King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Wednesday, January 08, 2025
Chapters: Job 13-17
Message: Job: Where Is My Hope?
Hello My Friend,
[Hope: A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable.] At the heart of every saved, born again Christian is the hope that their faith in Christ will supersede every bit of pain, sorrow, and heartache they ever encountered when they see Jesus.
[1 Peter 3:12-15 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; 15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:]
Holding on to hope does not mean that it does not come with some challenges, often like faith it too goes up and down like a roller coaster. In fact, there are days when I have so much hope that I just know God has it under control and I can get through anything, but there are also days that sometimes carry over into many days when even though I know God has it under control that it is over. Remember, Satan himself is the one who is behind all the doubts and fears that challenge our hope in God. As we continue in the reading of Job, his hope has been challenged not only with the loss of his children, but just about everything he owned, and his health as well. On top of that three of his friends sitting there judging him.
[Job 13:1-10 Lo, mine eye hath seen all this, mine ear hath heard and understood it. 2 What ye know, the same do I know also: I am not inferior unto you. 3 Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God. 4 But ye are forgers of lies, ye are all physicians of no value. 5 O that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom. 6 Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? 9 Is it good that he should search you out? or as one man mocketh another, do ye so mock him? 10 He will surely reprove you, if ye do secretly accept persons.]
In other words, Job is telling them that he knows the same things they know and is no more important that they are, but who were they to throw out accusations and say that they are getting their information from God. I know a few of these, people who want to tell you how to live your life and just how bad a person you are and point out all your faults. Well, I am with Jesus on this one when a woman who was caught in adultery tried to condemn her, [John 8:6-7 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.]
None of us are without sin and the sooner we realize that the better we will be at treating people, even if they have sinned. Sometimes the best thing anyone can do for them when they are suffering is to just be there for them. That is all Job really wanted, a true friend, but all he got was judgmental critics, which he goes on to say.
[Job 13:13-21 Hold your peace, let me alone, that I may speak, and let come on me what will. 14 Wherefore do I take my flesh in my teeth, and put my life in mine hand? 15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 16 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him. 17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears. 18 Behold now, I have ordered my cause; I know that I shall be justified. 19 Who is he that will plead with me? for now, if I hold my tongue, I shall give up the ghost. 20 Only do not two things unto me: then will I not hide myself from thee. 21 Withdraw thine hand far from me: and let not thy dread make me afraid.]
God is our judge and if we have sinned and by sin I am referring to knowingly committing sin, and are suffering then that is something we endure because it could have been worse. If we have not sinned and are suffering that is also endure because we know that we have sinned at some point. We have nothing to prove to anyone, but God, if we have some unrepentant sin in our lives then He will let us know. It is not for us to judge anyone unless it is righteous judgment nor are we to assume that they have sin in their lives because we see something that appears to be something sinful. This is basically what Job is conveying.
[Job 13:23-27 How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. 24 Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy? 25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? 26 For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. 27 Thou puttest my feet also in the stocks, and lookest narrowly unto all my paths; thou settest a print upon the heels of my feet.]
It does not matter how much of a sinner we are, we are all guilty of sin and if they were all exposed then would surely be shameful. We are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling knowing that Jesus is the one who we will be standing before us and not anyone else. While we cannot avoid all suffering, we can limit it by letting go of the things that bring the suffering, even people if they are the ones leading us to sin. Job, understands this and that life is too short to live any other way than God’s way.
[Job 14:1-7,10 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not. 3 And dost thou open thine eyes upon such an one, and bringest me into judgment with thee? 4 Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. 5 Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months are with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass; 6 Turn from him, that he may rest, till he shall accomplish, as an hireling, his day. 7 For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease. 10 But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?]
If you think that the people that were here before the Law was written did not know about their being a day when will all change, think again. Job speaks of this, he knew that while his body might be in the grave at least he had hope that he would be at peace knowing that he was awaiting his change to come.
[Job 14:13-17,22 O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. 16 For now thou numberest my steps: dost thou not watch over my sin? 17 My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. 22 But his flesh upon him shall have pain, and his soul within him shall mourn.]
Those of us who are saved rest on the hope that the second we got saved all of our sin was not only forgiven, but erased completely. Praise God! We can stand before God spotless and blameless because we have solely trusted Christ as our Saviour, [Romans 3:24-25 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;]
Now, while Job’s friends were not really enemies, they were unlearned, and actually thought they were doing him a favor. I am sure that Job was not ready for round two from his friends, here comes Eliphaz with a second attack upon Job, he unjustly charges him with casting off the fear of God, and restraining his prayer before God.
[Job 15:1-6,12-13 Then answered Eliphaz the Temanite, and said, 2 Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? 3 Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good? 4 Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God. 5 For thy mouth uttereth thine iniquity, and thou choosest the tongue of the crafty. 6 Thine own mouth condemneth thee, and not I: yea, thine own lips testify against thee. 12 Why doth thine heart carry thee away? and what do thy eyes wink at, 13 That thou turnest thy spirit against God, and lettest such words go out of thy mouth?]
Eliphaz, believes that Job is saying that he believes that his own righteous will save him and that is what is condemning him. In other words, he is saying that our own righteousness cannot save us and if we believe that it can then our own mouths will condemn us. There is some truth to this because there is absolutely no way that we can save ourselves, and we are liars if we believe otherwise, [1 John 1:8-10 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.]
Do you see how these men twisted everything that Job said around? They were not really listening to what he said, only what they wanted to hear. Eliphaz, is beside himself, he thinks that Job is guilty as sin and that is why he does not have the guts to talk to God, speaking about those same branches from that tree.
[Job 15:20-21,30-35 The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor. 21 A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. 30 He shall not depart out of darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth shall he go away. 31 Let not him that is deceived trust in vanity: for vanity shall be his recompence. 32 It shall be accomplished before his time, and his branch shall not be green. 33 He shall shake off his unripe grape as the vine, and shall cast off his flower as the olive. 34 For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. 35 They conceive mischief, and bring forth vanity, and their belly prepareth deceit.]
Eliphaz, suggests that everything that Job had worked for was for his own glory and is now coming to light. He contends that wicked people, particularly oppressors, who are subject to continual terror, live very uncomfortably, and perish very miserably. This is another misconception because there are plenty of wicked people prospering and can care less about their salvation. There is only one explanation as to why the unsaved are prolonged life and that is solely for the purpose of their learning of Christ, but like Jesus said, [Mark 10:25-27 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.]
There is nothing more aggravating than having someone accuse you of something then telling you that because you are speaking up for yourself that you are proving your guilt, but in all reality we are guilty of thinking like this, my husband has said it to me a few times, my mother as well. If it is one thing I have learned, never assume you know what is going on with someone because they get defensive. Well, Job, could not take it anymore and just lashes out at them for being the miserable comforters that they were.
[Job 16:1-7 Then Job answered and said, 2 I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all. 3 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? 4 I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you. 5 But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should asswage your grief. 6 Though I speak, my grief is not asswaged: and though I forbear, what am I eased? 7 But now he hath made me weary: thou hast made desolate all my company.]
In other words, Job is saying, “Put yourself in my shoes, then perhaps you would not be so accusing.” Can you sort of understand why we are put through these tests? We belong to Jesus, we have overcome the wicked one, and Satan cannot touch our soul, but sorrow really does bring us closer to God and the reminder that we have a friend who is closer than our brother, [Proverbs 18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.]
Hope can often get pushed to the back when you find yourself with obstacles at every corner, and it does not help with all the demands of life that seem to push it further back. While we do need to be pushed sometimes in order for that hope to resurface there is a line that ought not be crossed and God knows just how far to go, but that does not mean that Satan does not. The more they spoke against Job, the more frustrated he became, and they were not about to change their opinion of him either. He was beginning to think that God sent them to bring more grief to him.
[Job 16:11,16-22 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked. 16 My face is foul with weeping, and on my eyelids is the shadow of death; 17 Not for any injustice in mine hands: also my prayer is pure. 18 O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. 19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. 20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. 21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! 22 When a few years are come, then I shall go the way whence I shall not return.]
Job, thought that God sent them to him to punish him, he had no hope in finding comfort from anyone on earth, but watch how he responds as he thinks about what he is saying. Even though he felt as though he had one foot in the grave, he did have hope that God would see him through this and eventually He Himself would prove him innocent.
[Job 17:1-4,9-10,15-16 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. 2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? 4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger. 10 But as for you all, do ye return, and come now: for I cannot find one wise man among you. 15 And where is now my hope? as for my hope, who shall see it? 16 They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust.]
They can persecute us, falsely accuse us, and even question our faith in Christ, but they cannot take our hope in Christ away from us for he truly knows the way that we take. The hope that we have is definitely not the same hope that the world or these fools who think they know God have. Our hope is in Christ! And even in our graves we have overcome the wicked one!
[1 John 2:12-14 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. 13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. 14 I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Job 16:10-11 They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me. 11 God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to save me from my sins, He not only saved me from death and hell, He gave me hope that one day I will suffer no more. While I know that it is Your opinion of me that matters, and I am not here to please anyone, but You, lead me and guide me, give me Your power to endure not only my afflictions, but those who add to them. When I am looking for comfort remind me that it is found in You, even when it seems as though I am all alone and have opposition by others. Let me be a faithful and true witness, having compassion, and offering simple comfort to those who need it. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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