Heritage Baptist Church of Frankfort IL

The soul of the psalmist was cast down. Many reasons for the discouragement can be found in these two psalms. This type of discouragement is universal for even the greatest saints of God. The psalmist finds a bedrock connected to God to give stability to the soul.

The closing chapter of the book of Genesis contains the death of two men, Jacob and Joseph. They are were men noted for their faith, but their deaths display their confidence in God and his promises. They serve as an example for those who are coming to their closing chapter of their life.

Job's friends continue to hound him that his suffering was caused by sin. Job responds with a desire to have a hearing with God so that he could plead his innocence.

God asks Job to respond to all that God has displayed. Job calls himself a light-weight in comparison to God and shuts his mouth. God then tells Job to look at two of the chief, living things in his creation, the behemoth and the leviathan. What these creatures are is a matter of controversy. However, Job was impressed with the power of God to create and control these creatures.

God finally speaks out of the storm. He questions Job's abilities and wrong thinking. He then takes Job on a tour of the universe and all living things. Job is not capable of influencing any of those things. God can.

Elihu presents a picture of God that has been missing from the arguments of Job and his friends. God is sovereign, just, righteous, great, and always good. As a real storm brews in the background, Elihu points to the majesty of God.

Suddenly a new character appears in the book of Job. He is silent till this point, but now he soars over the arguments from before. Elihu has the best perspective of all the men previously seen. He reflects the character and actions of God and prepares these men to meet God.

Job's friends have stopped their painful helping. Job now lays out what his character is like and why God should not allow him to suffer. These are Job's closing arguments to prove to God that he is right and God might be wrong.

Job's friends are running out of arguments in trying to convince Job of his sinfulness that caused his suffering. In fact, some of the friends stop talking. Job continues his pleas with God to be heard and argue his innocence.

Job finally speaks after seven days of silence. What does the cry of a righteous man sound like after devastation. This study looks at what strong lament looks like.