52. The Rod of God

Hymns: RHC 298 I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say; 306 Pass Me Not; 315 Walk in the Light

Job 21:1-16

1 But Job answered and said, 2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4 As for me, ismy complaint to man? and if it were so,why should not my spirit be troubled? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay yourhand upon yourmouth. 6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses aresafe from fear, neither isthe rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What isthe Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16 Lo, their good isnot in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

The Rod of God

OUTLINE

• Afflicting the Righteous? (v1-6)
• Averting the Wicked? (v7-16)

INTRODUCTION

Job refuted Zophar that from human experience, it seemed that the wicked does prosper on earth. But take note reckoning comes after death as Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”

Job hoped to convince his friends in the afflictions that he is not the wicked man that they claimed him to be. 

He tells them in effect, “If you will but give me a fair hearing, mock on if you can, but I believe I shall say that which will change your note and make you pity me rather than mock me.”  [Matthew Henry]

They were not his judges (v4): “Is my complaint to man?No, if it were I see it would be to little purpose to complain. But my complaint is to God, and to him do I appeal. Let him be Judge between you and me. Before him we stand upon even terms, and therefore I have the privilege of being heard as well as you. If my complaint were to men, my spirit would be troubled, for they would not regard me, nor rightly understand me; but my complaint is to God, who will suffer me to speak, though you will not.” [Matthew Henry]

• Afflicting the Righteous? (v1-6)

1 But Job answered and said, 2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. 6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.

Job’s appeal was not to man but to God. This he said rightly. He understood that judgment is of God, the truly righteous Judge!

The Apostle Paul articulated this well when he said in 2 Corinthians 5:8-11 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things donein hisbody, according to that he hath done, whether it begood or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

I am reminded of this tract “Herein Is Love” which we shall be printing.

“What is love? I hardly know.  Here I lie, sick and dying.  Nobody cares, nobody loves.”  Thus, sighed the old man with a faraway look in his eyes.

His friend held him tenderly by the hand and said,

“Jim, you may not know it, but God loves your dearly.”

“That cannot be.  How does He love me? I have done nothing to deserve His love.”

“Let me explain.  When I go home from here, I shall take my baby on my knee, look into her eyes and listen to her childish prattle. I may be ever so tired but her presence will refresh me.  I love her with unspeakable tenderness but she loves me little.  If my heart were breaking, it would not trouble her. If my body were racked with pain, it would not interrupt her play.  If I should die, she would forget me in a few days.  She has never brought me a cent, but has been a constant expense to me.  I am not rich but I would not part with her for all the money in the world.”

“You certainly have a most precious child.” 

“Yes, Jim. Now, let me ask. Does she love me, or do I love her? Do I withhold my love until I know that she loves me? Or do I wait for her to do something worthy before I lavish my love on her?”

The words struck a responsive chord in Jim’s heart and tears rolled down his cheeks.  “Now, I understand – God loves me too!”

“Indeed, He does.  God’s love is like father’s love, except – it is infinitely greater.  God’s Word says:

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”(1 John 4:10)

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”(John 3:16)

That day, Jim saw his own wretched lost condition, confessed his sins and received Jesus as his own personal Saviour.  He is now with the Lord.

Dear reader, God loves you too, whoever you are and no matter how unworthy you feel.  Come to Jesus today.  He alone can save you from your sins and give you a new life – everlasting life. Wherever you are, you may pray the sinner’s prayer and be saved:

Lord, I am a sinner.  I acknowledge my sins before You.  I believe in You as my Saviour, and that You died on the cross for me.  I believe that Your precious blood can cleanse me from all my sins.  Wash me now and forgive me all my unrighteousness.  Make me a new person to live a new life for You.  I pray this in Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Job saw that he was dearly loved by God although he could not understand his predicament.

Job was able to articulate the spiritual state of rest in his soul although he was afflicted – As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? (v4).

Psalm 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who isthe health of my countenance, and my God.

The believer who puts his faith in God to trust His guidance and help will never be disappointed. God will certainly help. He shall experience God’s presence to strengthen his heart. Faith to trust God to take care of whatever situation that he confided in Him through prayer. There is a calmness and peace that abided in the heart of the psalmist when he transitioned from despair to delight!

To hope in God, is to trust and wait upon Him, to tarry with Him, come what may. Taking God at His promises, awaiting to see God’s glory. In the words of Job in Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.”

When the physical eyes cannot see God’s hand, the spiritual eyes see God’s deliverance by faith. Hence, the psalmist declares, his countenance will turn from despair to hope, from grief to joy, for God has restored his spiritual health. 

The final response is one of praise in gratefulness – “for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.”

• Averting the Wicked? (v7-16) 

7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.

The wicked in this world seemed to be prosperous to the end of their life. Is this fair? Well, the reckoning is in the after-life dear, friends.

Luke 16:19-31 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would comefrom thence. Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

In this true to life account, Jesus tells us that the beggar suffered till the end of his life. There was no “good” life as it were, but he enjoyed eternal life with God in heaven. This is what matters. A man living this life in his prosperity without God is likened to the frog on slow boiling water.

The question is asked why should men serve God? Because He is his Creator and Sustainer. This is the only reasonable for all that he receives! 

CONCLUSION

May the Lord bless our hearts to understand His care and love for us regardless of our outside physical state. Amen,