Page 138 - Reading Job to Know God

myself in Job’s place. What must it have been like for Job to hear these
questions? Then, after we see the facts I am going to get straight to the
answer. The full answer to the problem of suffering, illustrated by this
tremendous speech.
Now, as I give this I am determined to stick with the book of Job. I was
tempted to give you a science lesson because of God’s abundant mention
of nature; the heavenly bodies, the animals, their migratory habits, their
feeding habits, etc. I have studied much of the natural history with the
many books I have in my library. I invite you to do the same at your own
leisure. But for this particular course we are going to try to stick with Job
and the illustrations God gives.
All right, let me give some of these overwhelming facts and lay them
before you. Try to put yourself in Job’s place if you can. He is exhausted
from affliction. He is weary from all the debates. He is frustrated to the
nth degree because of the confusion and the perplexity in his mind. He
doesn’t know what’s going on. He has challenged God and all of a
sudden, God shows up! And now the Lord Almighty says, “Come on out
and fight like a man and gird up your loins”. So he stands trembling in the
presence of God and God begins. Chapter 38:4–6,
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding who set its measurements?
Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its
bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone?”
Job, you were not around when I laid the foundation of the earth and hung
it in the sky. I did not need you then, Job. And then verse 7,

“When the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God
shouted for joy?”
You see, Job, there were beings that were glorious and bright existing
before you were created. In order to drive this home, I am going to ask
you to turn for a moment to Ezra chapter 3 verse 10,
“Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the
LORD, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the
Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD
according to the directions of King David of Israel. They sang,
praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, ‘For He is good,
for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.’ And all the people
shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the
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