Page 100 - Job
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Job is saying is this. If, God were man, then we could meet man to man.
But as it is, I am having trouble finding an objective judge. When I take
God to court, who is going to give a fair ruling? Who is going to be the
umpire to stand between us and give a righteous judgment? He said I am
guilty before I go to court. I do not care how innocent I am. If I go against
God, I am wrong.
That is what he said in chapter 9. Not the cry of an atheist. The opposite is
true. He sees Him every place. He is the Ruler of the universe. He had this
double consciousness. The greatness of God and the corresponding
littleness of his own self. Job 10 is a prayer. That is what makes it so hot.
If he said these things about God to Bildad, that is one thing. But he says
these things about God to God, and it is daring.
I used to think the most daring prayer in the Bible was in Habakkuk. In
chapter 3 Habakkuk dares to tell God that he disagreed with Him. Oh, I
tell you what Job says to God is more daring. Job does something here
that is almost shocking. All through the Bible you see God searching
man. God coming in with a light, and looking through my heart. Here, Job
searches God. In this chapter he is looking for some clue as to why he is
going through what he is going through, and so Job dares to search the
mind of God. His conclusions are pathetic.
He asks five questions. What I will do is just get the questions before you
and not discuss them too much. They are not much to discuss. Then, when
we finish we will draw some applications. Chapter 10:1-3, here is the
question. Are You enjoying this, God? Do You enjoy seeing the wicked
prosper and the righteous squirm. If you look at the margin, you will see
how the word is used. The word good. In verse 3,
“Is it right for You indeed to oppress, to reject the labor of Your
hands, and to look favorably on the schemes of the wicked?”
That idea “to look favorably” means, “Do You enjoy it?” That is his first
question. The second question is in chapter 10: 4–7. Have You made a
mistake? Verse 4,
“Have You eyes of flesh? Or do You see as a man sees?”
“Maybe, God, You made a mistake; You have the wrong guy. Maybe You
are righteous and only reward the righteous, but You missed on me.
Maybe You saw as man sees, and You did not really see me the right
way”. Or, he says, “Maybe You are afraid that I will get away. That I am
going to live longer than You. Have You made a mistake?” Well, in
verse 7, He rules out both of those ideas.
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