16. Many the Afflictions of the Righteous

Hymns: RHC 339 When I Fear My Faith Will Fail; 333 Yesterday, Today, Forever; 320 ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust In Jesus

Job 5:6-17

⁶Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; ⁷Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. ⁸I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: ⁹Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: ¹⁰Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: ¹¹To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. ¹²He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. ¹³He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. ¹⁴They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. ¹⁵But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. ¹⁶So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. ¹⁷Behold, happy isthe man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: (Job 5:6-17 KJV)

Many the Afflictions of the Righteous

OUTLINE

• Charge to Be Humble Before God (v6-8)
• Charge to Submit to God’s Chastening (v9-17)

INTRODUCTION

AW Pink observed well when he said “Many are the afflictions of the righteous” (Psalm 34:19): some internal, others external; some from friends, others from foes; some more directly at the hand of God, others more remotely by the instrumentality of the devil. Nor should this be thought strange. Such has been the lot of all God’s children in greater or less degree. Nor ought we to expect much comfort in the world so basely crucified the Lord of glory. The sooner the Christian makes it his daily study to pass through this world as a stranger and pilgrim, anxious to depart and be with Christ, the better for his peace of mind. But the natural to cling tenaciously to this life and to love the things of time and sense, and therefore most of the Lord’s people have to encounter many buffetings and have many disappointments before they are brought to hold temporal things with a light hand and before their silly hearts are weaned from that which satisfies not.”

Our character Job has been in the crucible, suffering verbal abuse from his friend Eliphaz, accusations which we may attribute to the instrumentality of the devil. His case was one of extremity. Indeed, it is so hard to live, thank God, even as a believer in a hostile world that so basely crucified the Lord of glory.

We had our Good Friday Service contemplating Christ’s suffering upon the cross, His betrayal, scourging, railing from the people, the leaders of the Israel, the Roman administration. 

Our Lord who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:2b-3).

Talk about being wearied and faint in the mind. We consider Job’s trial, not just to suffer the loss of worldly possessions and children – “the Lord’s people have to encounter many buffetings and have many disappointments before they are brought to hold temporal things with a light hand and before their silly hearts are weaned from that which satisfies not.” [Pink] 

It brings us to reflect upon Job’s plight and to experience a reality of the cruel world and to find strength and hope in God and His Word to overcome. It helps us to see life realistically and helps us mature as God’s people.

Job has been charged to suffer a foolish man’s end, being judged by God in the loss of both his possessions and his children. Eliphaz has observed a wicked man in his prosperity because Job has been wicked, therefore must these calamities must be God’s judgment on him. Eliphaz calls for Job to repent and confess his sins immediately.

• Charge to Be Humble Before God (v6-8)

⁶Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground; ⁷Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. ⁸I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:

There must be a source traceable to a man’s afflictions. It cannot just come out from the ground. Life does not bring itself before us so randomly without a logical explanation. Man, as a result of the sin problem, being born in sin and therefore born to trouble. [Matthew Henry]

There is no escape to man’s trouble from the time of his birth. Therefore, he must come to God to find explanations and guidance for his predicament. Job is here by reproved by Eliphaz for not seeking God.

Indeed, it is during the time of our afflictions that we should seek comfort and guidance from God. 

Pink said well, “The music of the sanctuary is in no small degree indebted to the trials of the saints. Affliction is the tuner of the harps of sanctified songsters. Let every troubled reader seek to lay this truth to heart and take courage.”

Truly, the hymns and songs that consist our hymnal, were written out of the trials of life where seeking God proved the needful comfort.

There was no hymnal in the hands of Eliphaz to sing with Job. There was no Scripture in hand to comfort the ailing saint. This is what we can do in times of affliction to sing the songs of Zion and to bring our petitions to God for afflicted souls.

1 What a Friend we have in Jesus,

  All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

  Everything to God in prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit,

  O what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

  Everything to God in prayer!

2 Have we trials and temptations?

  Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged,

  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

  Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness,

  Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3 Are we weak and heavy-laden,

  Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—

  Take it to the Lord in prayer;

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?

  Take it to the Lord in prayer;

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,

  Thou wilt find a solace there.

What comfort it brings to our heart.

• Charge to Submit to God’s Chastening (v9-17)

 ⁹Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number: ¹⁰Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields: ¹¹To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety. ¹²He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. ¹³He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong. ¹⁴They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. ¹⁵But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty. ¹⁶So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth. ¹⁷Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:

Eliphaz’s charge upon Job is that God will save and care for the contrite who will confess his sin before God and find forgiveness.

He gives in a vague description the greatness and goodness of God who cares for His creation. Man by his craftiness cannot outwit God. Rather he will face ultimately the wrath of God. God is very wise, there is no way man can outsmart God. 

But God will save the poor. He is mighty to give hope and rehabilitate His wayward children. 

There is some semblance to certain portions of Scripture.

Psalm 7:15-16 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

Psalm 9:15-16 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

The Apostle Paul quoted the words of Eliphaz in verse 13 to highlight the foolishness of man’s own wisdom in the sight of God.

1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

All of which we lead Job to a point of admitting his guilt of sin as the chastening of God in his life.

CONCLUSION

May the Lord grant His grace to His suffering saints in times of affliction to stand strong in every trial of faith. Amen.