Will you ever see the following in a Hallmark store???

1. Will you ever see the following in a Hallmark store???

2. Eliphaz:Those who plow and sow trouble,reap it!Job 4:8.You’re getting what God knows you really deserve, Job!

3. Bildad:He is only dishing out what your secret sin deserves…If only you were pure and upright,so that He could arise for you.Job 8:4-6.If you were only more spiritual, God would be correcting this right now.

4. Zophar:If only you were more faith-filled and devote, then you could have avoided all this!Job 11:13.

5. These are some of the actually sayings that we will hear from Job’s “friends.”

7. NIV Job 4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: 2 "If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can keep from speaking? 3 Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. 4 Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. 5 But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. 6 Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? 7 "Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? 8 As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.

8. Eliphaz believes Job has deserved what has happened to him.He goes on to say that if Job repents his unrighteousness, a merciful God will take him back.

9. 5:17 [Eliphaz] "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. 18 For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.

10. NIV Job 6:1 Then Job replied: 2 "If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales!”

11. 14 "A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. 15 But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow 16 when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, 17 but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels.

12. Job pleads ignorance. He is not aware of any overt or unrepented unrighteousness.

13. 7:16 [Job continues] I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning. 17 "What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, 18 that you examine him every morning and test him every moment? 19 Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant? 20 If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you? 21 Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more."

14. Bildad pipes in that Job really knows his sin before the Lord that has caused all the trouble:

15. 8:20 "Surely God does not reject a blameless man or strengthen the hands of evildoers. 21 He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. 22 Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more."

16. Neat imagery from Bildad! A man who forgets God is like a plant without rich soil, water, or sun.

17. Job responds (9:1-22) • “How can mortal man be righteous before God?” It is a mystery left to God! • The Almighty who made the constellations (the Bear, Orion, and Pleiades) knows all about everything, even Job. • Job asserts that he has not committed a sin to deserve his suffering (9:21). • Job identifies his friends as one more form of brutal suffering in their accusations of sin to merit his suffering (10:22).

18. Zophar speaks (11:1-20): • Zophar is offended that Job claims his beliefs are flawless and he is pure in God’s sight (10:3). • If Job repents of the sins that cause this misfortune, God will restore him with “a life brighter than noonday” (11:17).

19. Job responds (12:1-14:22)sarcasm:Surely when you die, all wisdom will die with you also.”

20. Job responds (12:1-14:22) • Who can bring charges of sin against me? • Show me my offense and my sin! • If only the grave would cover me!

21. Eliphaz responds (15:1-35) • He believes Job has just shaken his fist at God to claim to be just and innocent.

22. Job responds (16:1-16) • “Miserable comforters are you all!” • “My hands are free of violence and my prayer is pure before Him.” • “Surely, mockers surround me!”

23. Bildad responds (18:1-21) • “Be sensible. We aren’t dumb livestock before you.” • Bildad says Job’s protests their counsel because he doesn’t know God.

24. Job responds (19:1-29) • Job responds that his hope is God.

25. NIV Job 19:23 "Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, 24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! 25 I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes-- I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! 28 "If you say, 'How we will hound him, since the root of the trouble lies in him,' 29 you should fear the sword yourselves; for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment."

26. Zophar responds (20:1-29) • “Though man’s pride reaches heaven, he will perish like his own dung.“ • God punishes those who try to hide their sin with false piety (like Job’s).

27. Job responds (21:1-34) • Will you teach God what should be done? • All people (good and bad) must die and face God. • How about the evil who seem to get away with their sins?

28. Eliphaz responds (22:130) • He says that Job was stingy and uncaring for others. • He claims Job has told God that He does not know what He is doing. • He says Job needs to repent to be restored. • Then Job will be able to truly say he can delight to see God’s face.

29. Job responds (23:1-17) • If Job could find God dwelling on earth, he would go to him. • But God knows all and Job humbly reveres the all-knowing God. • Injustice happens. The poor suffer. Wickedness occurs. Kings are done away with. This is a world where evil abounds and seems to go unchecked. • “Deep darkness is dawn [for the wicked].” • “The womb forgets. The worm feasts.”

30. Bildad responds (25:1-6) • 1. God is in complete control with angels enforcing order. Wickedness isn’t rampant! • 2. “How can a man ever claim to be righteous before God?” “Man is a maggot. The son of man is a worm.”

31. Job responds (26:1-31:40) • “Have you [his friends] helped the weak?” • “Who has helped you utter these words to me?” Slam! – No comfort given Job. • “I will not deny my integrity before the Lord!” • In response to Bildad -- Yes, God does eventually bring down the wicked! • “Fear of the Lord is wisdom. Shunning evil is knowledge.”

32. Job continues… • He helped the poor and unfortunate when God blessed him. • Now, they, those he helped, mock Job. • He did good to all who suffered. • He shunned the thought of adultery knowing it leads to ruin. • He was a good employer and master. • He went out of his way to help the downtrodden.

33. Job continues… • He never put his trust in his own wealth. • He never worshipped the sun or moon as a pagan. • He never gloated over his neighbor’s misfortune. • He has not been a hypocrite trying to hide the guilt of sin (common to all). • Job is now done speaking.

35. Then a fourth friend speaks, not mentioned till now.His name is Elihu.

37. Job 32:3-4. He was angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends because they condemned Job without cause.

38. NIV Job 33:3-4 “My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know. The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

39. Notice Job and Elihu contend that their peace in the presence of God validates their speech.-- I know my Redeemer lives…I will see Him how my heart years for this.--The Spirit of God gives me breath.

40. Elihu responds (32:1-37:24) • I am young but must speak. • No one has proved Job wrong. • I am like bottled up wine ready to burst out of the wineskin! • Job, no one can claim he is entirely without sin. God redeems us from the ruin of our sin so that we can rejoice to see His face (33:26-33).

41. Elihu responds (32:1-37:24) • Job is a scoundrel in their sight. • Without God, we are nothing. • God is judge over all. We cannot demand Him to do anything. • But God does not despise man. He is just. • We cannot demand mercy from God when we feel guilt ridden. His blessing is a gift on His own terms. • Elihu condemns Job because it appears that God does not care about wickedness.

42. Elihu responds (32:1-37:24) • God gives us knowledge to serve and obey Him. • God’s eyes are on the righteous to bless them. • We should consider if hardship has been caused by flagrant sin. “If man does not listen, they will perish.” • But God does great things beyond our understanding (37:5)… so that all men revere Him in His larger divine plan! (37:24).

43. Elihu states that God eventually vindicates those who look to him and stand upright before him. We all need divine patience.Elihu continues that God’s ways are sometimes beyond our finite and limited understanding as we wait.

44. But God is faithful and works all things for the good of those who look to Him for helpand make Him their hope.

45. Guess who breaks in?Guess who continues what Elihu is teaching?

47. Who darkens My counsel?

48. Irony

49. How do you darken God's day?

50. Give your opinion as divine truth