 00:14:24.500 Because 00:14:24.500 --> 00:14:25.180 the God 00:14:25.180 --> 00:14:25.720 of the Bible 00:14:25.720 --> 00:14:26.399 truth is 00:14:26.399 --> 00:14:27.460 is a loving God 00:14:27.460 --> 00:14:28.460 is a God 00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:29.200 who wants 00:14:29.200 --> 00:14:30.320 what is good 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:30.900 for us. 00:14:31.780 --> 00:14:32.560 Is a God 00:14:32.560 --> 00:14:33.700 who gives us hope 00:14:33.700 --> 00:14:35.180 in the cross 00:14:35.180 --> 00:14:35.800 of Christ 00:14:35.800 --> 00:14:36.920 and calls us 00:14:36.920 --> 00:14:37.860 to fixate 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:38.759 our eyes 00:14:38.759 --> 00:14:40.160 on heaven 00:14:40.160 --> 00:14:41.639 not on this earth. 00:14:42.600 --> 00:14:43.160 Asks us 00:14:43.160 --> 00:14:43.900 a God 00:14:43.900 --> 00:14:44.620 who asks us 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:45.540 to take comfort 00:14:45.540 --> 00:14:46.259 in his plan 00:14:46.259 --> 00:14:47.740 of eternal 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.480 eternal salvation 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:50.019 for us. 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:51.480 Not in a house 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:52.780 not in a family 00:14:52.780 --> 00:14:53.720 not in 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:55.000 good health 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.039 which are 00:14:56.039 --> 00:14:57.179 amazing blessings 00:14:57.179 --> 00:14:58.320 if we 00:14:58.320 --> 00:14:59.240 get them 00:14:59.240 --> 00:15:00.299 but they are 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:01.639 only for a time. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:07.220 Our second point 00:15:07.220 --> 00:15:07.740 is 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.620 hopeless 00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:09.620 friendship. 00:15:10.980 --> 00:15:11.460 Job 00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:11.960 is 00:15:11.960 --> 00:15:12.759 disappointed 00:15:12.759 --> 00:15:13.799 by his friends. 00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:14.620 It's as simple 00:15:14.620 --> 00:15:15.179 as that 00:15:15.179 --> 00:15:16.279 and he does 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:16.779 not 00:15:16.779 --> 00:15:17.519 hide it. 00:15:17.860 --> 00:15:18.399 He tells 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:18.919 Eliphaz 00:15:18.919 --> 00:15:19.740 loud 00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:20.779 and clear 00:15:20.779 --> 00:15:21.419 and in 00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:22.019 beautiful 00:15:22.019 --> 00:15:22.879 poetry. 00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:24.240 He uses 00:15:24.240 --> 00:15:24.960 this image 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:26.379 of unreliable 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:26.779 rivers. 00:15:27.840 --> 00:15:28.299 He says 00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:29.139 in verse 15 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:29.820 in chapter 6 00:15:29.820 --> 00:15:30.899 but my brothers 00:15:30.899 --> 00:15:31.960 are as 00:15:31.960 --> 00:15:33.080 undependable 00:15:33.080 --> 00:15:33.759 as 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:34.500 intermittent 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:36.419 streams. 00:15:37.460 --> 00:15:37.960 He's talking 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:38.480 about those 00:15:38.480 --> 00:15:38.960 rivers 00:15:38.960 --> 00:15:40.659 that overflow 00:15:40.659 --> 00:15:41.639 and destroy 00:15:41.639 --> 00:15:42.220 in the winter 00:15:42.220 --> 00:15:44.019 and dry up 00:15:44.019 --> 00:15:45.039 and stop running 00:15:45.039 --> 00:15:45.539 altogether 00:15:45.539 --> 00:15:46.639 in the summer. 00:15:49.220 --> 00:15:49.460 And so 00:15:49.460 --> 00:15:50.000 to describe 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:50.799 his deep 00:15:50.799 --> 00:15:51.399 disappointment 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.799 he says 00:15:52.799 --> 00:15:53.519 that he feels 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:53.939 like a 00:15:53.939 --> 00:15:54.340 traveler. 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.179 A traveler 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:55.819 who leaves 00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:56.439 his route 00:15:56.439 --> 00:15:57.220 to go 00:15:57.220 --> 00:15:58.039 and find 00:15:58.039 --> 00:15:58.939 this river 00:15:58.939 --> 00:15:59.959 that he knows 00:15:59.959 --> 00:16:00.579 of so that 00:16:00.579 --> 00:16:01.100 he can get 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:01.659 water to 00:16:01.659 --> 00:16:02.120 continue 00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:02.860 on his 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.240 journey. 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:03.840 And he's 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:04.240 confident 00:16:04.240 --> 00:16:05.079 that he'll 00:16:05.079 --> 00:16:05.840 find the 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:06.220 water 00:16:06.220 --> 00:16:07.059 that he so 00:16:07.059 --> 00:16:07.539 desperately 00:16:07.539 --> 00:16:08.319 needs to 00:16:08.319 --> 00:16:08.860 keep going. 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:09.959 But he gets 00:16:09.959 --> 00:16:10.360 there 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:11.220 and there's 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.100 no water 00:16:12.100 --> 00:16:13.360 and he 00:16:13.360 --> 00:16:14.240 perishes. 00:16:15.579 --> 00:16:16.539 Verses 20 00:16:16.539 --> 00:16:17.039 and 21 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:17.819 in chapter 6 00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:18.500 they are 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.079 distressed 00:16:19.079 --> 00:16:19.939 because they 00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:20.340 had been 00:16:20.340 --> 00:16:20.879 confident. 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:22.100 They arrived 00:16:22.100 --> 00:16:23.280 there only 00:16:23.280 --> 00:16:23.840 to be 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:24.519 disappointed. 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:26.960 Now you 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:27.500 too, 00:16:27.860 --> 00:16:28.280 he says 00:16:28.280 --> 00:16:29.060 to Eliphaz, 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:30.320 have proved 00:16:30.320 --> 00:16:31.200 to be 00:16:31.200 --> 00:16:32.240 of no 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:33.240 help. 00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:36.940 So what 00:16:36.940 --> 00:16:37.320 is wrong 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:37.600 with the 00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:37.940 way that 00:16:37.940 --> 00:16:38.780 Eliphaz is 00:16:38.780 --> 00:16:39.120 trying to 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:39.420 be a 00:16:39.420 --> 00:16:40.060 friend here? 00:16:40.460 --> 00:16:40.759 There's 00:16:40.759 --> 00:16:41.280 three things 00:16:41.280 --> 00:16:41.600 I'd like 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:42.080 to mention. 00:16:42.780 --> 00:16:43.040 I think 00:16:43.040 --> 00:16:43.460 in his 00:16:43.460 --> 00:16:43.840 friendship 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:44.320 there is 00:16:44.320 --> 00:16:44.900 no kindness, 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:45.940 in his 00:16:45.940 --> 00:16:46.280 friendship 00:16:46.280 --> 00:16:46.720 there is 00:16:46.720 --> 00:16:47.560 no truth, 00:16:47.940 --> 00:16:48.540 and of course 00:16:48.540 --> 00:16:48.860 in his 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.200 friendship 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:49.740 there is 00:16:49.740 --> 00:16:50.900 no hope. 00:16:53.200 --> 00:16:53.840 The 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:54.480 opening 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:55.140 itself 00:16:55.140 --> 00:16:55.720 of 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:56.400 Eliphaz's 00:16:56.400 --> 00:16:56.759 speech 00:16:56.759 --> 00:16:57.460 already shows 00:16:57.460 --> 00:16:57.759 that there 00:16:57.759 --> 00:16:58.320 is no 00:16:58.320 --> 00:16:58.860 kindness 00:16:58.860 --> 00:16:59.440 in his 00:16:59.440 --> 00:16:59.840 words. 00:17:00.680 --> 00:17:01.400 It really 00:17:01.400 --> 00:17:02.020 feels like 00:17:02.020 --> 00:17:02.680 he must 00:17:02.680 --> 00:17:03.020 have been 00:17:03.020 --> 00:17:03.540 biting 00:17:03.540 --> 00:17:05.000 his tongue 00:17:05.000 --> 00:17:05.539 for those 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.340 seven days 00:17:06.340 --> 00:17:07.100 while everyone 00:17:07.100 --> 00:17:07.900 was silent. 00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.380 You can 00:17:10.380 --> 00:17:10.960 picture him 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:11.420 just getting 00:17:11.420 --> 00:17:11.920 more and 00:17:11.920 --> 00:17:12.440 more eager 00:17:12.440 --> 00:17:13.059 to finally 00:17:13.059 --> 00:17:13.840 break the 00:17:13.840 --> 00:17:14.279 silence 00:17:14.279 --> 00:17:15.240 and say 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:15.860 what he 00:17:15.860 --> 00:17:16.600 says in 00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:17.600 the first 00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:18.100 six verses 00:17:18.099 --> 00:17:18.619 of chapter 00:17:18.619 --> 00:17:19.119 four. 00:17:19.899 --> 00:17:20.599 So Job, 00:17:21.219 --> 00:17:21.699 you, 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:22.779 the one 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:23.439 who always 00:17:23.439 --> 00:17:24.099 encouraged 00:17:24.099 --> 00:17:24.839 those who 00:17:24.839 --> 00:17:25.500 were struggling, 00:17:26.039 --> 00:17:26.799 the one 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.759 who strengthened 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:28.439 faltering 00:17:28.439 --> 00:17:29.119 knees, 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:30.759 now trouble 00:17:30.759 --> 00:17:31.219 comes to 00:17:31.219 --> 00:17:32.039 you and 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:32.359 you are 00:17:32.359 --> 00:17:32.959 discouraged? 00:17:33.959 --> 00:17:34.559 And then he 00:17:34.559 --> 00:17:35.019 immediately 00:17:35.019 --> 00:17:35.559 attacks, 00:17:35.980 --> 00:17:36.359 should not 00:17:36.359 --> 00:17:37.019 your piety 00:17:37.019 --> 00:17:37.439 be your 00:17:37.439 --> 00:17:37.839 confidence 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:38.240 and your 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:38.740 blameless 00:17:38.740 --> 00:17:39.299 ways, 00:17:39.719 --> 00:17:40.419 your hope? 00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:41.599 So if you 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.079 paraphrase, 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:42.759 you've done 00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.519 something wrong, 00:17:43.639 --> 00:17:43.939 Job. 00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:45.980 If you 00:17:45.980 --> 00:17:46.480 can't find 00:17:46.480 --> 00:17:46.920 hope in 00:17:46.920 --> 00:17:47.059 your 00:17:47.059 --> 00:17:47.559 blameless 00:17:47.559 --> 00:17:48.220 ways, 00:17:48.400 --> 00:17:48.940 then maybe 00:17:48.940 --> 00:17:49.380 they're not 00:17:49.380 --> 00:17:50.200 as blameless 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:50.660 as you'd 00:17:50.660 --> 00:17:51.019 like us 00:17:51.019 --> 00:17:51.559 to think. 00:17:52.820 --> 00:17:53.240 And so 00:17:53.240 --> 00:17:53.539 again, 00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:55.580 try and 00:17:55.580 --> 00:17:56.200 put yourself 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:56.980 in Job's 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.640 shoes. 00:17:58.160 --> 00:17:58.799 You have 00:17:58.799 --> 00:17:59.440 lost so 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:00.000 much that 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.460 you don't 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.059 even know 00:18:01.059 --> 00:18:01.600 what you 00:18:01.600 --> 00:18:02.160 are mourning 00:18:02.160 --> 00:18:02.680 anymore. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:03.340 Are you 00:18:03.340 --> 00:18:03.740 mourning 00:18:03.740 --> 00:18:04.680 your family? 00:18:05.019 --> 00:18:05.299 Are you 00:18:05.299 --> 00:18:05.720 mourning 00:18:05.720 --> 00:18:06.740 your houses? 00:18:07.160 --> 00:18:07.460 Are you 00:18:07.460 --> 00:18:07.900 mourning 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:09.059 your health? 00:18:10.320 --> 00:18:11.259 Your servants? 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:11.960 Or maybe 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.420 as Job 00:18:12.420 --> 00:18:12.940 thinks, 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:13.720 it's not 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:14.160 the truth, 00:18:14.259 --> 00:18:14.519 but he 00:18:14.519 --> 00:18:15.039 thinks that 00:18:15.039 --> 00:18:15.779 God has 00:18:15.779 --> 00:18:16.519 turned against 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:16.759 him. 00:18:16.799 --> 00:18:17.019 Is that 00:18:17.019 --> 00:18:17.339 what you're 00:18:17.339 --> 00:18:17.660 mourning? 00:18:17.900 --> 00:18:18.180 You don't 00:18:18.180 --> 00:18:18.619 even know. 00:18:18.960 --> 00:18:19.279 There's so 00:18:19.279 --> 00:18:19.900 much happening. 00:18:20.359 --> 00:18:20.960 Even your 00:18:20.960 --> 00:18:21.980 wife isn't 00:18:21.980 --> 00:18:22.839 helping with 00:18:22.839 --> 00:18:23.460 her advice 00:18:23.460 --> 00:18:23.900 to just 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:24.579 curse God 00:18:24.579 --> 00:18:24.879 and be 00:18:24.879 --> 00:18:25.299 done with 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:25.500 it. 00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:26.440 And so 00:18:26.440 --> 00:18:27.019 the one 00:18:27.019 --> 00:18:27.619 source of 00:18:27.619 --> 00:18:28.099 relief, 00:18:28.619 --> 00:18:29.740 that refreshing 00:18:29.740 --> 00:18:31.660 water that 00:18:31.660 --> 00:18:32.099 you're looking 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:32.879 forward to at 00:18:32.879 --> 00:18:33.519 this point can 00:18:33.519 --> 00:18:34.539 only be your 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:35.019 friends. 00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:35.940 And here 00:18:35.940 --> 00:18:36.539 they are. 00:18:36.819 --> 00:18:37.359 They finally 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:38.039 open their 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:38.519 mouth and 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:39.119 the first thing 00:18:39.119 --> 00:18:39.859 that they say 00:18:39.859 --> 00:18:40.680 is, 00:18:40.680 --> 00:18:41.440 eh, 00:18:42.060 --> 00:18:42.600 you made 00:18:42.600 --> 00:18:42.940 it look 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.480 easy when 00:18:43.480 --> 00:18:43.920 it wasn't 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:44.200 you. 00:18:45.259 --> 00:18:45.759 Not as 00:18:45.759 --> 00:18:46.660 easy now, 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.019 is it? 00:18:48.580 --> 00:18:49.259 And Job 00:18:49.259 --> 00:18:49.700 calls him 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:50.000 out. 00:18:50.320 --> 00:18:50.580 In verse 00:18:50.580 --> 00:18:51.080 14 in 00:18:51.080 --> 00:18:51.580 chapter 6 00:18:51.580 --> 00:18:51.900 he says, 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.279 anyone who 00:18:53.279 --> 00:18:54.180 withholds 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:54.600 kindness 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:55.860 from a 00:18:55.860 --> 00:18:57.060 friend forsakes 00:18:57.060 --> 00:18:58.019 the fear of 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:58.560 the Almighty. 00:18:59.380 --> 00:19:00.060 Very strong 00:19:00.060 --> 00:19:00.700 words again. 00:19:02.340 --> 00:19:03.340 By being a 00:19:03.340 --> 00:19:03.840 bad friend, 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:04.700 you Eliphaz 00:19:04.700 --> 00:19:05.620 are not just 00:19:05.620 --> 00:19:06.500 letting me 00:19:06.500 --> 00:19:07.240 down, 00:19:07.420 --> 00:19:08.120 you're letting 00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:09.480 God down, 00:19:09.580 --> 00:19:10.299 you're forsaking 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:11.480 the fear of 00:19:11.480 --> 00:19:12.039 the Almighty. 00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:13.779 So there's 00:19:13.779 --> 00:19:14.539 no kindness 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.759 in what 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.759 Eliphaz says 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:17.839 and there is 00:19:17.839 --> 00:19:18.500 no truth. 00:19:20.099 --> 00:19:21.000 His response 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.099 to his 00:19:22.099 --> 00:19:22.700 friend being 00:19:22.700 --> 00:19:23.119 in distress 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:23.759 is so 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:24.440 insincere. 00:19:25.240 --> 00:19:25.659 Instead of 00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.200 acting with 00:19:26.200 --> 00:19:26.779 love and 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.119 kindness, 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:27.819 instead of 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:28.720 mourning with 00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:29.099 him and 00:19:29.099 --> 00:19:29.480 trying to 00:19:29.480 --> 00:19:30.220 encourage him, 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:31.299 he seems to 00:19:31.299 --> 00:19:32.259 feel like 00:19:32.259 --> 00:19:32.759 what he needs 00:19:32.759 --> 00:19:33.220 to do is 00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.139 prove himself. 00:19:35.779 --> 00:19:36.559 Job says 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:37.339 in verse 21, 00:19:37.500 --> 00:19:37.799 still in 00:19:37.799 --> 00:19:38.240 chapter 6, 00:19:38.359 --> 00:19:38.980 you see 00:19:38.980 --> 00:19:39.940 something dreadful 00:19:39.940 --> 00:19:40.539 and are 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.119 afraid. 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:42.099 Job realizes 00:19:42.099 --> 00:19:42.960 that Eliphaz 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:44.159 is scared 00:19:44.159 --> 00:19:44.659 of what he 00:19:44.659 --> 00:19:45.200 sees and 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:47.119 reacts in 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:47.639 line with 00:19:47.639 --> 00:19:47.879 that. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:49.559 So this 00:19:49.559 --> 00:19:50.200 fear leads 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:50.480 him to 00:19:50.480 --> 00:19:51.139 start just 00:19:51.139 --> 00:19:51.940 dishing out 00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:53.799 this half-baked 00:19:53.799 --> 00:19:54.480 wisdom, 00:19:55.119 --> 00:19:55.779 these unlikely 00:19:55.779 --> 00:19:56.379 visions, 00:19:56.859 --> 00:19:57.599 these dogmas 00:19:57.599 --> 00:19:58.480 of this hopeless 00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.579 religion that 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:00.240 he is trying 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:00.779 to sell. 00:20:01.440 --> 00:20:01.940 And again, 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:02.919 Job pushes 00:20:02.920 --> 00:20:03.340 back. 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:04.240 He says 00:20:04.240 --> 00:20:04.600 in chapter 00:20:04.600 --> 00:20:05.580 5, 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:06.539 verses 24 00:20:06.539 --> 00:20:07.420 and 25, 00:20:08.220 --> 00:20:08.880 teach me 00:20:08.880 --> 00:20:09.600 and I 00:20:09.600 --> 00:20:10.039 will be 00:20:10.039 --> 00:20:10.380 quiet. 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.560 Show me 00:20:11.560 --> 00:20:11.900 where I 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:12.300 have been 00:20:12.300 --> 00:20:12.759 wrong. 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:14.180 How painful 00:20:14.180 --> 00:20:14.620 are honest 00:20:14.620 --> 00:20:15.019 words, 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:16.019 but what 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:16.480 do your 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:17.000 arguments 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.460 prove? 00:20:18.700 --> 00:20:18.980 He's saying, 00:20:19.060 --> 00:20:19.400 Eliphaz, 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:20.060 I understand, 00:20:20.180 --> 00:20:20.440 I've been 00:20:20.440 --> 00:20:21.039 speaking very 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.500 honestly, 00:20:21.640 --> 00:20:22.240 my words 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:23.000 are painful, 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.259 but what 00:20:24.259 --> 00:20:24.800 do your 00:20:24.800 --> 00:20:25.340 arguments 00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:25.980 prove? 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:27.140 You've done 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:27.539 a lot of 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:27.840 talking, 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:28.340 but clearly 00:20:28.340 --> 00:20:28.880 not much 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:29.320 listening. 00:20:30.080 --> 00:20:30.860 Job opened 00:20:30.860 --> 00:20:31.360 his heart 00:20:31.360 --> 00:20:32.200 in chapter 3, 00:20:32.200 --> 00:20:33.400 but Eliphaz 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:34.319 was not 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:34.840 listening. 00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:35.380 He wasn't 00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:35.940 listening like 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:36.319 a friend. 00:20:36.559 --> 00:20:37.120 He was just 00:20:37.120 --> 00:20:37.960 waiting for 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.620 his time 00:20:38.620 --> 00:20:39.519 to talk 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:40.380 and say 00:20:40.380 --> 00:20:40.980 just what 00:20:40.980 --> 00:20:41.360 he had 00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:41.900 already set 00:20:41.900 --> 00:20:42.440 his mind 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.819 on. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:44.799 Did any 00:20:44.799 --> 00:20:45.220 of what 00:20:45.220 --> 00:20:45.640 Eliphaz 00:20:45.640 --> 00:20:46.140 say 00:20:46.140 --> 00:20:47.240 prove that 00:20:47.240 --> 00:20:48.180 Job was 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:49.019 indeed guilty 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:49.600 in front 00:20:49.600 --> 00:20:50.120 of God? 00:20:50.779 --> 00:20:51.000 No, 00:20:51.039 --> 00:20:51.500 it didn't. 00:20:52.059 --> 00:20:52.660 Did this 00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:53.539 stop him? 00:20:54.059 --> 00:20:54.299 No, 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:54.759 it didn't. 00:20:54.980 --> 00:20:55.299 He just 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:55.900 went ahead 00:20:55.900 --> 00:20:56.319 anyway, 00:20:56.720 --> 00:20:57.059 but there 00:20:57.059 --> 00:20:57.620 was no 00:20:57.620 --> 00:20:58.580 truth in 00:20:58.580 --> 00:20:59.380 his accusations. 00:21:00.620 --> 00:21:01.080 And so 00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:01.480 finally, 00:21:01.620 --> 00:21:02.120 his friendship 00:21:02.119 --> 00:21:03.619 lacks hope. 00:21:04.579 --> 00:21:05.059 It lacks 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:06.059 hope because 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.799 not only 00:21:06.799 --> 00:21:07.899 is Eliphaz 00:21:07.899 --> 00:21:08.959 not showing 00:21:08.959 --> 00:21:09.699 Job his 00:21:09.699 --> 00:21:10.379 own love, 00:21:10.599 --> 00:21:11.279 he's also 00:21:11.279 --> 00:21:12.159 failing to 00:21:12.159 --> 00:21:13.119 point Job 00:21:13.119 --> 00:21:14.559 to God's 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:14.919 love. 00:21:15.659 --> 00:21:16.239 He is 00:21:16.239 --> 00:21:18.019 pointing Job 00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:18.519 to a 00:21:18.519 --> 00:21:19.139 calculating, 00:21:19.639 --> 00:21:20.079 an eye 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:20.659 for an eye, 00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.759 a disciplining 00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:22.619 kind of 00:21:22.619 --> 00:21:23.019 God. 00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:25.739 There's 00:21:25.739 --> 00:21:26.419 nothing wrong 00:21:26.419 --> 00:21:26.939 with what 00:21:26.939 --> 00:21:27.719 Eliphaz says 00:21:27.719 --> 00:21:28.279 about God 00:21:28.279 --> 00:21:28.599 at the end 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:29.399 of chapter 5, 00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:29.940 where he 00:21:29.940 --> 00:21:30.560 describes 00:21:30.560 --> 00:21:31.880 him as 00:21:31.880 --> 00:21:32.280 the one 00:21:32.280 --> 00:21:33.100 in control 00:21:33.100 --> 00:21:33.820 of creation, 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:34.540 the one 00:21:34.540 --> 00:21:35.680 who wounds 00:21:35.680 --> 00:21:36.560 but also 00:21:36.560 --> 00:21:37.700 binds up. 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.060 But again, 00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.060 it's what's 00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.720 missing from 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:41.360 his description 00:21:41.360 --> 00:21:41.880 of God 00:21:41.880 --> 00:21:42.700 that is the 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.120 issue. 00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:45.240 Because he's 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.080 pointing Job 00:21:46.080 --> 00:21:46.900 to this God 00:21:46.900 --> 00:21:47.460 who will be 00:21:47.460 --> 00:21:48.140 kind to you 00:21:48.140 --> 00:21:48.880 if you are 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:49.500 to him. 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.400 He's not 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:51.100 pointing Job 00:21:51.100 --> 00:21:52.240 to a God 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:53.019 who loves 00:21:53.019 --> 00:21:53.720 you no 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.540 matter what, 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:55.340 a God who 00:21:55.340 --> 00:21:55.900 knows you 00:21:55.900 --> 00:21:56.600 intimately, 00:21:56.599 --> 00:21:58.240 who understands, 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.639 God understands 00:21:59.639 --> 00:22:00.079 what you're 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.779 going through, 00:22:01.299 --> 00:22:01.939 a God 00:22:01.939 --> 00:22:02.919 who is 00:22:02.919 --> 00:22:03.779 the refuge 00:22:03.779 --> 00:22:04.480 in the 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:05.019 time of 00:22:05.019 --> 00:22:05.480 need. 00:22:06.579 --> 00:22:06.899 And so 00:22:06.899 --> 00:22:07.539 Eliphaz, 00:22:07.639 --> 00:22:08.219 unfortunately, 00:22:08.439 --> 00:22:08.879 in his 00:22:08.879 --> 00:22:09.619 friendship to 00:22:09.619 --> 00:22:10.019 Job, 00:22:10.359 --> 00:22:11.679 offers no 00:22:11.679 --> 00:22:12.619 hope to 00:22:12.619 --> 00:22:13.480 him whatsoever. 00:22:15.879 --> 00:22:16.399 And so 00:22:16.399 --> 00:22:16.899 as a simple 00:22:16.899 --> 00:22:17.719 application for 00:22:17.719 --> 00:22:18.240 us here, 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.459 let's be 00:22:19.459 --> 00:22:20.659 friends who 00:22:20.659 --> 00:22:21.500 offer kindness, 00:22:22.019 --> 00:22:22.599 who offer 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:23.240 truth, 00:22:23.339 --> 00:22:23.980 not our own 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:24.319 truth, 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:24.679 but the 00:22:24.679 --> 00:22:25.219 truth of the 00:22:25.219 --> 00:22:25.500 Bible, 00:22:25.500 --> 00:22:25.579 people, 00:22:25.859 --> 00:22:26.660 and who 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:28.019 offer hope, 00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:29.079 the hope 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:29.880 of the 00:22:29.880 --> 00:22:30.279 cross. 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:32.440 I don't 00:22:32.440 --> 00:22:32.779 know if you 00:22:32.779 --> 00:22:33.700 find that it 00:22:33.700 --> 00:22:34.400 can be quite 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:35.839 tempting to 00:22:35.839 --> 00:22:36.440 feel like you're 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:36.900 sitting at 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.740 test when 00:22:37.740 --> 00:22:38.220 you're called 00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.980 to comfort 00:22:38.980 --> 00:22:39.640 a friend. 00:22:40.619 --> 00:22:41.319 We might 00:22:41.319 --> 00:22:41.839 feel like we 00:22:41.839 --> 00:22:42.480 have to prove 00:22:42.480 --> 00:22:43.200 that we know 00:22:43.200 --> 00:22:43.779 the right thing 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.279 to do, 00:22:44.619 --> 00:22:45.400 that we know 00:22:45.400 --> 00:22:45.960 what God 00:22:45.960 --> 00:22:46.519 would want 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:46.980 them to 00:22:46.980 --> 00:22:47.279 do. 00:22:48.339 --> 00:22:48.940 Maybe we 00:22:48.940 --> 00:22:49.420 feel like 00:22:49.420 --> 00:22:49.980 God's 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.579 spokesperson 00:22:50.579 --> 00:22:51.680 like Eliphaz 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:52.299 did here. 00:22:53.160 --> 00:22:53.559 But in 00:22:53.559 --> 00:22:54.180 doing so, 00:22:54.500 --> 00:22:55.339 we risk 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:56.159 getting it 00:22:56.159 --> 00:22:56.740 all wrong. 00:22:57.659 --> 00:22:58.220 Because the 00:22:58.220 --> 00:22:58.720 main thing we 00:22:58.720 --> 00:22:59.220 have to make 00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.699 sure is that 00:22:59.699 --> 00:23:00.359 we're acting 00:23:00.359 --> 00:23:01.639 out of love 00:23:01.639 --> 00:23:02.839 and not to 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.599 prove ourselves 00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:04.339 as friends. 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:07.099 We are not 00:23:07.099 --> 00:23:07.559 there to 00:23:07.559 --> 00:23:08.559 recite Bible 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.039 verses, 00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:10.279 let alone 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.299 confuse our 00:23:11.299 --> 00:23:12.379 friends with 00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:13.319 thoughts, 00:23:13.559 --> 00:23:14.000 visions, 00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:14.720 dreams that 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.459 we thought we 00:23:15.459 --> 00:23:16.079 might have 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:16.699 had and are 00:23:16.699 --> 00:23:17.079 not quite 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:17.679 clear on 00:23:17.679 --> 00:23:18.339 ourselves. 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:19.980 We are 00:23:19.980 --> 00:23:20.740 there to 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.399 show them 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:22.280 the love 00:23:22.280 --> 00:23:23.280 of Christ. 00:23:23.420 --> 00:23:23.980 We are 00:23:23.980 --> 00:23:24.840 there to 00:23:24.840 --> 00:23:25.420 remind them 00:23:25.420 --> 00:23:25.759 that the 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.540 only secure 00:23:26.540 --> 00:23:27.140 hope that 00:23:27.140 --> 00:23:27.540 we have 00:23:27.540 --> 00:23:27.840 in this 00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:28.360 life is 00:23:28.360 --> 00:23:28.920 God's 00:23:28.920 --> 00:23:30.160 love for 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:30.540 them. 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:32.540 But God's 00:23:32.540 --> 00:23:32.860 love for 00:23:32.860 --> 00:23:33.360 them as 00:23:33.360 --> 00:23:33.820 it is 00:23:33.820 --> 00:23:34.460 described in 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:34.880 the Bible. 00:23:36.019 --> 00:23:36.440 Everything 00:23:36.440 --> 00:23:36.960 else can 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.620 disappear in 00:23:37.620 --> 00:23:38.100 an instant. 00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:39.180 And our 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:40.180 hope is not 00:23:40.180 --> 00:23:40.940 just on God 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:42.500 restoring our 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.500 material blessings 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.300 in this 00:23:44.300 --> 00:23:45.240 life, as 00:23:45.240 --> 00:23:45.900 Eliphaz seems 00:23:45.900 --> 00:23:46.440 to think. 00:23:46.820 --> 00:23:47.560 Our hope 00:23:47.560 --> 00:23:48.220 is in 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:48.620 spending 00:23:48.619 --> 00:23:49.479 eternity 00:23:49.479 --> 00:23:50.719 with God. 00:23:52.059 --> 00:23:52.379 And so 00:23:52.379 --> 00:23:53.059 whether our 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:54.299 friend who 00:23:54.299 --> 00:23:54.939 is struggling 00:23:54.939 --> 00:23:55.699 is a child 00:23:55.699 --> 00:23:56.179 of God 00:23:56.179 --> 00:23:56.819 or not, 00:23:57.059 --> 00:23:57.819 it's his 00:23:57.819 --> 00:23:59.119 love that 00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.639 we want to 00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:00.079 point them 00:24:00.079 --> 00:24:00.379 to. 00:24:01.639 --> 00:24:02.199 But, 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:03.059 and here 00:24:03.059 --> 00:24:03.479 comes the 00:24:03.479 --> 00:24:04.039 difficult bit, 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:04.959 in order to 00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:05.639 do so, 00:24:05.979 --> 00:24:06.679 we have to 00:24:06.679 --> 00:24:07.479 know and 00:24:07.479 --> 00:24:07.899 we have to 00:24:07.899 --> 00:24:08.679 be experiencing 00:24:08.679 --> 00:24:09.559 that love 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:10.439 ourselves. 00:24:10.919 --> 00:24:11.599 So we need 00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:12.219 to be sitting 00:24:12.219 --> 00:24:12.679 with our 00:24:12.679 --> 00:24:13.059 Bibles, 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:14.000 we need to 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:14.859 let the 00:24:14.859 --> 00:24:16.179 Spirit equip 00:24:16.179 --> 00:24:16.859 us in 00:24:16.859 --> 00:24:17.299 order to 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:18.039 be kind, 00:24:18.039 --> 00:24:19.000 truthful, 00:24:19.740 --> 00:24:20.039 hopeful 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.759 friends. 00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.460 I have 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:23.799 been an 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:24.299 Eliphaz 00:24:24.299 --> 00:24:25.420 when my 00:24:25.420 --> 00:24:25.859 mum came 00:24:25.859 --> 00:24:26.299 to me in 00:24:26.299 --> 00:24:27.000 distress while 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.619 fighting her 00:24:27.619 --> 00:24:28.039 cancer. 00:24:28.579 --> 00:24:29.299 If I had 00:24:29.299 --> 00:24:29.839 been more 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:30.319 in communion 00:24:30.319 --> 00:24:31.019 with God 00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:31.920 through his 00:24:31.920 --> 00:24:32.299 word, 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:33.579 chances are 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:34.399 in my 00:24:34.399 --> 00:24:35.000 conversations 00:24:35.000 --> 00:24:35.440 with her, 00:24:35.519 --> 00:24:35.740 I would 00:24:35.740 --> 00:24:36.299 have talked 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:37.379 a bit less 00:24:37.379 --> 00:24:37.920 about how 00:24:37.920 --> 00:24:38.440 lucky she 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:39.039 was actually 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.579 having it, 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:39.920 that there 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:40.440 were people 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:40.819 in worse 00:24:40.819 --> 00:24:41.379 situations 00:24:41.379 --> 00:24:41.920 than hers, 00:24:41.980 --> 00:24:42.220 that she 00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:43.220 should toughen 00:24:43.220 --> 00:24:43.659 up a bit. 00:24:44.779 --> 00:24:45.059 And I 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:45.279 would have 00:24:45.279 --> 00:24:45.539 probably 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.259 prayed with 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.799 her more, 00:24:46.879 --> 00:24:47.059 I would 00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:47.500 have probably 00:24:47.500 --> 00:24:48.559 comforted 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:49.180 her more 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.839 by reminding 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.299 her that 00:24:50.299 --> 00:24:50.880 she is 00:24:50.880 --> 00:24:51.900 loved by 00:24:51.900 --> 00:24:52.420 the God 00:24:52.420 --> 00:24:53.200 who created 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:53.839 her and 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:54.359 sent his 00:24:54.359 --> 00:24:54.880 son to 00:24:54.880 --> 00:24:55.940 die for 00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.619 her sins. 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.220 Finally, 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.180 our third 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:03.579 and last 00:25:03.579 --> 00:25:04.220 point is 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:05.079 hopeless 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:06.000 suffering, 00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:06.759 as we look 00:25:06.759 --> 00:25:07.240 at Job 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:07.599 now. 00:25:09.480 --> 00:25:10.720 Job is 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:11.000 in 00:25:11.000 --> 00:25:12.000 absolutely 00:25:12.000 --> 00:25:13.160 agonizing 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:14.099 pain. 00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:14.119 pain. 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:15.519 He told 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:15.779 us in 00:25:15.779 --> 00:25:16.339 chapter 3 00:25:16.339 --> 00:25:17.359 and he 00:25:17.359 --> 00:25:17.679 keeps 00:25:17.679 --> 00:25:17.919 telling 00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.179 us 00:25:18.179 --> 00:25:18.439 here. 00:25:19.779 --> 00:25:20.000 And I 00:25:20.000 --> 00:25:20.219 think, 00:25:20.599 --> 00:25:20.919 I know 00:25:20.919 --> 00:25:21.159 it's been 00:25:21.159 --> 00:25:21.459 a long 00:25:21.459 --> 00:25:21.659 reading 00:25:21.659 --> 00:25:22.019 already, 00:25:22.159 --> 00:25:22.480 but I'd 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:22.859 like to 00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:23.500 look again 00:25:23.500 --> 00:25:23.819 at some 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.039 of the 00:25:24.039 --> 00:25:24.379 words that 00:25:24.379 --> 00:25:24.839 he uses 00:25:24.839 --> 00:25:25.480 to describe 00:25:25.480 --> 00:25:25.959 his pain 00:25:25.959 --> 00:25:26.480 because the 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.379 whole point 00:25:27.379 --> 00:25:28.000 of Hebrew 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.119 poetry in 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.579 here is 00:25:29.579 --> 00:25:30.000 to help 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:30.699 us feel 00:25:30.699 --> 00:25:31.699 the pain 00:25:31.699 --> 00:25:32.519 that Job 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:33.159 is feeling. 00:25:34.219 --> 00:25:34.839 So chapter 00:25:34.839 --> 00:25:35.219 6, 00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:35.740 verses 2 00:25:35.740 --> 00:25:36.039 and 3, 00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:37.079 if only my 00:25:37.079 --> 00:25:37.500 anguish 00:25:37.500 --> 00:25:37.879 could be 00:25:37.879 --> 00:25:38.399 weighed and 00:25:38.399 --> 00:25:38.740 all my 00:25:38.740 --> 00:25:39.219 misery 00:25:39.219 --> 00:25:40.480 be placed 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:41.240 on the 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:41.819 scales, 00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:42.579 it would 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:43.059 surely 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:44.019 outweigh 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:44.779 the sand 00:25:44.779 --> 00:25:45.099 of the 00:25:45.099 --> 00:25:45.500 seas. 00:25:46.599 --> 00:25:46.980 And then 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:47.579 in verse 4, 00:25:47.880 --> 00:25:48.579 the arrows 00:25:48.579 --> 00:25:49.220 of the 00:25:49.220 --> 00:25:49.660 Almighty 00:25:49.660 --> 00:25:50.640 are in 00:25:50.640 --> 00:25:51.160 me. 00:25:51.900 --> 00:25:52.599 My spirit 00:25:52.599 --> 00:25:53.440 drinks in 00:25:53.440 --> 00:25:54.660 their poison, 00:25:55.360 --> 00:25:55.779 God's 00:25:55.779 --> 00:25:56.420 terrors 00:25:56.420 --> 00:25:57.319 are marshaled 00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:57.980 against me. 00:25:59.720 --> 00:26:00.339 Verses 8 00:26:00.339 --> 00:26:00.700 and 9, 00:26:01.099 --> 00:26:01.620 all that I 00:26:01.620 --> 00:26:02.079 may have 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:02.759 my request 00:26:02.759 --> 00:26:03.259 that God 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:03.819 would grant 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.200 what I 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.740 hope for, 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.299 that God 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.660 would be 00:26:05.660 --> 00:26:06.019 willing 00:26:06.019 --> 00:26:07.279 to crush 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.640 me, 00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:08.500 to let 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.000 lose his 00:26:09.000 --> 00:26:09.920 hand and 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:10.299 cut off 00:26:10.299 --> 00:26:10.960 my life. 00:26:11.899 --> 00:26:12.419 And finally 00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:12.799 in chapter 00:26:12.799 --> 00:26:13.200 7, 00:26:13.259 --> 00:26:13.960 verses 15 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.460 and 16, 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:14.819 which we 00:26:14.819 --> 00:26:15.319 just read, 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:16.359 I prefer 00:26:16.359 --> 00:26:17.099 strangling 00:26:17.099 --> 00:26:18.099 and death 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.000 rather than 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.559 this body 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.139 of mine. 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:21.519 I despise 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:22.139 my life. 00:26:22.399 --> 00:26:22.700 I would 00:26:22.700 --> 00:26:23.099 not live 00:26:23.099 --> 00:26:23.440 forever. 00:26:23.779 --> 00:26:24.099 Let me 00:26:24.099 --> 00:26:24.539 alone. 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:25.680 My days 00:26:25.680 --> 00:26:26.480 have no 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:26.799 meaning. 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:28.639 He doesn't 00:26:28.639 --> 00:26:29.419 even attempt 00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.500 to hide 00:26:30.500 --> 00:26:31.180 that his 00:26:31.180 --> 00:26:31.899 pain is so 00:26:31.899 --> 00:26:32.819 great that 00:26:32.819 --> 00:26:33.319 he just 00:26:33.319 --> 00:26:33.779 wants it 00:26:33.779 --> 00:26:34.980 all to 00:26:34.980 --> 00:26:35.559 end. 00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:36.159 He would 00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:36.659 rather be 00:26:36.659 --> 00:26:37.639 dead than 00:26:37.639 --> 00:26:38.519 keep suffering 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.480 the way he 00:26:39.480 --> 00:26:39.980 does. 00:26:41.099 --> 00:26:41.539 That's 00:26:41.539 --> 00:26:41.779 why he 00:26:41.779 --> 00:26:42.519 says in 00:26:42.519 --> 00:26:43.220 verse 3 00:26:43.220 --> 00:26:43.599 of chapter 00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:43.940 6, 00:26:44.259 --> 00:26:44.859 no wonder 00:26:44.859 --> 00:26:46.039 my words 00:26:46.039 --> 00:26:46.440 have been 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.200 impetuous. 00:26:47.500 --> 00:26:47.799 What were 00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:48.440 you expecting, 00:26:48.639 --> 00:26:48.980 Eliphaz? 00:26:49.379 --> 00:26:50.019 And it's 00:26:50.019 --> 00:26:50.419 not because 00:26:50.419 --> 00:26:50.799 I've become 00:26:50.799 --> 00:26:51.220 a fool 00:26:51.220 --> 00:26:51.599 like you 00:26:51.599 --> 00:26:51.980 think, 00:26:52.419 --> 00:26:53.099 it's because 00:26:53.099 --> 00:26:53.440 of the 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.180 utter misery 00:26:54.180 --> 00:26:54.599 that I 00:26:54.599 --> 00:26:55.220 find myself 00:26:55.220 --> 00:26:55.480 in. 00:26:55.799 --> 00:26:55.980 This 00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:56.519 anguish 00:26:56.519 --> 00:26:57.099 and misery 00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.659 that's 00:26:57.659 --> 00:26:58.159 heavier than 00:26:58.159 --> 00:26:58.539 all the 00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.059 sand in 00:26:59.059 --> 00:26:59.559 the world. 00:27:00.000 --> 00:27:00.419 And that's 00:27:00.419 --> 00:27:00.720 heavy. 00:27:03.359 --> 00:27:04.099 But his 00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:05.159 suffering is 00:27:05.159 --> 00:27:05.779 hopeless, 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:05.859 hopeless, 00:27:06.000 --> 00:27:06.319 and it 00:27:06.319 --> 00:27:06.960 is hopeless 00:27:06.960 --> 00:27:08.180 because he's 00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:09.279 unable to 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:10.440 see beyond 00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.039 what is 00:27:11.039 --> 00:27:11.700 happening to 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:11.940 him. 00:27:14.639 --> 00:27:15.079 And so he 00:27:15.079 --> 00:27:15.599 thinks that 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.559 God is at 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.200 war with 00:27:17.200 --> 00:27:17.460 him. 00:27:18.519 --> 00:27:19.579 His arrows 00:27:19.579 --> 00:27:20.319 are in me, 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:20.960 he says in 00:27:20.960 --> 00:27:21.460 verse 4. 00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:22.279 And then in 00:27:22.279 --> 00:27:23.220 verses 19 and 00:27:23.220 --> 00:27:23.819 20 in chapter 00:27:23.819 --> 00:27:24.879 7, he's 00:27:24.879 --> 00:27:25.539 speaking directly 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.240 to God and 00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.700 he says, 00:27:26.700 --> 00:27:27.340 will you 00:27:27.340 --> 00:27:27.980 never look 00:27:27.980 --> 00:27:28.480 away from 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:28.759 me? 00:27:29.420 --> 00:27:29.920 Or let me 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:30.480 alone even 00:27:30.480 --> 00:27:30.860 for an 00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:31.180 instant? 00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.039 Why have 00:27:33.039 --> 00:27:33.380 you made 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:33.799 me your 00:27:33.799 --> 00:27:34.220 target? 00:27:35.319 --> 00:27:35.799 Job 00:27:35.799 --> 00:27:37.080 misunderstands 00:27:37.080 --> 00:27:38.019 why he's 00:27:38.019 --> 00:27:38.440 suffering. 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.400 He thinks 00:27:39.400 --> 00:27:39.920 that God 00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:41.120 is attacking 00:27:41.120 --> 00:27:41.519 him. 00:27:42.299 --> 00:27:42.840 He doesn't 00:27:42.840 --> 00:27:43.200 think that 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:43.480 there is 00:27:43.480 --> 00:27:44.000 something 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:45.059 bigger at 00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.819 play here, 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.580 that God 00:27:46.580 --> 00:27:46.960 in his 00:27:46.960 --> 00:27:47.759 infinite wisdom 00:27:47.759 --> 00:27:48.559 as part 00:27:48.559 --> 00:27:49.380 of his 00:27:49.380 --> 00:27:50.120 cosmic 00:27:50.120 --> 00:27:50.840 plan 00:27:50.840 --> 00:27:51.480 knows 00:27:51.480 --> 00:27:51.900 better. 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.180 And the 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:53.539 truth is 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:53.819 that we 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.200 don't know. 00:27:54.279 --> 00:27:54.580 We don't 00:27:54.580 --> 00:27:55.019 know why 00:27:55.019 --> 00:27:56.000 God made 00:27:56.000 --> 00:27:57.140 Job suffer 00:27:57.140 --> 00:27:57.779 like this. 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.220 But we 00:27:59.220 --> 00:27:59.559 know that 00:27:59.559 --> 00:28:01.019 God wasn't 00:28:01.019 --> 00:28:01.599 attacking 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:01.920 him. 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.259 We know 00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.539 from the 00:28:03.539 --> 00:28:03.880 first two 00:28:03.880 --> 00:28:04.380 chapters that 00:28:04.380 --> 00:28:04.819 God thought 00:28:04.819 --> 00:28:05.480 highly of 00:28:05.480 --> 00:28:05.940 Job and 00:28:05.940 --> 00:28:06.700 loved him. 00:28:07.480 --> 00:28:08.259 God is 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:09.680 not against 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:10.059 him. 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.279 But Job 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.240 cannot see 00:28:12.240 --> 00:28:12.799 that in 00:28:12.799 --> 00:28:13.319 his pain. 00:28:15.299 --> 00:28:16.059 So what do 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.799 we learn from 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.420 Job's 00:28:17.420 --> 00:28:18.160 suffering? 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.920 I think one 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:20.420 thing that we 00:28:20.420 --> 00:28:21.079 learn is that 00:28:21.079 --> 00:28:21.420 we can 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.559 suffer, we 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.319 can mourn, 00:28:23.740 --> 00:28:24.480 we can be 00:28:24.480 --> 00:28:25.319 in communion 00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:25.859 with God 00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.099 at the 00:28:26.099 --> 00:28:26.319 same 00:28:26.319 --> 00:28:26.679 time. 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:28.079 The 00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:28.519 Bible is 00:28:28.519 --> 00:28:28.899 full of 00:28:28.899 --> 00:28:29.539 examples of 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:30.339 godly people 00:28:30.339 --> 00:28:31.779 honestly talking 00:28:31.779 --> 00:28:32.579 about the 00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.099 pain that 00:28:33.099 --> 00:28:33.539 they're going 00:28:33.539 --> 00:28:33.879 through. 00:28:34.439 --> 00:28:34.899 Many of 00:28:34.899 --> 00:28:35.419 the Psalms 00:28:35.419 --> 00:28:36.000 are all 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.559 about that. 00:28:37.819 --> 00:28:38.539 And as we 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:39.000 see here, 00:28:39.079 --> 00:28:39.399 that pain 00:28:39.399 --> 00:28:40.199 can be so 00:28:40.199 --> 00:28:41.019 great that 00:28:41.019 --> 00:28:41.419 it makes 00:28:41.419 --> 00:28:41.959 you wish 00:28:41.959 --> 00:28:42.500 you'd 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.659 rather die. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.379 And so if 00:28:46.379 --> 00:28:46.879 any of us 00:28:46.879 --> 00:28:47.240 are feeling 00:28:47.240 --> 00:28:47.679 like the 00:28:47.679 --> 00:28:48.219 pain is 00:28:48.219 --> 00:28:48.719 just too 00:28:48.719 --> 00:28:49.519 much and 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:49.799 we don't 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.159 want to 00:28:50.159 --> 00:28:50.479 suffer 00:28:50.479 --> 00:28:50.979 anymore, 00:28:51.939 --> 00:28:52.879 God is 00:28:52.879 --> 00:28:53.399 not calling 00:28:53.399 --> 00:28:54.459 any of us 00:28:54.460 --> 00:28:55.319 to put a 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:55.819 smile on 00:28:55.819 --> 00:28:56.360 our faces 00:28:56.360 --> 00:28:56.860 no matter 00:28:56.860 --> 00:28:57.400 what. 00:28:58.319 --> 00:28:58.759 He's not 00:28:58.759 --> 00:28:59.180 telling us 00:28:59.180 --> 00:28:59.860 go around 00:28:59.860 --> 00:29:00.340 and tell 00:29:00.340 --> 00:29:00.819 the world 00:29:00.819 --> 00:29:01.340 that the 00:29:01.340 --> 00:29:01.640 moment you 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.019 become a 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:02.400 Christian, 00:29:02.700 --> 00:29:03.079 all the 00:29:03.079 --> 00:29:03.480 problems 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:03.940 disappear. 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.660 There's no 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:06.319 more suffering. 00:29:06.759 --> 00:29:07.620 Never does the 00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:08.380 Bible lie to 00:29:08.380 --> 00:29:09.079 us and pretend 00:29:09.079 --> 00:29:10.480 that life is a 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:10.960 stroll in a 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:11.640 park the 00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:12.019 moment you 00:29:12.019 --> 00:29:12.440 become a 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:12.740 Christian. 00:29:14.120 --> 00:29:14.500 And so I 00:29:14.500 --> 00:29:15.100 personally find 00:29:15.100 --> 00:29:15.799 it liberating 00:29:15.799 --> 00:29:16.519 to see an 00:29:16.519 --> 00:29:17.400 upright man 00:29:17.400 --> 00:29:18.440 like Job 00:29:18.440 --> 00:29:19.680 show us that 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:20.279 we can be 00:29:20.279 --> 00:29:21.700 honest about 00:29:21.700 --> 00:29:22.460 what we're 00:29:22.460 --> 00:29:22.960 going through. 00:29:23.140 --> 00:29:23.880 We can 00:29:23.880 --> 00:29:24.799 take it to 00:29:24.799 --> 00:29:25.559 God and 00:29:25.559 --> 00:29:26.039 ask him 00:29:26.039 --> 00:29:26.960 why. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:29.680 As far as 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:30.080 we can see 00:29:30.080 --> 00:29:30.860 Job doesn't 00:29:30.860 --> 00:29:31.460 contemplate 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.259 suicide as 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:32.680 an option 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:33.039 here. 00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:34.140 He does 00:29:34.140 --> 00:29:35.180 ask to 00:29:35.180 --> 00:29:35.519 make it 00:29:35.519 --> 00:29:36.100 stop. 00:29:37.340 --> 00:29:37.559 Jesus 00:29:37.559 --> 00:29:38.140 himself 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:40.299 asked to 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:40.759 be spared 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.420 his suffering 00:29:41.420 --> 00:29:42.380 but your 00:29:42.380 --> 00:29:43.140 will be 00:29:43.140 --> 00:29:43.539 done, 00:29:43.740 --> 00:29:44.340 not mine 00:29:44.340 --> 00:29:44.640 is what 00:29:44.640 --> 00:29:45.160 he said. 00:29:46.799 --> 00:29:47.440 So if 00:29:47.440 --> 00:29:48.019 you're ill, 00:29:48.299 --> 00:29:48.680 if someone 00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:49.200 you know 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:50.100 is ill and 00:29:50.100 --> 00:29:50.460 you feel 00:29:50.460 --> 00:29:51.299 powerless as 00:29:51.299 --> 00:29:51.700 you watch 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.480 them suffer, 00:29:53.399 --> 00:29:54.200 if life is 00:29:54.200 --> 00:29:54.960 tough because 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:55.559 of broken 00:29:55.559 --> 00:29:56.240 relationships, 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:57.319 because of 00:29:57.319 --> 00:29:57.899 loneliness, 00:29:58.639 --> 00:29:59.639 we all go 00:29:59.639 --> 00:30:01.000 through difficult 00:30:01.000 --> 00:30:01.899 stuff at 00:30:01.899 --> 00:30:02.559 some point, 00:30:03.319 --> 00:30:03.879 but some 00:30:03.879 --> 00:30:04.460 of us much 00:30:04.460 --> 00:30:04.839 more than 00:30:04.839 --> 00:30:05.319 others. 00:30:06.359 --> 00:30:06.940 Well, no 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.819 one is asking 00:30:07.819 --> 00:30:08.659 us to pretend 00:30:08.659 --> 00:30:09.379 that we're 00:30:09.379 --> 00:30:09.700 okay. 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:10.559 Talk to 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:11.559 God, talk 00:30:11.559 --> 00:30:12.240 to friends, 00:30:12.460 --> 00:30:13.099 scream if 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:13.440 you need 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:13.720 to. 00:30:14.419 --> 00:30:15.139 You're not 00:30:15.139 --> 00:30:15.720 being a good 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.859 Christian by 00:30:16.859 --> 00:30:17.819 smiling and 00:30:17.819 --> 00:30:18.460 saying fine 00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:18.859 when people 00:30:18.859 --> 00:30:19.379 ask you how 00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:19.839 are you. 00:30:21.299 --> 00:30:21.940 And if 00:30:21.940 --> 00:30:22.259 you're not 00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.619 a Christian 00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:23.000 and you've 00:30:23.000 --> 00:30:23.480 been led 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:23.980 to believe 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:24.619 that Christians 00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:25.680 are deluded 00:30:25.680 --> 00:30:26.259 people, 00:30:27.019 --> 00:30:27.779 we think you 00:30:27.779 --> 00:30:28.240 pray and 00:30:28.240 --> 00:30:28.879 problems go 00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.319 away. 00:30:30.159 --> 00:30:31.000 And that's 00:30:31.000 --> 00:30:31.779 not what we 00:30:31.779 --> 00:30:32.359 believe. 00:30:32.919 --> 00:30:33.539 It's not what 00:30:33.539 --> 00:30:33.879 the Bible 00:30:33.879 --> 00:30:34.599 teaches us 00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:34.980 either. 00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.500 So please 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.539 go check for 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.059 yourself in 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.339 the Bible. 00:30:37.500 --> 00:30:39.639 Please come 00:30:39.639 --> 00:30:40.379 speak to us. 00:30:41.500 --> 00:30:41.819 And the 00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:43.059 Bible, as you 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.740 investigate it, 00:30:43.759 --> 00:30:44.279 will show you 00:30:44.279 --> 00:30:44.819 something that 00:30:44.819 --> 00:30:45.799 we learn, I 00:30:45.799 --> 00:30:46.180 think, from 00:30:46.180 --> 00:30:46.940 Job's suffering 00:30:46.940 --> 00:30:47.720 to here. 00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:48.340 And with 00:30:48.340 --> 00:30:48.700 this we'll 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.080 conclude. 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:50.580 And it's 00:30:50.580 --> 00:30:51.160 that in our 00:30:51.160 --> 00:30:52.240 suffering we 00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.360 should run 00:30:53.360 --> 00:30:54.799 to God, 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:55.680 not away 00:30:55.680 --> 00:30:56.240 from him. 00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:58.100 Job asks 00:30:58.100 --> 00:30:58.960 God to 00:30:58.960 --> 00:30:59.500 look away 00:30:59.500 --> 00:31:00.019 from him, 00:31:00.220 --> 00:31:00.720 to leave 00:31:00.720 --> 00:31:01.340 him alone. 00:31:01.860 --> 00:31:02.440 But God 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:03.240 takes no 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:04.539 pleasure in 00:31:04.539 --> 00:31:05.039 seeing us 00:31:05.039 --> 00:31:05.519 struggle. 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:07.559 He is our 00:31:07.559 --> 00:31:08.559 loving creator 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:10.360 and saviour 00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:11.320 who promised 00:31:11.320 --> 00:31:12.240 not to leave 00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:12.539 us. 00:31:13.299 --> 00:31:13.920 Jesus says 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:14.340 in Matthew 00:31:14.340 --> 00:31:14.920 28, 00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.620 and surely 00:31:15.620 --> 00:31:16.700 I am with 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.600 you always 00:31:17.600 --> 00:31:18.300 to the very 00:31:18.300 --> 00:31:19.000 end of the 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.460 age. 00:31:21.019 --> 00:31:21.759 When we are 00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.660 suffering, there 00:31:22.660 --> 00:31:23.700 is no better 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.840 refuge than 00:31:24.840 --> 00:31:25.440 the cross. 00:31:25.680 --> 00:31:26.140 Because the 00:31:26.140 --> 00:31:26.920 cross is the 00:31:26.920 --> 00:31:28.220 ultimate proof 00:31:28.220 --> 00:31:29.340 of God's 00:31:29.340 --> 00:31:30.600 love for us. 00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:32.360 Our suffering 00:31:32.360 --> 00:31:33.220 is for a 00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:33.440 time. 00:31:33.560 --> 00:31:34.300 It's terrible 00:31:34.300 --> 00:31:35.240 pain. 00:31:35.580 --> 00:31:35.920 No one 00:31:35.920 --> 00:31:36.500 pretends it 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:36.779 isn't. 00:31:36.880 --> 00:31:37.620 It's extremely 00:31:37.620 --> 00:31:38.560 difficult. 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.019 But the 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.740 fact itself 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.440 that we have 00:31:41.440 --> 00:31:41.940 a book, 00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:42.500 like the 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:42.880 book of 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:43.259 Job, 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:43.840 in our 00:31:43.840 --> 00:31:44.360 lives, 00:31:44.920 --> 00:31:45.700 tells us 00:31:45.700 --> 00:31:46.220 that God 00:31:46.220 --> 00:31:47.039 knows about 00:31:47.039 --> 00:31:47.600 that pain, 00:31:47.680 --> 00:31:48.100 that he 00:31:48.100 --> 00:31:49.279 understands it 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.840 intimately. 00:31:51.580 --> 00:31:52.100 And so we 00:31:52.100 --> 00:31:52.560 can be sure 00:31:52.560 --> 00:31:53.220 that in our 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.640 suffering, 00:31:53.880 --> 00:31:54.880 he is there 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:56.340 with us. 00:31:56.480 --> 00:31:57.279 And he is 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.100 the one who 00:31:58.100 --> 00:31:58.539 gives us 00:31:58.539 --> 00:31:59.500 hope that 00:31:59.500 --> 00:32:00.539 suffering is 00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:01.380 not all 00:32:01.380 --> 00:32:01.900 there is to 00:32:01.900 --> 00:32:02.360 life. 00:32:03.120 --> 00:32:03.779 Suffering only 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:04.740 features in 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:05.340 this broken 00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:06.580 world for a 00:32:06.580 --> 00:32:06.960 time. 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:08.820 And so in 00:32:08.820 --> 00:32:09.360 our suffering, 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:10.580 let's run to 00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:11.220 the cross and 00:32:11.220 --> 00:32:12.120 let's ask 00:32:12.120 --> 00:32:13.460 God to be 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:13.960 with us and 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.279 give us 00:32:14.279 --> 00:32:14.960 the strength 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:15.240 that we 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:15.819 so terribly 00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:16.900 need every 00:32:16.900 --> 00:32:17.440 day to 00:32:17.440 --> 00:32:18.059 keep going 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:19.079 when everything 00:32:19.079 --> 00:32:20.079 seems too 00:32:20.079 --> 00:32:20.620 much to 00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:21.340 deal with. 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:22.880 Let's ask 00:32:22.880 --> 00:32:23.640 his spirit to 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.960 remind us of 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.860 the certain 00:32:25.860 --> 00:32:27.319 hope that 00:32:27.319 --> 00:32:28.220 one day it 00:32:28.220 --> 00:32:28.799 will all be 00:32:28.799 --> 00:32:29.460 over and 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.100 we will be 00:32:30.100 --> 00:32:30.480 in the 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:31.460 presence of 00:32:31.460 --> 00:32:32.220 our good 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.319 and loving 00:32:33.319 --> 00:32:33.880 God. 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:35.840 Let's 00:32:35.840 --> 00:32:36.100 pray. 00:32:36.099 --> 00:32:40.480 Lord, we 00:32:40.480 --> 00:32:40.819 thank you 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.779 because at 00:32:41.779 --> 00:32:42.219 the cross 00:32:42.219 --> 00:32:42.679 we find 00:32:42.679 --> 00:32:43.319 hope. 00:32:44.579 --> 00:32:45.240 Hope that 00:32:45.240 --> 00:32:45.599 one day 00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:46.039 we'll be 00:32:46.039 --> 00:32:46.579 with you. 00:32:47.599 --> 00:32:48.019 Lord, we 00:32:48.019 --> 00:32:48.339 thank you 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:48.699 because at 00:32:48.699 --> 00:32:49.159 the cross 00:32:49.159 --> 00:32:49.959 we find 00:32:49.959 --> 00:32:50.639 love. 00:32:51.099 --> 00:32:51.859 Love like 00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:52.439 no other 00:32:52.439 --> 00:32:53.480 because you 00:32:53.480 --> 00:32:54.219 sacrificed 00:32:54.219 --> 00:32:54.879 your son 00:32:54.879 --> 00:32:55.679 out of 00:32:55.679 --> 00:32:56.699 love for 00:32:56.699 --> 00:32:57.480 every single 00:32:57.480 --> 00:32:57.899 one of 00:32:57.899 --> 00:32:58.159 us. 00:32:59.399 --> 00:33:00.099 Father, we 00:33:00.099 --> 00:33:00.439 thank you 00:33:00.439 --> 00:33:01.039 because at 00:33:01.039 --> 00:33:01.459 the cross 00:33:01.459 --> 00:33:02.059 we find 00:33:02.059 --> 00:33:03.259 refuge. 00:33:03.719 --> 00:33:04.359 We find 00:33:04.359 --> 00:33:05.119 comfort in 00:33:05.119 --> 00:33:05.759 our suffering. 00:33:06.759 --> 00:33:07.000 And so 00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:07.319 Lord, we 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:07.719 pray that 00:33:07.719 --> 00:33:08.259 by spending 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:08.759 time in 00:33:08.759 --> 00:33:09.339 this beautiful 00:33:09.339 --> 00:33:10.240 book, by 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:10.719 the power 00:33:10.719 --> 00:33:11.099 of your 00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.719 spirit, we 00:33:11.719 --> 00:33:12.339 will learn 00:33:12.339 --> 00:33:13.059 how to 00:33:13.059 --> 00:33:13.859 suffer well 00:33:13.859 --> 00:33:14.439 and how 00:33:14.439 --> 00:33:14.939 to comfort 00:33:14.939 --> 00:33:16.000 well those 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:16.659 who suffer. 00:33:17.299 --> 00:33:17.819 We pray in 00:33:17.819 --> 00:33:18.500 Jesus' name. 00:33:19.159 --> 00:33:19.359 Amen.