“Job’s comfort”

SermonMin Jae Yi

Nov. 14

SERMON Title: Job’s comfort
SCRIPTURE: Job 1:1-12; 42:1-13

Passage (Job 1:1-12)

In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East. His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom. One day the angels[a] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan[b] also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.” Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

Passage (Job 42:1-13)

Then Job replied to the Lord: “I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer. After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lordrestored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters.

What’s happening in the passage?

Though some may debate whether the story of Job actually took place, we can see that Job is referenced in both the New Testament and Old Testament more than once. Job embodied many great qualities before God on a continual basis: he was righteous, devoted, deeply spiritual, and truly loved God through his actions. Though Job was declared righteous by God Himself, he experienced deep pain and calamity. He faced loss in many areas of his life: family, wealth, property, belongings, health, etc. Some may say without reason, Job succumbed enduring the lowest of lows. When we look at Job’s life, we may ask how can our God let suffering happen to obedient, humble, and good people?

What does this mean for us?

Job suffered with loss, wrestled with doubt, and experienced confusion and uncertainty when seeking the Lord’s deliverance. However, it was through what he endured, that he now knows more about who God says He is.
Sometimes we may see a tempest or a storm only being associated with destruction, but when it is over, what remains is newness. Similarly, Job describes his suffering as being in a tempest, and we see in the concluding chapter in the book of Job, there is renewal after a storm. We are also promised as the people of God that we will come out of the storm.
Though it may be difficult and temptations will intensify to turn to the distractions in this world and temporarily relieve ourselves of the pain we are in, we are to pray for strength in times of suffering.
Remember who God is and what He has done on the cross for us. He is a God who sees and knows you. One who will go to any length to pursue you.

Sermon reflection questions:

How would you describe your worldview? Do you do good things hoping God will bless you, and avoid doing the wrong things to avoid punishment?
What does finding comfort in God look like for you? When discomfort, uncertainty, or anxiety bleeds into your life, how do you respond?
When you are going through times of suffering, how do you choose to lean or rely on God?

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