MY CLOSING DISSERTATION OF MY SUFFERING PART TWO

Job 31:1-40

Suffering is a necessity and a part of the Christian life as J C Ryle said “Bodily pain and disease have been instrumental in rousing many to seek Christ, when those who were in good health have given themselves no concern about Him. The ground which is not rent and torn with the plough, bears nothing but thistles and thorns. The vines will run wild in process of time, if they are not pruned and trimmed. So would our wild hearts be overrun with filthy, poisonous weeds--if the true Vine-dresser did not often check their growth by crosses and sanctified troubles.”

Why do I say that?

Centuries later after Job, the most unjust action in human history was on display for the people to see with their own eyes. A man without sin is falsely accused, unfairly condemned and unjustly stripped of his dignity. He was excluded from society, given the harshest of judgments for his so-called crimes, receiving the sentence of death. A Just Man faces death for a crime He never committed. But in Hebrews 5:7 we read “In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him,..” Heb 5:7-9

The Lord Jesus Christ is our greatest example of the necessity of suffering. Jesus has shown that the most perfect obedience may be manifested in the deepest sorrows of the body and the soul. Why? In prosperity we forget it.

“Some of the most valuable lessons of obedience

are learned in the furnace of affliction.”

Suffering is a necessity if we are ever to see the Kingdom of His grace. Though we may not understand why we go through suffering, there is a good purpose achieved by these sufferings.

The prodigal son had no thought of returning to his father's house until he had been humbled by adversity.

Hagar was proud under Abraham's roof, and despised her mistress; but in the wilderness she was meek and lowly.

Jonah sleeps on board of a ship; but in the whale's belly he watches and prays.

Manasseh lived with immoral principles or a sense of responsibility at Jerusalem, and committed the most heinous crimes; but when he was bound in chains in the prison at Babylon his heart was turned to seek the Lord his God.

“Our affliction is very useful

and profitable in the Christian life!”

Let me ask you as we approach this chapter!

What would you say as your lasts words about yourself?

  

What would be the most important statement to make about yourself before you meet God?

Job knew himself to be an innocent man, underserving of the charges that his friends have laid against him.

So what does Job do to clear

his name of any wrong doing?

He does a self-evaluation of himself, not to win, or earn favor with God, but to be alert and attentive to his own shortcomings in this life. A biblical assessment of one’s life, because our lives belong to Him. Paul said “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” 2 Cor 13:5. James said “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:22-25. What would that test require us to look at like? Paul said “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit…..” Gal 5:17-26. So Job closes by revealing his innocence as he goes through his spiritual assessment of his life.

We need to consider these words very carefully and examine our own lives in light of these truths as well. This is very important because Job says “I have made a covenant” (v1)

What is a covenant, and with who Job?

Since Job isn’t under the Law; as he isn’t an Israelite, what is the purpose for this covenant?

Job enters into a solemn and binding commitment with himself before God. A sacred relationship, it’s a bond between two parties, authorized by swearing an oath….like you would do in a wedding before God and His people. What do I mean? Job does a spiritual assessment of his life as it pertains to his desires, his affections, and the longings of his heart. This is a covenant of his heart; as his eyes express the covenant of his heart. Psalm 40:8 says “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your Law is within my heart." Job makes a public declaration of his heart by saying “I solemnly bound to keep a clear conscience in the sight of God and man.”

What does Job solemnly

declare from his heart?

A life of purity (v1-v4)  

Job made a commitment with his eyes that he would not look upon a woman with lust after her. Knowing this is a major issue in the heart of men, Job wanted to avoid lustful fantasizing about other women. For Job and any person to break this commitment would be to sin. Prov 6:25 we read “Do not desire her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes;” Do not give way to, nor delight yourself with, unclean thoughts or affections. Jesus said “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery. ‘But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” What is the seriousness of this is sin? Jesus goes on to says “If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” Matt 5:27-30. Job knew the seriousness of this, and so should we, this is a good covenant to make with our eyes. As Jesus said “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt 5:8

A life of integrity (v5-v8)

Job declared that his feet have followed the path of integrity in all his doings and business. Job confesses that he has not done anything to contradict or destroyed his integrity with others, with speaking falsehoods. If so! Then let God judge me by His divine righteous standards. (v5) But I know that it reveal that my integrity still stands. Solomon penned a question similar to Job’s statement “For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?” Eccl 6:12 And he answers it in the following verse “A good name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of birth. Eccl 7:1. The connection of this verse with the preceding verse is that man, who wants to know what is profitable for man and good in this life.

Solomon said “a good reputation” And Job is saying “If I’m guilty” then let my crops be the blessings for others to reap and enjoy, and not me. (v8) 

A life of fidelity (v9-v12)

Job declares his heart is free of any unfaithfulness or adultery. Just as he is innocent of fornication, he is also innocent of the sin of adultery. What is Job declaring here? He has never been seduced by his neighbor’s wife. And he would not bow to that temptation, because he wanted to serve God with whole heart. Is this possible to do? Yes

What did Joseph say when he was seduced

by a beautiful and powerful woman?

We read in Genesis 39:6-8 “So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" Job knew that infidelity resulted in destruction and devastation for those involved. (v12)

  

A life of impartiality (v13- v15)

Job declares that his dealings with others are marked by justice and impartiality. Job claims to have been fair and compassionate towards his servants in every aspect of life. Job never violated his servants in any way, every transaction he had with his workers was always done in a godly manner. It’s like Job knew this truth before Solomon wrote “The LORD demands fairness in every business deal; He sets the standard.” Prov 16:11. There is never a time when Job displayed or felt superior to them. Job believed that God created all people equal. (v15)

  

A life of charity (v 16-v23)

Job declares he never abused the poor or the needy otherwise I deserve God’s Judgement. (v22) And Job also knows that he is held accountable before God for how he treats and care for his servants. Job with great restraint and fear of mistreating others because he knew he would have to face a holy and majestic God one day for his dealings and actions. Job knew he was given much, and blessed beyond measure; so to give much would require him to be a giver to anyone in need without reservation. To not give, Job would be in danger of judgement and rightfully so. 

A life of Contentment (v24-v28)

Job asserts that he has remained faithful in his love and adoration for God. Though Job was rich, he always put his trust in God and never in his riches and he certainly not in idols.

Job refused to put anything before God and his life. Because to do such a thing would be an act of “Cosmic Treason” against a God who has given all things. A great lesson about this is found in Luke chapter 12:13-34.

  

A life of hospitality to all people (v29-v34)

Job notes that he did not gloat over the destruction of his enemies, nor did he conceal sin in his life. Job knew what it meant to love your enemy before Jesus spoke those words centuries later. In Matthew’s gospel Jesus said “You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” Matt 5:43-47. Job declares he has never verbally condemned others by calling down judgement on them, neither has he neglected to fee any stranger who was in need. Job did not hide like hermit but lived in the open for everyone to see, because he had nothing to hide from anyone.

Then Job closes with one final piece of his covenant 

as he pleads to God (v35-v40) 

He longs for God to hear and answer him with everything that he has said. We all should long for God and to be in His courts every single moment of the day.

We should long to hear from God! How? Read His Word. But we don’t! And when we don’t, this is where we begin to fall, because our hearts are distracted or enticed by this world’s goods. Remember what John said “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:15-17

Every single believer needs to conduct a personal inventory in each of these areas.

What about my thought life?

What about my home life

What about my work life?

What about my community life?

What about my spiritual life?

What about my financial life?

What about my responsibilities to this church?

What about my stewardship life?

  

God has blessed us beyond measure…. though the gospel of Jesus Christ. And He has also blessed us to serve Him with our whole hearts with everything we have been given.

  

What has God entrusted into your care

as you live your life for Him?

Because for Job, being a good servant in every area of his life was being a good servant unto God. A sovereign God who made and gave him everything for His glory and our good.