DESPAIR IS SATAN’S MASTERPIECE

Job 6:1-30

I titled my sermon after a statement that the late great reformer Thomas Brooks said “Despair is Satan's masterpiece; it carries men headlong to hell as the devils did the herd of swine into the deep.” I also came across a fictitious story that Steve Lawson mentions in a commentary, which speaks about, this word despair. “One day the devil decided to have a garage sale. Taking all his finest tools of destruction: hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, lust, lying, and pride. He priced each one according to its value and placed them on the driveway. But the most worn tool was set apart from the other instruments. A curious customer saw and picked up the worn tool, looked it over, and noted that it carried the highest price. He asked, “Why is this tool higher than the others?” The devil laughed and said, “That’s the tool called ‘discouragement.’ It is more powerful than any other tool I have. When I use this tool on a person’s heart, I can pry it open and then use all my other tools. It is my most tactical tool and, therefore, comes at a higher price.” See! Satan loves to pry into the believers hearts to cast doubt and most of all discouragement. He loves to cause as much destruction as possible with the time he has left, because everything he does is time limited by a holy God.

What exactly is discouragement? “Discouragement” is the emotional state of being deprived of hope. It is being dejected, disheartened, and deflated to such an extent that one wants to give up on life. Steve Lawson said “It is being despondent, despairing and so dismayed that one loses all senses of rational perspective and sinks into an emotional black hole.” This is exactly the direction Job is heading, despite his opening remarks in the first two chapters. We are beginning to see the pry bar being applied to Job’s heart to cause more despair and discouragement.

This why we read numerous times in the scriptures about guarding our heart! 

Why? Your heart is the source of everything you do

Prov 4:23 says “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

  

Guarding our hearts keeps us aware to flee from the sin that is crouching at the door of our hearts.

James said “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” James 1:14-15

  

Guarding our hearts is vital for daily survival because deep within it is something I never want to see come out.

Jesus said “Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matt 15:17-19

  

The apostle Paul tells us to take every thought captive, so that our hearts conforms to the will of God.

Paul said “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” 2 Cor 10:3-5

Understand! If the heart is unhealthy everything else begins to follow suit and breakdowns considerably. How does this happen in the life of the believer? We somehow have this idea that we are to expect to see this kind of assault coming to our front doors of our homes and our churches. We somehow have this idea that we have the power to see the coming assault of the evil one. But that is foolishness to think that! The assaults of attack happens when we least expect it and when we let our guards down as a family of God in our homes and in our churches. Satan goes under the radar and for the heart without revealing his weapon of choice. Satan is not some red guy with a pitch fork and a spiky tail. He comes as an angel of light; he comes in subtle ways like we see here in the Book of Job. He comes in the image of three friends who have personal pry bars, to get into Job’s heart to savagely attack his faith. 

Think about it for a moment! What is best way to attack a man who is genuine and authentic towards God? What is the best way to discourage and break a child of God down to open the door of the heart to do more damage? The most calculating and systematic way Satan uses to discourage believers….usually stays under the spiritual radar of a child of God. The attack is not coming from Job’s enemies, but through his closest and dearest friends. We need to hear the warnings and guard our hearts that we too don’t fall to discouragement as we worship together to bring God glory. The Book of Job is a great warning sign that we are to walk with caution and have discerning hearts at all times.

  

So now it’s time for Job to speak. Job does not mix his words as he fights back and rebukes his close friends harshly. Speaking directly and particular to Eliphaz, but in ear shot of the other two.

  

Job starts by refuting Eliphaz’s comments that he didn’t sin and he has every right to moan and lament if he chooses too. (v1-v7)

This was a man who was in pain beyond our comprehension. (v1-v3) He has a right to say “This really hurts and let’s not lose sight of this.” (v4). Job uses the weight of his pain by comparing to seas sand. Side note: “Sea sand is more stable and has a high SBC, (Safe Bearing Capacity) than river sand. It is due to the fact that sea sand, which is brought by travelling water either pushed by sea shore or by river during the continuous rolling in between water layers in rivers and sea shore (which can be assumed as infinite time process) bigger stone particles continuously decaying during travelling towards sea and dissociates into as small as possible. Remaining detach particles at beach will be of much strength than any other sand on earth surface.” My pain is so great it is heavier than the sand of the sea. Job does agree that it was the Lord’s arrow that has allowed this suffering. The arrows of the Lord are symbolic of His judgment! Deut 32:23 we read "And I will heap disasters upon them; I will spend my arrows on them;” Arrows are also a picture of God’s wrath! David cried out “O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath! For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.” Psalm 38:1-2. Job isn’t disputing the source of His suffering and who is sovereign over his life, What Job is doing is that he is complaining to his friend that he is not helping the hurt, he is making it worse. (v5). 

What Job is saying is to the two rhetorical questions is…No. When an animal, wild or domesticated is well feed, has no need to cry out in hunger with a loud lament. What Job is saying is that if he hadn’t received this suffering from God, he would have no reason to bellow out in a lament either. But he does, he believes he has the right to bray (bark) and bellow (roar). So Eliphaz you’re counselling is not helping me at all. It’s so bad its unseasoned words that are tasteless. (v6-v7). Remember what the Apostle Paul said about our words “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Col 4:6. Job was very upset with the words of his first friend. But Job is not done yet.

Job continues to remind Eliphaz that he has not and would never deny God’s word. (v8-v13)

He desires God remove him from this earth and suffering. An earlier death would release him from this ordeal. Job longed for God to crush him so that he could escape this pain. Job believes that only death will be able to relieve him of his pain. Again he isn’t claiming suicide but rest from this place, this body that is riddled with pain. Why do I say that? (v10) “I have not denied the words of the Holy One.” Unlike his wife, Job has been faithful all along, he is just at a point where the pain is too much to handle and his friends are not making it any easier. He still loves the Lord and knows He is good. But I’m not strong and I’m powerless to see myself through my desperation and misery. (v12-v13). This is more than likely a response to Eliphaz’s opening statement where he reminded Job of all the help he gave to others. And Job’s response is “I have nothing, I have no strength, and I have no power to see myself through this.” But that’s the point I want us to see in the life of Job! It’s in our weakness where God does some of His greatest work. Where we see weakness in the Scriptures we see victory, and an abundance of strength to endure. Where we see weakness we see more grace given to undeserving sinners like you and me to see us through our circumstances.

A great example of this is found in the Apostle Paul’s life. Paul said “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:7-10. The gospel reminds of in our weakness we are strong in Christ.

Job laments to his friend that he has been undependable and disappointment to his sorrowful heart. (v14-23)

We see this in Job’s remark “He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.” (v14). What Job is expressing here is the lack of kindness that Eliphaz was displaying. I’m drowning and you are like the water that overflows in winter and freezes and in the spring you are like flood that comes rushing in to destroy everything it touches. (v15-v16). You guys are like a mountain brook that’s full of water in the wintertime when nobody needs it. And when the hot summer comes you have nothing when I need the water the most, there isnone to quench my thirst. (v17). Like the caravan they perish and waste away for the lack of what they need in that moment. This is how Job feels about his friend who made the long journey. You have come to comfort me and all you’ve done is bringing me trouble.

Understand! The greatest thing we can do for our friends in the midst of hurting is to encourage them to seek God’s face and rest in His sovereign arms to find comfort in the moments of despair. Not doing this by pointing out everything that is wrong with them and in their life. We have to give and point people to a hope that lies within each and every child of God. Point them away from man’s wisdom and point them to the cross and the grace that was poured out on Calvary. Let God search the heart and bring conviction where conviction is needed. You and I are to point them to the Savior, not club them to Him, but demonstrate Christ to them. This is the fruit of the Spirit! The gospel revealed in the life of the believer. Gal 5:22 says “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness…” Col 3:12 we read “Therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness….” 2 Peter 1:5-9 we read “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 

Job demands or challenges Eliphaz where specifically have I gone wrong. (v24-v30)

Teach me; show me dear brother, where I have gone wrong in my life for all this to happen to me. You are accusing me and your words are like the wind, they have no meaning. (v26). Job is letting his friend know that he never want to be out of God’s grace so please tell me where I need to change. Job knows that God allowed this pain, but he cannot understand why. Job knows there is no known sin in his life that he wouldn’t have already dealt with personally….He is “upright” in the eyes of Almighty God. Job isn’t claiming sinless perfection but that he keeps his own heart in check with God when it comes to his sin. He is hurting, disappointed in his helpers and struggling to why? C.S. Lewis said “If Satan’s arsenal of weapons were restricted to a single one, it would be discouragement.”

What are we to do as we read this chapter?

 “Hope” and not be discouraged. This means to wait. It does not refer to waiting to see if something will or will not occur. But waiting with assurance that something will happen. Waiting with expectation, to trust in God’s provision over our circumstances without questioning His sovereignty and grace over our lives. Rest in God’s greatness no matter how great the trial might be or seem. Peter wrote “And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.” 1 Peter 5:10. No matter how great or extreme our suffering might be, know that God is greater than our suffering. 

Rest in God’s goodness and remain confident in God by faith who always works for our good and His glory.

Psalm 34:17-18 we read “When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” John Piper said “Ground your faith in God’s sovereign goodness so that when the waves break over you, you can handle them.” Remain unwavering and steadfast in His grace with the full assurance that he will see you through your suffering. 

Rest in God’s grace in the midst of the storms that seem to threaten your life.

Heb 4:16 we read “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” James says “But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6. Know that in our weakness God’s gives a greater grace and in our weakness His strength is made perfect. God’s grace is greater than the storms of this life and He will strengthen us in our weakness.

It is through the written word where we find refuelling and encouragement to fight the battle over our hearts. Paul penned these words “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” Rom 15:4. Don’t let your heart be ruled by what you see. Let it be ruled by what Jesus promises you. Jesus said “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Rest there and not be discouraged!