WEBVTT

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 This morning we're beginning our summer sermon series in the book of Job.

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 If we had 15 months, let alone the 15 weeks we have this summer, it wouldn't be sufficient

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! time to cover the book of Job exhaustively. John Calvin preached 159 sermons through the book of Job.

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 But our hope is to look at key landing points throughout the book that will hopefully help

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 us understand and get a general view of the main messages and themes in Job and how they apply

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 to our lives. Now when you think about Job, you most likely think of suffering, immense suffering

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 and loss. And if you've read Job, most likely it's because your yearly Bible reading plan took you

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 there. Or maybe you were searching for a specific verse and Google took you there.

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 Or possibly you or someone you loved was going through great suffering and you were looking for

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 comfort and for answers. Now if you fall into that last category, I hope you did find both

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 comfort and answers. If you did, you might question the series title, Suffering and the Silence of God.

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 However, if you didn't find the comfort or the answers that you were longing for, maybe you're

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 fully behind the concept of God's silence during our suffering. Now just objectively speaking,

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 God is silent through the majority of the book of Job, more than 80% of it. And as we begin to work our way

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 through this very long, often repetitive feeling, 42 chapters, it might be easy to find yourself anxious

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 to get on with it. Longing for God to break the silence, to show up, to speak comfort, to give answers.

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 And yet, at the same time, wishing Job's friends would stop. Stop talking, stop trying to give some

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 encouragement, stop accusing, stop arguing that they would just be silent. I think those feelings are

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 one of the goals of the author. Because subjectively speaking, if you've gone through intense suffering and

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 loss, I'm sure you know firsthand how slow it can seem, how long every day seems to take. In the moments,

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 the days, the weeks, the months, possibly even the years, that it seems like God is silent.

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 Well, at the same time, all those around you are probably saying more than they should about things

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 they might not fully understand. But I hope this summer that you'll begin to see that even when God is

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 silent, it's an expression of his immense love. And it's a precious invitation, an invitation to draw

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 closer, to know and experience him in a more intimate, deep way. Now, even though we're not going to

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 look at Job in depth, if you'd like to dig deeper in your own personal study of Job, there is a

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 commentary that I would recommend. It's Job, the Wisdom of the Cross by Christopher Ashe. And there's a

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 QR code on the screen or in your listening guide that will take you to a link for the books. But

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 there's also a link to a free online summary of the commentary as well, if that would be of use to you.

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 Now, the book of Job, it's an incredible work of literature. Aside from chapters 1, 2, and 42,

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 the majority of Job, about 95% of it, is written in exquisite Hebrew poetry.

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 It's possibly the oldest book written in the Bible, and many people believe Moses may have edited it

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 for inclusion in the Hebrew scriptures. Its unique composition has led some modern scholars to suggest

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 that the book of Job is completely fictional. That in some sense, it's an extremely well-written

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 ancient parable. However, we see in both the Old and the New Testament clear references to Job as a

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 historical figure. In Ezekiel 14, verses 12 through 14, Ezekiel writing says,

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 And the word of the Lord came to me, Son of man, when a land sins against me by acting faithlessly,

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 and I stretch out my hand against it, and break its supply of bread, and send famine upon it,

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 and cut off from it man and beast. Even if these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it,

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 they would deliver but their own lives by their righteousness, declares the Lord God.

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 And then James, in chapter 5, verses 10 and 11, writes,

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 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

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 Behold, we consider those blessed who remain steadfast. You've heard of the steadfastness of Job,

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 and you've seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

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 So I think we have every reason to see the book of Job as capturing historical events,

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 but in a powerful and creative way that's designed to speak to the heart and not just the head.

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 Which is also why you'll find it included with other books of the Bible that we call wisdom literature,

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 Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.

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 Now, the book of Job begins with its own introduction.

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 And so if you would turn with me to Job chapter 1,

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 if you're using a Bible from the seat around you, you can find it on page 417.

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 Page 417.

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 And we'll begin in chapter 1, verse 1.

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 The first thing we're going to see is that there was a man.

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 There was a man.

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 And we need to consider four things about this man.

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 The first is who he was.

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 Who he was.

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 His identity.

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 If you'll follow along in chapter 1, verse 1, it says,

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 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job.

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 Now, we don't know the exact location of Uz.

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 Probably in the land of Edom, which is east of the promised land,

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 because of Lamentations 421, which reads,

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 Rejoice and be glad, O daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz.

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 Now, on this map, which is also in your listening guide,

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 you'll see that that places Uz to the east of what would eventually become Israel.

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 But also notice, it places it just to the west of Ur.

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 And if you remember, Ur is where Abram, who would become Abraham,

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 was called by God to leave and follow him in faith.

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 But also notice, it puts it in the same general vicinity of Midian.

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 And many years, of course, after Job,

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 we'll find that Moses spends 40 years in Midian,

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 in the same general area as a shepherd,

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 before he leads the Israelites out of Egypt.

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 Now, when we look at Job, just based on the length of Job's life,

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 as well as the fact that in the book of Job,

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 there's not really any reference to the law,

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 that the way that Job himself offers sacrifices,

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 that gives us some indication,

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 most likely Job lived during the time of the patriarchs,

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 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, in that general time.

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 So not only do we see who he was,

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 but we also need to consider what he was,

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 what he was, his righteousness.

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 Verse 1 continues,

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 And that man was blameless and upright,

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 one who feared God and turned away from evil.

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 We need to look at those four things,

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 starting with being blameless.

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 And this is important because this is a key point in the book of Job,

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 that as suffering and tragedy hit,

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 we will see Job's friends time and time again

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 and tell him it must be because of his sin.

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 And Job will consistently proclaim his blamelessness,

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 that he doesn't deserve what's happened.

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 Now, as it goes on and on and back and forth,

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 you might find yourself tempted to think,

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 maybe Job is guilty of something.

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 Maybe he doesn't know,

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 or maybe he's deceiving himself.

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 But there must be something there.

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 And Job's friends will continue telling him,

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 it's a sin that he needs to confess.

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 But maybe, maybe you'll decide for yourself

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 that it's just Job needs to grow.

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 It's to help him mature in his faith,

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 help him to become more, more faithful in some way.

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 But isn't that how we tend to view most suffering?

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 We see it either as a result of our sin

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 or discipline of our sin,

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 or we think suffering's been sent to help

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 some deficiency in our spiritual lives,

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 to help us grow in Christ-likeness.

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 But we have to remember,

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 in the book of Job,

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 Job is really blameless.

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 What happens is not because of sin,

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 and it's not because of the immaturity of his faith in any way.

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 There must be a third option.

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 A third option for why suffering happens.

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 And I think Eric Ortlund summarizes it really well

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 when he says,

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 sometimes God allows pain and loss

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 that have nothing to do with sin in our lives

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 and are not meant to teach us anything.

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 Rather, our loss and bewilderment

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 become an avenue by which God gives himself to us

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 more than he ever could have before

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 when we were at ease.

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 When God puts us into a position

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 where we must hold on to our relationship with God

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 for God's sake only,

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 in which we stand to gain nothing but God,

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 we start to receive him more fully than we ever had.

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 Now, thinking about Job's blamelessness,

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 maybe it will help you,

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 as it did me,

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 to recognize that blameless

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 is not the same as sinless.

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 Now, of course,

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 I know that only one man

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 has ever been truly sinless.

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 That's Jesus.

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 But I think in the past,

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 I've kind of seen Job as like second place.

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 You know, like not sinless.

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 He probably had a bad thought once

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 or, you know, lost his temper once,

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 probably with his kids, right?

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 That he was almost sinless.

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 But the truth is,

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 that's not the picture that we get in Job at all.

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 Job himself admits his sin

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 numerous places in the book of Job.

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 Here's just one example.

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 Job 14, verses 16 and 17.

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 Job says,

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 For then you would number my steps.

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 You would not keep watch over my sin.

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 My transgression would be sealed up in a bag.

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 And you would cover over my iniquity.

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 You see, Job's blamelessness

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 paints this picture of a man

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 who honestly acknowledges his sin.

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 Who has offered sacrifices in faith

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 to atone for them

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 and believes in faith.

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 He's forgiven.

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 And then lives differently

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 because he is forgiven.

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 So this term blameless,

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 it really communicates this genuineness,

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 this authenticity in Job's relationship to God.

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 Now, let me just ask you something.

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 Has there been a time in your life

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 where you said to yourself,

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 I really wish that I could be blameless?

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 That whatever has happened,

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 whatever has gone on,

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 that it could be wiped away,

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 that it could be clean.

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 And the truth is,

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 no matter what you've done,

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 no matter how big your pride,

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 your selfishness,

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 your evil,

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 your wickedness is,

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 you can be blameless today in Jesus.

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 If you would follow along with me,

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 Colossians chapter 1,

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 verses 19 through 23,

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 it reads,

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 For in him,

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 that's Jesus,

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 in him all the fullness of God

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 was pleased to dwell,

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 and through him to reconcile to himself

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 all things,

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 whether on earth or in heaven,

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 making peace by the blood of his cross.

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 And you,

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 who once were alienated

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 and hostile in mind,

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 doing evil deeds,

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 he has now reconciled

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 in his body of flesh

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 by his death,

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 in order to present you

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 holy and blameless

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 and above reproach before him,

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 if indeed you continue in the faith,

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 stable and steadfast,

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 not shifting from the hope

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 of the gospel that you heard.

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 You see,

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 you can be blameless today,

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 but your blameless

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 is a little different than Job's,

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 but similar.

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 It involves honestly acknowledging your sin,

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 accepting in faith Christ's death

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 as the sacrifice that atones for your sin

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 and giving your life to him,

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 believing in faith

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 that you are forgiven in Christ,

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 and then living differently

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 because you are forgiven

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 and have new life in Christ.

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 So you can be blameless today.

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 And if you'd like to know more

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 about how you can have

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 that kind of relationship with Jesus,

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 please don't leave today

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 without talking to me

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 or to someone around you

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 so that we can make sure

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 that you have a relationship with Christ.

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 So Job is blameless,

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 but he's also upright.

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 Now, the word blameless

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 talks about his condition

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 or his relationship with God,

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 but the word upright

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 talks about his relationship

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 and how he treats others.

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 You see, Job dealt with others

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 with moral integrity.

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 He was honest, respectful,

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 honoring,

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 and consistently so.

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 He's the kind of friend

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 or family member

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 or boss or business associate

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 that we all want to have

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 and hopefully that we all want to be.

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 And we'll see his uprightness

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 laid out in vivid detail

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 when we get to chapter 31.

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 But not only is he blameless and upright,

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 but he's one who feared God.

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 Job was truly humble.

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 He lived with an awareness

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 of his place

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 before a holy and a sovereign God.

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 I think Charles Bridges

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 in his commentary on Proverbs

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 has my favorite definition

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 of this fear of the Lord.

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 He writes,

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 But what is this fear of the Lord?

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 It is that affectionate reverence

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 by which the child of God

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 bends himself humbly and carefully

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 to his father's law.

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 His wrath so bitter

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 and his love so sweet

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 that hence springs

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 an earnest desire to please him.

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 And because of the danger

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 of coming short

00:16:32.560 --> 00:16:34.040
 from our own weakness

00:16:34.040 --> 00:16:35.060
 and temptations,

00:16:35.259 --> 00:16:36.540
 there's a holy fear,

00:16:37.440 --> 00:16:38.540
 an anxious care,

00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:39.440
 a watchfulness

00:16:39.440 --> 00:16:42.860
 that we might not sin against him.

00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:45.560
 So Job feared God,

00:16:46.040 --> 00:16:48.180
 but you should ask yourself

00:16:48.180 --> 00:16:49.639
 a question at this point,

00:16:50.100 --> 00:16:50.800
 and that is,

00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:53.100
 how does Job know God?

00:16:53.640 --> 00:16:55.020
 How does Job know God?

00:16:55.140 --> 00:16:56.860
 Because if Job was living

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:58.600
 during the time of the patriarchs,

00:16:58.600 --> 00:16:59.779
 that's long before

00:16:59.779 --> 00:17:00.899
 any of the scriptures

00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:02.120
 we have were written.

00:17:02.540 --> 00:17:03.700
 It's a long time

00:17:03.700 --> 00:17:05.559
 before Moses began

00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.539
 under the inspiration

00:17:06.539 --> 00:17:07.579
 of the Holy Spirit

00:17:07.579 --> 00:17:08.579
 to capture,

00:17:08.960 --> 00:17:09.440
 to write,

00:17:09.559 --> 00:17:10.319
 to organize

00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:11.380
 the beginning books

00:17:11.380 --> 00:17:12.480
 of the Hebrew scriptures,

00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.279
 what we call the Pentateuch,

00:17:14.620 --> 00:17:15.519
 the books of Genesis,

00:17:15.779 --> 00:17:16.120
 Exodus,

00:17:16.360 --> 00:17:16.799
 Leviticus,

00:17:16.940 --> 00:17:17.299
 Numbers,

00:17:17.420 --> 00:17:18.240
 and Deuteronomy.

00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:19.759
 So how does Job,

00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:21.799
 or really any of the patriarchs,

00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:22.799
 how do they know

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:24.200
 anything about God?

00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.700
 Now, it's worth asking

00:17:26.700 --> 00:17:27.299
 that question

00:17:27.299 --> 00:17:28.920
 so we can take just a moment

00:17:28.920 --> 00:17:30.980
 to appreciate God

00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.680
 and how from the beginning,

00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:34.380
 from the time of creation,

00:17:34.860 --> 00:17:36.059
 God's been working

00:17:36.059 --> 00:17:37.740
 at revealing himself

00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.600
 to mankind

00:17:38.600 --> 00:17:41.600
 and sovereignly working

00:17:41.600 --> 00:17:42.319
 to make sure

00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:43.580
 the things he reveals

00:17:43.580 --> 00:17:44.580
 about himself,

00:17:44.840 --> 00:17:46.460
 those things are passed on.

00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:48.240
 And so today,

00:17:48.380 --> 00:17:48.819
 as a result,

00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:49.340
 we're blessed

00:17:49.340 --> 00:17:50.700
 to have his written word.

00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:52.620
 We can see several places

00:17:52.620 --> 00:17:53.200
 in scripture

00:17:53.200 --> 00:17:54.180
 that emphasize

00:17:54.180 --> 00:17:55.039
 the importance

00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:56.380
 of passing on this knowledge

00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:57.660
 of who God is

00:17:57.660 --> 00:17:58.680
 and what he's done.

00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:00.220
 Here's two examples.

00:18:00.420 --> 00:18:01.960
 Genesis 18, 19.

00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:04.140
 God speaking of Abraham says,

00:18:04.539 --> 00:18:05.819
 For I have chosen him

00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:06.960
 that he may command

00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:07.640
 his children

00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:09.160
 and his household after him

00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.900
 to keep the way of the Lord

00:18:10.900 --> 00:18:12.380
 by doing righteousness

00:18:12.380 --> 00:18:13.460
 and justice

00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:15.019
 so that the Lord

00:18:15.019 --> 00:18:16.200
 may bring to Abraham

00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:17.500
 what he has promised him.

00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.539
 So one of the reasons

00:18:19.539 --> 00:18:21.059
 God calls Abraham

00:18:21.059 --> 00:18:22.480
 is to pass on

00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:23.059
 this knowledge

00:18:23.059 --> 00:18:24.180
 of who God is,

00:18:24.319 --> 00:18:25.480
 of what God has done

00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.619
 and how to live rightly

00:18:26.619 --> 00:18:27.819
 before him.

00:18:28.259 --> 00:18:29.200
 We also see

00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.759
 when Moses is calling

00:18:30.759 --> 00:18:31.539
 the Israelites

00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:32.460
 to treasure

00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:34.379
 and to obey God's law.

00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:36.220
 In Deuteronomy 4, 9,

00:18:36.379 --> 00:18:37.079
 he says,

00:18:37.799 --> 00:18:39.039
 Only take care.

00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:41.379
 Keep your soul diligently,

00:18:41.799 --> 00:18:42.500
 lest you forget

00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:44.139
 the things your eyes have seen,

00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:45.240
 lest they depart

00:18:45.240 --> 00:18:46.039
 from your heart

00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:47.539
 all the days of your life.

00:18:47.539 --> 00:18:48.680
 Make them known

00:18:48.680 --> 00:18:49.559
 to your children

00:18:49.559 --> 00:18:51.960
 and to your children's children.

00:18:53.099 --> 00:18:53.339
 You see,

00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.079
 from the beginning,

00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:54.980
 God's been at work

00:18:54.980 --> 00:18:57.039
 to reveal himself to us

00:18:57.039 --> 00:18:58.099
 and to be sure

00:18:58.099 --> 00:18:59.519
 that that knowledge

00:18:59.519 --> 00:19:00.480
 is captured

00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:01.740
 and passed on

00:19:01.740 --> 00:19:03.619
 until it's finally written down

00:19:03.619 --> 00:19:05.379
 in its entirety for us.

00:19:06.039 --> 00:19:07.059
 And with that said,

00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:08.319
 just take a minute

00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.759
 and consider this chart.

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:11.039
 You can see it up here,

00:19:11.099 --> 00:19:11.579
 but it's also

00:19:11.579 --> 00:19:12.559
 in your listening guide

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:13.740
 if it's easier to see.

00:19:13.960 --> 00:19:15.559
 Just four things to consider.

00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:17.139
 Okay, the first is,

00:19:17.399 --> 00:19:18.960
 look at Adam and Methuselah.

00:19:19.799 --> 00:19:20.859
 Adam and Methuselah,

00:19:20.960 --> 00:19:21.579
 their lives

00:19:21.579 --> 00:19:24.279
 overlapped 243 years.

00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:26.419
 There are 243 years

00:19:26.419 --> 00:19:27.919
 that Methuselah

00:19:27.919 --> 00:19:28.960
 could have sat down

00:19:28.960 --> 00:19:29.440
 with Adam

00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.519
 and heard directly from him

00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:32.480
 about everything

00:19:32.480 --> 00:19:33.220
 that had happened

00:19:33.220 --> 00:19:34.079
 from the beginning.

00:19:34.980 --> 00:19:35.819
 But then notice,

00:19:35.919 --> 00:19:37.399
 Methuselah and Noah,

00:19:37.940 --> 00:19:39.700
 Noah is Methuselah's grandson,

00:19:40.279 --> 00:19:41.220
 their lives overlap

00:19:41.220 --> 00:19:42.980
 600 years.

00:19:42.980 --> 00:19:45.039
 But Methuselah and Shem,

00:19:45.120 --> 00:19:46.519
 his great-grandson,

00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:48.339
 their lives overlap

00:19:48.339 --> 00:19:49.960
 98 years,

00:19:50.400 --> 00:19:51.980
 a lifetime for us.

00:19:52.200 --> 00:19:53.059
 Can you imagine them

00:19:53.059 --> 00:19:54.579
 working on the ark together

00:19:54.579 --> 00:19:56.180
 and Methuselah telling Shem,

00:19:56.420 --> 00:19:57.480
 yeah, this is what I heard,

00:19:57.559 --> 00:19:58.400
 this is what I know,

00:19:58.500 --> 00:19:59.700
 this is what's important.

00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.880
 But then notice Shem.

00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:04.720
 Shem lives 600 years,

00:20:05.160 --> 00:20:06.220
 and I'll just tell you,

00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:07.259
 I hadn't realized

00:20:07.259 --> 00:20:08.720
 until this particular time

00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:11.600
 that Shem outlives Abraham

00:20:11.600 --> 00:20:13.539
 by 35 years.

00:20:14.100 --> 00:20:15.200
 And that Shem is alive

00:20:15.200 --> 00:20:17.380
 the first 110 years

00:20:17.380 --> 00:20:19.620
 of Isaac's life.

00:20:20.700 --> 00:20:21.819
 So again,

00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:23.559
 just to consider that

00:20:23.559 --> 00:20:26.620
 at the time that Job lived,

00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:27.920
 that most likely

00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.640
 it's possible

00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:30.600
 these stories of creation,

00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:32.860
 of a holy God walking

00:20:32.860 --> 00:20:33.779
 with Adam and Eve

00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:34.420
 in the garden,

00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:36.759
 of their rebellion against him,

00:20:36.759 --> 00:20:38.319
 and the fall of humanity

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.099
 into sin

00:20:39.099 --> 00:20:41.079
 and separation from God,

00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:42.720
 the need for sacrifices

00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.039
 to atone for sin,

00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:46.359
 even about the worldwide flood,

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.460
 all of those things

00:20:47.460 --> 00:20:48.579
 could have been heard

00:20:48.579 --> 00:20:49.519
 in as little as

00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:51.660
 three degrees of separation.

00:20:52.660 --> 00:20:54.140
 Now, just to put it

00:20:54.140 --> 00:20:54.779
 in other words,

00:20:55.200 --> 00:20:56.119
 let's say you lived

00:20:56.119 --> 00:20:57.180
 at the time of Job.

00:20:57.980 --> 00:20:59.240
 Well, at that point,

00:20:59.379 --> 00:21:00.960
 Adam could have told Methuselah,

00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:02.720
 and Methuselah could have told Shem,

00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:04.339
 and Shem could have told you.

00:21:05.140 --> 00:21:06.140
 Now, did that happen?

00:21:06.460 --> 00:21:07.360
 We don't know.

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:08.960
 The Bible doesn't tell us.

00:21:09.280 --> 00:21:10.640
 We know that it was possible,

00:21:10.840 --> 00:21:11.600
 but the main thing

00:21:11.600 --> 00:21:12.380
 to recognize

00:21:12.380 --> 00:21:13.980
 is that the source

00:21:13.980 --> 00:21:15.640
 of information about God

00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:17.420
 is not as far removed

00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:19.160
 as we tend to think it is.

00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:21.000
 But whatever the number

00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:22.420
 of degrees of separation,

00:21:22.980 --> 00:21:24.520
 Job knew about God,

00:21:24.780 --> 00:21:26.259
 and what he knew about God

00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.380
 had grown into

00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:29.120
 this affectionate reverence

00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:30.880
 by which Job had learned

00:21:30.880 --> 00:21:31.720
 to bend himself

00:21:31.720 --> 00:21:33.220
 humbly and carefully

00:21:33.220 --> 00:21:34.880
 to God's law.

00:21:34.880 --> 00:21:36.240
 which also means

00:21:36.240 --> 00:21:38.400
 Job turned away from evil.

00:21:39.020 --> 00:21:39.740
 Now, again,

00:21:39.840 --> 00:21:41.540
 Job's not sinless,

00:21:42.200 --> 00:21:43.400
 but when he sins,

00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:45.300
 he's repentant.

00:21:45.860 --> 00:21:46.060
 You know,

00:21:46.100 --> 00:21:47.700
 we often talk about repentance

00:21:47.700 --> 00:21:49.440
 and give it the definition

00:21:49.440 --> 00:21:51.320
 of turning away from sin.

00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:52.840
 And that's exactly

00:21:52.840 --> 00:21:54.400
 the picture we have here.

00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:55.800
 This paints a picture

00:21:55.800 --> 00:21:57.020
 of a man whose character

00:21:57.020 --> 00:21:59.560
 is marked by daily repentance,

00:21:59.559 --> 00:22:01.619
 a habitual turning away

00:22:01.619 --> 00:22:03.119
 from evil in his thoughts,

00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:04.139
 his words,

00:22:04.440 --> 00:22:05.200
 his deeds.

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:08.059
 So we see Job's godliness

00:22:08.059 --> 00:22:10.279
 as Christopher Ash puts it,

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.799
 Job is a real believer,

00:22:13.440 --> 00:22:14.919
 genuine in his integrity,

00:22:15.339 --> 00:22:16.980
 upright in his relationships,

00:22:17.460 --> 00:22:18.759
 pious in his worship,

00:22:19.119 --> 00:22:20.779
 impenitent in his behavior.

00:22:21.619 --> 00:22:22.859
 His life was marked

00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:24.240
 by what we would call

00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.720
 repentance and faith,

00:22:25.919 --> 00:22:27.259
 which are still the marks

00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.700
 of the believer today

00:22:28.700 --> 00:22:30.500
 as they have always been.

00:22:31.779 --> 00:22:32.319
 Now,

00:22:32.420 --> 00:22:33.879
 we also need to consider

00:22:33.879 --> 00:22:35.900
 what he had,

00:22:36.039 --> 00:22:37.119
 what he had,

00:22:37.359 --> 00:22:38.619
 his greatness.

00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.119
 Follow along

00:22:40.119 --> 00:22:41.339
 in verses 2 and 3.

00:22:41.420 --> 00:22:41.640
 It says,

00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.900
 there were born to him

00:22:42.900 --> 00:22:44.680
 seven sons and three daughters.

00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:47.160
 He possessed 7,000 sheep,

00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:48.580
 3,000 camel,

00:22:48.920 --> 00:22:50.240
 500 yoke of oxen,

00:22:50.320 --> 00:22:51.960
 and 500 female donkeys,

00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:54.220
 and very many servants,

00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:55.740
 so that this man

00:22:55.740 --> 00:22:56.640
 was the greatest

00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:58.020
 of all the people

00:22:58.020 --> 00:22:58.860
 of the East.

00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:00.000
 Now,

00:23:00.020 --> 00:23:01.180
 the first thing we see

00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:03.040
 is his family

00:23:03.040 --> 00:23:04.360
 having seven sons,

00:23:04.740 --> 00:23:05.420
 three daughters,

00:23:05.620 --> 00:23:06.480
 ten children.

00:23:06.740 --> 00:23:07.980
 All of those numbers

00:23:07.980 --> 00:23:08.800
 in Hebrew

00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:09.940
 are reflective

00:23:09.940 --> 00:23:10.700
 of good,

00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.460
 ideal things.

00:23:12.859 --> 00:23:14.319
 And we'll see momentarily

00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:15.480
 the relationship

00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.259
 they had

00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.259
 with one another.

00:23:17.659 --> 00:23:19.960
 Job has a wonderful family

00:23:19.960 --> 00:23:21.419
 that he's been blessed with.

00:23:22.039 --> 00:23:22.839
 We also see

00:23:22.839 --> 00:23:23.839
 his prosperity.

00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:25.059
 You see,

00:23:25.259 --> 00:23:26.059
 Job's a farmer.

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:28.240
 He's not a nomad.

00:23:28.519 --> 00:23:29.559
 He has a house.

00:23:29.619 --> 00:23:30.639
 He doesn't live in a tent.

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:32.019
 His extended family

00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.819
 have houses.

00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:35.319
 And then these massive herds,

00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:37.339
 sheep for food and clothing,

00:23:37.339 --> 00:23:39.299
 and camels for desert transport,

00:23:39.480 --> 00:23:40.720
 oxen for plowing,

00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:43.159
 and donkeys for local transport

00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:44.659
 of all of this produce

00:23:44.659 --> 00:23:47.939
 with a vast staff of servants

00:23:47.939 --> 00:23:49.199
 that make it all happen.

00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:51.319
 Just immense prosperity.

00:23:51.919 --> 00:23:53.359
 But not just prosperity.

00:23:53.859 --> 00:23:55.720
 We also find out later

00:23:55.720 --> 00:23:58.000
 that Job had this influence

00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.639
 that is worth noting.

00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:01.480
 When he describes it

00:24:01.480 --> 00:24:02.679
 in Job 29,

00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:04.299
 verses 7 through 10,

00:24:04.480 --> 00:24:06.179
 he describes it this way.

00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:08.060
 When I went out

00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:09.259
 to the gate of the city,

00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:11.279
 when I prepared my seat

00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.140
 in the square,

00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:14.220
 the young men saw me

00:24:14.220 --> 00:24:14.940
 and withdrew,

00:24:15.560 --> 00:24:17.539
 and the aged rose and stood.

00:24:18.320 --> 00:24:19.580
 The princes refrained

00:24:19.580 --> 00:24:20.360
 from talking

00:24:20.360 --> 00:24:21.980
 and laid their hand

00:24:21.980 --> 00:24:22.779
 on their mouth.

00:24:23.240 --> 00:24:24.560
 The voice of the nobles

00:24:24.560 --> 00:24:25.519
 was hushed,

00:24:25.820 --> 00:24:26.560
 and their tongues

00:24:26.560 --> 00:24:27.519
 stuck to the roof

00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.240
 of their mouth.

00:24:28.600 --> 00:24:29.900
 It's this description

00:24:29.900 --> 00:24:31.340
 of influence,

00:24:31.580 --> 00:24:32.660
 of respect,

00:24:32.820 --> 00:24:33.880
 of standing

00:24:33.880 --> 00:24:35.060
 in his community.

00:24:35.059 --> 00:24:36.740
 So just speaking

00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:38.240
 of his prosperity

00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.419
 and his influence,

00:24:39.579 --> 00:24:40.379
 it's probably not

00:24:40.379 --> 00:24:41.700
 an unreasonable comparison

00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.659
 to say Job was

00:24:42.659 --> 00:24:44.039
 the Elon Musk

00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:45.000
 of his time.

00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:47.200
 And so it's really,

00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:48.500
 it's no surprise

00:24:48.500 --> 00:24:49.980
 that the summary statement

00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:50.819
 given is

00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:52.179
 that he is the greatest

00:24:52.179 --> 00:24:53.759
 of all the people

00:24:53.759 --> 00:24:54.919
 of the East.

00:24:54.920 --> 00:24:57.740
 Now, the last thing

00:24:57.740 --> 00:24:58.680
 we need to consider

00:24:58.680 --> 00:25:00.840
 is what he valued.

00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:02.340
 What he valued.

00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:03.820
 His intercession.

00:25:04.519 --> 00:25:05.200
 Follow along

00:25:05.200 --> 00:25:06.900
 in verses 4 and 5.

00:25:07.900 --> 00:25:08.500
 It says,

00:25:08.500 --> 00:25:09.059
 Job with his sons

00:25:09.059 --> 00:25:09.839
 used to go

00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:11.220
 and hold a feast

00:25:11.220 --> 00:25:12.180
 in the house

00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:12.859
 of each one

00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.680
 on his day.

00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.019
 And they would send

00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.579
 and invite their three sisters

00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.960
 to eat and drink

00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.539
 with them.

00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:19.900
 And when the days

00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.440
 of the feast

00:25:20.440 --> 00:25:21.539
 had run their course,

00:25:22.000 --> 00:25:22.859
 Job would send

00:25:22.859 --> 00:25:24.440
 and consecrate them.

00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.359
 And he would rise

00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:26.519
 early in the morning

00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:28.119
 and offer burnt offerings

00:25:28.119 --> 00:25:29.359
 according to the number

00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:30.420
 of them all.

00:25:30.859 --> 00:25:31.779
 For Job said,

00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:33.579
 it may be

00:25:33.579 --> 00:25:34.639
 that my children

00:25:34.639 --> 00:25:35.500
 have sinned

00:25:35.500 --> 00:25:36.960
 and cursed God

00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:37.720
 in their hearts.

00:25:38.379 --> 00:25:41.079
 Thus, Job did continually.

00:25:42.299 --> 00:25:43.559
 Now, a few things

00:25:43.559 --> 00:25:44.180
 to notice.

00:25:44.460 --> 00:25:45.980
 One, notice that Job's

00:25:45.980 --> 00:25:47.079
 relationship with God

00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:47.960
 is intimate.

00:25:48.220 --> 00:25:48.819
 It's authentic.

00:25:49.099 --> 00:25:49.660
 It's inward.

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:50.899
 It's spiritual.

00:25:51.379 --> 00:25:53.639
 But it doesn't end there.

00:25:54.500 --> 00:25:55.720
 Job doesn't view

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:57.420
 his relationship with God

00:25:57.420 --> 00:25:59.500
 as merely a personal thing.

00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.839
 He has a heart

00:26:00.839 --> 00:26:01.639
 that desires

00:26:01.639 --> 00:26:02.859
 to see others

00:26:02.859 --> 00:26:04.459
 in right relationship

00:26:04.459 --> 00:26:05.839
 with God as well.

00:26:06.579 --> 00:26:07.759
 We see that concern

00:26:07.759 --> 00:26:09.059
 first presented here

00:26:09.059 --> 00:26:10.119
 about his family,

00:26:10.419 --> 00:26:11.459
 his concern and commitment

00:26:11.459 --> 00:26:12.399
 to lead them

00:26:12.399 --> 00:26:13.839
 into right relationship

00:26:13.839 --> 00:26:14.839
 with God.

00:26:15.899 --> 00:26:18.139
 It's because he recognizes

00:26:18.139 --> 00:26:19.759
 the wickedness

00:26:19.759 --> 00:26:21.379
 of the human heart.

00:26:22.199 --> 00:26:23.359
 And that although Job

00:26:23.359 --> 00:26:24.179
 undoubtedly

00:26:24.179 --> 00:26:25.759
 has taught his children

00:26:25.759 --> 00:26:26.480
 what is right

00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.039
 and how to live rightly

00:26:28.039 --> 00:26:28.959
 before God,

00:26:29.539 --> 00:26:30.059
 nonetheless,

00:26:30.059 --> 00:26:31.339
 he knows

00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:33.559
 they might have sinned

00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.500
 and turned away

00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.019
 from God

00:26:35.019 --> 00:26:35.819
 in their hearts.

00:26:36.879 --> 00:26:38.519
 So Job would summon them

00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.319
 and he would lead

00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:39.919
 each of them

00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:41.460
 in offering sacrifices

00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:43.119
 to make things right

00:26:43.119 --> 00:26:43.940
 with God.

00:26:44.879 --> 00:26:46.000
 Francis Anderson

00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.980
 in his commentary

00:26:46.980 --> 00:26:47.720
 on Job

00:26:47.720 --> 00:26:48.779
 says,

00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:50.519
 Job's own act

00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.440
 of intercession

00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:53.519
 in offering burnt offerings

00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:54.379
 to restore

00:26:54.379 --> 00:26:55.039
 the holiness

00:26:55.039 --> 00:26:56.000
 of his children

00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:57.440
 shows a belief

00:26:57.440 --> 00:26:58.140
 in the power

00:26:58.140 --> 00:26:59.160
 of a mediator

00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.319
 that will lead

00:27:00.319 --> 00:27:01.220
 to his desire

00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.079
 later on

00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:02.920
 that someone

00:27:02.920 --> 00:27:04.099
 should do the same

00:27:04.099 --> 00:27:04.980
 for him.

00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:06.460
 See, this wasn't

00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:07.500
 a one-time thing

00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:08.099
 for Job.

00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.759
 He did this continually.

00:27:09.759 --> 00:27:10.960
 It was a lifelong

00:27:10.960 --> 00:27:12.099
 practice

00:27:12.099 --> 00:27:13.500
 such that even

00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.500
 as adults,

00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:15.500
 Job's children

00:27:15.500 --> 00:27:16.819
 knew what to expect.

00:27:17.140 --> 00:27:18.240
 They knew their father

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:19.079
 would summon them.

00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:20.259
 They knew that he

00:27:20.259 --> 00:27:20.920
 would lead them

00:27:20.920 --> 00:27:21.859
 to right worship

00:27:21.859 --> 00:27:23.240
 and right relationship

00:27:23.240 --> 00:27:24.019
 with God.

00:27:25.039 --> 00:27:26.240
 But Job's concern

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:26.740
 for others

00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:27.599
 doesn't end

00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:28.719
 with just his children.

00:27:29.399 --> 00:27:30.799
 We'll see in Job 2

00:27:30.799 --> 00:27:32.199
 verses 9 and 10

00:27:32.199 --> 00:27:33.539
 how he seeks

00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:34.939
 to shepherd his wife

00:27:34.939 --> 00:27:36.879
 and guide her thinking.

00:27:37.419 --> 00:27:38.679
 In Job 13

00:27:38.679 --> 00:27:39.799
 7 through 10

00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.219
 we'll see

00:27:40.219 --> 00:27:41.059
 he's concerned

00:27:41.059 --> 00:27:42.259
 for his three friends'

00:27:42.479 --> 00:27:44.059
 views about God.

00:27:44.059 --> 00:27:45.839
 In chapter 27

00:27:45.839 --> 00:27:46.839
 verse 11

00:27:46.839 --> 00:27:48.019
 he expresses

00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:48.939
 his desire

00:27:48.939 --> 00:27:50.179
 to teach his friends

00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:51.920
 about God's ways.

00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.320
 And then finally

00:27:53.320 --> 00:27:54.740
 in chapter 42

00:27:54.740 --> 00:27:55.539
 verse 9

00:27:55.539 --> 00:27:56.200
 at the end

00:27:56.200 --> 00:27:57.820
 we'll see Job pray

00:27:57.820 --> 00:27:58.920
 for his friends

00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:00.360
 that their relationship

00:28:00.360 --> 00:28:01.000
 with God

00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.080
 would be restored.

00:28:03.240 --> 00:28:04.240
 So we see

00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:05.259
 this man Job

00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.720
 a godly man

00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:07.560
 who's blessed

00:28:07.560 --> 00:28:08.060
 with both

00:28:08.060 --> 00:28:08.880
 prosperity

00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:10.000
 and influence

00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.420
 that cares not only

00:28:11.420 --> 00:28:12.200
 about his own

00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:13.440
 relationship with God

00:28:13.440 --> 00:28:14.519
 and living rightly

00:28:14.519 --> 00:28:15.180
 before him

00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:16.160
 but also cares

00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:16.759
 about others'

00:28:16.759 --> 00:28:18.160
 relationship with God.

00:28:18.900 --> 00:28:19.519
 We see

00:28:19.519 --> 00:28:20.619
 this picture

00:28:20.619 --> 00:28:21.680
 of the world

00:28:21.680 --> 00:28:23.079
 being the way

00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:24.440
 we want the world

00:28:24.440 --> 00:28:25.119
 to be.

00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.579
 A world

00:28:26.579 --> 00:28:27.900
 where the righteous

00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.759
 are blessed

00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:30.180
 with prosperity

00:28:30.180 --> 00:28:31.680
 and influence

00:28:31.680 --> 00:28:33.400
 and they use it

00:28:33.400 --> 00:28:34.960
 for God's glory.

00:28:36.579 --> 00:28:37.039
 But yet

00:28:37.039 --> 00:28:38.220
 even in this

00:28:38.220 --> 00:28:40.359
 perfect picture

00:28:40.359 --> 00:28:41.480
 there's just

00:28:41.480 --> 00:28:42.740
 this subtle awareness

00:28:42.740 --> 00:28:43.740
 that people

00:28:43.740 --> 00:28:45.039
 may act

00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:45.879
 like they love

00:28:45.879 --> 00:28:46.720
 and serve God

00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:48.360
 but in their hearts

00:28:48.360 --> 00:28:49.839
 turn away from him

00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:51.019
 cursing him

00:28:51.019 --> 00:28:52.299
 wishing him gone

00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.240
 or dead.

00:28:54.240 --> 00:28:55.000
 Christopher Ashe

00:28:55.000 --> 00:28:55.940
 summarizes it

00:28:55.940 --> 00:28:56.559
 this way.

00:28:57.620 --> 00:28:58.039
 He says

00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:58.680
 there's something

00:28:58.680 --> 00:28:59.259
 dark

00:28:59.259 --> 00:29:00.559
 in human hearts

00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.440
 and Job

00:29:01.440 --> 00:29:02.259
 knows it.

00:29:03.100 --> 00:29:03.559
 Job knows

00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:04.279
 that by nature

00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:04.799
 we do not

00:29:04.799 --> 00:29:05.559
 honor God

00:29:05.559 --> 00:29:06.100
 as God

00:29:06.100 --> 00:29:07.240
 or give thanks

00:29:07.240 --> 00:29:07.700
 to him.

00:29:08.460 --> 00:29:09.600
 Only sacrifice

00:29:09.600 --> 00:29:10.539
 can cover

00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:11.460
 such sin

00:29:11.460 --> 00:29:12.259
 in the heart.

00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:14.140
 and we know

00:29:14.140 --> 00:29:14.759
 that it's only

00:29:14.759 --> 00:29:16.019
 Jesus' sacrifice

00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.299
 that can truly

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.900
 atone

00:29:17.900 --> 00:29:19.220
 for such sin

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:20.240
 and change

00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:21.559
 sinful hearts.

00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.480
 So there was a man.

00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.259
 But that's not all.

00:29:25.359 --> 00:29:26.420
 We also need to see

00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.539
 there was a day.

00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:29.099
 There was a day.

00:29:29.339 --> 00:29:30.599
 And if we're honest

00:29:30.599 --> 00:29:31.460
 the ripples

00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.900
 of that particular day

00:29:32.900 --> 00:29:33.779
 wouldn't stop

00:29:33.779 --> 00:29:34.920
 at just changing

00:29:34.920 --> 00:29:36.039
 Job's life

00:29:36.039 --> 00:29:36.559
 forever

00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:38.099
 but they continue

00:29:38.099 --> 00:29:39.940
 down through time

00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:40.720
 impacting

00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:42.200
 even us today.

00:29:42.980 --> 00:29:43.980
 So just briefly

00:29:43.980 --> 00:29:44.880
 we need to consider

00:29:44.880 --> 00:29:45.680
 four things

00:29:45.680 --> 00:29:46.720
 about that day.

00:29:47.319 --> 00:29:47.880
 The first is

00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:49.240
 who was there?

00:29:49.940 --> 00:29:50.819
 Who was there?

00:29:51.240 --> 00:29:52.860
 The sons of God.

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:53.900
 Look at verses

00:29:53.900 --> 00:29:54.900
 six and seven.

00:29:55.339 --> 00:29:55.539
 It says

00:29:55.539 --> 00:29:56.779
 now there was a day

00:29:56.779 --> 00:29:58.519
 when the sons of God

00:29:58.519 --> 00:29:59.440
 came to present

00:29:59.440 --> 00:30:00.000
 themselves

00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:01.039
 before the Lord

00:30:01.039 --> 00:30:02.200
 and Satan

00:30:02.200 --> 00:30:03.559
 also came among them.

00:30:04.519 --> 00:30:05.200
 The Lord said

00:30:05.200 --> 00:30:05.740
 to Satan

00:30:05.740 --> 00:30:07.039
 from where

00:30:07.039 --> 00:30:08.000
 have you come?

00:30:08.799 --> 00:30:09.620
 Satan answered

00:30:09.620 --> 00:30:09.960
 the Lord

00:30:09.960 --> 00:30:10.240
 and said

00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:11.400
 from going

00:30:11.400 --> 00:30:12.079
 to and fro

00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.740
 on the earth

00:30:12.740 --> 00:30:13.720
 and from walking

00:30:13.720 --> 00:30:14.440
 up and down

00:30:14.440 --> 00:30:14.920
 on it.

00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.880
 So on this

00:30:16.880 --> 00:30:17.539
 fateful day

00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.160
 we start

00:30:18.160 --> 00:30:19.539
 by being privy

00:30:19.539 --> 00:30:20.380
 to seeing

00:30:20.380 --> 00:30:21.519
 into the heavenly

00:30:21.519 --> 00:30:22.559
 throne room.

00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:23.799
 We see God

00:30:23.799 --> 00:30:25.059
 and the word

00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.900
 used here

00:30:25.900 --> 00:30:26.660
 is really

00:30:26.660 --> 00:30:27.839
 God's proper name

00:30:27.839 --> 00:30:28.500
 Yahweh.

00:30:28.859 --> 00:30:29.920
 We see Yahweh

00:30:29.920 --> 00:30:30.880
 in the place

00:30:30.880 --> 00:30:31.839
 of absolute

00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:32.660
 authority.

00:30:33.440 --> 00:30:33.920
 And we see

00:30:33.920 --> 00:30:35.279
 these sons of God

00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:35.839
 come

00:30:35.839 --> 00:30:36.599
 to present

00:30:36.599 --> 00:30:37.160
 themselves

00:30:37.160 --> 00:30:38.279
 before Yahweh

00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:39.059
 and give

00:30:39.059 --> 00:30:39.639
 a report.

00:30:40.639 --> 00:30:40.799
 Now

00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.720
 this term

00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.680
 sons of God

00:30:42.680 --> 00:30:44.099
 indicates

00:30:44.099 --> 00:30:45.559
 created beings

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:46.399
 that we can

00:30:46.399 --> 00:30:47.359
 describe as

00:30:47.359 --> 00:30:48.460
 superhuman

00:30:48.460 --> 00:30:49.079
 or maybe

00:30:49.079 --> 00:30:49.960
 supernatural

00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:51.240
 is better.

00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:52.720
 We see this term

00:30:52.720 --> 00:30:53.339
 used throughout

00:30:53.339 --> 00:30:54.119
 the Old Testament

00:30:54.119 --> 00:30:55.059
 but here's just

00:30:55.059 --> 00:30:55.859
 a few examples

00:30:55.859 --> 00:30:56.680
 from Psalms.

00:30:56.759 --> 00:30:57.799
 Psalms 29

00:30:57.799 --> 00:30:58.579
 verse 1

00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:59.200
 says

00:30:59.200 --> 00:31:00.240
 ascribe to the Lord

00:31:00.240 --> 00:31:01.480
 O heavenly beings

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:03.059
 O sons of God

00:31:03.059 --> 00:31:04.259
 ascribe to the Lord

00:31:04.259 --> 00:31:05.620
 glory and strength.

00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.039
 Psalm 82

00:31:07.039 --> 00:31:07.539
 1

00:31:07.539 --> 00:31:08.500
 God has taken

00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.220
 his place

00:31:09.220 --> 00:31:10.120
 in the divine

00:31:10.120 --> 00:31:10.759
 council

00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:12.240
 among the sons

00:31:12.240 --> 00:31:12.860
 of God

00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:13.720
 in the midst

00:31:13.720 --> 00:31:14.599
 of the gods

00:31:14.599 --> 00:31:15.640
 he holds judgment.

00:31:16.480 --> 00:31:17.579
 In Psalm 89

00:31:17.579 --> 00:31:19.099
 verses 6 and 7

00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:20.319
 for who in the skies

00:31:20.319 --> 00:31:21.099
 can be compared

00:31:21.099 --> 00:31:21.720
 to the Lord

00:31:21.720 --> 00:31:23.079
 who among the heavenly

00:31:23.079 --> 00:31:23.620
 beings

00:31:23.620 --> 00:31:24.420
 among the sons

00:31:24.420 --> 00:31:24.920
 of God

00:31:24.920 --> 00:31:26.539
 is like the Lord

00:31:26.539 --> 00:31:27.640
 a God greatly

00:31:27.640 --> 00:31:28.279
 to be feared

00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:29.039
 in the council

00:31:29.039 --> 00:31:30.039
 of the holy ones

00:31:30.039 --> 00:31:31.700
 and awesome above all

00:31:31.700 --> 00:31:32.799
 who are around him.

00:31:33.720 --> 00:31:35.220
 So these sons of God

00:31:35.220 --> 00:31:36.339
 are supernatural

00:31:36.339 --> 00:31:37.359
 beings

00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:39.519
 but then notice

00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:41.159
 that one of these

00:31:41.159 --> 00:31:42.319
 supernatural beings

00:31:42.319 --> 00:31:43.220
 is highlighted

00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:44.079
 for us

00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:45.539
 the Satan.

00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:47.839
 Now I say

00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:48.599
 the Satan

00:31:48.599 --> 00:31:49.799
 because there's

00:31:49.799 --> 00:31:50.740
 a definite article

00:31:50.740 --> 00:31:52.099
 here in the Hebrew

00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:53.279
 which is why

00:31:53.279 --> 00:31:54.180
 if you look

00:31:54.180 --> 00:31:55.019
 at whatever translation

00:31:55.019 --> 00:31:55.519
 you have

00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.619
 it's quite likely

00:31:56.619 --> 00:31:57.920
 that there's a footnote

00:31:57.920 --> 00:31:58.379
 that says

00:31:58.379 --> 00:31:59.379
 it could be

00:31:59.379 --> 00:31:59.960
 translated

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:01.279
 as the accuser

00:32:01.279 --> 00:32:02.880
 or the adversary

00:32:02.880 --> 00:32:04.039
 which is what

00:32:04.039 --> 00:32:05.240
 Satan means

00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:06.920
 well this has led

00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:08.100
 to much discussion

00:32:08.100 --> 00:32:09.360
 and an abundance

00:32:09.360 --> 00:32:10.100
 of writing

00:32:10.100 --> 00:32:11.059
 about whether

00:32:11.059 --> 00:32:11.519
 or not

00:32:11.519 --> 00:32:11.960
 this

00:32:11.960 --> 00:32:12.880
 the Satan

00:32:12.880 --> 00:32:14.519
 is the same

00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:15.000
 Satan

00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:16.019
 that's talked about

00:32:16.019 --> 00:32:17.100
 more explicitly

00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:18.240
 in the New Testament.

00:32:19.100 --> 00:32:20.019
 Now time constraints

00:32:20.019 --> 00:32:21.100
 keep us from delving

00:32:21.100 --> 00:32:21.720
 into this

00:32:21.720 --> 00:32:22.700
 in any detail

00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:24.120
 but let's just

00:32:24.120 --> 00:32:24.940
 look briefly

00:32:24.940 --> 00:32:25.860
 at Revelation.

00:32:26.460 --> 00:32:28.140
 Revelation chapter 12

00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:29.300
 verses 9

00:32:29.300 --> 00:32:30.040
 through 11

00:32:30.040 --> 00:32:31.880
 it reads

00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:33.360
 and the great dragon

00:32:33.360 --> 00:32:34.560
 was thrown down

00:32:34.560 --> 00:32:36.120
 that ancient serpent

00:32:36.120 --> 00:32:37.220
 who is called

00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:37.780
 the devil

00:32:37.780 --> 00:32:38.640
 and Satan

00:32:38.640 --> 00:32:39.980
 the deceiver

00:32:39.980 --> 00:32:40.960
 of the whole world

00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:42.320
 he was thrown down

00:32:42.320 --> 00:32:42.900
 to the earth

00:32:42.900 --> 00:32:43.620
 and his angels

00:32:43.620 --> 00:32:44.580
 were thrown down

00:32:44.580 --> 00:32:45.400
 with him

00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:46.720
 and I heard a loud

00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.480
 voice in heaven

00:32:47.480 --> 00:32:47.840
 saying

00:32:47.840 --> 00:32:49.360
 now the salvation

00:32:49.360 --> 00:32:50.320
 and the power

00:32:50.320 --> 00:32:51.100
 and the kingdom

00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:51.840
 of our God

00:32:51.840 --> 00:32:52.820
 and the authority

00:32:52.820 --> 00:32:53.540
 of his Christ

00:32:53.540 --> 00:32:54.240
 have come

00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:55.780
 for the accuser

00:32:55.780 --> 00:32:56.460
 of our brothers

00:32:56.460 --> 00:32:57.540
 has been thrown down

00:32:57.540 --> 00:32:58.700
 who accuses them

00:32:58.700 --> 00:32:59.460
 day and night

00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.559
 before our God

00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:02.319
 and they have conquered him

00:33:02.319 --> 00:33:03.240
 by the blood

00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:03.940
 of the Lamb

00:33:03.940 --> 00:33:04.819
 and by the word

00:33:04.819 --> 00:33:05.559
 of their testimony

00:33:05.559 --> 00:33:06.720
 for they loved

00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.920
 not their lives

00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:09.240
 even unto death.

00:33:10.180 --> 00:33:12.000
 So what I can tell you

00:33:12.000 --> 00:33:12.860
 what we can see

00:33:12.860 --> 00:33:13.620
 for sure

00:33:13.620 --> 00:33:14.799
 about the Satan

00:33:14.799 --> 00:33:15.480
 and Job

00:33:15.480 --> 00:33:17.000
 is that he's doing

00:33:17.000 --> 00:33:18.220
 the very same thing

00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.299
 we see him described

00:33:19.299 --> 00:33:20.559
 as doing in Revelation

00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:21.700
 he's accusing

00:33:21.700 --> 00:33:22.620
 the brothers

00:33:22.620 --> 00:33:24.640
 now in my opinion

00:33:24.640 --> 00:33:25.180
 that makes it

00:33:25.180 --> 00:33:26.240
 definitely reasonable

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:27.960
 and I would say likely

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:29.120
 to think that

00:33:29.120 --> 00:33:30.019
 it's the same

00:33:30.019 --> 00:33:31.120
 supernatural being

00:33:31.120 --> 00:33:31.779
 talked about

00:33:31.779 --> 00:33:32.339
 as Satan

00:33:32.339 --> 00:33:33.880
 in the New Testament.

00:33:35.019 --> 00:33:35.640
 Now I know

00:33:35.640 --> 00:33:36.759
 the topic of angels

00:33:36.759 --> 00:33:37.500
 and demons

00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.319
 always piques

00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:39.460
 everybody's interest

00:33:39.460 --> 00:33:40.940
 and most likely

00:33:40.940 --> 00:33:41.680
 you have a lot

00:33:41.680 --> 00:33:42.440
 of other questions

00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:43.460
 that you'd like answered

00:33:43.460 --> 00:33:44.160
 from these verses

00:33:44.160 --> 00:33:45.200
 and I am not

00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:46.019
 going to answer them

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:47.980
 because I don't want

00:33:47.980 --> 00:33:48.960
 us to be distracted

00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:50.640
 from the main point.

00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:52.519
 You see the main point

00:33:52.519 --> 00:33:54.279
 of this brief glimpse

00:33:54.279 --> 00:33:54.960
 into heaven

00:33:54.960 --> 00:33:56.019
 is to make it

00:33:56.019 --> 00:33:57.620
 abundantly clear

00:33:57.620 --> 00:33:58.799
 that Yahweh

00:33:58.799 --> 00:34:00.539
 is the sovereign God

00:34:00.539 --> 00:34:01.940
 who is in absolute

00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:03.740
 control of all things.

00:34:04.660 --> 00:34:05.740
 He's the supreme

00:34:05.740 --> 00:34:06.960
 and sovereign creator.

00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:08.340
 All of creation

00:34:08.340 --> 00:34:09.139
 lies under

00:34:09.139 --> 00:34:11.000
 his absolute authority.

00:34:11.900 --> 00:34:13.500
 Our God has no rivals.

00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:15.380
 He has no competitors.

00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.780
 And there's no one

00:34:16.780 --> 00:34:17.579
 that can thwart

00:34:17.579 --> 00:34:18.820
 his holy will.

00:34:20.059 --> 00:34:20.579
 Yet,

00:34:21.079 --> 00:34:22.380
 we also see

00:34:22.380 --> 00:34:24.240
 that in his sovereignty

00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:25.339
 he chooses

00:34:25.339 --> 00:34:26.139
 to govern

00:34:26.139 --> 00:34:26.939
 the world

00:34:26.939 --> 00:34:28.119
 as Christopher

00:34:28.119 --> 00:34:29.279
 Ash aptly

00:34:29.279 --> 00:34:29.979
 puts it

00:34:29.979 --> 00:34:31.500
 by the means

00:34:31.500 --> 00:34:32.559
 of and through

00:34:32.559 --> 00:34:33.659
 the agency

00:34:33.659 --> 00:34:35.359
 of a multiplicity

00:34:35.359 --> 00:34:36.899
 of supernatural powers

00:34:36.899 --> 00:34:38.199
 some of whom

00:34:38.199 --> 00:34:38.839
 are evil.

00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.399
 That is to say

00:34:40.399 --> 00:34:41.259
 the sons of God

00:34:41.259 --> 00:34:42.279
 represent powers

00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:43.279
 that are greater

00:34:43.279 --> 00:34:44.359
 than human powers

00:34:44.359 --> 00:34:45.479
 and yet are less

00:34:45.479 --> 00:34:46.579
 than God's power.

00:34:47.219 --> 00:34:47.799
 They include

00:34:47.799 --> 00:34:48.899
 among their number

00:34:48.899 --> 00:34:49.579
 the Satan

00:34:49.579 --> 00:34:50.979
 and his lying

00:34:50.979 --> 00:34:52.379
 and evil spirits.

00:34:52.380 --> 00:34:54.059
 So we see

00:34:54.059 --> 00:34:54.820
 who was there.

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.660
 We also need to see

00:34:56.660 --> 00:34:58.140
 what was asked.

00:34:58.400 --> 00:34:59.200
 What was asked.

00:34:59.300 --> 00:35:00.160
 The invitation.

00:35:00.920 --> 00:35:01.880
 Look at verse 8.

00:35:02.980 --> 00:35:03.460
 It reads,

00:35:03.700 --> 00:35:04.820
 And the Lord said to Satan,

00:35:05.059 --> 00:35:06.039
 Have you considered

00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:07.480
 my servant Job

00:35:07.480 --> 00:35:09.059
 that there's none

00:35:09.059 --> 00:35:10.180
 like him on the earth?

00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:11.320
 A blameless

00:35:11.320 --> 00:35:12.420
 and upright man

00:35:12.420 --> 00:35:13.360
 who fears God

00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:14.340
 and turns away

00:35:14.340 --> 00:35:14.980
 from evil?

00:35:15.780 --> 00:35:16.720
 Now, the first thing

00:35:16.720 --> 00:35:17.660
 to make note of

00:35:17.660 --> 00:35:18.599
 is the word considered.

00:35:18.599 --> 00:35:20.099
 That word really

00:35:20.099 --> 00:35:21.000
 literally means

00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:21.579
 have you set

00:35:21.579 --> 00:35:22.500
 your heart upon?

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:24.319
 And so God

00:35:24.319 --> 00:35:25.960
 basically invites

00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.779
 Satan

00:35:26.779 --> 00:35:28.299
 to set his heart

00:35:28.299 --> 00:35:29.559
 upon Job.

00:35:30.279 --> 00:35:31.679
 But notice

00:35:31.679 --> 00:35:33.279
 the two words

00:35:33.279 --> 00:35:34.559
 God uses

00:35:34.559 --> 00:35:36.579
 to speak of Job

00:35:36.579 --> 00:35:38.079
 my servant.

00:35:39.219 --> 00:35:39.519
 You see,

00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:40.079
 this term

00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:41.319
 makes clear

00:35:41.319 --> 00:35:42.500
 Job's intimate

00:35:42.500 --> 00:35:44.000
 relationship with God.

00:35:44.199 --> 00:35:45.219
 It communicates

00:35:45.219 --> 00:35:46.219
 Job's honor

00:35:46.219 --> 00:35:46.980
 and dignity

00:35:46.980 --> 00:35:48.159
 that Job

00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:48.719
 is indeed

00:35:48.719 --> 00:35:49.279
 living

00:35:49.279 --> 00:35:50.039
 in a covenant

00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:50.799
 relationship

00:35:50.799 --> 00:35:51.519
 with God.

00:35:52.179 --> 00:35:52.719
 It's a term

00:35:52.719 --> 00:35:53.359
 we find used

00:35:53.359 --> 00:35:54.199
 40 times

00:35:54.199 --> 00:35:54.899
 of Moses.

00:35:55.480 --> 00:35:56.739
 Here's just one example

00:35:56.739 --> 00:35:58.259
 from Numbers chapter 12.

00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.019
 God speaking

00:36:00.019 --> 00:36:00.779
 says,

00:36:00.939 --> 00:36:01.759
 Hear my words.

00:36:02.000 --> 00:36:02.859
 If there is a prophet

00:36:02.859 --> 00:36:03.619
 among you,

00:36:03.919 --> 00:36:04.959
 I, the Lord,

00:36:05.059 --> 00:36:05.959
 make myself known

00:36:05.959 --> 00:36:06.799
 to him in a vision.

00:36:07.279 --> 00:36:08.099
 I speak with him

00:36:08.099 --> 00:36:08.779
 in a dream,

00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:10.239
 but not so

00:36:10.239 --> 00:36:11.879
 with my servant Moses.

00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:13.219
 He is faithful

00:36:13.219 --> 00:36:14.419
 in all my house.

00:36:14.959 --> 00:36:15.759
 When I speak,

00:36:16.219 --> 00:36:17.079
 with him I speak

00:36:17.079 --> 00:36:17.939
 mouth to mouth

00:36:17.939 --> 00:36:19.159
 clearly and not

00:36:19.159 --> 00:36:19.799
 in riddles.

00:36:20.079 --> 00:36:21.039
 And he beholds

00:36:21.039 --> 00:36:22.459
 the form of the Lord.

00:36:23.059 --> 00:36:23.799
 Why then were you

00:36:23.799 --> 00:36:24.759
 not afraid to speak

00:36:24.759 --> 00:36:26.459
 against my servant Moses?

00:36:27.439 --> 00:36:28.779
 It's an intimate title.

00:36:28.879 --> 00:36:29.739
 It's a title used

00:36:29.739 --> 00:36:31.980
 of some of the patriarchs.

00:36:32.119 --> 00:36:33.079
 It's a title used

00:36:33.079 --> 00:36:33.980
 of a number

00:36:33.980 --> 00:36:34.679
 of the prophets.

00:36:35.239 --> 00:36:36.099
 And it really

00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:37.579
 communicates here

00:36:37.579 --> 00:36:38.639
 a powerful

00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:40.459
 intimate relationship

00:36:40.459 --> 00:36:41.719
 between God

00:36:41.719 --> 00:36:42.719
 and Job.

00:36:43.079 --> 00:36:44.079
 So God invites

00:36:44.079 --> 00:36:44.559
 Satan

00:36:44.559 --> 00:36:45.659
 to consider

00:36:45.659 --> 00:36:46.219
 or to set

00:36:46.219 --> 00:36:46.699
 his heart

00:36:46.699 --> 00:36:47.639
 upon Job.

00:36:47.840 --> 00:36:48.860
 But we need

00:36:48.860 --> 00:36:49.539
 to be sure

00:36:49.539 --> 00:36:50.420
 we don't overlook

00:36:50.420 --> 00:36:51.799
 what was confirmed.

00:36:52.279 --> 00:36:53.119
 What was confirmed

00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:54.599
 and that's Job's

00:36:54.599 --> 00:36:55.340
 righteousness.

00:36:56.619 --> 00:36:56.719
 Right?

00:36:57.000 --> 00:36:57.940
 God himself

00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:58.279
 states,

00:36:58.719 --> 00:36:59.400
 There is none

00:36:59.400 --> 00:37:00.119
 like Job

00:37:00.119 --> 00:37:00.860
 on the earth.

00:37:01.159 --> 00:37:01.960
 A blameless

00:37:01.960 --> 00:37:02.940
 and upright man

00:37:02.940 --> 00:37:03.820
 who fears God

00:37:03.820 --> 00:37:04.400
 and turns

00:37:04.400 --> 00:37:05.920
 away from evil.

00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:07.299
 God himself

00:37:07.299 --> 00:37:07.940
 affirms

00:37:07.940 --> 00:37:09.000
 that Job

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:10.099
 is this kind

00:37:10.099 --> 00:37:10.739
 of man.

00:37:10.739 --> 00:37:12.119
 But also notice

00:37:12.119 --> 00:37:13.199
 Satan doesn't

00:37:13.199 --> 00:37:14.339
 argue with God.

00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.719
 There's no pushback.

00:37:15.839 --> 00:37:16.239
 Satan's like,

00:37:16.439 --> 00:37:16.719
 What?

00:37:17.279 --> 00:37:17.679
 Job?

00:37:17.759 --> 00:37:18.299
 That guy ain't

00:37:18.299 --> 00:37:18.779
 blameless?

00:37:18.839 --> 00:37:19.379
 Let me tell you

00:37:19.379 --> 00:37:20.039
 some things.

00:37:20.459 --> 00:37:20.579
 Right?

00:37:20.659 --> 00:37:22.199
 There's no argument.

00:37:22.739 --> 00:37:23.619
 As a matter of fact,

00:37:23.659 --> 00:37:24.439
 we're going to see

00:37:24.439 --> 00:37:25.619
 just momentarily

00:37:25.619 --> 00:37:26.359
 that Satan

00:37:26.359 --> 00:37:26.899
 goes on

00:37:26.899 --> 00:37:27.579
 to acknowledge

00:37:27.579 --> 00:37:28.159
 Job

00:37:28.159 --> 00:37:29.399
 does indeed

00:37:29.399 --> 00:37:30.339
 fear God

00:37:30.339 --> 00:37:31.319
 and turn away

00:37:31.319 --> 00:37:32.000
 from evil.

00:37:32.719 --> 00:37:33.619
 Which brings us

00:37:33.619 --> 00:37:34.939
 to the final point.

00:37:35.379 --> 00:37:36.699
 We need to consider

00:37:36.699 --> 00:37:38.319
 what's the accusation?

00:37:38.879 --> 00:37:40.279
 What's the accusation?

00:37:40.280 --> 00:37:41.220
 And it's that

00:37:41.220 --> 00:37:43.100
 God is unjust.

00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:45.140
 God is unjust.

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:46.620
 Look at

00:37:46.620 --> 00:37:48.000
 verses 9-11.

00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:49.519
 It says,

00:37:49.720 --> 00:37:50.180
 Then Satan

00:37:50.180 --> 00:37:51.280
 answered the Lord

00:37:51.280 --> 00:37:52.400
 and said,

00:37:53.140 --> 00:37:53.880
 Does Job

00:37:53.880 --> 00:37:54.620
 fear God

00:37:54.620 --> 00:37:55.580
 for no reason?

00:37:56.240 --> 00:37:57.060
 Have you not

00:37:57.060 --> 00:37:57.640
 put a hedge

00:37:57.640 --> 00:37:58.380
 around him

00:37:58.380 --> 00:37:59.480
 and his house

00:37:59.480 --> 00:38:00.780
 and all that he has

00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:01.800
 on every side?

00:38:02.460 --> 00:38:03.240
 You've blessed

00:38:03.240 --> 00:38:04.320
 the work of his hands

00:38:04.320 --> 00:38:05.160
 and his possessions

00:38:05.160 --> 00:38:05.900
 have increased

00:38:05.900 --> 00:38:06.760
 in the land.

00:38:07.220 --> 00:38:07.920
 But stretch out

00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:08.440
 your hand

00:38:08.440 --> 00:38:09.280
 and touch

00:38:09.280 --> 00:38:10.260
 all that he has

00:38:10.260 --> 00:38:11.500
 and he will curse

00:38:11.500 --> 00:38:12.820
 you to your face.

00:38:13.660 --> 00:38:13.820
 Now,

00:38:13.920 --> 00:38:14.760
 there's several

00:38:14.760 --> 00:38:15.920
 important observations.

00:38:16.500 --> 00:38:16.720
 One,

00:38:16.860 --> 00:38:17.100
 again,

00:38:17.160 --> 00:38:17.640
 notice,

00:38:17.920 --> 00:38:18.960
 Job does indeed

00:38:18.960 --> 00:38:19.700
 fear God.

00:38:20.220 --> 00:38:21.100
 Satan is willing

00:38:21.100 --> 00:38:22.080
 to concede that.

00:38:22.820 --> 00:38:24.000
 And also notice,

00:38:24.340 --> 00:38:25.320
 Satan has

00:38:25.320 --> 00:38:26.340
 set his heart

00:38:26.340 --> 00:38:27.020
 on Job.

00:38:27.500 --> 00:38:27.760
 Right?

00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:28.380
 It appears

00:38:28.380 --> 00:38:29.580
 that all of the

00:38:29.580 --> 00:38:30.400
 previous times

00:38:30.400 --> 00:38:31.280
 he has attempted

00:38:31.280 --> 00:38:32.340
 to mess with Job

00:38:32.340 --> 00:38:33.100
 or his stuff,

00:38:33.580 --> 00:38:34.420
 he's been thwarted

00:38:34.420 --> 00:38:35.480
 by God's protection.

00:38:35.940 --> 00:38:36.840
 That there's a shield

00:38:36.840 --> 00:38:37.580
 around him

00:38:37.580 --> 00:38:38.720
 and all of his things.

00:38:38.719 --> 00:38:40.619
 Also notice

00:38:40.619 --> 00:38:42.059
 that all of Job's

00:38:42.059 --> 00:38:42.599
 greatness,

00:38:43.000 --> 00:38:43.959
 his prosperity,

00:38:44.179 --> 00:38:44.819
 his influence,

00:38:44.899 --> 00:38:45.319
 his family,

00:38:45.459 --> 00:38:46.259
 all of that

00:38:46.259 --> 00:38:47.919
 is really from God.

00:38:48.119 --> 00:38:49.219
 It's not that Job's

00:38:49.219 --> 00:38:50.439
 a self-made man.

00:38:50.859 --> 00:38:51.699
 It's that God

00:38:51.699 --> 00:38:53.099
 has been the source

00:38:53.099 --> 00:38:54.179
 of all of these

00:38:54.179 --> 00:38:54.859
 blessings

00:38:54.859 --> 00:38:56.399
 in Job's life.

00:38:57.199 --> 00:38:58.099
 But then also,

00:38:58.339 --> 00:38:58.919
 think about

00:38:58.919 --> 00:39:00.519
 Satan's accusations.

00:39:01.879 --> 00:39:02.199
 He says,

00:39:02.279 --> 00:39:03.500
 does Job fear God

00:39:03.500 --> 00:39:04.179
 for nothing?

00:39:04.879 --> 00:39:06.000
 You could translate that.

00:39:06.279 --> 00:39:07.139
 Job's righteousness

00:39:07.139 --> 00:39:08.319
 is not genuine.

00:39:08.960 --> 00:39:10.319
 He's just serving

00:39:10.319 --> 00:39:10.940
 himself.

00:39:11.359 --> 00:39:11.980
 It's just about

00:39:11.980 --> 00:39:12.839
 what he gets.

00:39:13.799 --> 00:39:14.299
 Then he says,

00:39:14.379 --> 00:39:15.299
 you've blessed him

00:39:15.299 --> 00:39:16.259
 on every side.

00:39:16.679 --> 00:39:17.480
 And the accusation

00:39:17.480 --> 00:39:17.659
 is,

00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:19.420
 you're buying him off.

00:39:19.659 --> 00:39:20.679
 You're bribing him.

00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:22.039
 You're paying him

00:39:22.039 --> 00:39:22.759
 to love you.

00:39:23.519 --> 00:39:24.819
 Then take it all away

00:39:24.819 --> 00:39:26.099
 and he'll curse you.

00:39:26.719 --> 00:39:27.420
 Your system

00:39:27.420 --> 00:39:28.319
 doesn't work.

00:39:28.699 --> 00:39:30.139
 It produces hypocrites,

00:39:30.379 --> 00:39:31.139
 not worshipers.

00:39:31.139 --> 00:39:33.559
 So we see Job's

00:39:33.559 --> 00:39:35.019
 godliness is challenged

00:39:35.019 --> 00:39:36.639
 as being superficial

00:39:36.639 --> 00:39:37.799
 or selfish,

00:39:38.059 --> 00:39:39.420
 that it's only sustained

00:39:39.420 --> 00:39:41.279
 by God's divine protection

00:39:41.279 --> 00:39:42.079
 and blessing.

00:39:43.019 --> 00:39:44.619
 But even more than that,

00:39:44.699 --> 00:39:45.719
 worse than that,

00:39:46.139 --> 00:39:47.199
 God's character

00:39:47.199 --> 00:39:48.139
 is maligned.

00:39:48.879 --> 00:39:49.500
 He's accused

00:39:49.500 --> 00:39:50.940
 of bribing Job

00:39:50.940 --> 00:39:51.799
 into devotion,

00:39:52.400 --> 00:39:53.239
 paying him off,

00:39:53.839 --> 00:39:54.839
 making it easy.

00:39:55.779 --> 00:39:57.000
 And so here we have

00:39:57.000 --> 00:39:58.319
 the central questions

00:39:58.320 --> 00:39:59.800
 raised.

00:40:00.760 --> 00:40:02.500
 Is God worthy

00:40:02.500 --> 00:40:03.820
 of love

00:40:03.820 --> 00:40:05.539
 for who he is

00:40:05.539 --> 00:40:08.080
 apart from his blessings?

00:40:09.160 --> 00:40:10.559
 Will a person

00:40:10.559 --> 00:40:11.559
 remain faithful

00:40:11.559 --> 00:40:13.360
 even without receiving

00:40:13.360 --> 00:40:14.880
 any benefits?

00:40:16.300 --> 00:40:16.580
 You see,

00:40:16.640 --> 00:40:17.460
 Satan's basically

00:40:17.460 --> 00:40:19.380
 questioning God's policy

00:40:19.380 --> 00:40:20.880
 of rewarding the righteous.

00:40:21.360 --> 00:40:21.680
 He says,

00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:22.680
 it's flawed.

00:40:22.800 --> 00:40:22.960
 God,

00:40:23.000 --> 00:40:23.980
 you got this wrong.

00:40:24.360 --> 00:40:25.320
 You're corrupting

00:40:25.320 --> 00:40:26.080
 true virtue.

00:40:26.460 --> 00:40:27.600
 You're making it impossible

00:40:27.599 --> 00:40:28.219
 for there to be

00:40:28.219 --> 00:40:29.119
 true righteousness

00:40:29.119 --> 00:40:30.500
 because you're introducing

00:40:30.500 --> 00:40:31.880
 these ulterior motives.

00:40:32.880 --> 00:40:33.360
 And eventually,

00:40:33.579 --> 00:40:34.420
 we'll see Job

00:40:34.420 --> 00:40:35.900
 question God's policy

00:40:35.900 --> 00:40:37.380
 of letting the righteous

00:40:37.380 --> 00:40:38.039
 suffer,

00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:40.000
 saying that it's not just,

00:40:40.139 --> 00:40:41.500
 it's undeserved.

00:40:42.239 --> 00:40:42.639
 And really,

00:40:42.739 --> 00:40:43.579
 through the book of Job,

00:40:43.679 --> 00:40:44.839
 we'll see Satan

00:40:44.839 --> 00:40:45.799
 and Job

00:40:45.799 --> 00:40:47.000
 and Job's friends

00:40:47.000 --> 00:40:48.299
 all in one way

00:40:48.299 --> 00:40:48.940
 or another

00:40:48.940 --> 00:40:50.339
 eventually question

00:40:50.339 --> 00:40:51.400
 or challenge

00:40:51.400 --> 00:40:52.699
 God's wisdom

00:40:52.699 --> 00:40:54.420
 in how he rules

00:40:54.420 --> 00:40:55.139
 and runs

00:40:55.139 --> 00:40:56.079
 his creation.

00:40:56.079 --> 00:40:57.920
 So,

00:40:58.079 --> 00:40:58.719
 on that day,

00:40:58.799 --> 00:40:59.860
 we see who was there,

00:41:00.059 --> 00:41:00.840
 what was asked,

00:41:01.219 --> 00:41:02.219
 what was confirmed

00:41:02.219 --> 00:41:03.559
 and the accusations

00:41:03.559 --> 00:41:04.639
 that were made.

00:41:05.779 --> 00:41:06.259
 Now,

00:41:06.460 --> 00:41:08.119
 as we work our way

00:41:08.119 --> 00:41:08.819
 through Job,

00:41:09.079 --> 00:41:10.000
 we'll consider

00:41:10.000 --> 00:41:11.219
 both the process

00:41:11.219 --> 00:41:12.900
 and the purpose

00:41:12.900 --> 00:41:13.739
 of suffering.

00:41:14.480 --> 00:41:15.980
 But this morning,

00:41:16.659 --> 00:41:17.299
 this morning,

00:41:17.420 --> 00:41:18.779
 let's end our time

00:41:18.779 --> 00:41:19.860
 considering,

00:41:20.139 --> 00:41:21.219
 asking ourselves

00:41:21.219 --> 00:41:23.340
 the same basic question

00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:24.079
 that Satan

00:41:24.079 --> 00:41:25.500
 is asking God.

00:41:25.980 --> 00:41:27.539
 Why is Job

00:41:27.539 --> 00:41:29.559
 pursuing a relationship

00:41:29.559 --> 00:41:30.579
 with God?

00:41:31.340 --> 00:41:32.300
 And let's make it

00:41:32.300 --> 00:41:32.820
 more personal.

00:41:32.960 --> 00:41:33.640
 Why are we,

00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:35.460
 why are you

00:41:35.460 --> 00:41:37.440
 pursuing a relationship

00:41:37.440 --> 00:41:38.260
 with God?

00:41:38.820 --> 00:41:39.440
 Is it,

00:41:39.440 --> 00:41:40.600
 is it because God

00:41:40.600 --> 00:41:41.280
 is worthy

00:41:41.280 --> 00:41:42.420
 of your love,

00:41:42.720 --> 00:41:43.300
 your devotion,

00:41:43.300 --> 00:41:44.140
 and your worship

00:41:44.140 --> 00:41:45.620
 in and of himself?

00:41:46.740 --> 00:41:47.300
 Or,

00:41:47.620 --> 00:41:49.079
 is it because of

00:41:49.079 --> 00:41:50.019
 what you're getting

00:41:50.019 --> 00:41:51.619
 or what you hope

00:41:51.619 --> 00:41:52.960
 to get from him?

00:41:54.340 --> 00:41:55.320
 Let me ask you

00:41:55.320 --> 00:41:55.800
 this week

00:41:55.800 --> 00:41:56.759
 to ponder,

00:41:56.980 --> 00:41:57.920
 to consider,

00:41:58.340 --> 00:41:59.239
 what if you lost

00:41:59.239 --> 00:42:00.759
 everything good

00:42:00.759 --> 00:42:01.860
 in your life?

00:42:03.360 --> 00:42:04.739
 What if it happened today?

00:42:05.159 --> 00:42:05.800
 What if you lost

00:42:05.800 --> 00:42:06.719
 every blessing,

00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:07.759
 your money,

00:42:07.980 --> 00:42:08.679
 your source

00:42:08.679 --> 00:42:09.880
 of financial support,

00:42:10.039 --> 00:42:10.880
 your home,

00:42:11.019 --> 00:42:11.920
 your closest,

00:42:12.139 --> 00:42:13.739
 most precious relationships,

00:42:13.900 --> 00:42:14.380
 your health?

00:42:14.699 --> 00:42:15.139
 I mean,

00:42:15.179 --> 00:42:16.259
 just everything good

00:42:16.259 --> 00:42:16.699
 in your life.

00:42:16.780 --> 00:42:18.599
 What if you lost it today?

00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:21.319
 Would you still love,

00:42:21.980 --> 00:42:22.299
 obey,

00:42:22.460 --> 00:42:23.659
 and worship God?

00:42:25.259 --> 00:42:25.519
 But,

00:42:25.619 --> 00:42:27.239
 but let's up the ante

00:42:27.239 --> 00:42:28.539
 because it's hard

00:42:28.539 --> 00:42:29.619
 for us as followers

00:42:29.619 --> 00:42:30.360
 of Christ

00:42:30.360 --> 00:42:30.579
 to,

00:42:30.679 --> 00:42:32.239
 to really consider this

00:42:32.239 --> 00:42:33.579
 because of all the blessings

00:42:33.579 --> 00:42:34.460
 that we receive

00:42:34.460 --> 00:42:35.119
 in Jesus.

00:42:35.579 --> 00:42:35.679
 But,

00:42:35.739 --> 00:42:37.239
 but imagine if it was possible

00:42:37.239 --> 00:42:38.139
 and in Christ

00:42:38.139 --> 00:42:39.019
 it's not possible,

00:42:39.019 --> 00:42:40.759
 but imagine if it was possible.

00:42:41.360 --> 00:42:42.940
 What if you lost heaven?

00:42:43.900 --> 00:42:45.460
 What if you found out today

00:42:45.460 --> 00:42:46.319
 without a doubt

00:42:46.319 --> 00:42:46.579
 that,

00:42:46.860 --> 00:42:47.539
 that when you die

00:42:47.539 --> 00:42:48.579
 it's just over?

00:42:48.739 --> 00:42:49.739
 There's no heaven.

00:42:50.159 --> 00:42:50.400
 Or,

00:42:50.400 --> 00:42:51.319
 or maybe worse,

00:42:51.599 --> 00:42:52.759
 what if you found out today

00:42:52.759 --> 00:42:53.920
 you would spend eternity

00:42:53.920 --> 00:42:54.639
 in hell?

00:42:55.839 --> 00:42:57.239
 Would you still love,

00:42:57.839 --> 00:42:58.199
 obey,

00:42:58.460 --> 00:42:59.719
 and worship God?

00:43:01.500 --> 00:43:01.980
 You see,

00:43:02.119 --> 00:43:02.960
 we have to ask

00:43:02.960 --> 00:43:03.940
 these questions

00:43:03.940 --> 00:43:04.880
 because it's,

00:43:04.940 --> 00:43:06.119
 it's the very question

00:43:06.119 --> 00:43:07.079
 being asked

00:43:07.079 --> 00:43:07.920
 of Job

00:43:07.920 --> 00:43:08.719
 here.

00:43:09.279 --> 00:43:10.519
 Which leads us

00:43:10.519 --> 00:43:11.440
 to verse 12,

00:43:11.639 --> 00:43:12.519
 the last verse.

00:43:13.880 --> 00:43:14.319
 It says,

00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:15.260
 then the Lord said

00:43:15.260 --> 00:43:15.960
 to Satan,

00:43:16.600 --> 00:43:16.940
 behold,

00:43:17.120 --> 00:43:18.380
 all that he has

00:43:18.380 --> 00:43:19.440
 is in your hand.

00:43:20.039 --> 00:43:21.120
 Only against him

00:43:21.120 --> 00:43:22.019
 do not stretch out

00:43:22.019 --> 00:43:22.620
 your hand.

00:43:23.380 --> 00:43:24.320
 So Satan went out

00:43:24.320 --> 00:43:25.019
 from the presence

00:43:25.019 --> 00:43:25.660
 of the Lord.

00:43:27.059 --> 00:43:27.840
 And so we have this

00:43:27.840 --> 00:43:29.000
 final verse

00:43:29.000 --> 00:43:30.260
 in our passage today

00:43:30.260 --> 00:43:31.519
 and it sets

00:43:31.519 --> 00:43:33.280
 the foreboding tone

00:43:33.280 --> 00:43:34.840
 for what's to come

00:43:34.840 --> 00:43:36.120
 next week.

00:43:36.640 --> 00:43:37.440
 Let's pray.

00:43:37.440 --> 00:43:40.320
 Father,

00:43:40.380 --> 00:43:41.599
 we come to you

00:43:41.599 --> 00:43:42.260
 this morning

00:43:42.260 --> 00:43:45.139
 thankful for your

00:43:45.139 --> 00:43:46.619
 grace and your glory.

00:43:47.900 --> 00:43:48.440
 Father,

00:43:48.539 --> 00:43:49.380
 confessing that

00:43:49.380 --> 00:43:51.740
 that those of us

00:43:51.740 --> 00:43:52.480
 that love you

00:43:52.480 --> 00:43:53.260
 and follow you,

00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:54.460
 we want to

00:43:54.460 --> 00:43:55.960
 be able to say

00:43:55.960 --> 00:43:57.960
 that we love you

00:43:57.960 --> 00:43:59.340
 in and of yourself

00:43:59.340 --> 00:44:00.460
 for you are worthy.

00:44:02.400 --> 00:44:03.019
 But Father,

00:44:03.079 --> 00:44:04.039
 we know our hearts

00:44:04.039 --> 00:44:05.119
 are deceptive.

00:44:05.119 --> 00:44:07.000
 So we ask

00:44:07.000 --> 00:44:08.199
 that by your spirit

00:44:08.199 --> 00:44:09.900
 you would search us,

00:44:10.339 --> 00:44:11.559
 that you would show us

00:44:11.559 --> 00:44:13.440
 what it is

00:44:13.440 --> 00:44:14.179
 in our hearts

00:44:14.179 --> 00:44:15.980
 that truly drives us

00:44:15.980 --> 00:44:17.059
 to pursue you,

00:44:17.559 --> 00:44:18.940
 that it might be refined,

00:44:19.179 --> 00:44:19.980
 that it might be

00:44:19.980 --> 00:44:21.000
 for our love

00:44:21.000 --> 00:44:21.739
 for Christ,

00:44:21.880 --> 00:44:22.920
 for who he is,

00:44:23.739 --> 00:44:24.819
 first and foremost

00:44:24.819 --> 00:44:25.859
 in all things,

00:44:26.079 --> 00:44:27.480
 that he would be lifted up

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:28.179
 in our hearts

00:44:28.179 --> 00:44:28.880
 and minds,

00:44:29.039 --> 00:44:29.960
 that our devotion

00:44:29.960 --> 00:44:30.920
 would be pure,

00:44:31.519 --> 00:44:32.699
 that we would be equipped

00:44:32.699 --> 00:44:34.960
 to face whatever comes

00:44:34.960 --> 00:44:36.360
 knowing that

00:44:36.360 --> 00:44:37.240
 if we have Jesus,

00:44:37.639 --> 00:44:39.039
 we have all that we need.

00:44:40.099 --> 00:44:41.260
 It's in Jesus' name

00:44:41.260 --> 00:44:41.740
 we pray.

00:44:42.360 --> 00:44:42.659
 Amen.

00:44:43.920 --> 00:44:44.780
 Thank you, guys.

00:44:45.099 --> 00:44:45.820
 Have a good day.