Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Job (3)
Pray Psalm 3.1, 2.
LORD, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
Many are they who say of me,
“There is no help for him in God.”
Selah
Sing Psalm 3.1, 2.
(Eventide: Abide with Me)
LORD, all around my foes are multiplied, rising against me, like a ’whelming tide;
many are saying of my weary soul, “Not even God can save and make him whole!”
Read Job 12.1-17; meditate on verses 9, 10.
Preparation
1. Where did Job look for wisdom?
2. What did he say about his “counselors”?
Meditation
Job’s friends had journeyed together to console him. No doubt, as they journeyed, they decided on how to explain what had happened to Job, yet they were silent for seven days in his presence. But when Job began to cry out in his pain, they moved to “comfort” him with their preconceived idea concerning his distress.
Their message boils down to a simple formula: Good things happen to good people; bad things happen to bad people. And, Job, well…
They insisted Job was harboring a secret sin or two and he needed to come clean, confess, and repent. For three rounds they hammered away at Job on this diagnosis, and for three rounds he resisted their “reasonable” explanation for his suffering. For he knew their premise was wrong and so, thus, was their conclusion.
They regarded themselves as wise (v. 2); but Job knew that true wisdom is with God alone, as all creation declares (vv. 3-9). Of course, God, Who is sovereign, had allowed Job to be overwhelmed with suffering (v. 9). He would shed His wisdom into the situation, but Job would have to wait. Meanwhile, his “judges” were in danger of being seen as fools (v. 17).
This was the story of Jesus’ earthly ministry. He was vilified by the “rational” teachers of His day, who condemned Him as being demon-possessed and—worse—a Samaritan (Jn. 8.48)! And especially as Jesus was dying on the cross, the “wise” men of their day railed against Him. Yet He looked upon the joy that was set before Him and trusted in the Lord. Job gives us a picture of the true Wisdom of God bringing to naught and rebuking the “reason” of fallen men. He is a type of Christ in this.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
In the past, true comebacks worthy of remembrance, were uttered.
In a time when people used to know how to use words cleverly, not just viciously.
Job’s retort to his “comforters” was just such a response:
“No doubt you are the people, and wisdom will die with you!” (Job 12.2) Zinger of perfection.
But for all its pithiness, the pathos was evident, as we consider the depths of his loss, suffering, and pain.
“I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you.
Indeed, who does not know such things as these?” (Job 12.3).
As we see and understand this, Lord, help us never offer the non-comfort that Job’s friends offered him.
There is a better way; and we need always to find it.
Judgment is never helpful to a breaking heart.
Also, we would benefit from trying to grasp the wisdom of what Job was saying.
Even, somehow, animals, the earth itself, understand the Sovereignty of God:
“But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you;
and the birds of the air, and they will tell you;
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;
and the fish of the sea will explain to you.
Who among all these does not know that the LORD has done this,
in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” (Job 12.7-10).
Many things that happen in life we will never understand.
Our minds cannot answer many of the who, what, where, when, and why questions.
But like the animals and earth, we know that the LORD knows.
And we get credit for having faith to believe this truth.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him,
for he who comes to God must believe that He is,
and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11.6).
“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mk. 9.24).
Jesus died for us. His enemies. Why would God do this for us?
That is a question we can never fully answer. But we gratefully and joyfully believe it.
Jesus’ love. His gift. His salvation-work for us. This truth mitigates our suffering.
When all was said and done in Job’s life; he concluded the same.
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You” (Job. 42.5).
Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
(H.H. Lemmel, 1922)
Reflection
1. What should you do when you are struggling to understand something that’s happening to you?
2. Can we always expect to find a reason for why we endure afflictions of various kinds?
3. How does resting in the Lord work to help us tap into His joy, come what may?
Job resolves all into the absolute proprietorship which God has in all the creatures. He demands from his friends liberty to judge of what they had said; he appeals to any fair judgment. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Job 12.6-11
Pray Psalm 3.4-8.
Call on the Lord for mercy and grace for all your times of need today. Thank Him for being with you always, and look to Him to shield and protect you against all harm.
Sing Psalm 3.4-8.
(Eventide: Abide with Me)
You are a mercy shield about me, LORD, raising me by Your glory and Your Word.
Prayers fraught with tears stream from me like a fount, yet God will answer from His holy mount.
Waking and sleeping, guarded by Your grace, when foes by thousands stand before my face,
when countless dangers ’round me are arrayed, I will not fear, I will not be afraid!
Rise up, O LORD, rise up and rescue me! Let all my foes destroyed and routed be!
Grace and salvation, LORD, are Yours alone; bless and protect all those You call Your own.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
