Jesus' Seven Words from the Cross -- 6/19/11

Sunday, June 19, 2011

THE SON GLORIFYING THE FATHER

Jesus Speaking from the Cross

We have been devoting our attention regularly to Job for ten weeks. During those ten weeks we have examined the first seven chapters. The last four chapters have consisted of Eliphaz’ rebuke and Job’s response. Specifically, in chapter 7, we find Job turning away from Eliphaz and speaking directly to God. Without apology, he says in 7:11, “Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” In the verses that follow, Job does exactly that. Through chapters 6 and 7 Job continues to ask God to leave him alone and let him die.

Let me emphasize again that we are not here to bash Job. None of us can be sure how we would handle similar circumstances, if they were to confront us. Nevertheless, we cannot conclude that Job’s responses in chapter 6 and 7 are godly or even appropriate. But how do we know that? If we haven’t faced such severe trials ourselves, how can we be sure that Job had no other option than to respond the way he did? It is because we have the inspired record of the life of Jesus our Lord, who “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb. 4:15). That “we” includes all human beings down through the ages, and Job is no exception. Furthermore, Jesus faced more severe trials than any human being has ever faced.

Remember that the greatest pain for Job did not come from the stripping away of his possessions, or the loss of his children, or even months of physical agony. In 6:4, Job speaks of an even greater grief: “For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; My spirit drinks in their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.” So it was with Jesus. Shortly before His arrest, He prayed to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matt. 26:39). The cup to which He referred was not the beating, the crown of thorns, or the excruciating bodily pain He would experience on the cross. The cup pointed to the anguish of bearing our sin and thus being cut off from His Father. Though Job suffered more than most of us ever will, He didn’t have to drink the cup that Jesus drained while hanging on the cross. For that reason, our study of Job again drives us to Jesus.

Last week we asked the question, “So where did Job go wrong?” I suggested, using the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, that in the midst of his suffering, Job forgot the chief end of man. And what is the chief end of man? What is the basic purpose for which God put us on this earth? “The chief end of man is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” Because Job moved away from his purpose of glorifying God, his focus shifted more and more to himself. Can that happen to you and me? Absolutely. That is the temptation that we face again and again. But is it possible to live a life that is consistently centered upon giving God glory? Good news, brothers and sisters, the answer is “Yes.” How do I know? Because Jesus lived that life, and Jesus lives in us who belong to Him. Therefore, we too can live a God-glorifying life even in a God-defying world.

So this morning let us come directly to Jesus, as He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (II Cor. 5:21). We are going to do that by focusing this morning upon the seven things Jesus said while He was on the cross. Young people, did you find them? We will take them in chronological order. Because all seven sayings are not recorded by a single gospel writer, the order is not explicitly stated. Nevertheless, the order in which Jesus spoke these words seems pretty clear. By the way, with one exception, each saying is recorded by only one writer. Praise God that He employed all four -- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John -- to write gospel accounts. It so happens that the one saying recorded by both Matthew and Mark is the only saying either of them record. Luke gives us three and John gives us another three.

Before we plunge into what Jesus said from the cross, we need to consider one other truth. Let it be clear to every one of us that Jesus did indeed glorify His Father in all that He said and did. I want us to see the sayings of Jesus from the cross in light of His desire to glorify His Father. Please follow as I read from John’s record…

John 4:34 "Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work."

John 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me."

John 7:18 "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him."

John 8:49-50 "Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. 50. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth."

John 12:27-28 "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28. Father, glorify thy name..."

John 17:1 "These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:"

John 17:4 "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do."

Jesus lived for the glory of His Father. Even when He was tempted to ask His Father to deliver Him from going to the cross, He couldn’t do it because His meat was to do His Father’s will, to complete the work for which the Father sent Him. That is why He said, “Nevertheless, not my will, but thy will be done.” We could easily spend a session on each of the things that Jesus said from the cross, but this morning we are going to concentrate on how He glorified His Father in what He said while in such agony.

1. Father, Forgive Them, for They Know Not What They Do (Luke 23:34)

We cannot understand the depth of meaning in this statement, if we don’t go back to the background of Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus didn’t get far into His ministry before the religious leaders, particularly the scribes and Pharisees, began to oppose Him. Way back in Mark 3 we have the record of Jesus healing a withered hand on the Sabbath. Listen to Mark 3:6, “And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.” The Pharisees were so intent on doing away with Jesus that they were able to persuade the much more mild-mannered Herodians to join them in the effort. The more clearly Jesus revealed who He was and the nature of His mission, the more determined the religious leaders were to kill Him.

With the aid of Judas, they got their way. Finally, they had Jesus arrested and brought Him before Pilate, the Roman governor. But Pilate was not convinced that Jesus had done anything worthy of punishment, especially the death penalty. At least three times Pilate said, “I find no fault in him” (John records three; Luke records two). Nevertheless, the Jewish leaders insisted that Jesus was worthy of death. When Pilate reminded them that it was customary for him to release a prisoner for them at the Passover and then suggested that he release Jesus, they persuaded the people to ask for the release of a criminal named Barabbas. Then Pilate asked the entire crowd, “Then what shall I do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?” The crowd immediately responded, “Crucify Him!” Pilate then asked, “But what evil has He done?” Again, they cried, “Crucify Him.”

Now let’s take it up in Luke 23:33-34, "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors [criminals], one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…” Jesus was asking His Father to forgive the very people who had demanded that He be crucified. Yes, that included the religious leaders who had plotted His death. He was praying even for those men who were being crucified on either side of Him. Yes, even for Pilate and Herod and the high priest. And finally, He was praying for you and for me. We were as guilty as those who watched Him die on the cross. How can I say that? Because it wasn’t the schemes of the religious leaders; it wasn’t the demand of the crowd; it wasn’t the force of the soldiers nor the authority of Pilate. Ultimately, it was our sin that caused the Father to crush His Son on the cross.

We read earlier that Jesus was tempted in every way that we are. Do you think Jesus was tempted at this time? Surely one of the key temptations He faced was revenge upon those who hung Him there. And remember that Jesus was capable of getting revenge. He Himself had said that He could call thousands of angels to rescue them. He could just as easily command them to wipe out those who crucified Him. But would that bring glory to God? Jesus remembered why He came -- to glorify His Father by seeking and saving the lost. For that reason, He prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

We could argue that they knew exactly what they were doing. Pilate was reluctant to crucify Jesus, but surely He knew what He was doing. He knew what would happen when He turned Jesus over to the soldiers for crucifixion. Above all, the religious leaders had much knowledge. They knew they were crucifying an innocent man. They should have known, if they had sought the Lord, that they were crucifying their own Messiah, but they did not. And despite all they knew, they did not know the terrible consequences that would result for them and their nation as a result of their actions. Paul tells us that had those rulers known the wisdom of God, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (I Cor. 2:8).

When Jesus prayed, He was fulfilling the prophecy of Is. 53:12, "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors." Jesus interceded for them. Jesus interceded for us. When Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them,” He was praying for you. And as He prayed, He was glorifying His Father, who sent Him to be our Redeemer.

So did the Father answer Jesus’ prayer? The Father always answered Jesus’ prayers. But did He forgive them? While not everyone who was at the cross would personally experience God’s forgiveness, God did what was necessary for their forgiveness. He provided His own Son as the propitiation for sins. Do you see it? Jesus became the answer to His own prayer. The only way God could forgive them was for Jesus to die in their place, taking upon Himself the wrath that they deserved. Though the cost to Jesus was unimaginable, He glorified the Father. As we read in Phil. 2:8, “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Unlike Job, Jesus never lost sight of the Father’s glory.

2. Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43)

Among those for whom Jesus prayed were the two criminals who were crucified with Him, one to His right and one to His left. While Jesus was innocent of any crime, these men were not. It is a fair question to ask what these men thought of the man in the middle. They watched Jesus. They heard Him praying for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him. What was their response? Let’s read it in Mark 15:29-32…

And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, 30. Save thyself, and come down from the cross. 31. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. 32. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled [insulted, scorned, reproached] him.

These two who were closest to Jesus treated Him just like everyone else. However, that isn’t the end of the story. Not long after that, one of them had a change of heart. Let’s read it in Luke 23:39-42…

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

Why the change? We are not told, but surely this man was moved by what he saw in Jesus, as he had opportunity to see how He would respond to all the abuse that was being poured out upon Him. This man recognized something different in Jesus, so much so that he begs, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Obviously, he had come to believe that Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world. When he addressed Jesus as “Lord,” there was a sincerity and depth of meaning.

Now listen to Jesus’ response in Luke 23:43, “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Wow! Not only did Jesus pray for this man’s forgiveness, but He now offers it. Remember that one of the things that angered the Pharisees most was Jesus’ claim to forgive sins. He said to that immoral woman who kissed His feet, washed them with her tears, and dried them with her hair, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48). When Jesus tells this criminal that he will be with Him in paradise, He is clearly extending to him forgiveness. Jesus is also claiming victory over death by saying that both He and this man will meet in paradise.

The term “paradise” is a term from Persia and refers to a garden, especially a pleasant garden filled with trees, shrubs, etc. In the hot, dry climate such a garden was very refreshing. Out of that background the word “paradise” came to refer to a place of happiness, and finally to the bliss of a future world. For our purposes, we can simply say that Jesus was promising the repentant thief that he would be with Him in heaven. This was far beyond the expectations of this dying man. As a Jew, when he spoke of Jesus’ kingdom, he was undoubtedly thinking of a time in the distant future. But Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” Notice also that the promise was not that he would simply be in a better place, but Jesus said, “You will be with me.” That is the glory of this promise.

So Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them.” Now He personally grants forgiveness to a man who has repented and put his trust in Him. Jesus was willing to pray for the forgiveness of the masses, but now He is willing to forgive a man who minutes before had joined the crowd in insulting and mocking Him. In so doing, He glorified His Father. What kind of God can take a man and transform his hatred into love? This is the God we serve. His purpose is not to condemn people, but to save people. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Jesus was an eager and full participant in bringing glory to His Father by providing salvation for man.

Pause for just a moment. Will God still forgive a person of his sins and take him to heaven, if he repents on his deathbed? Yes. But remember that being close to death does not guarantee repentance in the one who is dying. Matthew Henry made this statement: “It is certain that true repentance is never too late; but it is [just] as certain that late repentance is seldom true.” Deathbed repentance is real, but it is extremely rare. For you personally, if you have hopes that you will reject the gospel and then repent when you are old or near death, you are greatly deceived. Today is the day of salvation. Every day you reject the gospel, the greater the possibility that these words will fit you: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20).

Just think of it. Here were two men who were being crucified because of the serious crimes they had committed. They were on either side of Jesus. Both these men were privileged to see firsthand and up close how Jesus responded to what was happening to Him. Both of them heard Him say, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” These men saw and heard the same things from Jesus. Yet while one of them repented and believed, the other rejected Jesus to the end. What a picture of humanity. While some will forsake self and cry out for mercy, clinging to Jesus, the greater number will stubbornly refuse Him and experience the wrath of God for all eternity. What about you? Like the two thieves on the cross, through the truth of God’s Word you have witnessed the death of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Understand that you are fully responsible for how you respond to Him.

Go back for a moment to what the one thief said to the other…

And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41. And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

First of all, we see that he feared God. The other didn’t, but this man came to a fear of God. That is the beginning of the Spirit’s work in a person. How can anyone come face to the face with the law of God and the consequences of breaking that law and not fear God? Jesus put it clearly, “Don’t fear them who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28). Then we see that he had an understanding of his own sinfulness. He properly recognized that he was getting what he deserved. While seeing the immensity of his own sin, he saw the righteousness of Jesus. Pilate rightly understood that Jesus had done nothing deserving death, but this man declares that Jesus had done nothing amiss. He does not use the terms that Pilate used. Literally, he says that Jesus had done nothing out of place. To such a righteous One he then says, “Lord.” This was more than a polite address, “Sir.” No, he is speaking to the Lord who has a kingdom. This man recognizes Jesus as Lord and King. Out of deep repentance and faith, he then begs Jesus to remember him. Oh that every person in this room might respond to Jesus in that way.

Jesus had plenty of troubles of His own. He was in as much physical torment as the men on either side of Him. Beyond that, He was preparing to bear the weight of our sins, to be crushed under the wrath of His Father. In the midst of it all, He gave Himself freely to a single man who recognized His need and cried out for mercy. Does that Jesus live in you? We who know His presence through the Holy Spirit have grace to serve others for the glory of God, even in the midst of great crisis.

3. “Woman, behold thy son… Behold thy mother” (John 19:26-27)

Of course, Jesus’ ministry to the thief beside Him was of a highly spiritual nature. No wonder Jesus turned to him and forgave him, after all, his very soul was at stake. But now we come to a very practical matter. Jesus had a mother, didn’t He? And what was her name? Yes, her name was Mary. She was a real person who was really watching her Son die an agonizing death, like any notorious criminal. When Jesus was a baby, Joseph and Mary brought Him to the temple to present Him to the Lord, according to what was written in the law. Let’s read the story in Luke 2:25-35…

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. 26. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, 28. Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, 29. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: 30. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, 31. Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; 32. A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. 33. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. 34. And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35. (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Now Mary is experiencing what Simeon prophesied some 33 years before. Now the sword was piercing her soul. Can we begin to imagine what she was going through? Joseph was not there to help her. The absence of His name during the entire ministry of Jesus implies strongly that He had died. Jesus had brothers (half brothers), but none of them believed in Him at this time. They had no way of understanding what their mother was experiencing.

So did Jesus bear any responsibility for His mother? Surely we could excuse Jesus for being preoccupied not only with His own pain, but also with the spiritual condition of all mankind. But now come to John 19:25-27…

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26. When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27. Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

After granting divine forgiveness to a dying man, Jesus now offers practical care to His living mother. From a study of John’s gospel, we are led to conclude that the “disciple whom Jesus loved” was none other than the author, John himself. Out of modesty, John refused to refer to himself by name even a single time throughout the book. Perhaps this is why he is the only gospel writer who doesn’t include a list of the twelve apostles, as he would have been forced to use his own name. In His wisdom Jesus knew that John would be the best one of the apostles to take care of His mother. So, in spite of all the weight on His own shoulders, He looked down from that cross and spoke words of love and comfort to His own mother.

How could He do that? Why would He do that? Ultimately, to bring glory to His Father. It was the will of His heavenly Father than He not forsake His mother, even at a time like this. It was God His Father who said, “Honor thy father and thy mother.” Jesus truly honored her from the cross. The Jesus who could put other things on hold as He walked through this life so that He could take the babes into His arms is the same Jesus who looked down from the cross and spoke lovingly to His mother.

May the Lord give us ears to hear and minds and hearts to understand. May we never think that spirituality means casting aside all practical concerns, that we might give ourselves to more holy things. With deep regret, I remember a time when I got so caught up in what I considered holy things that I let down people who needed practical help.

Conclusion

So here’s the question: Will we be like Job in chapters 6 and 7, or will we be like Jesus, who glorified His Father even as He was hanging on the cross? Will we forget that our purpose is to glorify the Father? Or will we consistently glorify Him in all times and situations?

In asking those questions, what I am really asking is this: Do you desire to glorify God in all things? That is a very appropriate question, but it doesn’t go far enough. Now the big one: Is it possible for an ordinary child of God to consistently glorify God in all things? I am not talking about sinless perfection. Who among us could say, “I have never once failed to glorify God?” The question is simply, “Can I live a life in which day in and day out I bring glory to God?”

The answer is a simple and emphatic, “YES.” Jesus said in Matt. 5:14-16, "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Our Lord does not command us to do what we are not able to do. Nevertheless, I must qualify that statement. Living a life that brings glory to God is impossible for us in our own strength, but we are not restricted to our own strength. Every true believer has the Holy Spirit living in Him. And what does the Holy Spirit do? Jesus told us in John 16:14, “He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”

Consider one example of how the Holy Spirit glorifies the Father in and through us. Gal. 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." When the fruit of the Spirit is growing in our lives, the Father is glorified. We cannot take credit for such fruit, because we know it is the work of the Spirit. The perfecting of the fruit brings glory to the God who is producing it in us.

So what is our part? First of all, we must believe that it is indeed possible for a Spirit-indwelt believer to consistently bring glory to God throughout his life time. Then we must desire it. As it is God’s purpose for us to bring Him glory, is that your goal in life? Does that desire overshadow everything else? And then pray that God will be glorified in your life. That’s what Jesus did. John 12:27-28, "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. 28. Father, glorify thy name…” That same Jesus instructs us to pray the same. Matt. 6:9, "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name." “Father, let your name be seen as holy. Live in me in such a way that all who see me will conclude that you are holy, set apart, in a league by yourself.” As we pray and our Father answers, we will indeed bring glory to Him who is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.

Speaking to the Almighty -- 6/5/11

Sunday, June 5, 2011

SPEAKING TO THE ALMIGHTY

Job 7

This morning we come to the seventh chapter of Job. We are right in the middle of Job’s response to his “friend” Eliphaz, who gave him a strong rebuke (chapters 4-5). In chapter 6, Job informed Eliphaz that he really didn’t understand the depth of his pain. If he did, he wouldn’t be so hard on him; he would have compassion. Because Eliphaz didn’t understand and therefore was harsh, Job concluded that Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were of no help at all. Job demanded that these so-called friends give the specifics of where he had sinned against God.

It is not absolutely clear to whom Job is speaking in all of chapter 7. What is clear is that by the middle of the chapter, he is speaking to God. We read in verse 14, “Then You scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions.” Surely it is the Lord Himself who brings those dreams and visions. Commentators are divided concerning where Job turns away from Eliphaz and directs his words to God. Apparently those who first made the chapter divisions believed that Job began to speak to the Lord in 7:1. That is the way I will view it. Ultimately, it doesn’t make a great deal of difference, as long as we recognize Job speaking to the Lord later in the chapter.

So what does Job have to say to God? Remember from chapter 6 that what hurts Job the most is his belief that his God is judging him. Let’s go back and read 6:4, “For the arrows of the Almighty are within me; My spirit drinks in their poison; The terrors of God are arrayed against me.” Remember also that in chapter 6 he continues to ask God to take away his life on this earth. Because he has no hope of things getting any better, he sees death as the only solution.

So let’s walk through chapter 7 and see what a distraught Job has to say to his God.

I. I Have Intense Pain… Because Life Has No Purpose (1-6)

Let’s read verses 1-6…

¹ “Is there not a time of hard service for man on earth?
Are not his days also like the days of a hired man?

² Like a servant who earnestly desires the shade,
And like a hired man who eagerly looks for his wages,

³ So I have been allotted months of futility,
And wearisome nights have been appointed to me.

⁴ When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise,
And the night be ended?’
For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn.

⁵ My flesh is caked with worms and dust,
My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.

⁶ “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle,
And are spent without hope.

Look at verse 1. The ESV reads, “Has not man a hard service on earth?” That word “service” literally refers to military service, which was much more severe in those days than today. A man who served in the army faced very harsh conditions. Job asks, “Is not man’s life on earth like one who faces the harsh conditions of military service?” He goes on, “Are not his days like the days of a hired man?” Again, the plight of a laborer was much more difficult then than now. That is why the prophets often chastised landowners and employers for the way they took advantage of those who worked for them. We saw that in Isaiah 58 a few months ago. Understand that Job is referring to the life of man in general. Surely we would want to say immediately, “It doesn’t have to be like that.” However, from his present state, that is the way Job sees things.

He goes on in verse 2 to speak of the servant (better, “slave”) who longs for the shade to shelter him from the hot sun under which he is forced to labor. And the hired hand longs for the end of the day, when he can collect his wages and get some much needed rest. In verse 3, Job likens himself to that slave and that hired hand. Just as the slave longs for the shade in the middle of the day, he longs for relief from his physical and emotional turmoil. Instead, he says, “I have been allotted months of futility.” This is the reference which informs us that his present situation has dragged on for months, not just a week or two (as we might infer, were it not for this reference).

Notice that Job labels the passing time as “months of futility.” The King James renders it “months of vanity,” while the ESV prefers “months of emptiness.” It is from this that I draw the idea, “I have intense pain, because life has no purpose.” Job saw no purpose in all of this. That is why he labels this time of turmoil as futility, emptiness, vanity. For what purpose is all this happening? I long for relief, and all I get is months of purposeless suffering.

For the slave and the hired hand, the end of the day finally comes and they can enjoy a night of rest. Not so for Job. Let’s read what he says in the rest of verse 3 and in verse 4, “And wearisome nights have been appointed to me. When I lie down, I say, ‘When shall I arise, And the night be ended?’ For I have had my fill of tossing till dawn.” While even the slave can rest during the night, not Job. His physical pains and the relentless thoughts that harass him continue through the night. Some of you can identify with Job. Perhaps you are having pain in your back and you can’t get comfortable in the bed. After a few hours of that, and you long for the night to be over. Just give me some daylight so that I can get out of this bed and do something. Of course, when the light comes, you are so exhausted that you don’t feel like doing anything. Now imagine the depth of Job’s pain, and you can see how miserable this man was.

Verse 5 gives us a graphic picture of his physical condition: “My flesh is caked with worms and dust, My skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.” There is no reason to think that these “worms” are figurative. Rather, he is talking about literal worms (or perhaps lice) that are attracted to his boil-infested skin. Some take the “dirt” as scabs, but the “clods of dust” of the King James is a very literal translation. Perhaps Job rolls himself in the dirt to try to relieve the uncomfortable itching occasioned by the boils, causing the dirt to adhere to the puss that runs from the sores. Or maybe it is simply impossible to keep such fresh wounds clean. Job reports that his “skin is cracked and breaks out afresh.” The term translated “breaks out afresh” literally means “to reject or despise.” That is why some translations render it “has become loathsome (hated).” In a secondary sense it can mean “to melt, to run like water.” The picture seems to be something like this: the sores heal a bit and scab over, but then the skin again cracks and oozes. Indeed, it is loathsome, a thing to be hated. I realize this is not edifying lunch-time conversation, but this is the reality with which Job dealt.

Verse 6, “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, And are spent without hope.” Here we have a preview of the next section, as Job begins to speak about the brevity of his life. Let’s hold that thought for a moment and focus on the that last phrase, “[My days] are spent without hope.” Job continues to emphasize the fact that he has lost all hope that things will get any better. He sees no purpose whatsoever for his life on earth. That is why he has continued to wish that he could die.

II. I Have a Soon End… Because Life Is Very Brief (7-10)

Now let’s read the next section, verses 7-10…

⁷ Oh, remember that my life is a breath!
My eye will never again see good.

⁸ The eye of him who sees me will see me no more;
While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.

⁹ As the cloud disappears and vanishes away,
So he who goes down to the grave does not come up.

¹⁰ He shall never return to his house,
Nor shall his place know him anymore.

Job now transitions from the futility of his life to the brevity of his life. Basically, he says, “I have a soon end, because life is very brief.” His first words provide an overall summary of his thought: “Oh, remember that my life is a breath!” Let’s suppose that you breathe 15 times per minute (about average for an adult). That means that we have taken almost 8 million breaths in the past year. In my lifetime, I have breathed over 461 million times. Actually, the number is a good bit greater, because the respiration rate for babies and children is higher. So perhaps I have taken 500 million (that’s half a billion) breaths in my life time. With that in mind, Job says, “My life is a [mere] breath.” He is emphasizing that his life is very short. This concept is echoed in Psalm 103 and by James, who says that life is like a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away (Jms. 4:14).

Come back to the idea of the weaver’s shuttle in verse 6. “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle.” A shuttle is a device used to hold the thread while weaving it. The shuttle moves very quickly and the thread will soon run out. Job sees his life in the same way. The time is passing and life will soon be over for him. Not only is life in general very short, but his days in particular are few in number.

Because of the brevity of life, he makes the statements at the end of verse 7 and in verse 8: “My eye will never again see good. The eye of him who sees me will see me no more; While your eyes are upon me, I shall no longer be.” Job believes that his life will not last long enough for him to see any good on this earth. He expects to expire in his present miserable state. The one who sees him now will soon see him no more. The NKJV version obviously takes these words as being spoken to Eliphaz, as the “y” in “your” is not capitalized. (The Hebrew text does not reveal this, as capitalization was not one of its features). However, it is interesting to note that “your” is singular and not plural. Job ended chapter 6 speaking to all three of his friends, as the last six second person pronouns are plural.

In verse 9 Job compares his life to a cloud which disappears and vanishes away. His reference is to thin, fleecy clouds that appear but are soon dissipated by the heat of the sun. Though other clouds may form, that particular cloud will never be seen again. In the same way, Job affirms that he who goes down to the grave will never come up. This is not a proof that Job doesn’t believe in a resurrection. He is simply saying that those who die will never return to this life on earth. He explains that further in verse 10, when he says, “He shall never return to his house, Nor shall his place know him any more.” Not only is the cloud very temporary, but when it is gone, it is gone never to return. Job likens his life to be the same.

So let’s review for just a minute. Job has spent 10 verses emphasizing the vanity and brevity of life, his life in particular. There is a sense in which he is speaking truth. Life is short; no one can deny that truth. Of course, Job’s life turned out to be much longer than he anticipated (probably at least 200 years; see Job 42:16-17). Nevertheless, even 200 years is a short span. He was also right concerning the futility of life, if we are considering life apart from God. But Job didn’t see himself as apart from God. The Lord Himself had spoken of Job as a blameless and upright man, who feared God and turned away from evil (1:1). So we have to question Job’s emphasis on the emptiness of life.

Job isn’t done yet. Perhaps it would have been better if had retired at this point, but he didn’t.

III. I Have a Complaint… Because You Terrify Me (11-16)

Now let’s read verses 11-16…

¹¹ “ Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;
I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;
I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

¹² Am I a sea, or a sea serpent,
That You set a guard over me?

¹³ When I say, ‘My bed will comfort me,
My couch will ease my complaint,’

¹⁴ Then You scare me with dreams
And terrify me with visions,

¹⁵ So that my soul chooses strangling
And death rather than my body.^[a]

¹⁶ I loathe my life;
I would not live forever.
Let me alone,
For my days are but a breath.

If Job hasn’t been speaking to God earlier, it is clear that he is now. “Because life is empty and vain and too short for anything to change, I have a complaint that I must voice. I cannot keep it inside. Therefore I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.” I guess we would have to give Job credit for being open and honest. Notice the “therefore” at the beginning of this section. We cannot miss the link between what Job has said and the complaint that is coming. He believes that he has every right to complain to the Lord. Job refuses to hide his disappointments and complains about what he considers injustice from God.

He begins with the interesting question: “Am I a sea, or a sea serpent, That You set a guard over me?” When we think of the sea or the ocean, one of the things that grabs our attention is its power. When Jesus calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee, His disciples were amazed. Why? Because it is amazing to think that anyone could tame the waves of the sea. The sea is powerful, wild, and free. The same is true of the sea serpent. We would probably do better do render it “sea monster,” as most translations have it. Job pictures a powerful sea creature that no man can tame. Both the sea and the sea monster are very dangerous and a great threat to do damage. Job asks, “Do you consider me as dangerous as the sea, or a sea monster, that you have to stand guard over me?” Job feels like the Lord has him on a leash and won’t turn loose for a moment. As soon as Job thinks he might be doing better, he feels some new pain in his body.

In verses 13-14, Job directs his accusations more forcefully at God. When Job thinks that he might lie down and sleep, that me might get some good rest, then “You scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions.” Do you sense his desperation. “There is no place I can turn where you cannot find me. Even in my sleep you torment me.”

This reminds me of what David says in Psalm 139, that magnificent Psalm in which David praises the Lord for His wonderful presence and knowledge. Ps. 139:7-12…

⁷ Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall^[a] on me,”
Even the night shall be light about me;
¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,
But the night shines as the day;
The darkness and the light are both alike to You.

David gloried in this knowledge of the Lord’s presence, but Job resented it deeply. He felt that the Lord was ever present to terrify and afflict him. As a result, he says in verse 15, “So that my soul chooses strangling and death rather than my body.” The word translated “body” is literally “bones” (as KJV and ESV). Job is simply saying that he prefers to be strangled by death than to live in this world. He would have rather have his breath be strangled completely out of him than to be a mere skeleton of bones.

You can sense the despair and resentment in the words of verse 16. “I loathe my life.” That is, “I hate my life; I despise it.” Job makes it clear that he does not want to live forever. In our world, there are many who cling to life on this earth as the ultimate good, but not Job. He expresses his attitude, when he says to the Lord, “Just leave me alone, because my days are just a breath. Because there is no purpose in this short life, just let me die.”

IV. I Have Questions… Because It Seems There Are No Answers (17-21)

Job concludes by posing a series of questions to the Lord. Let’s read through them kind of slowly in verses 17-21…

¹⁷ “What is man, that You should exalt him,
That You should set Your heart on him,

¹⁸ That You should visit him every morning,
And test him every moment?

¹⁹ How long?
Will You not look away from me,
And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?

²⁰ Have I sinned?
What have I done to You, O watcher of men?
Why have You set me as Your target,
So that I am a burden to myself?^[b]

²¹ Why then do You not pardon my transgression,
And take away my iniquity?
For now I will lie down in the dust,
And You will seek me diligently,
But I will no longer be.”

Notice especially that first question: “What is man, that You should exalt him, That You should set Your heart on him, That you should visit him every morning, And test him every moment?” Anyone who is familiar with the Bible at all will immediately be reminded of David’s words in Psalm 8:3-4…

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?

While David is praising the Lord because He stoops down to consider man, who is so unworthy of such attention, Job is not at all pleased with such divine attention. I would put Job’s attitude in these terms: “Almighty God, don’t you have plenty to do without hovering over mankind every moment? Can’t you entertain yourself in other ways than constantly putting man to the test? What is man, that he is worth the effort? Lord, please give me some space.”

The next question is in verse 19, “How long? Will You not look away from me, And let me alone till I swallow my saliva?” Can you hear the exasperation in Job’s voice? “How long will it be before you turn away from me? Can’t you leave me alone even long enough to swallow?” The emphasis here is on the constancy of God’s gaze upon man. There is not a thing he does that God does not notice. Job is complaining about that kind of scrutiny.

The NKJV of the first part of verse 20 reads, “Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men?” Translations will vary quite a bit. Is Job asking a question, or making a statement? Several translations would agree with the NIV, “If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men?” The KJV reads, “I have sinned; what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men.” Whether we take it as a statement or part of a question, let it be clear that Job is not intending to give the idea that he might be free of sin. Job is acknowledging his own sin. But even then there is a question: “But what does my sin do to You?” In a sense, Job is right. His sin does not harm God in any way. He is coming back to the idea of verse 17, “Why do you make so much out of a man? How can the sin of this one human being be of such concern to you, that you would treat me this way?” Notice that Job refers to the Lord as a “watcher of men.” There is still this emphasis on the continual watchfulness of the Lord.

In the second part of verse 20 Job asks God why He has made him His target. Job feels like he has a bull’s eye drawn on him and God never misses the mark. While the NIV and the ESV translation of the last part -- “burden to you” -- might seem to make more sense, “myself” is clearly how the text reads (except in the LXX). The question is, “Why have you made me Your target?” Because the Lord did make him His target, Job notes that his own life has become a burden to him.

Finally, let’s look at the question in the first part of verse 21, “Why then do You not pardon my transgression, And take away my iniquity?” Again, we see that Job does not claim to be sinless. While he does not admit to some great sin of which his friends accuse him, he knows that he bears iniquity before a holy God. He cries out for God to forgive him and turn away his hand of affliction. The way Job sees it, rather than forgiving him, God continues to afflict him. If it continues, Job says that God will diligently look for him in the earth, but He will not find him, because Job will have died and no longer be on the earth. It’s almost as if he is asking one last question without speaking the words: “Lord, is that what you want?”

Conclusion

So Job is finished speaking for now. He has responded to Eliphaz in chapter 6, and then he has turned his attention to the Lord in chapter 7. We would have to conclude that for good or bad, Job has been open and honest with his complaint. He has made some pretty serious accusations against God.

Most interesting to me is the way he speaks of God making so much of man. He does not see that as a good thing, but as something he would like to escape. While David gloried in this truth, Job despises it. Job would like to escape God’s presence. He cries out for God to leave Him alone. That is a very serious thing for a person to request God to leave him alone. We would have to say that this thing for which Job asked was not good. While we sympathize with Job in his pain, we can’t congratulate him for seeking death and to escape God’s presence.

So where is Job going wrong at this point? What I am going to say may seem too trite and simple for some of us, but I am going to say it anyway. In 1646 the Westminster Confession was completed. I would call it a powerful summary of the basic beliefs of the historical church. Along with it was developed the Westminster Shorter Catechism, which was a simple question-and-answer method of communicating the primary truths in the Confession. The Shorter Catechism begins with this question: “What is the chief end of man?” In other words, what is our primary purpose in life? The answer: “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” That’s why God put man on the earth. In the midst of his trials, Job lost sight of that truth. His pain and emotional turmoil blinded him to the glory of God.

Please hear me carefully, brothers and sisters. The enemy loves nothing more than to set our eyes on some other purpose than the glory of God. If you claim to be a Christian and are pursuing some other inferior purpose, you every reason to question whether you truly know the God who is worthy of glory and honor and praise. I’m not talking about just worshipping God on Sunday, but about actively seeking to bring Him glory day in and day out in all you do, say, and think. That is the normal Christian life. Job had lost sight of it.

There is nothing we can do this morning that would be more important than falling on our knees and crying out, “Lord, set my focus on your glory.” Let’s do that right now…

Next week we will come to the second part of this message, but it won’t be found in the book of Job. When we look at the life of this man and all he had to endure, we are tempted to say, “No wonder he lost sight of the glory of God. It would have been impossible for him to remain focused on God’s glory in the midst of his disaster.” Those thoughts drive us to the Lord Jesus, who was tempted in every way that Job was tempted, yet without sin. Jesus faced a crisis greater than what Job faced. His physical afflictions could match those of Job; His spiritual trials were far greater than Job could have imagined, much less experienced.

So next week we are going to look at Jesus while He hung on the cross. During those hours, we have recorded seven things that Jesus said. Lord willing, we will take a look at those seven sayings from the cross. Why don’t you find those this week. You young ones, I will ask you to list them for us at the start of the sermon next week. If you have trouble finding them, ask your parents or give me a call. With all due respect to your school teachers, the subject matter we are considering is more important than math or writing or anything else you will study.