33. Vindication

Hymns: RHC 229 Thy Kingdom Come, O God, 190 Alone, 240 Breathe on Me, Breath of God, 242 Blessed Quietness

Job 12:1-11

¹ And Job answered and said, ²No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. ³But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? ⁴I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. ⁵He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. ⁶The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. ⁷But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: ⁸Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. ⁹Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? ¹⁰In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. ¹¹Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? (Job 12:1-11 KJV)

Vindication

OUTLINE

• Mr Know-All (v1-5)
• Appealing for Vindication (v6-11)

INTRODUCTION

The psalmist extols in Psalm 86:12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

One late pastor asked his congregation a Job test, “What is bringing you joy today? You say, “The Lord is making me happy.” How do you know it’s not that nice a car? Or your family? Or you good looks? Or you bank account? Or your popularity?

He suggested, “Here’s how you can know, “By the process of elimination. If God took away your health, home, and your joh and you still have joy, then you know it is Jesus. If you lose your joy when you lose any of these things, you are an idolator because that is where you are getting your joy.

I don’t mean that you cannot be temporarily upset over the loss, but if the joy goes out of your life, you weren’t getting your joy from the Lord. You’ll never know Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.

Its time for your heart check-up. Do you truly love God with ALL your heart? Recommit your life to Him today – surrendering every bit of who you are and what you have to Him. If necessary, ask His forgiveness for committing idolatry.”

Job was tested for all the above! He passed the test. His friends continued to bombard him with untruths concerning his spiritual state.

Matthew Henry said well, “The reproofs Job here gives to his friends, whether they were just or no, were very sharp, and may serve for a rebuke to all that are proud and scornful, and an exposure of their folly.”

• Mr Know-All (v1-5)

¹ And Job answered and said, ²No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you. 

Have you encountered men who seemed to have all the advice to give and all the solutions to offer to you for your predicament and discover that they won’t work? Job’s friends were such men. First of all, they misrepresented him, false accused him, and then maligned him. Job represents them as claiming the monopoly of wisdom (v2). 

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himselfmore highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

The Apostle Paul exhorts Christians to be humble. To think more highly literally means to over think or think above and so to be proud and haughty. The spiritual gifts bestowed by God must not cause spiritual pride. He encourages them to use their spiritual gifts for the blessing of the body of Christ. He acknowledges that it is by God’s grace or unmerited favour that he could serve God. It is the same for them. To think soberly is to exercise sound judgment. Christians are to live humbly before God because all they are and have comes from Him. Christians are endowed with faith by God to exercise their gifts to edify, build up and bless other Christians.

Someone asked Augustine what was the first of the religious graces, and he said, “Humility.” They asked him what was the second and he replied, “Humility.” They asked him the third, and he said, “Humility.” I think that if we are humble, we have all the graces.¹

Our Lord Jesus sets for us the example of a meek and humble spirit by His consecration and His holy resolve to fulfill His Father’s will always. At the Garden of Gethsemane, He agonized in prayer that the Father would grant Him strength to endure the sufferings and humiliation of the cross to purchase our redemption. The angel appeared unto Him from heaven and strengthened Him. What an encouragement for every suffering saint. Our Lord knows. He understands when we cry to Him when it seems so difficult to walk according to Scriptures. It is indeed through God’s grace. Jesus suffered, and even died, but He rose victorious over death on the third day giving to us everlasting life and hope!

The prophet Isaiah said in Isaiah 5:21 Woe unto them that arewise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!  

³But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these? 

His friends do not have the monopoly of the truth. The believer is given the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of Christ to bless his life. Jesus said these to His disciples before He went to the cross.

John 14:1-21 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him,I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip?he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. If ye love me, keep my commandments.

 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give youanother Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

⁴I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn. ⁵He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease. 

He felt the mocking and scorning of his friends. It was so fierce that it threatened to undo him, to force him to give up his faith in God. His feet was ready to slip. The psalmist prayed in Psalm 17:5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, thatmy footsteps slip not. 

This was the psalmist’s plight when he testified in Psalm 22:7-8 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the LORD thathe would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.

The psalmist extoled in Psalm 94:18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.

Our Lord Jesus was scorned before He caused the 12-year-old girl who was dead to come alive again – Mark 5:35-43 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: Micah 7:7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

What was Job’s response? Job 16:20 My friends scorn me: butmine eye poureth out tearsunto God.

Psalm 91:15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will bewith him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

Jeremiah 33:3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Our Lord Jesus received the worst mocking – Matthew 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put itupon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Matthew 27:30-31 And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head. And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

God’s servants who faced mockers and scorners are encouraged to keep faith and press on with the good work.

Hebrews 12:2-3 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of ourfaith; 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.

• Appealing for Vindication (v6-11)

⁶The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly. 

The psalmist likewise observed in Psalm 73:11-12 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High? Behold, these arethe ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase inriches.

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rathergive place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance ismine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

The Apostle Paul urged the believers who suffered wrong to not take matters into their own hands to use carnal means to avenge the hurt they have suffered. Rather, to seek the Lord’s intervention through prayer. Thank God for His grace.

n working life, it is not uncommon during crisis time to shift responsibility, pass the bug, by finding a scapegoat whenever things go wrong. We may find ourselves unjustly blamed, accused, the mistake is not from us but we have to bear the consequences. As an admonition, do not take matters into our own hands and seek revenge ourselves.

The Bible tells us when our enemy thirst, give him drink, when he is hungry, gives him food. In this way, you provide a way for them to repent. God says vengeance is mine. But we are often quick to react, and that’s how war starts, our tendency is to overreact. We are taking vengeance without giving them an opportunity to repent whilst God desire not anyone to perish but all should come to repentance. Hence, the Lord is saying, leave it to Me, I will do it in My time. If we leave things to God, we will continue to pray. We leave it to God to do it in the right time and in right measure. Realize also that anyone that touches you touches “the apple of My eye”, the Lord says. The eye is the most sensitive part of the body. We are most precious before God this is the endearing term “his own elect” in verse 7. God is using your tribulation to work repentance in their hearts. Therefore, there is no need to take revenge. God will do so in His time. Continue to trust Him.

Jesus teaches us in Luke 18:1 that men ought always to pray, and not to faint. Prayer is the believer’s power with God. Persistence in prayer is not the natural habit of the believer. Jesus uses this parable of the persistent widow to teach this lesson. This parable encourages us to never stop praying even in the toughest of circumstances of injustice that we face. Our faith cannot be seen but our prayer life can be seen, it is evidence of true faith. It gives hope to the children of God who is going through any trouble, call upon Him and He will help you. He is always fair, always just, on our part, we must make sure we are on the Lord’s side.

This is the test of true faith. When we stop praying, we stop believing. When we pray, God gives us faith. Faith keeps us praying and praying strengthens our faith, paradoxical but true. This is the mysterious interplay of man’s responsibility and God’s sovereignty. May the Lord find us prayerful! May the Lord find us faithful! May we never give up but always hope in God, continue to trust Him no matter what the situation, for He is in control and He cares for you! 

Psalm 37 was written to extol the triumph of the righteous. The people of God are extolled to continue their ways of righteousness before God and before men, let God be the judge!

^KJV Psalm 37:1<A Psalm of David.> Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. ²For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. ³Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. ⁴Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. ⁵Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. ⁶And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday. ⁷Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. ⁸Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. ⁹For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. ¹⁰For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. ¹¹But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. ¹²The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. ¹³The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. ¹⁴The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. ¹⁵Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. ¹⁶A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. ¹⁷For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. ¹⁸The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever. ¹⁹They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied. ²⁰But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. ²¹The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth. ²²For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off. ²³The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. ²⁴Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. ²⁵I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. ²⁶He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed. ²⁷Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. ²⁸For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. ²⁹The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever. ³⁰The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. ³¹The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. ³²The wicked watcheth the righteous, and seeketh to slay him. ³³The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged. ³⁴Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it. ³⁵I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree. ³⁶Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found. ³⁷Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. ³⁸But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off. ³⁹But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble. ⁴⁰And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him. (Ps. 37:1-40 KJV)

THE GODLY MAN is characterized by: 

(1) His consistent faith in God & constant provision from God, “Trust in the LORD, and do good.verily thou shalt be fed” (verse 3 , 5 , 40 ) 

(2) Taking pleasure in God & is richly rewarded “Delight thyself.in the LORD.he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (v 4 , 23 ) 

– I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth (Isaiah 58:14a ) 

– I will cause feed you with the heritage of Jacob thy father. (Isaiah 58:14b ) 

(3) Fully Entrusting his life to God & is divinely guided, “Commit thy way unto the LORD.he shall bring it to pass” (verse 5 , 13 , 15 , 17 , 19 ) 

(4) Having Freedom from Anxiety even amidst suffering & poverty with enduring, unwearied, uncomplaining & longsuffering spirit for God to act “Rest in the LORD.wait patiently for Him” (verse 7 , 34 ) 

(5) Refusing to be enraged to do evil “Cease from anger.in any wise to do evil” (verse 8 ) 

(6) Contented with his lot in life “A little that a righteous man hath is better” (verse 16 ) 

(7) Humbleness, submissiveness & gentleness of spirit together with honest, respectable and honourable countenance & blessed with an earthly inheritance “But the meek shall inherit the earth.” (verse 11 , 22 , 29 ) “The LORD knows the days of the upright.their inheritance shall be forever (verse 18 ). 

(8) Filled with God’s Word thus able to take steady steps “The law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall slide”(verse 31 ) 

HIS BLESSINGS – He is blessed with 

(1) God’s upholding hand (verse 24 ) 

(2) God’s provision (verse 25-26 ) 

(3) God’s peace (verse 37c ) 

(4) God’s strength (verse 39a ) 

(5) God’s salvation (verse 39b ) 

(6) God’s help (verse 40a ) 

(7) God’s deliverance (verse 40b ) 

For HIS GOD is:

(1) Covenant-keeping – LORD (verse 3-5 , 7 , 9 , 17-18 , 20 , 23-24 , 28 , 33-34 , 39-40 ) 

(2) All-Knowing (verse 18 ) 

(3) Ever-Merciful (verse 26 ) 

(4) Lendeth (verse 26 ) 

(5) Just/Judge against wicked (verse 20 , 28 ) 

(6) Trustworthy (verse 3 , 5 , 40 ) 

(7) Deliverer (verse 37b ) 

(8) Helper (verse 37a ) 

(9) Saviour (verse 37c ) 

(10) Almighty (verse 39 ) 

(11) Provider (verse 18-19 ) 

(12) Sustainer (verse 24 ) 

(13) Unfailing (verse 28 ) 

The plight of HIS ENEMY 

(1) Name 

i. Wicked (verse 12 , 14 , 20-21 , 32 , 35 , 38b , 40 ) 

ii. Evildoers (verse 1a , 9 ) 

iii. Workers of iniquity (verse 1b ) 

iv. Transgressors (verse 38a ) 

(2) Temporal Prosperity (verse 7 , 16 ) 

(3) Cut-Off/Perish/Consumed/Destroyed (verse 9 , 20 , 22 , 28 , 38 ) 

(4) Judged (verse 13 ) 

(5) Oppress (verse 14 ) 

(6) Boomerang Judgment (verse 15 ) 

(7) Attempt in futility to Ambush/Slay the righteous (verse 32 ) 

Application:

 (1) Absorb – Understand the Portrait of Godly & His blessings, His God, His Enemy’s sad ending. 

(2) Assimilate – Follow the Godly Man’s Example & be richly blessed by His covenant-keeping God. 

The Godly man and His blessings come from His Good God who subdues all His Enemies. Therefore take heart, dear brethren. He is able! Wholly depend on Him. Behold the salvation of the LORD.

⁷But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: ⁸Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee. ⁹Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? ¹⁰In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. ¹¹Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?

Matthew Henry observed well, “He appeals even to the inferior creatures for the proof of this – the beasts, and fowls, and trees, and even the earth itself; consult these, and they shall tell thee (v7-8). Many a good lesson we may learn from them, but what are they here to teach us?

These creatures are serviceable to wicked men, and so they declare their prosperity. Ask the herds and the flocks to whom they belong, and they will tell you that such a robber, such an oppressor, is their owner: the fishes and fowls will tell you that they are served up to the tables, and feed the luxury, of proud sinners. 

The earth brings forth her fruits to them (Job 9:24), and the whole creation groans under the burden of their tyranny Romans 8:20, 22. 

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

All the creatures which wicked men abuse, by making them the food and fuel of their lusts, will witness against them another day, James 5:3-4.

James 5:3-4 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

We may from them learn the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, and His sovereign dominion.”