June 13, 2021 - Job 14:1-14
June 13, 2021
Lessons Learned
Job 14:1-14
by Wayne Gaeddert
1. Job did not have any of the written Word of God. God has chosen to progressively reveal himself from Genesis through Revelation.
2. We need to remind ourselves that Job did not know anything about the scenes in heaven described in Job 1:6-12, 2:1-6.
3. Job’s three friends come with the purpose to sympathize and comfort Job (Job 2:11).
Eliphaz is from Teman, an important city in Edom (Gen. 36:11,15) which was apparently known for its wisdom (Jer. 49:7). ESV study notes
Bildad is from Shuah, a name of one of the sons of Abraham from his marriage to Keturah (Gen. 25:2) whose family lived in the deserts of Arabia. ESV study notes
Zophar is from Naamah, which is the name of a woman listed in the genealogy of Cain (Gen 4:22). ESV study notes
4. Job’s friends interpret Job’s suffering from a worldly point of view.
5. Job’s friends equate suffering with sin.
6. The suffering of Job forced him think about God.
7. Chapter 2—Satan engineers a second test that he believes will cause Job to curse God if Job’s flesh is subjected to sores and his bones are also effected (Job 2:5).
8. Chapter 3—After sitting in silence with his three friends for 7 days (Job 2:13) Job laments that he was born alive.
9. Chapters 4-5—Eliphaz answers Job by telling him that the innocent don’t perish (4:7) and those who practice iniquity perish by the breath of God (4:8-9). He instructs Job to seek God and commit his suffering to God (5:8-9) and concluded by saying, I tell you this for your own good (5:27).
10. Chapters 6-7—Job responds to Eliphaz. He longs for his life to end so that his suffering would be over (6:8-10). Job’s life is even more unbearable because of the empty comfort of his friend (6:14-30). Job once again lament about life (7:1-6).
11. The key to Job’s Life.
But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.
My feet have closely followed his steps;
I have kept to his way without turning aside.
I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. Job 23:10-12
12. God does not always deliver us out of suffering but intends to deliver us through suffering. Dr. Matt Capps
13. Sometimes we don’t realize God is all we need until God is all we have. Dr. Matt Capps
14. “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Cor. 15:56-57
15. “Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians. 4:13-18
16. Sheol—In Old Testament understanding, Sheol was the abode of the dead. It is described as a place of doom and darkness (Job 10:21).
Application:
Life is short in comparison to eternity, use your time on earth to prepare for the eternal.
We have much more revelation to understand the concept of life after physical death. See #15 above
A worldly view of suffering will lead to despair. God has a purpose for all that He allows. James 5:11, 1 Peter 4:19