2. Brewing of a Spiritual Storm

Hymns: RHC 324 Simply Trusting, 327 All Thing Work Out for Good, 332 Moment by Moment

Job 1:1-12

¹There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. ²And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. ³His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. ⁴And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. ⁵And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.⁶Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. ⁷And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. ⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? ⁹Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? ¹⁰Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. ¹¹But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. ¹²And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

Brewing of a Spiritual Storm

OUTLINE

(1) Piety in the Calm of Life (v1-5)

(2) Storm Clouds Brewing in the Heavenlies (v6-12)

INTRODUCTION

The Christian life is a protected life, God undertakes to guarantee our well-being as we commit our lives to His care. When we commit our lives to Christ, He blesses us with an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for us (1 Peter 1:4). We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time was the testimony of the Apostle Peter. The Apostle Paul described the salvation experience of the Christian in the book of Ephesians as chosen by the Father, purchased by the Son, sealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:1-14). We have obtained an inheritance according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will that we should be to the praise of His glory who first trusted in Christ (Ephesians 1:11).

Job may be described as living that believer’s life under the protection of the Almighty God who undertakes to guarantee his well-being. Job committed his life to God’s care. And sought to live a holy life in the sight of God and man. He is described as a perfect man who fears God and hated or eschewed evil.

Solomon described such a God-fearer’s life well in Proverbs 3:1-7 “My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.”

When we would deviate and our heart is not whole towards Him, God knows as He did warn Solomon in his youthful days recorded in1 Chronicles 28:9 “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.”

 But Job was a man who walked with God. Like Noah and Abraham, Job servve God with a perfect heart and a willing mind. God tried Job’s heart and vouched his integrity – there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? (v8).

The Christian is alerted by the Apostle Peter that his life will not be a bed of roses but he will find himself going through manifold temptations described as the trial of his faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried with tire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. How faith will be tested to help us to see how deep and pure it is in the sight of God and men. Our testimony in the times of trial brings a reality to the invisible God that we claim to worship in Christ Jesus. Our devotion, piety and consecration toward Him will be challenged. We will be tested whether our God is worthy of our complete, unconditional surrender of worship and homage. For Job, the answer is “yes”. The LORD God of Job assessed his heart and counted him righteous!

(1) Piety in the Calm of Life (v1-5)

¹There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. ²And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. ³His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. ⁴And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. ⁵And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

If there is a good testimony of a man of God, Job fits the spiritual description. His devotionally life attested to it. There is a consistency to it. He walks with God daily, moment by moment, he breathes the reality of a consecrated life. We mentioned that in the tents of ease, during the times of calm, we are to take every opportunity to equip ourselves with the Word of God to prepare ourselves well for the trials of life that must come. His wealth was not his idol. He did not set his heart on his riches but he set his heart in God. He was a man who was willing to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). This was how he lived his life amidst great affluence.

(2) Storm Clouds Brewing in the Heavenlies (v6-12)

⁶Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. ⁷And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 

We are brought from an earthly scene to a heavenly scene at the throne room of God when the angelic beings (sons of God) surround the throne of God. But we are also given an insight that Satan, the fallen angel, has access to God in His throne room.

The Apostle Peter described well Satan’s evil work on earth in 1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Satan will continue to do so until his time is up when Christ will return to rule on earth – Revelation 12:10 “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

Revelation 12:7-9 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Satan and his angels will continue the work of accusing the Christian to dislodge him from his steadfastness with God.

⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? ⁹Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? ¹⁰Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

God’s verdict of his servant Job is that he is an upright man, one that fears God and hates evil. God found no fault with him but Satan found him guilty. The name “Satan” means “adversary”, one who opposes God’s law.

One pastor said well, “Satan’s accusation against Job was really an attack on God. We might paraphrase it like this: “The only reason Job fears You is because You pay him to do it., You two have made a contract; You protect him and prosper him as long as he obeys You and worships You. You are not a God worthy of worship! You have to pay people to honour You!”

You remember when Jesus said to Peter the third time at the shore of the sea of Galilee,John 21:17 “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.” Peter affirmed after his failure that he will love and serve Him wholly.

 ¹¹But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. ¹²And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD. 

Satan’s challenge to God was that if he would be allowed to afflict Job, Job will certainly deny his God. In other words, the faith of Job is conditional upon blessing. If he is allowed to suffer affliction, his faith will waiver to show that his devotion is not genuine.

This conversation in the heavenlies between God and Satan is not known to Job. Job was not aware that God has allowed Satan to trial him. There is a trial that comes to our lives not because of sin but to test our faith in Him. And it will be manifested in sufferings and afflictions that come our way.

CONCLUSION

May we realize that afflictions are a test of our faith. May the Lord grant us the grace to keep the faith and keep trusting Him during such times. Amen.