77. When God Riseth Up (6)

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Hymns: RHC 419 Take My Life and Let It Be, 428 I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, 382 I Would Be True

Job 31:29-34

29If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 30Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. 31If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. 32The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller.  33If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: 34Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, andwent not out of the door? 

When God Riseth Up (6)

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)
  • Sought Indictment for Adultery (v9-12)
  • Sought Indictment for Oppressing Servants (v13-15)
  • Sought Indictment for Oppressing the Poor (v16-23)
  • Sought Indictment for Trusting in Material Possessions (v24-25)
  • Sought Indictment for Idolatry (v26-28)
  • Sought Indictment for being vindictive towards enemy (v29-30)
  • Sought Indictment for not extending hospitality to strangers (v31-32)
  • Sought Indictment for hypocrisy for hiding his sins (v33-34)

Continue…

(10) Sought Indictment for being vindictive towards enemy (v29-30)

29If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: 30Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul.

The clear teaching of God’s Word adhered to by Job in Proverbs 24:17-18 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.

Jesus likewise instructed us the godly when in Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Indeed, Job himself understood the truth of God’s displeasure toward the untruthful person – Job 17:5 He that speaketh flattery to hisfriends, even the eyes of his children shall fail.

The psalmist likewise articulated well that we must not rejoice at the calamity of others who may not have treated us well.

Psalm 35:13-14 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing wassackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had beenmy friend orbrother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for hismother.

Psalm 35:25-26 Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up. Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselvesagainst me.

The Apostle Peter summarized well Job’s spiritual mindset when he said in  1 Peter 4:19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to himin well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

(11) Sought Indictment for not extending hospitality to strangers (v31-32)

31If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied. 32The stranger did not lodge in the street: but I opened my doors to the traveller. 

Job was a man given to hospitality. He opens his house to guests who would lodge with him. 

Romans 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

1 Peter 4:9-10 Use hospitality one to another without grudging. As every man hath received the gift, even sominister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Isaiah 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

In the parable, our Lord Jesus exhorted us to doing good in extending hospitality to others. He returns to bring His reward for His servants – Matthew 25:34-40 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave theedrink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took theein? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done itunto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done itunto me.

(12) Sought Indictment for hypocrisy for hiding his sins (v33-34)

33If I covered my transgressions as Adam, by hiding mine iniquity in my bosom: 34Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, and went not out of the door?

Adam hid from the presence of the Lord after he disobeyed God to partake the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of God and evil.

Genesis 3:7-11 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they werenaked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where artthou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I wasnaked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wastnaked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Sin causes shame. The sinner hides his guilt and fears to be exposed. God had to confront Adam to jolt him to admit his sin and to deal with his sin.

There were grave consequence to sin. Adam could not hide from God.

Genesis 3:16-19 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall beto thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed isthe ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat ofit all the days of thy life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Like the psalmist, Job lived in his integrity. He was true to his confession and faith.

Psalm 26:1 A Psalmof David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; thereforeI shall not slide.

Psalm 26:2-3 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. For thy lovingkindness isbefore mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth.

When we are opened to the search light of God’s Word when we open our Bibles and with prayer meditate upon His Word. We are helped. God guides us through His Word showing us where we have erred, how to come back to him, and the right path to take. What privilege we have as God’s people. Job could testify that life with God is well worth living even in the time of deepest calamity.

CONCLUSION

How precious we are in God’s sight. We are given the spirit of God to guide us to follow His Word. Let us be willing to follow Him. Amen.