We have been doing a series of messages about Job, the patriarch from the Old Testament. The title of the series is “Job: Patient Endurance and Faithfulness.” Last time, we talked about Job telling his friends about what he knows to be true about the power and majesty of God. Finally, in ch.38, God begins to speak. …and He's got some things to say to Job about why stuff has unfolded in his life like it has. But more importantly, it's what He doesn't say to Job….He doesn’t give him an apology or an explanation for what has happened. Now God begins to speak:
Job 38:1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: 2 “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.”
The first thing that God says to Job is: “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?” The word of God is His complete counsel; the mystery of who He is… the complete Word of God. And whenever we speak without wisdom, without the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; we may not give it a proper interpretation, and so we darken the counsel of God, we cheapen His Word.
So now God is asking questions of Job and says: “Prepare yourself like a man Job.” Job is probably still sitting on that ash heap suffering from the boils and the humiliation and the grieving of the loss of everything that he had. God is not speaking words of consolation to him. He says to him, “Prepare yourself like a man.” The Bible stories are full of people who have gone through dreadful circumstances and God never comes to them and says, “oh you poor thing.” He says: “Prepare yourself Job;” get ready because now I've got some questions for you. God does not feel obligated in any way to answer any of Job's questions about why these things have happened... God says to Job,” it's now My turn; you've had a crack at asking a whole bunch of questions let me ask some questions of you. “
Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
God asks Job a series of five questions: where were you, Job? Where were you when the foundations of the earth were laid?...when all the sons of God, the morning stars sang together?
It's a humbling thing whenever God begins to reveal Himself to you …you get a sense of your own insignificance in the grand scheme of things. God says to Job, where were you when creation took place and all the hosts of heaven, the sons of God, the morning stars, the angels in heaven sang together and shouted for joy? All the morning stars were there, even Lucifer applauding God at creation. But in Lucifer’s heart there was darkness, a darkness that caused him to fall…and what was the result?.. the world that was created for God’s glory, the brightness of His beauty/ splendor has now become dark. That is why it is up to us to shine our light in this world of darkness.
Join us in person on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. or via livestream by going to https://www.firstbaptistsudbury.com and clicking on livestream for “No More Night.”
Blessings,
Kevin
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