Explore the Bible Lesson Preview June 23, 2013 Whom Can I Trust? Background: Job 22:1 28:28 Lesson: Job 28:1-4, 12-13, 15-16, 20-23, 26-28

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview June 23, 2013 Whom Can I Trust? Background: Job 22:1 28:28 Lesson: Job 28:1-4, 12-13, 15-16, 20-23, Motivation: God is aware of our every need! We may not always feel His presence or sense His help; but, He is still with us. (Heb. 13:5) Examination: I. An Appeal to Justice, Part 3 (Job 22:1 24:25) A. Three wrong assumptions were made by Eliphaz: (22:1-30) 1. He assumes to know the mind of God (1-4) Does it delight the Almighty if you are righteous? (3) One can be logical from a human perspective while being absolutely wrong from God s perspective. Clearly, God does take pleasure in the right behavior of His children (Phil. 2:5). 2. He assumes to know Job s personal life (5-20) Isn t your wickedness abundant, and aren t your iniquities endless? (5) We must be very careful not to be quick to judge another s actions. 3. He assumes that Job needs to turn back to God (21-30) Come to terms with God and be at peace; in this way good will come to you. (21) How quick are we to counsel a person, Just pray about it or Turn from your sin and all will be well. Sometimes we are so quick to answer that we never understand the question. His 1 / 7

2 description of repentance (21-25), is right on target. (Isa. 57:15-18) B. Three right assumptions by Job: (23:1 24:25) 1. He assumes that God is just There an upright man could reason with Him, and I would escape from my Judge forever. (7) Job s main frustration is his inability to get an answer from God (cf. 3, 5, 13:24) Verses 8-10 show that Job believes God is aware of his circumstances; Job feels that if he could only plead his case directly, he would emerge as pure gold (10). Jude 24-25; Prov. 14:2; 1 Pet. 5:2 2. Job assumes that God s character has not changed. But He is unchangeable; who can oppose Him? (13) God is the same as when Job was prosperous. (Heb. 13:8, 6:17-20) 3. Job assumes that God will judge in His time (24:18-24) Even with all his problems, and the seeming prosperity of wicked men, Job is confident that God will set things right. (Heb. 10:16-18) II. An Appeal to Tradition, Part 3 (Job 25:1 27:23) A. Bildad s Third Speech (25:1-6) Opposing wisdom is losing momentum! Zophar has no speech in this section and Bildad says only a few words concerning God s power that do not apply directly to Job. B. Job s Response (26:1-27:23) 1. God is Powerful (26) 2 / 7

3 a. Power over death (5-6) Sheol is naked before God (6) b. Power of creation (7-13a) He laid out the horizon on the surface of the waters (10) c. Power over evil (13b) His hand pierced the fleeing serpent HCSB, p. 854: 26:12-13 God s power and wisdom were evident in His control over the primal sea with its mighty creatures. Stirred may also be translated stilled (Jr 50:34). The reference to God destroying Rahab and the fleeing serpent counters ancient cosmologies in which mythical deities conquered chaos at creation. Job underscored the fact that Yahweh alone is God and the controller of everything (9:13-14; Ps 74:13; 89:10). 2. Job is Innocent (27:1-6) 3. The Guilty will be Punished (7-23) HCSB, p. 854: 27:13-23 Job displayed his understanding of the wicked man s lot, which his friends had described. (Matt. 16:2; Luke 12:20; Rom. 8:24-25) a. Destruction of Descendants (13-15) b. Loss of Possessions (16-18) c. Unpleasant death (19-23) 3 / 7

4 III. The Source of Wisdom (Job 28:1-28) A. What We Seek (1-2) Surely there is a mine for silver and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the ground, and copper is smelted from ore. Job lists the precious metals of his day: 1. Gold 2. Silver 3. Iron/Copper B. How We Seek (3-11) It s amazing to see the technology present centuries before King David. Mining was very sophisticated with torch lighted shafts (3), miners suspended by rope (4), use of fire to crack hard stone (5), mining for lapis lazuli (6), channel cutting in rock (10), and diverting water courses to open up new veins of precious ore (11). Job s point seemed to be that humanity goes to great lengths to find precious metals, but is rather casual about determining truth. C. Why We Seek (12-13) But where can wisdom be found, and where is understanding located? No man can know its value, since it cannot be found in the land of the living. 1. Wisdom is not as easily found as the physical things we treasure. The ocean depths say, It s not in me, while the sea declares, I don t have it. (14) (cf. Prov. 1:20-33) 2. Wisdom is not as easily valued as the physical things we treasure. Gold cannot 4 / 7

5 be exchanged for it, and silver cannot be weighed out for its price. Wisdom cannot be valued in the gold of Ophir, in precious onyx or sapphire. Gold and glass do not compare with it, and articles of fine gold cannot be exchanged for it. (15-17) 3. Wisdom is derived from God alone. Where then does wisdom come from, and where is understanding located? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing and concealed from the birds of the sky. Abaddon and Death say, We have heard news of it with our ears. But God understands the way to wisdom, and He knows its location. (20-23) HCSB ; p. 856: 28:20-22 Wisdom (v. 12) is unseen by all creatures (see v. 7), living and dead (Lk 16:19-31). Abaddon and Death (here personified) have only heard of it. Seeing and hearing are often paired in the Bible (42:6; cp. Is. 64:4; 1 Co 2:9). 4. Wisdom Results in the Fear of the Lord. For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. When God fixed the weight of the wind and limited the water by measure, when He established a limit for the rain and a path for the lightning, He considered wisdom and evaluated it; He established it and examined it. He said to mankind, The fear of the Lord is this: wisdom. And to turn from evil is understanding. (24-28) HCSB; p. 856: 28 :28 God reveals to man what neither man nor creatures can find out on their own: wisdom resides with God, and man acts wisely when he follows God s standards and shuns evil (Dt 4:5-6; Ps 111:10; Pr 1:7; 9:10). Application: 1. Wrong assumptions lead to wrong attitudes and wrong judgments. (Ps. 19:12-13) 5 / 7

6 2. God s awareness of us should encourage our faith and trust. (Ps. 119:1, 12:2, 106:3, 5:12, 112:2; Prov. 10:6, 20:7, 28:20; Matt. 5:3) 3. True wisdom can only come from God and should produce actions pleasing to God. Explore the Bible Leader Pack Item 8: Poster: Value Biblical Illustrator: p. 74, Precious Metals **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: Dates: 5/30-8/1 MetroLIVE in worship center; 6/9-10 SBC Pastor s GRB; 6/ So. Bapt. Convention@ GRB; 6/12 - Camp Reflection Party; 6/16 Father s Day; 6/16 SPF Father s Day Luncheon in FSC; 6/22 Men: Serve; 6/24-28 VBS; 7/4 Holiday, church offices closed; 7/6 Men: Pray; 7/7-11 Houston Project; 7/17 RUSH Rally/Prayer time; 7/15-19 SWOC; 6 / 7

7 7/20-27 RUSH Week, Branson; 7/ Unique Student Ministry Conf.; 7/26 Family Mission Trip; 7/31 Summer Celebration, students; 8/2-3 Milestone: Adolescence Welcome to 6 th grade; 8/3 New 6 th Grade parents Milestone; 8/3 Inspirational Writers Conf.; 8/10 Children s Ministry Summit; 8/16 Hunt Retreat Grand Opening; 8/18 BIG Sunday Students; 8/19 FBA Orientation; 8/20 First Day of School, FBA; 8/23 Students Back to School Event; 8/24 Men: Serve; 8/25 Back 2 School (Promo) Sunday; 8/28 Next Gen Family Fun Event. 7 / 7