August 10th, 2006
Hope Study – Edition #3: The Anti-Pessimist
Did you know that the book of Job uses the word “hope” nineteen times within seventeen scriptures? I didn’t either until I searched out the word. I couldn’t help but ponder as to why the excessive use (excessive for lack of a better word). That’s what I am focusing on today, is the hope within this book.
First off, the shortest Prophet may be Nehemiah (knee-high-miah), but did you know that Job had a friend that was only a shoe-height? That’s a pretty short guy. But did you know that the guards as Jesus’ tomb were so short, they fell asleep on a watch. Either that’s a big watch or short people… I don’t know of a watch that’s bigger that just a few inches. Now, on to some serious stuff…
Job 4:2-6
“If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can keep from speaking? Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?”
This is Eliphaz the Temanite speaking, and I think this is really encouraging. The guy reminds Job that he’s a good guy. He points out that Job is pious or a devout Jew. He doesn’t toe the line, he’s nowhere near the line. Job has encouraged others and he has strengthened others. And Eliphaz, at least here, has said that if he is doing everything right, then the hardship he is under is not a result of sin. And that is true. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people, with sometimes no rhyme or reason.
Job 5:8-19
“But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He bestows rain on the earth; he sends water upon the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night. He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal. From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will befall you.”
Oops. Eliphaz the Temanite stepped back on what he originally said. But there is still some good stuff here. Now he’s saying Job is being disciplined. But outside of that, the poor have hope. God does protect the poor. Eliphaz isn’t wrong there. Let’s give Job’s friends some credit, they were considered wise men in their day. Eliphaz is a smart guy. And so it should be noted that just because he’s wrong in one area, doesn’t mean he’s wrong everywhere else. And it should also be noted that Satan is the one who wounds, but God heals. Anyway, the poor have hope, the hope that God provides. And that is a great thing.
Job 6:2-20
“If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas - no wonder my words have been impetuous. The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God's terrors are marshaled against me. Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder? Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg? I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill. Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off! Then I would still have this consolation - my joy in unrelenting pain - that I had not denied the words of the Holy One. What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me? A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels. Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go up into the wasteland and perish. The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope. They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.”
And before I dig into all this, I have to consider one other thing…
James 5:7-12
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.
I have heard that Job went through a lot before the guys showed up. And so in Job 6, it is good old Job talking away. And so, Job has probably gone for a good few days with his pain and ailments. And keep in mind, there wasn’t a pharmacy to run to. He couldn’t get a prescription filled for Valium or Lortab. So he had to “suck-it-up”, per se. I have pain medications to take the edge off, Job didn’t have that luxury. I say this because some may think that Job started complaining right away. James is talking about how Job was patient and he persevered. Job 6 isn’t the most encouraging and it isn’t Job’s brightest moment. But again, think about what the guy’s going through. How many times have I said these same things? Maybe not exactly the same verbage, but the same context. It’s not uncommon for someone to be in despair and sad and feeling abandoned by the greatness of life to get into a really deep funk and be bottomed out in depression.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. It’s good to have dreams. It’s good to have a belief in God. It is good to have hope. Johnny Out.
Hope Study – Edition #3: The Anti-Pessimist
Did you know that the book of Job uses the word “hope” nineteen times within seventeen scriptures? I didn’t either until I searched out the word. I couldn’t help but ponder as to why the excessive use (excessive for lack of a better word). That’s what I am focusing on today, is the hope within this book.
First off, the shortest Prophet may be Nehemiah (knee-high-miah), but did you know that Job had a friend that was only a shoe-height? That’s a pretty short guy. But did you know that the guards as Jesus’ tomb were so short, they fell asleep on a watch. Either that’s a big watch or short people… I don’t know of a watch that’s bigger that just a few inches. Now, on to some serious stuff…
Job 4:2-6
“If someone ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? But who can keep from speaking? Think how you have instructed many, how you have strengthened feeble hands. Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?”
This is Eliphaz the Temanite speaking, and I think this is really encouraging. The guy reminds Job that he’s a good guy. He points out that Job is pious or a devout Jew. He doesn’t toe the line, he’s nowhere near the line. Job has encouraged others and he has strengthened others. And Eliphaz, at least here, has said that if he is doing everything right, then the hardship he is under is not a result of sin. And that is true. Good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people, with sometimes no rhyme or reason.
Job 5:8-19
“But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He bestows rain on the earth; he sends water upon the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night. He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth. Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal. From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will befall you.”
Oops. Eliphaz the Temanite stepped back on what he originally said. But there is still some good stuff here. Now he’s saying Job is being disciplined. But outside of that, the poor have hope. God does protect the poor. Eliphaz isn’t wrong there. Let’s give Job’s friends some credit, they were considered wise men in their day. Eliphaz is a smart guy. And so it should be noted that just because he’s wrong in one area, doesn’t mean he’s wrong everywhere else. And it should also be noted that Satan is the one who wounds, but God heals. Anyway, the poor have hope, the hope that God provides. And that is a great thing.
Job 6:2-20
“If only my anguish could be weighed and all my misery be placed on the scales! It would surely outweigh the sand of the seas - no wonder my words have been impetuous. The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God's terrors are marshaled against me. Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder? Is tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the white of an egg? I refuse to touch it; such food makes me ill. Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off! Then I would still have this consolation - my joy in unrelenting pain - that I had not denied the words of the Holy One. What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me? A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty. But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams, as the streams that overflow when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, but that cease to flow in the dry season, and in the heat vanish from their channels. Caravans turn aside from their routes; they go up into the wasteland and perish. The caravans of Tema look for water, the traveling merchants of Sheba look in hope. They are distressed, because they had been confident; they arrive there, only to be disappointed.”
And before I dig into all this, I have to consider one other thing…
James 5:7-12
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Above all, my brothers, do not swear - not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, or you will be condemned.
I have heard that Job went through a lot before the guys showed up. And so in Job 6, it is good old Job talking away. And so, Job has probably gone for a good few days with his pain and ailments. And keep in mind, there wasn’t a pharmacy to run to. He couldn’t get a prescription filled for Valium or Lortab. So he had to “suck-it-up”, per se. I have pain medications to take the edge off, Job didn’t have that luxury. I say this because some may think that Job started complaining right away. James is talking about how Job was patient and he persevered. Job 6 isn’t the most encouraging and it isn’t Job’s brightest moment. But again, think about what the guy’s going through. How many times have I said these same things? Maybe not exactly the same verbage, but the same context. It’s not uncommon for someone to be in despair and sad and feeling abandoned by the greatness of life to get into a really deep funk and be bottomed out in depression.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. It’s good to have dreams. It’s good to have a belief in God. It is good to have hope. Johnny Out.
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