8-6-2017 Weekly Message
The contemplation of the week: Job 38: 1-44
Text: Job 42:1-6
The title of the Word: Have You Heard Of God With Ear? Or Seen Him With Eyes?
The first written one of the 66 books of the Bible is the book of Job. Through Job, God speaks to all unregenerate Gentiles, unregenerate Jews, and those in the Church of God.
All who are born into the world are born in the midst of the death of the spirit, without the breath of life which God had given to Adam. Therefore, they are not able to see God that is Spirit only walking in the things visible with eyes; some of them spent the whole life teaching of dead God.
God chose Job, a man who was perfect and honest among the people at that time, about 4,000 years ago, who feared God and evaded evil. God allowed Satan to tempt Job for a little while. He has taken away all his children, all his possessions, and his wife from him, and puts his body in the torment of leprosy. He also sent his three friends to condemn him.
Job was a righteous man when looked at humanly, but he was still a natural man who had no Spirit of God. He heard the judgment of his friends in the midst of extreme situation under God’s permission, and his own righteousness was revealed t that was in him. Later, he cursed the day when he was born even to grumble against God.
Elihu, the spokesman of God who came with three of his friends at this time, finally told Job:
“ 8 Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of [thy] words, [saying],
9 I am clean without transgression, I [am] innocent; neither [is there] iniquity in me.
10 Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,
11 He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.
12 Behold, [in] this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.
13 Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. “(Job 33: 8-13)
Finally, God appeared to Job and said:
” 2Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instructhim? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. (Job 40: 2)
Job, who heard the voice of God, finally realized what he was before God and replied, ” 4 Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
5 Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.“(Job 40: 4-5)
God, who heard Job’s confession, again answered Job in the midst of the whirlwind:
“7 Gird up thy loins now like a man: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? (Job 40: 7-8)
In the chapters 38 and 39, Job could not answer a word about what God had asked him. There is no one in the world who can answer the questions God has asked Job. Neither scientists, philosophers, educators, politicians, nor any other person who boasts of his own degree can answer a question for God’s questions.
After hearing the words of God, Job finally confessed to God that he was a miserable sinner:
“2 I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee.
3 Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
6 Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes. “(Job 42: 2-6)
All the words of God, including the book of Job,