72. When God Riseth Up

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Hymns: RHC 284 Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, 283 In Times Like This, 281 There is Power in the Blood                    

Job 31:1-15

1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? 2For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? 3Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? 4Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? 5If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 6Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. 7If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; 8Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out. 9If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour’s door; 10Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her. 11For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.12For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine increase. 13If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me; 14What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? 15Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

When God Riseth Up

OUTLINE

  • Sought Preventive by Covenant (v1-2)
  • Sought Purity Understanding God’s Judgment for Sin (v3-4)
  • Sought Truthfulness and Fleeing Deceit (v5-6)
  • Sought Indictment rather than living in Hypocrisy (v7-8)

INTRODUCTION

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But there are wicked men like Judas Iscariot who also confessed sin. Theirs was not true confession, observed Thomas Watson, in his book, “The Doctrine of Repentance”. He said well, “But for the truly repentant, his confession is self-accusing: “
Lo, I have sinned” (2 Samuel 24:17). And the truth is that by this self-accusing we prevent Satan’s accusing. In our confessions we tax ourselves with pride, infidelity, passion, so that when Satan, who is called “the accuser of the brethren”, shall lay these things to our charge, God will say, ‘They have accused themselves already; therefore, Satan, thou are non-suited; thy accusations come too late.’ The humble sinner does more than accuse himself; he, as it were, sits in judgment and passes sentence upon himself. He confesses that he has deserved to be bound over to the wrath of God.” Job was one such man who sought to make right with God and live by the righteousness that God imputed upon him through His Christ. 

Job gave this statement of confession that he feared God. He sought to make right with God knowing that he is a sinner, he is saved by the grace of God, and continue to subsist under God still by the grace of God –What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him? 

This is the reason for God to say in Job 1:8-9 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there isnone like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

The rest of it is the enacting of God’s pronouncement of Job in the temptation that Job was brought to go through. God is the one who pronounced Job not guilty and yet Job himself has the responsibility of clearing himself before God and men that he is not guilty. God was right concerning his servant – 6Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. He was subjected to careful scrutiny that he may be approved!

He understood well the danger of falling into God’s judgment by refusing God’s counsel as the Proverbs delineates well – Proverbs 1:23-33 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore, shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Job does not live the life of a scorner; his heart was tender to the Lord’s reproof. He yielded himself daily to a time of devotion, rising up early each day. 

Job 1:5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings accordingto the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

He sought God with his heart, soul, mind and strength. 

1 John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us oursins, 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.

John 14:21 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.

He sought God with his heart, soul, mind and strength. 

1 John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us oursins, 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.

John 14:21 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.

He sought God with his heart, soul, mind and strength. 

1 John 1:9-10 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us oursins, 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.

John 14:21 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.

These verses characterize Job’s life. There is a holy fear in his heart lest God riseth up against him in judgment.

And despite his calamity, he was still able to testifed of his integrity before God and men.

  • Sought Preventive by Covenant (v1-2)
  • Sought Purity Understanding God’s Judgment for Sin (v3-4)
  • Sought Truthfulness and Fleeing Deceit (v5-6)
  • Sought Indictment rather than living in Hypocrisy (v7-8)
  • Sought Preventive by Covenant (v1-2)

1 I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? 2For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

He made a covenant with God that he will not yield to the lust of the eyes. He made self-check and sought by the promise of God’s grace to overcome every temptation to take advantage of his maid-servants. 

The lusts of the flesh, and the love of the world, are the two fatal rocks on which multitudes split; against these Job protests he was always careful to stand upon his guard. [Matthew Henry]

Job understood well the movement to sin and sought God’s grace to overcome.

1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God isfaithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

He understood the motions of sin and sought to protect himself from yielding to temptation – lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil was his prayer.

James 1:13-16 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Temptation is the enticement to sin. Its lure, its attraction, its seduction, its draw, its pull, its invitation, its bait, its decoy, its snare, its trap is to be understood for the protection of God’s people. Its undesirable desire, its “irresistible” urge, the itch, the impulse, the inclination are to be studied carefully as a siren song, as a warning to its dire consequences. As a piece of advice, godly council, lest we veer off course and suffer for it, paying a high price, shipwrecking our lives.

Solomon gave this solemn warning as a father’s concern for the well-being, protection and care of his beloved son, as James addressed us as his beloved brethren:

Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Gary Brady said in his book “Heavenly Wisdom”, “Sin speaks so affably, so convivially, so genially…how agreeable and attractive it sounds…there is great deal of apparent friendliness on the broad road to destruction. What camaraderie!”[1]

The nature or the temper of the fallen man in us has to be understood for our eternal benefit so that we can wage a good warfare for our protection.

What the reasons were which, in this matter, he was governed by. It was not for fear of reproach among men, though that is to be considered (Proverbs 6:33), but for fear of the wrath and curse of God. He knew very well that uncleanness is a sin that forfeits all good, and shuts us out from the hope of it (v2): What portion of God is there from above?What blessing can such impure sinners expect from the pure and holy God, or what token of his favour? What inheritance of the Almighty can they look for from on high? There is no portion, no inheritance, no true happiness, for a soul, but what is in God, in the Almighty, and what comes from above, from on high. Those that wallow in uncleanness render themselves utterly unfit for communion with God, either in grace here or in glory hereafter, and become allied to unclean spirits, which are for ever separated from him; and then what portion, what inheritance, can they have with God? No unclean thing shall enter into the New Jerusalem, that holy city. [Matthew Henry]

  • Sought Purity Understanding God’s Judgment for Sin (v3-4)

3Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?4Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

He understood that God judged men after their sins. He knows he will not escape God’s eye for every sin that he commits. Therefore, with fear and trembling, he sought to live a holy life before God and men.

He understood Solomon’s warning in Proverbs 1:22-33. 

1. You are in dangerous territory when you think you can’t fall. 

2. Your temptations seek to overtake you or defeat you. 

3. God never abandons you in temptations due to His faithfulness. 

4. God never permits any temptation to go beyond what you are able.

5. God always makes in every temptation a way to escape.

6. God always limit every temptation so that you will be able to bear it.

God, not only is not the source of temptation, but He is the source of strength to withstand temptation!

And so, this first thought takes away all excuses from us to show us that we are culpable when we choose to sin! As such, Job sought by the grace of God to a life of purity – Matthew 5:8 Blessed arethe pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Psalm 1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

Proverbs 13:21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed. 

  • Sought Truthfulness and Fleeing Deceit (v5-6)

5If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; 6Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. 

Honesty is the best policy. This was Job’s life. He walked not in deceit but with truthfulness knowing that God sees his every action.

Proverbs 11:1 A false balance isabomination to the LORD: but a just weight ishis delight.

Proverbs 11:1 offers the hearer two contrasting thoughts. The first part describes what is wrong and the second, the correct. The reference to the action is whether it pleases the Lord. Using deceit to gain is not good in the eyes of the Lord. Although no man may see, God sees. This proverb reminds us that God hates deceit. 

“A gentleman jumping from a bus in the city of New York, dropped his pocket-book, and had gone some distance before he discovered his loss; then hastily returning, inquired of every passenger whom he met, if a pocket-book had been seen. Finally, meeting a little girl ten years old, to whom he made the same inquiry, she asked: ‘What kind of a pocket-book?’ ‘Is this it?’ ‘Yes, that is mine.’ He opened the book, counted the notes, and examined the papers. ‘They are all right,’ said he; ‘Had they fallen into other hands, I might never have seen them again. Take, then, my little girl, this note of a thousand dollars, as a reward for your honesty, and a lesson to me to be more careful in future.’ ‘No’, said the girl, ‘I cannot take it. I have been taught at Sunday school not to keep what is not mine, and my parents would not be pleased if I took the note home; they might suppose I had stolen it.’ ‘Well, then, my girl, show me where your parents live.’ The girl took him to a humble place in an obscure street, rude but cleanly. He informed the parents of the case. They told him their child had acted correctly.” 

The girl’s family was poor, it was true, but their pastor had always told them not to set their hearts on rich gifts. The gentlemen told them they must take it, and he was convinced they would make a good use of it, from the principle they had professed. The pious parents then blessed their benefactor. They paid their debts, which had disturbed their peace, and the benevolent giver furnished the husband and father employment in his occupation as a carpenter, enabling him to rear an industrious family in comparative happiness. This little girl became the wife of a respectable tradesman of New York, and had reason to rejoice that she was taught aright in early life and practiced what she learned. 

He who says there is no such thing as an honest man, you may be sure, is himself a false deceitful fellow. Cicero believed that nothing is useful that is not honest when he said, ‘He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely; but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.’ Another worthy advice from a godly man, ‘In all your dealings with your neighbour treat him generously – ‘good measure, pressed down and running over’ – and you will not lose by it at the end.’” 

The years in captivity had caused Israel to forsake God’s laws. The basic trait of integrity was sold for filthy lucre. The Jews in Jerusalem were slack in their giving towards the support of the Temple. The Levites and the singers had to work in the fields. Although Nehemiah was not a leader of the Temple, he was courageous as a layman to rebuke the Jews confronting them with their sin of withholding their tithes when he recorded “Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place” (Neh 13:11). 

Honesty is praised, but left to shiver?Heavenly Father, give me courage to be honest. 

 “The integrity of the upright shall guide them.” 

A young man had volunteered, and was expecting daily to be conscripted. One day his mother gave him an unpaid bill together with some money, and asked him to pay it. When he returned home at night, she said: “Did you pay that bill?” “I really don’t remember, mother; you know I’ve had so many things on my mind.” “But you said you did.” “Well,” he answered, “If I said I did, I did.” 

He went away, and his mother took the bill herself to the shop. The young man had been in town all his life, and what opinion was held of him this will show. “I am quite sure,” she said, “that my son paid this some days ago. He has been busy since, and has quite forgotten about it; but he told me that he had, and says if he said then that he had, he is quite sure he did.” “Well,” said the man, “I forgot about it; but if he ever said he did, he did.” Was that not a grand character to have? His word was trusted! 

Honesty is the best policy. But no man can be upright amid the various temptations of life unless he is honest for righteousness’ sake for it pleases his Lord. Dear friends, in the long run, character is better than capital. 

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Help me, Lord, to build an honest character that glorifies Your Name. 

Honesty is a fine jewel, but much out of fashion. Grant to me, Lord, the passion of being truthful was Job’s constant prayer.

To be continued…

Proverbs 11:1 A false balance isabomination to the LORD: but a just weight ishis delight.

Proverbs 11:1 offers the hearer two contrasting thoughts. The first part describes what is wrong and the second, the correct. The reference to the action is whether it pleases the Lord. Using deceit to gain is not good in the eyes of the Lord. Although no man may see, God sees. This proverb reminds us that God hates deceit. 

“A gentleman jumping from a bus in the city of New York, dropped his pocket-book, and had gone some distance before he discovered his loss; then hastily returning, inquired of every passenger whom he met, if a pocket-book had been seen. Finally, meeting a little girl ten years old, to whom he made the same inquiry, she asked: ‘What kind of a pocket-book?’ ‘Is this it?’ ‘Yes, that is mine.’ He opened the book, counted the notes, and examined the papers. ‘They are all right,’ said he; ‘Had they fallen into other hands, I might never have seen them again. Take, then, my little girl, this note of a thousand dollars, as a reward for your honesty, and a lesson to me to be more careful in future.’ ‘No’, said the girl, ‘I cannot take it. I have been taught at Sunday school not to keep what is not mine, and my parents would not be pleased if I took the note home; they might suppose I had stolen it.’ ‘Well, then, my girl, show me where your parents live.’ The girl took him to a humble place in an obscure street, rude but cleanly. He informed the parents of the case. They told him their child had acted correctly.” 

The girl’s family was poor, it was true, but their pastor had always told them not to set their hearts on rich gifts. The gentlemen told them they must take it, and he was convinced they would make a good use of it, from the principle they had professed. The pious parents then blessed their benefactor. They paid their debts, which had disturbed their peace, and the benevolent giver furnished the husband and father employment in his occupation as a carpenter, enabling him to rear an industrious family in comparative happiness. This little girl became the wife of a respectable tradesman of New York, and had reason to rejoice that she was taught aright in early life and practiced what she learned. 

He who says there is no such thing as an honest man, you may be sure, is himself a false deceitful fellow. Cicero believed that nothing is useful that is not honest when he said, ‘He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely; but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.’ Another worthy advice from a godly man, ‘In all your dealings with your neighbour treat him generously – ‘good measure, pressed down and running over’ – and you will not lose by it at the end.’” 

The years in captivity had caused Israel to forsake God’s laws. The basic trait of integrity was sold for filthy lucre. The Jews in Jerusalem were slack in their giving towards the support of the Temple. The Levites and the singers had to work in the fields. Although Nehemiah was not a leader of the Temple, he was courageous as a layman to rebuke the Jews confronting them with their sin of withholding their tithes when he recorded “Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place” (Neh 13:11). 

Honesty is praised, but left to shiver?Heavenly Father, give me courage to be honest. 

 “The integrity of the upright shall guide them.” 

A young man had volunteered, and was expecting daily to be conscripted. One day his mother gave him an unpaid bill together with some money, and asked him to pay it. When he returned home at night, she said: “Did you pay that bill?” “I really don’t remember, mother; you know I’ve had so many things on my mind.” “But you said you did.” “Well,” he answered, “If I said I did, I did.” 

He went away, and his mother took the bill herself to the shop. The young man had been in town all his life, and what opinion was held of him this will show. “I am quite sure,” she said, “that my son paid this some days ago. He has been busy since, and has quite forgotten about it; but he told me that he had, and says if he said then that he had, he is quite sure he did.” “Well,” said the man, “I forgot about it; but if he ever said he did, he did.” Was that not a grand character to have? His word was trusted! 

Honesty is the best policy. But no man can be upright amid the various temptations of life unless he is honest for righteousness’ sake for it pleases his Lord. Dear friends, in the long run, character is better than capital. 

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Help me, Lord, to build an honest character that glorifies Your Name. 

Honesty is a fine jewel, but much out of fashion. Grant to me, Lord, the passion of being truthful was Job’s constant prayer.

Proverbs 11:1 A false balance isabomination to the LORD: but a just weight ishis delight.

Proverbs 11:1 offers the hearer two contrasting thoughts. The first part describes what is wrong and the second, the correct. The reference to the action is whether it pleases the Lord. Using deceit to gain is not good in the eyes of the Lord. Although no man may see, God sees. This proverb reminds us that God hates deceit. 

“A gentleman jumping from a bus in the city of New York, dropped his pocket-book, and had gone some distance before he discovered his loss; then hastily returning, inquired of every passenger whom he met, if a pocket-book had been seen. Finally, meeting a little girl ten years old, to whom he made the same inquiry, she asked: ‘What kind of a pocket-book?’ ‘Is this it?’ ‘Yes, that is mine.’ He opened the book, counted the notes, and examined the papers. ‘They are all right,’ said he; ‘Had they fallen into other hands, I might never have seen them again. Take, then, my little girl, this note of a thousand dollars, as a reward for your honesty, and a lesson to me to be more careful in future.’ ‘No’, said the girl, ‘I cannot take it. I have been taught at Sunday school not to keep what is not mine, and my parents would not be pleased if I took the note home; they might suppose I had stolen it.’ ‘Well, then, my girl, show me where your parents live.’ The girl took him to a humble place in an obscure street, rude but cleanly. He informed the parents of the case. They told him their child had acted correctly.” 

The girl’s family was poor, it was true, but their pastor had always told them not to set their hearts on rich gifts. The gentlemen told them they must take it, and he was convinced they would make a good use of it, from the principle they had professed. The pious parents then blessed their benefactor. They paid their debts, which had disturbed their peace, and the benevolent giver furnished the husband and father employment in his occupation as a carpenter, enabling him to rear an industrious family in comparative happiness. This little girl became the wife of a respectable tradesman of New York, and had reason to rejoice that she was taught aright in early life and practiced what she learned. 

He who says there is no such thing as an honest man, you may be sure, is himself a false deceitful fellow. Cicero believed that nothing is useful that is not honest when he said, ‘He that walketh uprightly, walketh surely; but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.’ Another worthy advice from a godly man, ‘In all your dealings with your neighbour treat him generously – ‘good measure, pressed down and running over’ – and you will not lose by it at the end.’” 

The years in captivity had caused Israel to forsake God’s laws. The basic trait of integrity was sold for filthy lucre. The Jews in Jerusalem were slack in their giving towards the support of the Temple. The Levites and the singers had to work in the fields. Although Nehemiah was not a leader of the Temple, he was courageous as a layman to rebuke the Jews confronting them with their sin of withholding their tithes when he recorded “Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place” (Neh 13:11). 

Honesty is praised, but left to shiver?Heavenly Father, give me courage to be honest. 

 “The integrity of the upright shall guide them.” 

A young man had volunteered, and was expecting daily to be conscripted. One day his mother gave him an unpaid bill together with some money, and asked him to pay it. When he returned home at night, she said: “Did you pay that bill?” “I really don’t remember, mother; you know I’ve had so many things on my mind.” “But you said you did.” “Well,” he answered, “If I said I did, I did.” 

He went away, and his mother took the bill herself to the shop. The young man had been in town all his life, and what opinion was held of him this will show. “I am quite sure,” she said, “that my son paid this some days ago. He has been busy since, and has quite forgotten about it; but he told me that he had, and says if he said then that he had, he is quite sure he did.” “Well,” said the man, “I forgot about it; but if he ever said he did, he did.” Was that not a grand character to have? His word was trusted! 

Honesty is the best policy. But no man can be upright amid the various temptations of life unless he is honest for righteousness’ sake for it pleases his Lord. Dear friends, in the long run, character is better than capital. 

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. Help me, Lord, to build an honest character that glorifies Your Name. 

Honesty is a fine jewel, but much out of fashion. Grant to me, Lord, the passion of being truthful was Job’s constant prayer.

To be continued…

[1]Gary Brady, Heavenly Wisdom, Evangelical Press, 2003, 43.