Let us pray.
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Our loving heavenly Father,
thank You for the privilege
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of approaching Your throne.
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Not in our merits,
but in the powerful merits
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of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
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As we look at the
world, we see so many things
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that are going wrong.
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So much evil, so much crime.
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So many natural disasters.
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And this has led
people to say, "Where is God?"
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I ask, Father, that as
we study the answer to this
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very important question that
You will guide us through the
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ministry of Your Holy Spirit.
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Help us to understand the
message of the book of Job;
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a story that not
only has past relevance,
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but future relevance as well.
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And we thank You
for hearing our prayer.
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For we ask it in
Jesus' name, amen.
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The book of Job is the
most ancient book of the Bible.
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It is actually a
literary masterpiece.
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It was written by Moses...
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...approximately 1500
years before Jesus was born.
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But it actually tells
the story of a patriarch
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who lived about 500 years
before Moses wrote the book
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in the early patriarchal age.
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The book is composed,
first of all, of prose;
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the first two chapters.
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And then from chapter 3 all the
way through chapter 42 verse 7
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it's written in poetry.
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And finally, in chapter 42
and verse 8 through verse 17,
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once again it returns to prose.
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Now this book has
confused many theologians.
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There are many ideas on
the purpose of this book.
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Some say that the purpose of the
book is to answer the question,
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"Why do the righteous suffer?"
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Some also say that the
purpose of the book is to
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teach us to be firm and constant
in the midst of suffering.
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Now there's no doubt
that these issues are included
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in the story of Job.
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But the story is
much deeper than just,
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"Why do the righteous suffer,"
or the need to persevere
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in the midst of suffering.
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What's taking place in the
book of Job is really a trial.
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It is a trial that is
taking place in heaven.
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Interestingly enough.
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And it really foreshadows
the investigative judgment
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that is taking
place now in heaven.
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If you look carefully at
this story, you're going to find
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that there is an
accuser who is Satan.
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There is a Defense
Attorney who is Jesus, or God.
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There is a Judge
who sits on His throne.
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There is a jury.
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They're called the sons of God.
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Evidence is examined.
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There are accusations.
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And there are
responses to those accusations.
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And we'll notice that at
the end of the story there is a
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final verdict.
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This book is
saturated with legal language.
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In other words, it
is to be understood
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in a judicial context.
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It is actually a trial
that is taking place in heaven.
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Believe it or not.
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Let me give you
one verse as an example
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of the legal language
that is used in the book.
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And I have in the
written material many more texts
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from Job that use
legal or judicial language.
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Notice Job 16 and verse 19.
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Here, Job is speaking to God
and he says, "Surely even now
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my witness is in heaven,
and my evidence is on high."
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Witness and evidence.
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Language of a court of law.
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Now it's very
important for us to remember
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that there was no
written revelation
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when this story took place.
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None of the books of the Bible
had actually been written yet.
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So Job did not have all of the
information that we have today
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that helps us know what's
going on in the invisible world.
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In fact, we're going
to notice in this story
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that heaven knows
what is happening on earth,
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but earth does not know
what is happening in heaven.
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And if Job had had
Scripture and he had known,
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his trial would have been
much easier for him to bear.
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Now the scene in
Job begins on earth.
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It's kind of like a drama.
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The curtain opens
and we're on earth,
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and Job is introduced in
chapter 1 and verses 1 to 3.
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Many children in biblical times
were a sign of God's blessing.
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But he not only
had many children,
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because it continues saying...
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Job was a very
rich and prosperous man.
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But he was also a
very spiritual man.
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A strange combination indeed.
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Rich, but spiritual.
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Notice Job chapter 1 and
verse 1, and then we'll read
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verses 4 and 5,
and also verse 8.
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Listen to his character.
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And you know, I read
this because some theologians
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say that Job was an arrogant
individual; self-sufficient.
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Scripture does
not sustain that view.
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Now notice what
it says in verse 4.
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Probably on their birthday.
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Notice he was a family man.
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He was
interested in the spiritual
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welfare of his family.
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So it says...
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Verse 8...
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In other words God is saying,
"Have you looked at My servant
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who lives down
in your territory?"
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Now notice here that
it is God who is speaking.
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In the introduction to
the book, it's simply being
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recorded that he was this.
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But here it's saying
that God is saying this
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about His servant Job.
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That he was
blameless, upright, feared God,
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and shunned evil.
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Job was also a
very generous man,
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a philanthropic man.
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He used his
possessions to bless others.
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Notice Job 29
verses 12 through 17.
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Job 29 verses 12 through 17.
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Here, Job is describing
what he used his riches for.
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Was he a generous man?
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Oh yes.
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Very philanthropic.
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Rich, spiritual, generous.
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Now let's go to
chapter 1 and verse 6.
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The curtain closes
on the earthly scene.
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The stage is rearranged.
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And now the curtain
opens and we are in heaven.
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Job chapter 1 verse 6.
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God is entertaining
a dialogue with Satan.
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And it says there...
00:11:05.76\00:11:06.79
"The sons of God," I
don't have time to get into it,
00:11:15.12\00:11:17.12
but the sons of God
are the representatives
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of the worlds that never sinned.
00:11:19.47\00:11:21.46
Each world has a representative
in the heavenly counsel.
00:11:22.73\00:11:25.73
And so it says...
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The reason Satan
came among them is because
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he had stolen Adam's
position as the representative
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of this world when Adam
allowed himself to be conquered.
00:11:39.18\00:11:43.37
Verse 7...
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That is, "From
patrolling my territory."
00:11:56.84\00:12:00.11
And then God, perhaps
with a touch of healthy pride,
00:12:04.51\00:12:08.74
says in verse 8...
00:12:09.97\00:12:11.65
"He lives in your
territory, but he's My servant."
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"Have you seen My servant?
00:12:32.11\00:12:33.65
Even though he
lives in your territory,
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he fears Me and he
loves Me and he obeys Me."
00:12:36.95\00:12:40.62
Now in Job chapter
1 verses 9 through 11
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Satan challenges God.
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And these are perhaps
some of the most important
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verses in the whole book.
00:12:50.42\00:12:52.04
Satan challenges
God, and he says,
00:12:53.19\00:12:56.00
"Does Job serve You
because he loves You,
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or does Job serve You
for the loaves and fishes?
00:13:02.97\00:13:06.81
Would Job love and serve You
even if everything went wrong?"
00:13:08.82\00:13:13.69
Let's read it.
00:13:15.27\00:13:16.30
Job chapter 1 and verse 9.
00:13:17.13\00:13:21.28
In other words, "Would Job
serve You even if he didn't have
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anything that You
have given to him?"
00:13:34.61\00:13:36.71
Now notice...
00:13:39.91\00:13:41.11
In other words, "You
put a fence around him.
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I have no access to him.
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You bless him.
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You have bought his allegiance."
00:13:59.57\00:14:01.88
You know, there's this
fundamental misconception
00:14:04.08\00:14:06.42
about the book of Job.
00:14:06.45\00:14:07.48
And that is that the
devil was accusing Job.
00:14:07.68\00:14:10.85
The devil was not accusing Job.
00:14:10.94\00:14:12.88
He was accusing God.
00:14:12.91\00:14:14.71
And you can't understand
the theology of the book
00:14:15.77\00:14:18.53
unless you understand
that the accusation of Satan
00:14:18.56\00:14:21.74
is primarily against God.
00:14:21.77\00:14:24.00
Because he's saying, "Job serves
You for the loaves and fishes.
00:14:24.95\00:14:28.56
He loves You and he
fears You because of
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everything that
You have given him.
00:14:30.53\00:14:31.95
But he would not serve
You if everything disappeared.
00:14:31.98\00:14:34.62
So he serves You because
You have been good to Him."
00:14:36.34\00:14:40.39
It continues saying there...
00:14:42.09\00:14:43.78
All heaven is
listening to this conversation.
00:15:04.09\00:15:08.75
Heaven is
watching what is happening.
00:15:10.39\00:15:13.38
And they're asking themselves,
"Is it true what Satan
00:15:14.30\00:15:18.82
is accusing God of?
00:15:18.85\00:15:20.39
That Job serves God because
God has put a hedge around him
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and God is good to him?
00:15:24.89\00:15:26.44
Does Job serve God only
because of the blessings
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that he has received?
00:15:30.06\00:15:31.44
Huh, we wonder."
00:15:31.47\00:15:33.09
So God says, "You wonder?
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I'll tell you what you can do."
00:15:39.44\00:15:40.99
Notice verse 12.
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"And the Lord said to Satan..."
00:15:45.33\00:15:47.40
The devil says,
"Oh goodie, goodie.
00:16:05.88\00:16:08.15
I'm going to prove
that Job serves God
00:16:09.47\00:16:12.22
because God is good to him."
00:16:12.25\00:16:13.90
And so the curtain closes.
00:16:16.56\00:16:17.92
The stage is rearranged
and the curtain opens,
00:16:19.09\00:16:22.06
and now we're on earth again.
00:16:22.09\00:16:24.17
And what happens on
earth is truly calamitous.
00:16:26.36\00:16:29.79
The Bible tells us that
the Sabeans, the tribe of
00:16:31.20\00:16:33.97
desert-like people, came
and stole all of Job's oxen
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and donkeys, and
killed his servants.
00:16:38.42\00:16:42.09
Then fire falls from
heaven and burns up the sheep
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and the servants.
00:16:47.84\00:16:49.24
The Chaldeans come and
they steal all of the camels
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and kill all of the servants.
00:16:53.43\00:16:55.35
A mighty wind comes
and collapses the house
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where all of his
children are gathered together.
00:17:00.25\00:17:02.62
And all of his children perish.
00:17:02.65\00:17:05.76
Now this did not take place
over the course of several days.
00:17:07.70\00:17:11.76
Because the story tells
us that while one individual
00:17:12.66\00:17:15.42
was giving the report,
the other one was coming
00:17:15.45\00:17:17.46
and giving his report about the
calamity that had taken place.
00:17:17.49\00:17:20.61
This takes place
within a period of minutes.
00:17:20.64\00:17:24.34
He's lost all
of his possessions,
00:17:25.97\00:17:28.18
and he has lost
all of his children.
00:17:28.21\00:17:31.24
He's lost oxen, donkeys, sheep,
camels, servants, children.
00:17:34.32\00:17:39.90
He is totally bankrupt.
00:17:40.65\00:17:43.28
How did Job react?
00:17:45.01\00:17:46.69
Job 1 verses 20 to 22.
00:17:47.74\00:17:49.93
"Then Job arose..."
00:17:51.48\00:17:53.57
He was half right.
00:18:12.43\00:18:14.05
The Lord gave, but the
Lord did not take away.
00:18:15.32\00:18:18.80
But he didn't know.
00:18:18.83\00:18:20.45
He had no written revelation.
00:18:21.63\00:18:24.03
Very important.
00:18:24.29\00:18:25.60
So he says...
00:18:26.26\00:18:27.29
The devil had
said, "He'll curse You."
00:18:31.98\00:18:33.35
He says, "Blessed be
the name of the Lord."
00:18:33.38\00:18:35.45
And I can imagine the
heavenly counsel saying, "Yes.
00:18:44.90\00:18:48.50
God is right.
00:18:49.89\00:18:51.33
Job serves God
because he loves Him.
00:18:52.39\00:18:55.02
And look at that ole devil.
00:18:56.40\00:18:58.01
He took everything from him.
00:18:58.04\00:18:59.75
And Job still fears and
serves God, and loves Him
00:18:59.95\00:19:03.71
with all of his heart.
00:19:03.74\00:19:04.99
God is right
and Satan is wrong."
00:19:05.02\00:19:09.44
Is all heaven
starting to catch a glimpse
00:19:10.63\00:19:12.99
of the difference
between God and Satan?
00:19:13.19\00:19:15.89
Absolutely.
00:19:16.71\00:19:18.05
This is a universal controversy.
00:19:18.37\00:19:20.75
All eyes are
riveted upon the earth.
00:19:20.78\00:19:23.27
That's why 1 Corinthians
4:9 says that earth is the
00:19:23.37\00:19:26.79
theater of the universe both
before men and before angels.
00:19:26.82\00:19:32.21
All the universe is watching.
00:19:32.62\00:19:35.03
The curtain closes.
00:19:36.47\00:19:37.77
The stage is rearranged.
00:19:39.53\00:19:41.36
And the curtain opens again and
now we're once again in heaven.
00:19:42.65\00:19:46.45
Another counsel is taking place.
00:19:48.42\00:19:50.67
Let's read about it in
Job chapter 2 verses 1 to 3.
00:19:50.70\00:19:53.77
"Again there was a day..."
00:19:54.58\00:19:55.92
In other words, "From
patrolling my territory
00:20:12.12\00:20:14.29
which Adam gave to me."
00:20:14.32\00:20:16.18
Now I think God, with a
touch of extra pride, says...
00:20:17.92\00:20:23.24
God is saying,
"What you did is absurd.
00:20:48.53\00:20:51.80
There's no reason for it."
00:20:52.47\00:20:54.12
But Satan has an
argument in his mouth.
00:20:55.18\00:20:57.28
Job chapter 2
and verses 4 and 5.
00:20:59.25\00:21:01.86
All heaven is
listening and watching.
00:21:22.55\00:21:26.96
So the heavenly
counsel says, "Oh, true.
00:21:29.01\00:21:31.69
He lost everything,
all of his possessions.
00:21:31.72\00:21:34.31
He lost all of his children.
00:21:34.34\00:21:35.85
But really, God didn't
allow Satan to touch him."
00:21:36.97\00:21:40.97
Notice what we find
in chapter 2 and verse 6.
00:21:43.57\00:21:48.47
"And the Lord said to Satan..."
00:21:49.31\00:21:51.41
The curtain closes.
00:22:02.19\00:22:03.68
The stage is rearranged.
00:22:04.69\00:22:06.84
The curtain opens and
now we are on earth again.
00:22:08.07\00:22:13.31
Chapter 2 and verses 7 and 8.
00:22:14.68\00:22:16.82
"So Satan went out from
the presence of the Lord..."
00:22:17.66\00:22:20.75
A potsherd is a part
of a piece of pottery.
00:22:32.98\00:22:35.16
So now he's lost his health.
00:22:42.81\00:22:44.84
And he's about to lose
the support of his wife,
00:22:46.62\00:22:49.75
who becomes the devil's tempter.
00:22:50.39\00:22:52.76
An instrument in the
devil's hands to tempt Job.
00:22:54.49\00:22:58.13
Notice chapter
2 verses 9 and 10.
00:22:58.96\00:23:01.26
"Then his wife said to him..."
00:23:02.01\00:23:03.46
Who had said that Job
was going to curse God?
00:23:11.63\00:23:14.20
Satan.
00:23:14.95\00:23:16.13
So she is an instrument of whom?
00:23:16.60\00:23:18.76
Of Satan to try and
convince Job to curse God.
00:23:19.34\00:23:22.87
"But he said to her,
'You speak as one of the
00:23:24.60\00:23:27.59
foolish women speaks.'"
00:23:27.62\00:23:29.33
See, there's wise women
and there's foolish women.
00:23:29.63\00:23:32.04
"'Shall we indeed
accept good from God,
00:23:33.22\00:23:35.69
and shall we not
accept adversity?'
00:23:36.93\00:23:39.37
In all this Job did
not sin with his lips."
00:23:41.05\00:23:45.59
Once again Job is only
half right because he says,
00:23:47.66\00:23:49.85
"Shall we accept good from God
and also adversity from God?"
00:23:49.88\00:23:53.52
Well, God
doesn't send adversity.
00:23:53.55\00:23:55.61
But Job doesn't know.
00:23:57.08\00:23:58.63
This is a very important
detail to understand this book.
00:23:58.66\00:24:01.06
Job does not know.
00:24:01.09\00:24:02.94
His knowledge is incomplete,
his knowledge is partial.
00:24:03.37\00:24:06.65
He doesn't know what we know
today from reading Scripture.
00:24:07.28\00:24:10.35
And then Job is going
to lose his best friends.
00:24:13.19\00:24:17.86
His three best
friends come to console him,
00:24:18.66\00:24:21.56
and the book tells us
that they become his accusers.
00:24:21.59\00:24:25.17
Notice chapter 2
and verses 11 to 13.
00:24:26.16\00:24:28.96
Job chapter 2
verses 11 to 13, it says...
00:24:29.70\00:24:32.23
Some comfort.
00:24:52.80\00:24:54.16
He was disfigured from scraping
himself with the potsherd.
00:24:58.39\00:25:01.50
They did not recognize him.
00:25:02.22\00:25:03.59
This is a way of
showing your terrible suffering
00:25:09.61\00:25:12.38
and affliction in antiquity.
00:25:12.41\00:25:14.21
So what has Job lost?
00:25:27.08\00:25:28.80
He's lost all
of his possessions.
00:25:29.43\00:25:31.23
He's lost all of his servants.
00:25:31.96\00:25:33.90
He's lost all of his children.
00:25:34.23\00:25:35.99
He's lost his health.
00:25:36.64\00:25:38.17
He's lost the
support of his wife.
00:25:38.77\00:25:40.83
And his best
friends become his accusers.
00:25:41.73\00:25:46.27
But you know what
really distresses Job
00:25:47.19\00:25:49.45
is that apparently
his best Friend, God,
00:25:49.87\00:25:53.80
has also forsaken him.
00:25:53.83\00:25:56.61
Something that has
greatly puzzled theologians
00:26:01.03\00:26:03.93
as they have studied this book
is that Satan, after chapter 2,
00:26:03.96\00:26:09.26
appears to
disappear from the book.
00:26:09.29\00:26:11.42
You know, all of the
main protagonists of the book
00:26:13.30\00:26:15.61
reappear at the end of the book.
00:26:15.64\00:26:17.68
But Satan, who
caused all of this suffering
00:26:18.99\00:26:22.27
and all of this grief,
after chapter 2 appears
00:26:22.30\00:26:25.94
to disappear from the story.
00:26:26.44\00:26:28.56
And he gets off scot-free.
00:26:29.51\00:26:32.06
And they say, "This book
is a travesty in justice.
00:26:33.50\00:26:37.36
Because we don't know
what happened to the guy who
00:26:39.20\00:26:41.55
did all of this to Job."
00:26:41.58\00:26:43.33
The fact is, we're going
to find that Satan does not
00:26:44.82\00:26:47.47
disappear from the book.
00:26:47.50\00:26:48.53
He reappears at the end,
but under a different name.
00:26:48.56\00:26:52.34
So after chapter
2, did Job curse God?
00:26:55.40\00:27:01.97
He did not.
00:27:02.60\00:27:03.63
He remained faithful.
00:27:04.42\00:27:05.49
And I can imagine
after that second counsel
00:27:05.52\00:27:08.13
that the heavenly beings
say, "Hallelujah, God is right.
00:27:08.57\00:27:13.53
Job has lost everything, and yet
he still fears God, shuns evil,
00:27:14.75\00:27:20.97
and loves God in spite
of everything going wrong."
00:27:21.60\00:27:25.48
Now we need to understand,
and I want to repeat this again,
00:27:27.79\00:27:31.00
Job had incomplete knowledge.
00:27:31.17\00:27:34.77
And as he suffers
for a long period of time
00:27:37.08\00:27:42.08
he actually comes to believe
that God is doing this to him.
00:27:42.90\00:27:47.54
And he's puzzled.
00:27:48.56\00:27:49.94
He cannot
understand the reason why.
00:27:50.42\00:27:53.54
It's inconceivable in the
mind of Job that his best Friend
00:27:57.02\00:28:01.43
would actually do this to him.
00:28:02.11\00:28:04.36
And throughout the book, he
is tempted to throw in the towel
00:28:05.71\00:28:09.24
and do exactly what the
devil said that he should do.
00:28:10.57\00:28:13.63
He's plagued with
nagging questions and doubts
00:28:14.89\00:28:19.01
because God seems
to have forsaken him.
00:28:19.72\00:28:22.67
In the rest of the book he
constantly speaks out to God.
00:28:23.63\00:28:27.23
He says, "God please
explain what's happening.
00:28:27.26\00:28:29.92
Why have You turned against me?"
00:28:29.95\00:28:32.09
And God's answer is
a deafening silence.
00:28:33.63\00:28:38.69
You know, Job can tolerate
the idea of losing all of his
00:28:40.55\00:28:44.17
possessions, and even
his children and the support
00:28:44.20\00:28:46.45
of his wife, and his health
and the support of his friends.
00:28:46.48\00:28:51.56
But he cannot bear the thought
of losing his best Friend, God.
00:28:52.42\00:28:56.96
Especially when he
was a man of integrity.
00:28:58.43\00:29:01.65
He can't
understand what's happening.
00:29:02.46\00:29:04.75
And he pleads with
God for an audience.
00:29:05.66\00:29:08.19
And God's answer, that is
until chapter 38, is silence.
00:29:08.86\00:29:14.23
Let's read some of those
verses where Job is asking
00:29:14.53\00:29:18.73
these questions of God.
00:29:18.76\00:29:21.09
Notice Job chapter
16 and verses 11 to 14.
00:29:21.99\00:29:25.11
He says, "God hates me.
00:29:25.14\00:29:27.06
I can't understand why?
00:29:27.55\00:29:29.55
He's turned me
over to the wicked;
00:29:30.47\00:29:31.95
I can't understand why."
00:29:31.98\00:29:33.23
Notice...
00:29:33.26\00:29:34.29
Notice the number of times
that he says God is doing this.
00:29:43.54\00:29:46.47
What is his view of God?
00:30:09.13\00:30:10.58
God has turned around and
his friend has become his enemy.
00:30:11.63\00:30:17.90
And he cannot understand why.
00:30:17.93\00:30:20.77
Job 16 verses 16 and
17, and also verse 20.
00:30:22.07\00:30:27.04
Job says...
00:30:27.80\00:30:28.83
Job 19 verses 6
and 7, and verse 11.
00:30:51.68\00:30:55.45
I'm only choosing
certain verses in this section.
00:30:55.48\00:30:57.74
I could have chosen many
more about what's going on.
00:30:57.77\00:31:00.95
Job 19 verses 6 and
7, and then verse 11.
00:31:01.46\00:31:04.92
Job says...
00:31:05.80\00:31:06.86
"He has..." that is, God.
00:31:23.27\00:31:24.50
"He has also kindled
His wrath against me,
00:31:24.53\00:31:27.57
and He counts me
as one of His enemies.
00:31:28.33\00:31:31.27
His troops came together and
build up their road against me;
00:31:32.16\00:31:37.49
they encamp all around my tent."
00:31:38.27\00:31:41.38
"God has become my enemy
and I cannot understand it,
00:31:41.41\00:31:44.64
because I am His friend."
00:31:44.67\00:31:46.63
Job 19 verses 9 through 11.
00:31:47.70\00:31:49.84
Once again we find this
same feeling that Job has.
00:31:50.79\00:31:54.58
Speaking about God, he says,
"He has stripped me of my glory,
00:31:55.11\00:31:58.78
and taken the
crown from my head.
00:31:59.71\00:32:01.94
He breaks me down on
every side, and I am gone;
00:32:02.51\00:32:05.77
my hope He has
uprooted like a tree.
00:32:05.80\00:32:09.51
He has also kindled
His wrath against me,
00:32:10.00\00:32:12.72
and He counts me as
one of His enemies."
00:32:12.75\00:32:15.60
Job 23 verses 3 through 5,
Job says, "Oh if I could only
00:32:16.60\00:32:20.58
find God wherever He is,
I'd present my case before Him.
00:32:20.61\00:32:23.86
And I know that He
would see the light."
00:32:23.89\00:32:25.94
Notice Job 23
verses 3 through 5.
00:32:26.78\00:32:29.34
See, this is really a trial.
00:32:38.55\00:32:40.65
Praise the Lord
that he didn't do that,
00:32:45.60\00:32:46.98
because there's no
greater fool than the one who
00:32:47.01\00:32:49.31
represents
himself in a court of law.
00:32:49.34\00:32:51.51
What he didn't know is
that God was representing him.
00:32:53.15\00:32:56.20
And God was defending him,
00:32:56.60\00:32:58.06
even though it
appeared that God wasn't.
00:32:58.09\00:33:00.00
Verse 5...
00:33:01.10\00:33:02.24
And then he says in
chapter 30 and verses 20 and 21,
00:33:07.90\00:33:11.08
"I cry out to God
and all I get is silence.
00:33:11.11\00:33:14.06
I get no answer."
00:33:14.09\00:33:15.43
Job 30 verses 20 and 21.
00:33:16.18\00:33:18.14
Remember, Job did not
have any written revelation.
00:33:34.93\00:33:37.22
He didn't really have
a clear view of what was
00:33:37.25\00:33:39.19
happening behind the scenes.
00:33:39.22\00:33:40.53
All he could see
was that calamities
00:33:40.56\00:33:42.21
were coming to his life.
00:33:42.24\00:33:43.42
And he didn't know
who was causing them.
00:33:43.76\00:33:45.75
He thinks God has
turned against him.
00:33:45.78\00:33:48.13
Notice, Job 30:9-13 tells us...
00:33:48.65\00:33:51.60
Actually let's just
read verses 9 through 11.
00:33:51.63\00:33:54.22
The nations make fun of Job.
00:33:55.19\00:33:57.08
"And now I am their taunting
song; yes, I am their byword.
00:33:58.17\00:34:02.82
They abhor me,
they keep far from me;
00:34:03.53\00:34:07.37
they do not
hesitate to spit in my face.
00:34:07.87\00:34:10.46
Because He," that is
God, "has loosed my bowstring
00:34:11.32\00:34:16.13
and afflicted me, they have
cast off restraint before me."
00:34:16.16\00:34:20.15
In other words, "Because
God is doing this to me,
00:34:20.18\00:34:21.81
they've cast off
restraint and they do with me
00:34:22.01\00:34:25.23
whatever they wish."
00:34:25.43\00:34:26.94
In Job 31 verses 5 and 6, once
again we find legal terminology.
00:34:27.62\00:34:33.73
Here Job says, "If I
have walked with falsehood..."
00:34:34.96\00:34:38.30
In chapter 31 verse
35, Job cries out to God,
00:34:52.30\00:34:56.61
"Please answer me."
00:34:56.64\00:34:58.17
Job 31:35...
00:34:58.65\00:35:00.19
See the word,
"Prosecutor," there.
00:35:12.03\00:35:13.54
The book is saturated
with legal terminology.
00:35:13.57\00:35:16.05
This is a judgment that
is taking place in heaven.
00:35:16.08\00:35:20.11
And the case that is being
examined is the case of Job.
00:35:20.82\00:35:23.66
Now not all of this
section of the book of Job
00:35:23.69\00:35:27.40
up to chapter 38 is negative.
00:35:27.43\00:35:29.68
Job also has his
moments of triumphal faith.
00:35:30.30\00:35:34.14
He's saying, "Why
God, why are You my enemy?
00:35:35.10\00:35:37.59
Why don't You answer
me? Why don't You hear me?"
00:35:37.62\00:35:39.84
But then he has
moments where he says,
00:35:39.87\00:35:41.24
"Oh I know my Redeemer lives."
00:35:41.27\00:35:43.66
Kind of like an
ambivalent feeling.
00:35:45.45\00:35:47.64
Wanting to let go, but,
"No, I'm not going to let go."
00:35:47.67\00:35:50.34
Notice Job 13 and verse 15.
00:35:51.27\00:35:53.75
Job 13 verse 15.
00:35:53.78\00:35:55.62
He says...
00:35:55.92\00:35:56.95
Notice the idea of defending.
00:36:07.69\00:36:10.10
In Job 14 verses 14 and
15, once again this faith
00:36:10.69\00:36:14.36
of Job comes out in the
midst of trial and suffering.
00:36:14.39\00:36:17.28
He asks the question, "If a
man dies, shall he live again?"
00:36:17.87\00:36:20.89
This is when this mortal will
be changed into immortality.
00:36:27.62\00:36:31.29
And then he says...
00:36:31.51\00:36:32.56
In other words, "You're
going to desire me in that day."
00:36:39.16\00:36:42.43
Job 19 verses 25 to
27 shows this triumphal
00:36:42.96\00:36:46.96
faith of Job again.
00:36:46.99\00:36:48.32
Job 19 verses 25
to 27, he says...
00:36:48.35\00:36:51.39
"I know my Redeemer lives.
00:37:11.39\00:37:12.94
And I know that in
that day I will see Him."
00:37:12.97\00:37:16.77
Job 23, once again, has
these words of hope and courage.
00:37:17.77\00:37:22.57
Job 23 and
beginning with verse 8.
00:37:23.30\00:37:25.90
Was Job still faithful?
00:38:14.64\00:38:16.20
Yes he was.
00:38:16.80\00:38:17.97
But asking questions because
he had incomplete knowledge.
00:38:18.35\00:38:23.92
Let's not be too hard on Job.
00:38:23.95\00:38:25.87
We have the Bible, he didn't.
00:38:26.30\00:38:28.21
He didn't have all of
the biblical ideas about
00:38:29.83\00:38:33.09
what happens in the
world in consequence
00:38:33.12\00:38:35.20
of the work of Satan.
00:38:35.23\00:38:36.76
Finally you come to chapter 38.
00:38:38.60\00:38:40.48
And God has heard enough.
00:38:41.94\00:38:43.69
Now God is going to tell
Job, "Job, now you be quiet.
00:38:48.23\00:38:50.79
I'm going to ask the questions."
00:38:50.82\00:38:52.46
Job 38 and verse 1.
00:38:54.01\00:38:55.89
Finally God breaks His silence.
00:38:56.29\00:38:58.38
Now listen carefully.
00:39:03.65\00:39:04.96
What was Job's problem?
00:39:13.96\00:39:15.40
His words had no what?
00:39:16.40\00:39:18.44
Knowledge.
00:39:18.73\00:39:20.54
He says...
00:39:20.65\00:39:21.68
And do you know, in
chapters 38, 39, and 40,
00:39:31.89\00:39:34.91
God asks Job over 60 questions.
00:39:34.94\00:39:38.40
And the main
question is, "Where were you,
00:39:40.20\00:39:44.70
puny little man, when I laid
the foundations of the earth?"
00:39:44.73\00:39:50.50
And if you read chapters 38
and 39, you're going to discover
00:39:51.61\00:39:55.35
something very interesting.
00:39:55.38\00:39:56.82
And that is that God
describes creation week
00:39:56.85\00:40:01.49
in its exact order.
00:40:01.52\00:40:02.89
First, second, third,
fourth, fifth, and sixth day.
00:40:03.42\00:40:06.66
And He says to Job,
"Job, you're so intelligent,
00:40:07.71\00:40:10.79
where were you
when I did all this?"
00:40:12.45\00:40:14.28
And as God describes His
marvelous works of creation,
00:40:15.33\00:40:18.71
at each instance Job gets
smaller and smaller and smaller.
00:40:19.57\00:40:24.69
He says, "Now I realize
that the universe does not
00:40:24.72\00:40:28.10
revolve around me."
00:40:28.13\00:40:29.72
God is saying, "Job, I
have a cosmic mess on My hands.
00:40:31.69\00:40:35.48
Who are you to
question such a great God?
00:40:37.53\00:40:40.43
And God ends with a
very penetrating question,
00:40:44.06\00:40:47.06
a series of questions,
in Job 40 verses 1 and 2.
00:40:47.09\00:40:50.45
Are you
understanding the question?
00:41:08.27\00:41:09.88
God is saying to Job, you
know, "Do you have any right
00:41:11.20\00:41:14.23
to correct the Almighty?
00:41:14.26\00:41:15.76
He who rebukes God, let
him answer that question."
00:41:16.90\00:41:20.17
And then Job
answers God's question.
00:41:21.93\00:41:24.53
And basically he says,
"You're right and I'm wrong.
00:41:25.29\00:41:29.45
You have made Your point.
00:41:30.14\00:41:31.64
Who am I to question what
You do and what You allow?
00:41:33.19\00:41:38.12
I'm just a
miserable, insignificant,
00:41:39.92\00:41:44.84
small human being
demanding answers from the
00:41:45.60\00:41:48.51
King of the universe."
00:41:48.54\00:41:49.90
And so Job says,
"You've made Your point.
00:41:51.29\00:41:55.07
I'm not going to speak again."
00:41:57.00\00:41:58.68
Notice Job 30 and verse 3.
00:41:59.64\00:42:01.51
Job 40 and verse 3.
00:42:02.00\00:42:03.54
And we'll read through verse 5.
00:42:04.00\00:42:05.74
That word, "vile,"
really means, "insignificant."
00:42:11.22\00:42:14.15
"Vile," in English means, evil.
00:42:15.40\00:42:17.74
But really in the
Hebrew it means, insignificant.
00:42:17.77\00:42:20.51
"I am insignificant."
00:42:20.54\00:42:23.60
In other words, "I am
not going to speak anymore."
00:42:37.66\00:42:42.20
And then in chapter 41, we reach
the climax of the story of Job.
00:42:44.53\00:42:51.31
Satan once again reappears.
00:42:52.43\00:42:55.53
But at the end of the
book, his name is not Satan.
00:42:57.74\00:43:02.47
"Satan," means, the adversary.
00:43:04.03\00:43:07.26
But a different
name is given to him.
00:43:08.54\00:43:11.71
The name that is
given to him is Leviathan.
00:43:12.64\00:43:16.07
That's the same devil.
00:43:21.54\00:43:23.15
Now I want you to notice
several verses of chapter 41
00:43:24.41\00:43:27.09
and you tell me what
Leviathan represents.
00:43:27.12\00:43:29.56
See, Job has said to the
Lord, "You've made Your point.
00:43:30.86\00:43:33.85
You're great, I'm small.
00:43:33.88\00:43:35.30
I'm a creature.
00:43:35.33\00:43:36.47
I'm not going to
ask anymore questions."
00:43:36.77\00:43:38.60
But God has a few
more questions to ask Job.
00:43:40.14\00:43:42.57
Notice Job 41 and verse 1.
00:43:43.50\00:43:46.25
God says...
00:43:47.18\00:43:48.21
What is God asking Job?
00:44:18.06\00:44:19.58
He's saying, "Can you
contend with Leviathan?
00:44:21.27\00:44:23.48
Can you take him
as your servant...
00:44:24.86\00:44:26.60
...forever?"
00:44:27.71\00:44:29.00
Now who is this Leviathan?
00:44:30.37\00:44:32.05
Obviously we're
dealing with a symbol.
00:44:33.11\00:44:35.20
Let's go to verses 18 to 21.
00:44:36.17\00:44:38.03
And I hope you
read this whole chapter,
00:44:38.06\00:44:39.53
because the
chapter is captivating.
00:44:39.56\00:44:41.22
Job 41 verses 18 through 21.
00:44:41.25\00:44:43.56
You know, some scholars
think that this a crocodile.
00:44:44.64\00:44:46.93
This is no crocodile.
00:44:46.96\00:44:48.32
Unless you've seen a
fire breathing crocodile.
00:44:50.32\00:44:53.21
It says in verse 18...
00:44:54.12\00:44:56.20
This is a dragon, right?
00:45:21.24\00:45:22.79
Notice verses 24 to 27 that say
that Leviathan is invincible.
00:45:25.27\00:45:29.76
It says there in verse 24,
"His heart is as hard as stone."
00:45:31.07\00:45:35.17
Oh, he has a stony heart.
00:45:35.20\00:45:37.01
Is this a powerful creature?
00:46:01.89\00:46:03.85
It's a fire breathing creature.
00:46:04.28\00:46:06.12
And God says, "Job, can
you contend with Leviathan
00:46:06.15\00:46:11.37
and defeat him?"
00:46:11.83\00:46:13.33
Of course, Job would
have known what Leviathan was
00:46:13.98\00:46:17.04
because in his culture it
was believed that there was
00:46:17.07\00:46:21.14
a creature which was
called, Lotan, and also called,
00:46:21.24\00:46:25.91
Leviathan, which the
gods had to fight against
00:46:25.94\00:46:29.46
in order to be able
to create the cosmos.
00:46:30.17\00:46:32.58
So this was within his culture.
00:46:32.61\00:46:34.41
He would understand
that this represented
00:46:34.44\00:46:36.21
the enemies of the gods.
00:46:36.24\00:46:38.15
In this case, the enemy of God.
00:46:38.18\00:46:40.32
Notice chapter 41:33-34.
00:46:41.55\00:46:44.02
It clearly
identifies who this creature is.
00:46:44.05\00:46:47.28
Job 41 verses 33 and 34.
00:46:47.31\00:46:50.27
God is speaking here.
00:46:52.91\00:46:54.21
"He beholds..."
00:46:57.54\00:46:58.66
A better translation
would be, "He looks down..."
00:46:58.69\00:47:01.45
Who is king over
the children of pride?
00:47:12.41\00:47:14.93
The first one who is proud
in the history of the universe
00:47:15.95\00:47:20.71
who said, "I will ascend to
the heights and I will be like
00:47:21.42\00:47:24.09
the Most High."
00:47:24.12\00:47:25.79
He who said, "I am beautiful.
00:47:25.82\00:47:27.39
I am all wise. I am all rich."
00:47:27.42\00:47:30.19
Satan.
00:47:31.89\00:47:33.25
Now allow me to read you
a couple of passages from
00:47:34.51\00:47:36.52
Scripture that prove this.
00:47:36.55\00:47:37.97
Isaiah 27 and verse 1.
00:47:39.56\00:47:41.50
Isaiah 24, 25, 26, and 27
is known as the little book of
00:47:42.27\00:47:46.72
Revelation in the Old Testament.
00:47:46.75\00:47:48.55
Isaiah 27 and verse 1.
00:47:50.13\00:47:51.96
Oh, the fleeing...
00:48:08.48\00:48:10.19
What is
Leviathan? The fleeing what?
00:48:10.22\00:48:12.27
Serpent.
00:48:12.59\00:48:14.41
And because the translators
think that this is some type of
00:48:19.48\00:48:22.21
crocodile, they translate,
"He will slay the reptile
00:48:22.24\00:48:28.55
that is in the sea."
00:48:28.58\00:48:29.77
Actually, the
Greek word is, "drakon."
00:48:29.87\00:48:33.16
And the King James
translates, "the dragon."
00:48:34.77\00:48:37.69
So this is the
dragon and the serpent.
00:48:39.35\00:48:42.24
Now Revelation adds
its testimony as to the
00:48:43.43\00:48:46.00
identity of this being.
00:48:46.03\00:48:47.31
You know what
God is telling Job?
00:48:47.82\00:48:49.41
God is telling
Job, "You want to know
00:48:49.44\00:48:51.43
who's causing your problems?
00:48:51.46\00:48:53.09
I have a big
cosmic mess on My hands.
00:48:53.12\00:48:55.01
It's Leviathan."
00:48:55.04\00:48:56.39
And now Job is
going to understand.
00:48:58.19\00:49:00.26
You're going to see it.
00:49:00.29\00:49:01.32
Notice Revelation
chapter 12 verses 7 through 9.
00:49:01.97\00:49:04.54
Revelation 12
verses 7 through 9.
00:49:05.23\00:49:07.26
Now notice the terminology.
00:49:20.96\00:49:22.52
What was the name that
was given to this being
00:49:31.70\00:49:33.50
at the beginning
of the book of Job?
00:49:33.53\00:49:35.56
Satan.
00:49:36.56\00:49:37.78
First time in history
that the name Satan appears.
00:49:38.08\00:49:41.44
First time in Scripture,
because Job was written first
00:49:41.90\00:49:44.41
before anything else.
00:49:44.44\00:49:45.86
So three names are
given in this passage;
00:49:46.82\00:49:49.24
Satan, the
dragon, and the serpent.
00:49:49.27\00:49:54.63
So who is Leviathan?
00:49:54.66\00:49:56.68
Leviathan is a
symbol of the devil.
00:49:57.96\00:50:01.72
And it continues saying,
"...called the Devil and Satan,
00:50:02.83\00:50:05.28
who deceives the whole world.
00:50:05.31\00:50:06.85
He was cast to the earth and his
angels were cast out with him."
00:50:07.21\00:50:09.91
Now do you
remember that Job said,
00:50:09.94\00:50:11.27
"I'm not going to talk anymore.
00:50:11.30\00:50:12.57
I put my hand over my mouth.
00:50:13.03\00:50:14.72
I'm going to shut-up."
00:50:14.75\00:50:16.01
Excuse the expression.
00:50:16.04\00:50:17.25
But now Job feels
like he has to talk again
00:50:18.82\00:50:20.85
after God shows him Leviathan.
00:50:20.88\00:50:22.27
He said, "Now I got it."
00:50:22.30\00:50:23.40
Job 42 and verses 1 through 6.
00:50:25.37\00:50:27.35
Listen carefully.
The climax of the book.
00:50:27.38\00:50:29.78
Job 42 verses 1 through 6.
00:50:29.81\00:50:31.50
"Then Job
answered the Lord and said,
00:50:31.71\00:50:33.78
'I know that You
can do everything.'"
00:50:35.03\00:50:37.76
Including what?
00:50:37.96\00:50:39.27
According to the
context, including what?
00:50:40.67\00:50:42.89
"You can defeat..." Who?
00:50:44.11\00:50:46.21
Leviathan.
00:50:46.84\00:50:48.18
What was the problem with Job?
00:51:08.17\00:51:09.68
Lack of knowledge,
understanding, information.
00:51:10.40\00:51:14.09
He didn't have Scripture.
00:51:14.16\00:51:15.63
He thought it was God.
00:51:16.64\00:51:18.13
And who was it?
00:51:18.16\00:51:19.45
Leviathan.
00:51:20.17\00:51:21.45
Satan.
00:51:21.48\00:51:22.70
"Therefore I have uttered
what I did not understand.
00:51:23.51\00:51:26.17
Things too wonderful for
me, which I did not know.
00:51:26.85\00:51:31.27
Listen please, and let me speak.
00:51:32.92\00:51:37.42
You said, 'I will question
you and you shall answer Me.'"
00:51:38.30\00:51:42.07
And now listen.
00:51:42.10\00:51:43.15
"I have heard of You
by the hearing of the ear,
00:51:43.62\00:51:47.42
but now my eye sees You."
00:51:48.22\00:51:52.29
In other words,
"Now I understand You."
00:51:53.54\00:51:56.59
Do you think the heavenly
universe is watching this?
00:51:58.60\00:52:00.78
What view are
they getting of God?
00:52:02.23\00:52:04.31
"Ah, this is the good God."
00:52:05.15\00:52:07.08
What vision are
they getting of Satan?
00:52:07.82\00:52:09.78
Wicked, evil.
00:52:11.23\00:52:13.13
Destroyer.
00:52:13.16\00:52:14.23
The whole universe has
seen the difference between
00:52:14.68\00:52:17.20
God and the enemy of God.
00:52:17.23\00:52:20.34
"I have heard of You
by the hearing of the ear,
00:52:21.64\00:52:23.66
but now my eye sees You.
00:52:23.69\00:52:25.94
Therefore I abhor myself,
and repent in dust and ashes."
00:52:26.22\00:52:30.89
In other words, he's saying,
00:52:30.92\00:52:31.95
"I am sorry I
ever questioned you."
00:52:31.98\00:52:35.49
Did Job ever curse God?
00:52:36.92\00:52:38.64
Never.
00:52:39.23\00:52:40.26
Because the Bible says that
God gave to him twice as much
00:52:40.80\00:52:43.51
as what he had before.
00:52:43.54\00:52:44.84
God would not have rewarded
him if he had cursed God.
00:52:44.87\00:52:47.76
And so the heavenly
universe says, "God is right,
00:52:47.79\00:52:51.10
and Satan is wrong."
00:52:52.25\00:52:54.13
Now listen carefully.
00:52:56.07\00:52:57.19
This story is going to
be repeated in the end time.
00:52:58.44\00:53:01.44
During the time of trouble
such as never has been seen
00:53:03.10\00:53:05.80
in the history of the world.
00:53:05.83\00:53:07.04
The Bible tells us that
the beholding universe will
00:53:08.63\00:53:12.49
see on this earth an entire
generation of human beings
00:53:12.52\00:53:16.65
who love God so much that
they will be willing to die
00:53:16.68\00:53:21.65
rather than give
up their trust in God.
00:53:22.82\00:53:25.38
The Bible tells us that
the devil will take everything
00:53:26.73\00:53:29.62
from God's people.
00:53:30.47\00:53:31.50
He will take their possessions.
00:53:31.53\00:53:33.36
He will take away their health.
00:53:33.39\00:53:34.75
He will have them
thrown into prison.
00:53:34.78\00:53:36.45
He will turn their
families against them.
00:53:36.48\00:53:38.48
Their friends will abandon them.
00:53:38.51\00:53:40.43
They will have
no earthly support.
00:53:41.28\00:53:43.39
And yet because they
have the experience of Job,
00:53:45.79\00:53:49.34
and other
experiences in the Bible,
00:53:50.71\00:53:53.00
they will say, like
Job, "Though He slay me,
00:53:53.03\00:53:56.64
yet will I trust in Him."
00:53:57.32\00:53:58.97
In fact, Job 23
verse 10, Job understood.
00:54:00.22\00:54:02.67
He says...
00:54:02.70\00:54:03.73
You remember the
story of the three young men
00:54:09.73\00:54:11.78
who were thrown
into the fiery furnace?
00:54:11.81\00:54:13.99
Did they prize their
relationship with God
00:54:15.76\00:54:18.00
more than they
prized their life.
00:54:18.03\00:54:20.11
They did.
00:54:21.01\00:54:22.04
It was a matter
of loyalty to God.
00:54:22.43\00:54:25.60
No matter what.
00:54:26.54\00:54:27.83
And they were
willing to give up their life
00:54:28.86\00:54:30.88
in order to be loyal to God.
00:54:31.60\00:54:34.56
You know, when they stood
before King Nebuchadnezzar,
00:54:36.47\00:54:38.55
King Nebuchadnezzar
says, "You know, if you don't
00:54:38.58\00:54:41.60
bow before the
image and worship it,
00:54:42.21\00:54:44.33
one sentence is for you.
00:54:45.75\00:54:47.25
You'll be thrown
into the fiery furnace.
00:54:47.28\00:54:49.01
And what God will be able
to deliver you from my hands?"
00:54:49.04\00:54:52.06
And they say, "God...
00:54:53.58\00:54:56.59
...will be able to deliver us.
00:54:58.24\00:54:59.75
And we will not worship your
image that you have raised up."
00:55:01.82\00:55:05.34
And so Nebuchadnezzar has
the furnace heated seven times
00:55:06.95\00:55:09.77
worse than ever before.
00:55:09.80\00:55:10.87
I believe that this
represents the period of the
00:55:10.90\00:55:13.40
seven last plagues,
the great tribulation.
00:55:13.43\00:55:15.52
And they're thrown
into the fiery furnace.
00:55:17.38\00:55:19.37
And they loved God so
much they were willing to die.
00:55:22.05\00:55:24.42
The universe was
watching what was happening.
00:55:25.61\00:55:27.68
And then of course you
know how the story develops.
00:55:29.10\00:55:30.96
They're in the fire and
they're walking around like
00:55:31.45\00:55:33.69
they're in a garden.
00:55:33.72\00:55:35.07
The only thing that
burned up were the ropes
00:55:36.51\00:55:40.00
with which they were tied.
00:55:40.03\00:55:41.51
And Nebuchadnezzar sees a fourth
man in the furnace and he says,
00:55:42.83\00:55:45.33
"Did we not cast three?
00:55:46.00\00:55:47.53
I see four.
00:55:48.24\00:55:49.75
And they're walking
in the midst of the fire.
00:55:50.74\00:55:54.14
And they're not burned."
00:55:54.17\00:55:55.38
And then Nebuchadnezzar
says, "Shadrach, Meshach, and
00:55:56.71\00:55:58.55
Abed-Nego, come out.
00:55:58.58\00:56:01.37
When God delivers,
He delivers really.
00:56:02.33\00:56:05.20
Because not even a hair from
their heads were burned off.
00:56:05.23\00:56:07.51
They didn't even
smell like smoke.
00:56:08.41\00:56:10.23
The Bible says that.
00:56:10.48\00:56:11.85
Did God reward His servants?
00:56:14.72\00:56:16.83
Did He spare them the trial?
00:56:17.24\00:56:19.16
He did not spare them the trial.
00:56:20.08\00:56:21.86
He delivered them
in the midst of trial.
00:56:21.89\00:56:24.78
Which is different than
what many are teaching today.
00:56:25.87\00:56:27.69
They're saying, "Oh
no, the church will be
00:56:27.72\00:56:29.17
raptured to heaven.
00:56:29.20\00:56:30.23
And the tribulation;
that's for the Jews."
00:56:30.26\00:56:32.69
And they'll be found in
the midst of the tribulation
00:56:33.99\00:56:36.64
without any refuge,
because they have not made
00:56:36.67\00:56:40.34
any preparation beforehand.
00:56:40.37\00:56:42.33
Do you know the Bible
says in Isaiah chapter 33
00:56:43.56\00:56:46.01
that it's the righteous
that will be able to live with
00:56:46.89\00:56:49.22
the everlasting fire?
00:56:49.25\00:56:50.74
I read this in a
previous lecture.
00:56:51.34\00:56:52.92
You know why?
00:56:53.42\00:56:54.45
Because they have a
fireproof character.
00:56:55.58\00:56:57.95
The fire of God
does not consume them.
00:57:00.52\00:57:02.95
Now the wicked;
the fire is going to
00:57:03.59\00:57:05.07
consume them in an instant.
00:57:05.10\00:57:06.47
They're not going to
burn forever and ever.
00:57:06.50\00:57:08.02
The fire will
consume them, and that's it.
00:57:08.05\00:57:10.20
But God's people will
be able to live in the
00:57:11.33\00:57:13.42
presence of a holy God,
00:57:13.45\00:57:15.06
in the midst of
the fire that consumes,
00:57:16.34\00:57:18.58
because they have loved
God more than life itself.
00:57:19.16\00:57:26.10