67. A Man’s Good Works (2)
Hymns: RHC 347 Under the Care of My God, The Almighty; 349 Surely Goodness and Mercy; His Eye Is On the Sparrow
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches meI sing because I’m happy
I sing because I’m free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me (He watches me)
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches
I know He watches
I know He watches meI sing because I´m happy
I sing because I´m free
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me (He watches me)
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches me (He watches me)
He watches me
I know
He watches
Me
Source: LyricFind
Job 29:13-25
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. 14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. 16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. 17 And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. 18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. 19 My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. 20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. 21 Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel. 22 After my words they spake not again; and my speech dropped upon them. 23 And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain. 24 If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.25 I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelt as a king in the army, as one that comforteth the mourners.
A Man’s Good Works (2)
OUTLINE
(1) Respected and Honoured (v1-11)
(2) Helperfor the Poor and Fatherless (v12)
(3) Helper to the Widow (v13)
(4) Helper to the Blind and Lame (v14-15)
(5) Father to the Poor (v16)
(6) Frustrating the Wicked (v17)
(7) Trusted and Honoured among Men (18-25)
Continuation…
(3) Helper to the Widow (v13)
13 The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
The blessing of him that was ready to perish … – Of the man who was falsely accused, and who was in danger of being condemned, or of him who was exposed to death by poverty and want.
And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy – By becoming her patron and friend; by vindicating her cause, and saving her from the oppressive exactions of others. This is contrasted with Isaiah 1:17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. [Barnes]
Job was a helper to the weak in the times of his strength. Endowed him with God’s love and the means to help, he was a ready hand. He helped the oppressed and the widow, vulnerable, having none to turned to for help, he helped.
Jonathan Goforth was a missionary to the Chinese during the time of the Boxer Rebellion, encouraged his own heart, when persecution came, endangering the lives of him and his family. He prayed for God’s grace to serve. This was the chorus that encouraged his heart.
Our Lord’s example, the example par excellence, for our learning.
Matthew 9:35-38 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Jesus came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance (v13), the people laughed Him to scorn. They made fun of him but Jesus continued the work that His Father has entrusted to Him. How did Jesus accomplish this work of soul-winning? We can glean from verses 35-38, it is hard work (v35), it is heart work (v36) and it is Holy Spirit’s Work (v37-38).
35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
The adjective “all” and “every” is used three times to describe the scope of Jesus’ work, it is comprehensive. He covered the grounds, left no corner of cites and villages not evangelized. It is demanding physically speaking. Jesus set for us the example, “How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!” (Rom. 10:15b cf. Isa. 52:7).
The principal activities were preaching and praying. He was spreading the good news of the gospel. He preached the word to all who are willing to listen. Jesus also taught. He showed to them the true sense of the laws of God in Matthew 5-7. How do we live our lives in the light of God’s Word that will bring God’s blessings!
You will notice that it is a greatly sacrificial work. He said this to the scribe who wanted to be His disciple – “20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air havenests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay hishead.” (Matthew 8:20) And yet it is highly rewarding for it is the souls of men and women snatched from the clutches of hell and transported to the glory of heaven.
However, in the immediate context of verse 34, the Pharisees accused our Lord that “He casts out devils through the prince of the devils”, in other words, Jesus’ work is evil because He is energized by Satan. What great blasphemy! All this work put in will avail to nothing.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
The hard work was undergirded with a resolve and purposeful determination in the heart to this gospel work despite setbacks. Matthew described by two verbs, Jesus “saw” and “moved with compassion”. Jesus is able to read the hearts to see the burdens in the hearts of the multitude. There was sorrow, grief, affliction, trouble, sin that was in the heart of these. He was not think about Himself and His interest but He had in mind their interest and welfare.
In this verse, we see the great value of lost souls in the heart of our Lord.
As He saw their lost estate, it drove Him into action. Jesus felt deeply for them. He is the good Shepherd who cared for His sheep.
This unconditional and sacrificial love is God’s power flowing in the life of God’s children. It comes as an overflow of the Holy Spirit’s power in the believer’s heart. It comes because the child of God has been touched by God’s love. Jesus demonstrated the greatness of this love in His ministry on earth. For us who are saved, it is a love that flow out of gratitude and indebtedness. We have been forgiven much, though undeserved. Unless we realize our lost estate and experienced in our hearts the reconciliation with God by the finished work of Christ on the cross, we cannot live out this love. It keeps us humble and loving.
Jonathan Goforth, missionary to China, often sang this chorus as a prayer as he reflected on his ministry. He desired that God keep his heart burning for lost souls.
LORD Crucified, Give me a heart like Thine:
Teach me to love the dying souls of men.
Oh, Keep my heart in close touch with Thee;
And give me love-pure Calvary love to bring the lost to Thee
The last days before our Lord’s coming are characterized by sin – Matthew 24:12 “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.”
37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Jesus utilized a farming imagery to help us to see the urgency of the work. When the farmer first sows, there is a season of cultivation, where he waters and fertilizes. But when harvest time comes, the entire field is ready at the same time. This is the picture of the harvest that Jesus wants us to see. It is urgent to reap quickly the fruits of the harvest before they turn bad, before the birds come and the worms and insects come to feed on them. He is showing to us the vast field of work still undone.
Jesus urged His disciples to pray, for no man by himself can discharge this work unless the Lord raises him or her up and endows him with the strength and ability to go forth. There is a great number of people who need instruction but there are few able to instruct these poor people in the ways of righteousness and truth. Pray the Lord by His Spirit would call and commission more to serve in this ripe harvest field.
- Helper to the Blind and Lame (v14-15)
14I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. 15I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.
God’s Word was Job’s mainstay for action. He was able to make righteous judgment. Here is alluded to a magistrate’s robe and headgear. He won respect for judging fairly and equitably just as Solomon did when he two harlots were brought to him who claimed they were the mother of a baby. He was able to distinguish the true mother of the child when he ordered the child to be divided into two portions. The true mother relented not willing that the child would die. She would rather lose the child than to see the child’s death. She was, Solomon pointed, the true mother.
He provided help for the blind and was also a helper to the lame. It takes a lot of patience and love to care for the blind and the lame. Much physical hardwork. Job was able to provide that care to those in need during the time of his health.
- Father to the Poor (v16)
16I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.
I was a father to the poor – I took them under my protection, and treated them as if they were my own children. [Barnes]
Job acted as “eyes” to the blind of his time, giving them the information which their infirmity hindered them from obtaining. He was also feet to the lame, taking messages for them, going on their errands, and the like. He was kind and helpful to his fellowmen, not only in great, but also in little matters. [Pulpit]
(6) Frustrating the Wicked (v17)
17And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth.
I brake the jaws of the wicked – A metaphor taken from hunting. A beast of prey had entered into the fold, and carried off a sheep. “The huntsman comes, assails the wicked beast, breaks his jaws, and delivers the spoil out of his teeth. [Clarke]
Much like the words of David when Goliath challenged the armies of Israel. He gave his credentials as a shepherd boy taking care of his father’s sheep.
1 Samuel 17:34-37 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father’s sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock: And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him. Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God. David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.
Job was enabled by God during the time of his prosperity to do many good works. He did not waste his resources in personal indulgences and partying, living the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Rather, he was using his time and resources to do much good works. He was a good witness to the living and true God that he followed, the outflowing of God’s compassion that he experienced, upon others.
To be continued…