DON T LET SUFFERING SEPARATE YOU Job 27:1-7
Introduction We ve been studying suffering through the testimony of Job It comes to all of us We can get through it in a way that brings glory to God It may not be easy sometimes even unbearable God does not abandon us
Introduction Job kept his trust in God through all of it As we saw last week, God is our redeemer He will be faithful at all times One thing we see from Job s life experiences spiritual integrity Turn to Job Chapter 27
Introduction What is integrity? "steadfast adherence to a strict moral code." Synonyms--honesty, honor, character and dignity This seems to be missing in the world we find ourselves today Solomon spoke of its importance
Proverbs 11:3 3 The integrity of the upright will guide them, But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
Introduction Today, as we look at Chapter 27, Job has reached his limit with his friends Eliphaz: "Who ever perished, being innocent?" Job, you are guilty of some major sin! Job 4:7 Bildad: "God does not cast away perfect men." Job, you are a liar, and insincere. Otherwise God would not be treating you like He is. Job 8:20
Introduction Zophar: "Job, you are full of talk, and lies." Pretty plain, and pretty untrue! Job 11:2-3 Eliphaz again: "That thou turnest thy spirit against God." Job, you have attacked God! Job 15:13 Bildad, round two: "The light of the wicked shall be put out." Job, God is soon going to kill you! Job 18:5
Introduction Now they have become silent They have made up their minds that Job is guilty of grievous sin and just won t admit it They tried to be his holy spirit Job gives his final answer to them
Job 27:1-6 1 Moreover Job continued his discourse, and said: 2 "As God lives, who has taken away my justice, And the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, 3 As long as my breath is in me, And the breath of God in my nostrils, 4 My lips will not speak wickedness, Nor my tongue utter deceit. 5 Far be it from me That I should say you are right; Till I die I will not put away
Job 27:1-6 my integrity from me. 6 My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.
Job s integrity is not diminished Job shares one of the "rules" by which he lives! Job will not bend his integrity He will not give in to the pressure of the common theology of the day He will not give in to the pressure of his friends
Job s integrity is not diminished He will not give in to that which is a lie he will hold to the truth Never! Never let go to that which is right and true We all love happy endings What the world defines as a happy ending falls short of God s ideal
Job s integrity is not diminished Job s happy ending is confidence and trust in the sovereign power of God to redeem his life That's why he will hold fast to his righteousness He will not be swayed by the pressures around him
Job 13:15 15 Though He slay me, I will hope in Him
Job s integrity paradox He accused God for his situation Believed God had abandoned him But, he still knew that somehow God was just In chapter 1, he had commented we must accept bad from God with the same faith we accept good
Job s integrity paradox If it be the Almighty who has troubled us, surely he can also comfort us. He that is strong to sink is also strong to save. If he be almighty to embitter, he must also be almighty to sweeten. Oh, yes, that word Almighty cuts both ways! It makes us tremble, and so it kills our pride; but it also makes us hope, and so it slays our despair. (Spurgeon)
Job s integrity paradox This goes against what his friends were advocating Goes against much of what the world and even some believers teach today But, it bears witness to a life that it committed to trusting God no matter what No wonder God bragged on him
Job chooses to bridle his tongue No matter what happens, he will not turn on God This is his choice This is an act of his will This reflects a heart for God
For us We must decide how we will react to suffering today We must examine our hearts because suffering can be a consequence of our sins We must listen and trust truth more than our friends God does not change
For us Trust and love for God is a picture of where we really are with Him To say we trust Him and not live that way makes us hypocrites We must be honest with ourselves and Him He will be all we need
Remember