Oh that I were in....

Preached at Glen Aros Christian Fellowship on
Sunday 14th June 2009


Let’s go to the book of Job and look at a man who lived in the land of Uz on the borders of Idumaea.

Let’s look at chapter 29:1-25

1 And Job continued the lifting up of his speech, and said,
2 Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me;
3 when His lamp shone on my head; I walked through darkness by His light;
4 as I was in the days of my harvest, when the secret of God was on my tent;
5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me;
6 when I washed my steps with curds, and the rock poured out rivers of oil for me;
7 when I went out to the gate by the city; when I prepared my seat in the street!
8 The young men saw me and hid themselves; and the aged arose and stood up.
9 The rulers held back from talking, and laid their hand on their mouth.
10 The noble's voice was subdued, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouth.
11 For the ear heard and blessed me. And the eye saw me and witnessed to me.
12 For I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him.
13 The blessing of the perishing came on me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing.
14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my judgment was like a robe and a diadem.
15 I was eyes to the blind and feet to the lame.
16 I was a father to the poor; and the cause which I did not know, I searched out.
17 I broke the fangs of the wicked, and plucked the prey out of his teeth.
18 Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days like the sand.
19 My root was open to the waters, and the dew lay all night on my branch.
20 My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.
21 They listened to me, and waited, and kept silent at my counsel.
22 After my words they did not go on; and my speech dropped on them.
23 And they waited for me like the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.
24 I smiled kindly on them when they did not believe; and they did not make the light of my face fall.
25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief; and I lived like a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.

Job is enlarging upon what He has lost.

By doing this it aggravates his present calamities!

Like Naomi, who said, ‘I went out full’, and ‘I am come home again empty’.

Most people who lose something will speak more of the comforts that they have lost, than what is still theirs. Their past prosperity often becomes one of the most pleasing subjects of their thoughts and talk.

Job is looking back to a time when God watched over him, or when God preserved his going in and his going out.

Why is The LORD not watching over him now?

Why was The LORD not preserving him now?

Look at verse 2

Oh that I were as in months past, as in the days when God watched over me;

• Oh that I were as in the months past!
• Oh that I were in the days when God watched over me!

Hang on Job; has The LORD suddenly stopped watching over you? Just because some of the things of the past have been stripped away, does that now change the character of The LORD?

Oh that I were as in the months past!
Oh that I were in the days when God watched over me! When The LORD preserved me!

Things have changed Job, that’s for sure?

But the question is; does that change the nature of God, and his plans for his life?

Look at verse 3

3 when His lamp shone on my head; I walked through darkness by His light;

• Oh for the days when the lamp shone on my head
• Oh for the days when by His light I walked through darkness.

There was a day when the lamp of God was upon Job’s head, like the light upon Moses’ face, after being up the mountain. Through this light Job was able to walk straight through darkness.

Psalm 23:4

Ps 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

Let’s read the whole psalm

Ps 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Let’s go back to John 29

Look at verse 4

4 as I was in the days of my harvest, when the secret of God was on my tent;

• In the days of Job’s harvest!
• Is this the days of Job, youth when he had discovered the joys of children.
• The secret of God was on his tent.
• His family tent, his dwelling place?
• The tent of his body?
• In any case the secret of God is upon it.
•
Look at verse 5

5 When the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me;

• When the Almighty was yet with me
• Look at this Job currently has no inward or outward evidence that would lead him to think that the Almighty was with him.

Look at the second part of verse 5

• Oh for the time when my children were around me
• Oh when my family were around me.

Job lost all his children in one day!

How difficult it is to suffer loss and still believe that the Almighty is yet with you!

Look at verse 6

6 When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;

• When I washed my steps with butter
• To be able to was his steps in butter he would have been very prosperous.

Look at the second part of verse 6
Oh for the days when the rock poured me out rivers of oil

• The rock poured out rivers of oil for Job


Look at verse 12

12 For I delivered the poor who cried for help, and the fatherless who had none to help him.

• Job delivered the poor who cried for help
• Job delivered the fatherless who had not to help him

He did well to those around him

Look at verse 8

8 The young men saw me and hid themselves; and the aged arose and stood up.

• When young men saw Job, they hid themselves
• When the aged men saw Job they arose and stood up

He was respected and honoured by all around him.

Look at verse 25

25 I chose out their way, and sat as chief; and I lived like a king in the army, as one who comforts the mourners.

• Job was one who sat as a chief, as a commander
• Job was one who lived like a king in the army
• Job was one who comforts the mourners

Job was a man who ruled not only in the city, but also in the nation.
This reminds me of the man in Matthew 8:9

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, Go! And he goes; and to another, Come! And he comes; and to my servant, Do this! And he does it.
10 When Jesus heard, He marvelled and said to those who followed, Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.

• I am a man under authority
• I am a man having soldiers under me
• I say to this one go and he goes
• I way to another come and he comes
• I say to my servant do this and he does it

When Jesus heard this

• He marvelled
• Saying to those who were following him
• Truly I say to you
• I have not found such a great faith
• No, not in Israel!

This is marvellous!

Here is Job, displaying all the characteristics which Jesus commands and more!

Let’s look at Job chapter one

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. And that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God and turned aside from evil.
2 And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters.
3 And his possessions were seven thousand sheep and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4 And his sons went and feasted in the house of each one on his day. And they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5 And when they had gone around the day of feasting, Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. So Job did always.
6 And a day came when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD. And Satan also came among them.
7 And the LORD said to Satan, From where do you come? Then Satan answered the LORD and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8 And the LORD said to Satan, Have you set your heart against My servant Job, because there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil?
9 And Satan answered the LORD and said, Does Job fear God for nothing?
10 Have You not made a hedge around him, and around his house, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his livestock have increased in the land.
11 But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face.
12 And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has is in your power. Only do not lay your hand upon him. And Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
13 And a day came when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.
14 And there came a messenger to Job and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them.
15 And the Sabeans fell on and took them away. Yea, they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword. And I only have escaped alone to tell you.
16 While he was still speaking, there also came another and said, The fire of God has fallen from the heavens and has burned up the sheep and the servants, and destroyed them. And I only have escaped alone to tell you.
17 While he was still speaking, there also came another and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands and swooped down upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and have killed the servants with the edge of the sword. And I only have escaped alone to tell you.
18 While he was still speaking, there also came another and said, Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house.
19 And, behold, a great wind came from the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead. And I only have escaped alone to tell you.
20 And Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshiped.
21 And he said, I came naked out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly.

Look at verse one

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. And that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God and turned aside from evil.

• Job was perfect
• Job was upright
• Job feared God
• Job turned aside from evil

What a marvellous man!

Look what happened to Job

12-19

Read it out.

How is Job going to respond to all this loss?

Look at verse 20-22

Job 1:20 And Job arose, and tore his robe, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground and worshiped.
21 And he said, I came naked out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.
22 In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly.

• Job tore his robe, his outward garment!
• Job shaved his head,
• Job fell down upon the ground and worshiped
• Job said Naked I came out of my mothers womb
• Job said Naked shall I return there
• The LORD gave
• The LORD has taken away
• Blessed be the name of the LORD
• Job in all this did not sin!
• Job in all this did not charge God foolishly

What a Marvellous man!

Let’s look at James 5:7

Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

Look at verse 11

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

• You have heard of the patience of Job
• You have seen the end of the LORD
• You have seen that the LORD is very pitiful
• You have seen that the LORD is of tender mercy

James has just condemned the rich lords in the first few verses and now exhorts the brethren.

Look at Verse 7
Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waited for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

• Be patient Brethren until the coming of the LORD

Verse 8

8 Be ye also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh

• Be you also patient
• Take time to establish your hearts
• Why?
• The coming of the LORD draws near
•
Verse 9

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

• Grudge not one against another
• Least you end up being condemned
• The judge stands ready before the door.

Verse 10

Jas 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

• Take as your example brethren
• The prophets who have spoken in the name of the LORD
• Take them as examples of
• Suffering affliction
• Take them as examples of Patience

Verse 11

Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

• Behold
• We count them happy who endure
• Those who by the lamp of God upon their head walk on through the darkness
• You have head of the patience of Job
• You have seen the end of the LORD with regard Job
• How the LORD was very pitiful
• How the LORD was of tender mercy

What a marvellous man.

Like Naomi, who said, ‘I went out full’, and ‘I am come home again empty’.

She like Job encountered many changes in her life, with great loss, and yet through it all Naomi came to fear God in a deeper way.

It is through loss, sometimes great loss that we learn deeply

It is through change and great change in our lives that we learn deeply

Ahead of us all is great change, and it may involve loss.

A sheep needing sheared of its winter wool and goes through much change in the process of sheering, but after the experience the sheep is grateful for the shepherd’s tender care. When the summer heat arrives how freely it can move and skip and enjoy what the shepherd has expertly prepared for.

Let me finish with this passage from Mark 8

Jesus is opening up his message to his disciples and introducing them to things they have never even thought of up to this point in their relationship with him.

Mr 8:31 And He began to teach them that the Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
32 And He spoke that saying openly. And Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him.
33 But when He had turned around and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Go behind Me, Satan! For you do not mind the things of God, but of the things of men.
34 And calling near the crowd with His disciples, He said to them, Whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
35 For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, he shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Therefore whoever shall be ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man shall also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.

Look at verse 35

35 For whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, he shall save it.

• If you try and save your life
• You will lose it
• But if you are willing to lose your life for Jesus sake
• And for the Gospel’s you will save it.

Be willing to suffer lose and you will get it back

Look at verse 34

34 And calling near the crowd with His disciples, He said to them, whoever will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

• If you want to come after Jesus
• You will have to deny yourself
• You will have to take up your cross
• And follow Him.

Look at verse 33

33 But when He had turned around and looked on His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, Go behind Me, Satan! For you do not mind the things of God, but of the things of men.

• Jesus says to Peter
• Go behind Me, Satan!
• What was Peter doing
• Something very simple you would think
• He did not mind the things of God
• Instead you mind the things of Man

Peter was simply finding more tasty, the things of Men!

Let the things of God become tastier to you.