30. See Thou My Affliction

Posted on Posted in Sermon Notes, Prayer Meeting Tagged with , , , ,

Hymns: RHC 347 Search Me, O God 297 Jesus Saves! 387 I Need Every Hour 324 Simply Trusting

Job 10:14-22

14If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity. 15If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction; 16For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me. 17Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me. 18Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me! 19I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. 20Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, 21Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; 22A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness. (Job 10:14-22 KJV)

See Thou My Affliction

OUTLINE

  • Pleading for Relief (v14-17)
  • Sinking into Despondency (v18-22)

INTRODUCTION

Studying Job in his affliction provides a realistic picture for believers to see the deep into the heart of the afflicted. We learn to feel for the plight of the afflicted. It also provides us a true picture of how we can also respond in our affliction. 

By his lamentations, the anguish of the psalmist in the psalms. The psalmist cried from a sea of trouble that is so deep in its depth that it has threatened to drown him. His soul was depressed and he is despaired beyond measure. He could not measure the depths of his distress. He is drowned in the depths of his trials and troubles but the LORD was with him to hear his prayer and still his heart to hope in Him. The LORD will surely be gracious. He was assured of help in God.

Psalm 18:6 In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, eveninto his ears.

Jesus said, “Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4) This psalm expresses the comfort received in the heart of the mourner as he sought solace in God. This word “comfort” literally is the word “called alongside”. What is that comfort? It is from God.

Words cannot describe how God relieve his sorrow or comfort his distress, cheer, encourage his arching heart.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The psalmist experiences this rest in his LORD. 

Psalm 130:1 A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. 

It describes the low point of the psalmist’s emotional well-being. He sought the LORD. This relationship he has with God was the thread that kept his soul from being drowned. Thank God that we have a lifeline with God even in the most desperate and distressing moments of life.

Psalm 130:2 Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. 

He talked to God. In prayer, he poured out his soul before Him in the silence of his distress. It seemed that there is no other helper in visible sight. He asked his Master to responsive to his needs and care for him in this moment of loneliness. 

  • Pleading for Relief (v14-17)

14If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity. 

In the searching of his heart, he asked for the Lord to reveal his sins so that he may repent of them and find peace in his heart. He found himself a sinner saved by grace with such a heart wont toward confession and seeking to make right with God as described in 1 John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

James Smith said well, “…adversity calls for soul searching. If prayers appear to be unheard, our petitions seemed to be denied, and we do not sense the power of our faith, it is the day of adversity. If providence frowns and the heart becomes heavy, it is a day of adversity; now we should consider, “Is there not a cause?” What is it? Has sin made an entry? Or is mercy slighted? Or duty neglected? Or self uplifted? Is it the hnad of God oving to correct, reprove and restore us? How should we respond? Let us humble ourselves, justify our God, confess our sin, lament our folly, crave our pardon, and plead for restoration. It is our comfort to know that the Lord calls us to return, declares that He is ready to forgive, promises a gracious reception, and assures us He will heal our backslidingsnd pardon us freely. Let us in faith look for His blessing.”

Job understood the way of God’s dealing with man and the words of James Smith articulate well these words uttered before us.

Abraham was now 120 years old and Isaac was 18 years old when God tested Abraham’s faith. This testing was greater than all the trials that he had to go through. He was now sojourning in the Promised Land for 45 years.

It is interesting to observe how trials in life never seemed to abate but each trial seemed more intensive. Each one a test if we would trust God to see us through. Abraham will triumph once again. He had a victorious faith because he lived a surrendered life. He surrendered his life to God and allow God to lead him.

Ultimately, this is the test for the Christian, if we would trust God and His ability to take care of us even though in our own sight, it seemed so. Can we do as Job did in his trial? 

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

To continue trusting God even though the circumstances around seemed so adverse to dare us to doubt God’s love for us. Is there a limit that God will put to the trials that we can bear?

7And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here amI, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where isthe lamb for a burnt offering? 8And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

When Isaac innocently asked Abraham concerning the sacrifice, Abraham again made a response of faith. He did not know what is the solution but he knew by faith God will provide a solution – My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.

The literal translation – “The LORD shall see to it for an offering, my son”.

“The LORD shall see” meaning He knows what you are going through. He knows your need. He will see to it that He will provide for you. This is the phrase “Jehovah Jireh” – Genesis 22:14And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said tothis day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

The LORD shall prove Himself faithful – in the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. 

We see here the glory of God, the reward of faith.

God tested Abraham if he would believe His promise. Abraham believed and acted in obedience to God. If Isaac had died, the promise would not have been fulfilled. It was against his logic deduction and yet he was willing to trust God’s promise.

The lates pastor Rogers said well, “Faith is not, listen, it is not believing God in spite of evidence. Faith is not believing anything in spite of evidence. That is not faith. That is superstition. Always when you believe, you are believing a word from God. Do you understand? That is your evidence. That is your warrant. That is your authority. Faith is not, is not, is not believing in spite of evidence, faith is obeying in spite of consequence. Do you like that definition of faith? That’s what faith is. Faith is obeyed in spite of consequence, or appearance, or anything else. Get up to Mount Moriah. Offer up Isaac. I have told you to do it. Faith is measured by the depth of its devotion, the height of its obedience. And, what kind of obedience is this.

First of all, it is intelligent obedience. You cannot obey God until you know God and hear God. God has not promised to bless any endeavor that he has not commanded. Many Christians are endeavoring to do things for God that God doesn’t want done, and their calling it faith. It’s not faith, it is mere presumption.

Now, in order for you to obey God, you must hear God. And, in order for you to hear God, you must have a quiet time. So not only must it be intelligent obedience, are you listening? It must be intentional obedience. Do you want to know the will of God? Many of us are really not ready to report for orders. It is not that God is not speaking. It is that we’re not listening. You see, dear friend, you’re not excused from doing the will of God, because you don’t know the will of God. If you’ve not sought, do you report in for orders? Are you listening to God? Ignorance of God’s will is no excuse, because the Bible says, “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”(Romans 8:14).”[1]

Genesis 22:15And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:17That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which isupon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. 19So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. 

15If I be wicked, woe unto me; and if I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion; therefore see thou mine affliction; 

And if he has sought to make right with God how is it that he is afflicted so sorely. Job had to learn to take hold of faith looking to God in the midst of his suffering. 

He uttered these words “see thou mine affliction”. Does God see the affliction of His servant Job? Certainly, He does. He was indeed very concerned for Job and His well-being. He saw what happened to Abraham when he was sorely tested in the call for the sacrifice of Isaac. Abraham passed the test. Job did also. Job will come to this maturity of faith when he trusted God for who God is – loving, caring, most able to do good for His servant – though he cannot read it in his circumstances and his relationships with others.

Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

This was the purpose of Job’s testing, that we may learn this lesson too of simply trusting Him.

16For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion: and again thou shewest thyself marvellous upon me. 17Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest thine indignation upon me; changes and war are against me. 

Abraham may say this as Job did. God called him to Canaan and for 25 years without fulfilling the promise of a son. God finally did when the womb of Sarah was barren. It attested to His power and sovereignty in fulfilling His good pleasure in the lives of His people.

  • Sinking into Despondency (v18-22)

18Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me! 19I should have been as though I had not been; I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. 20Are not my days few? cease then, and let me alone, that I may take comfort a little, 21Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death; 22A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

We see Job sinking deep in his affliction once again. There was this bout of despondency that he had to consciously pull himself out.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Psalm 27:13-14I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalm 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

Psalm 142:4-5 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.

Job asked why does God allow him to go through such pain and anguish. He was establishing in the heart of His servant the strength of patient endurance.

He once again looked at the prospect of death in his poverty and sought the Lord for relief. Relief will come, God had to trust God during this brief time of trial.

Dear friends, are you in a trial? May God grant you His grace to trust Him though you may not know what is ahead of you. Take full hold of the present and live it for His glory.

CONCLUSION

May the Lord grant His servants faith to know God sees our affliction and is able to help us as we wait and hope in Him. Amen.

[1]The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection – The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection – Sermons.