Sermons
The Voice Of The Almighty
Series: Endurance In Days Of Extremity - The Journey And Journal Of JobTHE VOICE OF THE ALMIGHTY
Sermon Outline By Terry Siverd
Cortland Church of Christ / March 19, 2017
Open your Bible to Job 38
We are nearing the end of our study of the Old Testament book of Job.
One of my concerns at the outset was how to cover 42 chapters in a dozen Sundays.
This morning we want to take a whirlwind approach (pun intended) to chapters 38-41.
Actually we have employed a similar style at various times throughout this series.
Had we not done so, we would still be parsing the argumentations of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.
My aim has been to try to provide you with the “big picture” - - the overall framework of the book.
I confess that this assignment to preach from Job has been an intimidating and difficult undertaking for me.
But I feel quite good about the lessons that we have shared.
A church once gave their preacher a medal for being humble, but they had to take it back because He wore it.
If you missed last Sunday’s sermon, please visit our website to read and study it.
In my opinion, last Sunday’s sermon was very important - - both pivotal and decisive.
The question of how to interpret Elihu has dumbfounded many scholars, preachers & students of all ages.
Many have mistakenly classified or categorized Elihu as just another wrong-headed comforter.
I know that it sounds harsh, but Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar are essentially blowhards driven by their own agendas.
Elihu, however, is cut from a different cloth. Our view is that Elihu was an answer to Job’s prayer for a mediator.
He was fully human, but he brings God-given words to Job that literally help to change his life.
In chapters 38-41 GOD speaks to Job.
While we know it’s wrong, we all play God at various times. “If I were God, this is what I would do!”
In his suffering humanity, Job has made some serious charges against God:
Why have You set me as Your target? / 7:20b
Why do You hide Your face and consider me Your enemy? / 13:24
Oh that I knew where to find Him, that I might come to His dwelling. / 23:3
If I go to the east, God is not there; If I go to the west, I do not see Him;
When He is at work in the north, I catch no sight of Him; when He turns south, I cannot see Him. / 23:8-9 (NCV)
I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer me… / 30:20
God has found fault with me; He considers me His enemy. / 33:10 (NCV)
God has deprived me of justice. He has falsified my case / 34:5-6 (NEB)
You have done wrong / 36:23
In these citations Job essentially charges God of being: mean-spirited … absent & apparently apathetic …
fault-finding … unfair & unjust … making false charges … doing wrong.
Even though Job is overwhelmed with pain and heartache, these are unwarranted accusations made against God.
So how will THE ALMIGHTY ONE respond to Job’s unfounded complaints?
Will God obliterate Job? Will God assign Job to everlasting punishment?
For the most part, God has sent Elihu to prosecute His case against Job and Elihu has pulled no punches.
I tell you, you are not right in saying this, because God is greater than we are / Job 33:12
God can never do wrong! It is impossible for The Almighty to do evil…
Truly God will never do wrong; The Almighty will never twist what is right / 34:10 & 12
God is great and powerful; no other teacher is like Him…No one can say to God, ‘You have done wrong’ / 36:22-23
Let us see now what God will say to Job.
I have to say in advance, if any one of us were to be verballly reprimanded by God,
we could only hope and pray that Our Father would deal with us with similar compassion.
We all know what God is capable of - - how holy other He is and how powerful and mighty He is.
God begins by rebuking Job (Job 38:1-3). Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
‘Who is it that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? (NASV)
Now gird up you loins like a man, and I will ask you, and you instruct Me.
Who is this that makes My purpose unclear by saying things that are not true? / NCV
Who is this whose ignorant words cloud My design in darkness? / NEB
Who are you to question My wisdom with your ignorant, empty words? / TEV
Why are you using your ignorance to deny My providence? / LB
God’s opening words to Job, which are draped with sarcasm, must have surely stung Job very deeply.
Sarcasm is not a form of speech that we generally deem to be noble.
Parents often rebuke their children saying, “Don’t you be sarcastic with me!”
“Sarcasm” is a sharply mocking or contemptuous remark.
It is not at all good for children to speak this way to adults, parents and teachers in particular.
Even sarcasm between peers, whether adults or children, is seldom appropriate and more often than not unhealthy
But we must acknowledge that if ever anyone has a right to be sarcastic, it is THE LORD GOD.
God then proceeds to put Job on the ‘hot seat”, peppering him with questions.
Depending on the translation, I counted over 30-40 questions just in chapters 38 & 39. He are about two-dozen.
Where were you when I made the earth’s foundation? … Who shut the doors to keep the seas in place?
Have you ever ordered the morning to begin? … Have you ever been to where the sea begins?
Have the gates of death been opened to you? … Do you understand how wide the earth is? …
Do you know the path of light and where darkness lives? … Have you ever gone into the storehouse of snow…or hail? …
Where is the place from which light comes?; Where is the place from which the east wind blows? …
Who cut a waterway for heavy rains and set a path for the thunderstorms? … Can you bring out the stars at night? …
Can you send lightning bolts? … Who puts wisdom inside the mind of men or understanding in the heart? …
Who has the wisdom to count the clouds or pour water from the jars of the sky? … Do you find food for the lions to feed their cubs? … Who gives food to the birds? … Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? … Do you observe the calving of the deer? …
Who let the wild donkeys roam free? … Will the wild ox agree to serve you? … Do you know the instincts of the ostrich? …
Do you give the horse his might? … Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars? …
Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up and makes his nest on high?
An interlude is recorded in Job 40:1-2, where God personally scolds Job saying:
Will the faultfinder contend with The Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer.
God is not finished with His interrogation of Job, but what He has already said evokes a confession from Job (40:3-5).
Then Job answered the Lord and said, ‘Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to Thee?
I lay my hand on my mouth. I have spoken in times past, but no more.
God continues with another important (and piercingly painful) question (40:6-10/NCV) - -
Then the Lord spoke to Job from the storm: Be strong, like a man! I will ask you questions and you must answer ME.
Would you say that I am unfair? Would you blame ME to make yourself look right?
Are you as strong as God? Can you voice thunder like His?
If so, then decorate yourself with glory and beauty; dress in honor and greatness as if they were clothing.
In chapter 40:15 thru 41:34 God continues speaking to Job about two great mysteries.
(These two creatures, whatever they were, were especially mystifying to the ancient world).
Behold now, Behemoth / 40:15ff
Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook? / 41:1ff
Here in just a few chapters God takes Job to school - - - Geology … Biology … Oceanography …
Cosmology … Astrology (astronomy) … Meteorology … Ornithology … Necrology (the gates of death) … etc.
Job seems to grasp the grand scheme of God’s instructions - - this is a crash course in THEOLOGY.
And the half has never yet been told. Had God digressed into schooling Job about soteriology
(God’s marvelous plan of salvation thru Jesus Christ), Job’s head and heart might have exploded.
Next Sunday we will examine the final chapter in this ancient journal.
It will focus on three things:
Job’s confession … God’s condemnation of Jonah’s three friends … and Job’s restoration or renewal.
I don’t quite know how to end this morning’s lesson.
While we never encounter the word grace in the book of Job, it is there, isn’t it?
Indeed, it is a golden thread, sometimes a bit hidden, that weaves it way throughout the book.
I have tried to capture the appropriate response that we ought to have by carefully choosing today’s songs.
In just a few moments we will close with a song that is most fitting - - I Stand In Awe. Let us sing heartily.
Dear Heavenly Father:
What a thrill it is to study these Ancient Words that so keenly remind us of How Great You Are!
You are truly Awesome! What A Mighty God We Serve!
We Worship You, Almighty God … and We Sing Praises to Your name.
Thank You for reminding us that This Is Our Father’s World.
And what a grand privilege it is that we are so blessed to call You our Father.
We Stand In Awe of Your power and mighty, Your majesty and holiness, and Your wonderful grace and mercy.
Through Christ, our beloved Savior, we pray. Amen
