Confidence and Hope

O. T. #1121  "Confidence and Hope"
Dec. 27, 2017
Job 4
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal comfort and a wonderful hope, comfort you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say.  (Paul said in 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)


LET IT GLOW

Brrrrrr....  Hope you northern folks are able to stay inside and keep warm amidst the deep freeze. I got my hot tea to sip and electric heater at my feet, so I'm ready to slide into chapter 4. Pray that all had a wonder time with family and friends during the celebration of the birth of our Savior. We certainly did.

Get ready, for we have three rounds of dialogue between Job and his friends in chapters 4-14.
First to speak is Eliphaz, in which he begins by reminding Job of the good influence his life has been:

• Job instructed many and
• strengthened week hands. (verse 3)
• His words steadied those stumbling and
• braced their buckling knees; (verse 4)

Isn't your piety your confidence, and the integrity of your life your hope? (verse 6)

Proverbs 3:26 says, For the Lord will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.

Job's integrity must have been evident to others. It was mentioned by his wife and now Eliphaz. Previously, God described Job as being a perfect and upright man in chapter 1. Deep down, Job is still the same person he was before his sufferings began.

Is our confidence in our fear and respect for God? Is our hope shown by our upright ways, through our integrity? Are we following the moral teaching of the Bible? Can others see our integrity? Or are we compromising our integrity? Who couldn't use more confidence and hope? Let us find it in Jesus Christ.



LET IT GROW

Didn't Job's three friends come to bring him comfort during his suffering? Well, that didn't happen. Although they began by sitting in silence with him for 7 days, it didn't last I wonder if Job wished they had continued the silence after they finished raking him over the coals. They ended up criticizing him instead of comforting Job. In one way or another, they all used the same argument:

1. God blesses the righteous and afflicts the wicked.
2. God had afflicted Job
3. therefore, Job must be wicked.  (Wiersbe)

I suppose their argument seemed logical, but it wasn't spiritual. We can't understand all that God does. Do we try to fit Him into  our little "theological box?" If we do, then we are limiting God and make Him less than God.

Keep in mind now, these fellows did not have the New Testament. Suffering is not always caused by sin. It is through faith in Christ that we can turn from suffering and give glory to God through it.
Jesus went through suffering in order to make the ultimate sacrifice of Himself for us. He did not sin.
Are we willing to make radical adjustments, sacrifice privileges and comforts in order for God's will to be done. Perhaps it is so others will have encouragement or others will find God's grace. May our source of strength and victory be in Christ alone.

Eliphaz argues that Job is a sinner. (verses 7-11)
He shares a personal testimony, experience, although his vision may not have come from God.  (verses 12-16)
He offered Job no comforting words, instead, they conveyed God as a judge unfamiliar with mercy. We know that is false.
Psalm 89:14 tells us Justice and judgment are the habitation of Thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before Thy face.

LET IT GO

Place my confidence and hope in Jesus.
Do not sacrifice my integrity because of others.
Thank Jesus for His mercy.