Sermon

And They Lived Happily Ever After...

August 31, 2025 Maranatha Baptist Church of Columbus, OH - Latest Messages

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Well, we come to the end of our story.
We're in our last few verses of the book of Job.
and we finally come and have made it to kind of this happily ever after ending.
Those of you who like happy endings, you're going to love today's message.
But as a recap and as kind of a way to kind of catch us up
and kind of get us in the flow of where we are,
I want to read for you kind of this story of Job
in, let's say, kind of like a fairy tale kind of a venue.
Okay?
So this will serve not only as a summary,
but also help for some of you who this is like your first time coming into the series,
kind of catch you up to where we are
so it will make sense as we finish out our study for this morning.
I asked Chet GPT for help in creating a fairy tale version of Job
with the facts that are there,
so bear with me as I read for us today.
Once upon a time,
in a faraway land called Uz,
there lived a man named Job.
He was the greatest and most respected man of the East,
known for his kindness, his wisdom,
his devotion to God.
Job was blessed with a beautiful family,
seven strong sons,
and three lovely daughters.
His household was filled with joy and laughter,
and his children regularly celebrated together
and met in each other's homes.
Job faithfully pointed his children to God
and was careful always to pray for them,
offering sacrifices on their behalf.
Job was also exceedingly rich.
He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels,
1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 donkeys.
His fields and pastures stretched as far as the eye could see.
His herds dotted the hillside like stars across the night sky.
Everyone in the land knew of Job's greatness,
but even more they knew of Job's devotion to God.
Until one day,
the sons of God came and presented themselves before the Lord,
and Satan came before the throne of God.
And the Lord said,
Have you considered my servant Job?
There is none like him on the earth.
Satan sneered and said,
Of course he loves you.
Haven't you given him everything?
Take away his blessings,
and he will curse you to your face.
And so it came to pass.
That God allowed Satan to test Job.
In one dreadful day,
Job's sheep were destroyed by a fire from heaven.
His camels carried away by the Chaldeans from the north.
His oxen and donkeys were stolen by the Sabaeans from the south.
And worst of all,
a great wind struck the house
where his beloved sons and daughters were feasting,
and they were taken from him.
Job tore his clothes and fell to the ground,
yet whispered through his tears,
the Lord gave.
The Lord has taken away.
Blessed be the name of the Lord.
But Job's trial was not complete,
for Satan was not finished tormenting him.
Satan presented himself again before God and said,
Skin for skin,
strike his health,
and he will surely curse you to your face.
So Job was struck with painful sores
from the top of his head
to the soles of his feet.
He sat in ashes,
scraping himself with a broken shard of pottery.
His friends came to comfort him,
but instead of easing his sorrow,
they accused him of hidden sins,
making his suffering even heavier,
heaping pain upon pain.
When at last,
the Lord himself came to Job,
not with anger,
but in a mighty whirlwind,
he asked Job questions that no man could answer.
Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Do you give the horse its might?
Do you command the storm and sea?
In awe and humility,
Job placed his hand over his mouth
and repented in dust and ashes,
saying,
I know that you can do all things.
And so the Lord restored Job,
blessing him more than before.
Job prayed for his friends
and offered a sacrifice for the repentance,
and God forgave them.
His fields once again filled with flocks and herds.
His house rang with joy.
He was given new sons and daughters
as beautiful as the morning light.
And so Job,
along with his friends and family,
lived happily ever after.
If you like happy endings,
this is a happy ending for you.
But I wonder this morning,
as we look into the scripture,
as we fill this out,
there's some questions
that we need to answer for ourselves.
We're left with this final question.
What was actually the happy ending?
What was the happy ending?
What made Job so happy
at the end of his life?
What is the moral of the story?
What are we supposed to learn
and embrace as followers of God
and those who would devote ourselves
to worship him?
What should we learn from this book?
How does it impact our hearts
and influence our lives
and our activities on Monday?
We come to Job chapter 42,

Job 42 chapter mention
beginning in verse 7.
We're going to take it through
the end of the book this morning
to verse 14.
And we're going to see
God who shows up in two ways.
First, God is going to show up
with his final word.
God's final word to Job and his friends.
It begins there in verse 7.
7 to 9.
Let me read that for us
and we'll jump into our text
for this morning.
After the Lord had spoken
these words to Job,
the Lord said to Eliphaz,
the Temanite,
My anger burns against you
and against your two friends.
For you have not spoken of me,
what is right,
as my servant Job has.
Now therefore,
take seven bulls and seven rams
and go to my servant Job
and offer up a burnt offering
for yourselves
and my servant Job
shall pray for you.
For I will accept his prayer
not to deal with you
according to your folly.
For you have not spoken of me
what is right,
as my servant Job has.
So Eliphaz the Temanite
and Bildad the Shuhite
and Zophar the Namathite
went and did what the Lord
had told them
and the Lord accepted Job's prayer.
God will speak one more time
and he will provide this message
to Job's friends.
And we're going to see
three components
to his word this morning.
First,
his righteous anger
that comes through.
Notice that God leads with this,
My anger burns against you
and your two friends.
After the Lord spoke to Job,
we get the impression
that now Job,
or God turns to Job's friends
and continues this conversation.
Having informed Job
about how Job
was ignorant towards God's will,
God's truth in some ways
and he darkened counsel of God,
now God turns to Job's friends
and he is clear about his anger.
His friends likely
have participated in the hearing
of what God said to Job.
God has expounded
the wonders of his creation
God has helped to communicate
the way that he intricately
created the world
and cares for his creature.
God's sovereignty,
his power,
his majesty,
all of those things
that certainly left Job
breathless and silent
has now left his friends
also silent.
We will not hear from them
the rest of this book.
And the Lord addresses them
speaking to the friends
and he singles out
Eliphaz first.
Eliphaz who is the first speaker,
likely the oldest,
the most respected of the group.
He's the one who
supposedly got this word
that was brought stealthily
to his ear,
a spirit, remember,
who glided past his face
and this word
that was delivered
to Eliphaz
and then communicated
to Job.
And God leads
his communication,
his word,
with this statement,
my anger burns
against you
and against your two friends.
Remember,
God did not say
that to Job.
God's anger
did not burn against Job.
Well,
God corrected Job
and God reminded Job
of the ways
that he got things wrong.
His anger
was directed
towards Job's friends.
One commentator says,
when we read
of God's anger
against his friends,
we have to reckon
that their fault
is no small one.
If Job has been
obscuring the divine plan
in some way,
they have been
actively assaulting it.
Job,
in claiming
that the world
is not governed
by justice,
though he meant it
as a complaint,
had really put
his finger
on the truth
of the matter.
They,
though,
in defending
the doctrine
of retribution,
were advocates
of a theology
hostile
to the divine design.
And those of you
who are just
kind of catching up,
this theology
of retribution
is a theology
of cause and effect
that we reap
what we sow.
And that was
the design
of the truth
that they,
or the messages
that they gave
to Job.
And here God is.
His anger burns
against them.
Those of you
who have read
the Old Testament
will know
that God's anger
is something
that we are acquainted
with on a regular basis
especially through
the Old Testament.
That passage
after passage
we find that
God's anger
burns against
his people.
But it is a
perfect anger,
a righteous anger,
an expected anger,
and I would say
unnecessary anger
that God has
against sin.
Yet what we'll find
this morning
as we look
at this passage
that God's anger
is always
accompanied
by patience,
by endurance,
by mercy,
that in his anger
he invites
those
whom he's
expressed
his anger
towards
to enjoy
the benefits
of sacrifice
and the provision
that he's made
for them
so they can
enter in
and be invited
back
to relationship
and friendship
with God.
We've seen
God's anger
and you're acquainted
I'm sure
with God's anger
in Exodus 32
for example.
That story
of God
who has led
the children
of Israel
out of
this land
of bondage
out of Egypt
and there
they've made
their way
to Mount Sinai
this mountain
of God
and God
will speak
to Moses
there
and he'll speak
to reestablish
his covenant
relationship
with his people
and while
Moses is there
with God
receiving these
ten commandments
you remember
what the people
of Israel
are doing.
Rather than
worshipping God
they're worshipping
a God
of a graven image
this image
of gold
of a cow
Moses is on
the mountaintop
and God's anger
burns
we see that
in Exodus 32

Exodus 32:9
verses 9 and 10
The Lord said
to Moses
I have seen
this people
behold
it is a stiff
necked people
now therefore
let me alone
that my wrath
may burn hot
against them
and I may
consume them
in order
that I may
make a great
nation
of you
but as you
remember
Moses stood
in the gap
recognizing
the proper
and righteous
anger of God
but also
reminding God
which God
didn't need
to be reminded
of but reminded
God of his
promise
to Abraham
Isaac
and Jacob
and because
of God's
promise
and mercy
he relented
from his
righteous
anger
against his
people
here we are
again
God's anger
is burning
again
his righteous
anger
is meant
to point
us to
something
the anger
of God
is not
meant to
exterminate
us
but to
draw us
to understand
what we
really deserve
so that we
can come
to a place
of recognition
a couple
of chapters
from Exodus
32
God will
show up
to Moses
again
and he'll
remind
Moses
in Exodus
34
something
about his
character
something
about his
anger
something
about
his
desire
to
demonstrate
mercy
and love
in spite
of his
right
anger
towards his
people
Exodus
34
5-7
says
the Lord
descended
in the
cloud
and stood
with him
there
speaking
of
standing
with
Moses
there
and
proclaim
the name
of the
Lord
the Lord
passed
before him
and proclaimed
the Lord
the Lord
a God
merciful
and gracious
slow to
anger
and abounding
in steadfast
love and
faithfulness
keeping
steadfast
love for
thousands
forgiving
iniquity
and transgressions
and sin
but who
will by no
means clear
the guilty
visiting the
iniquity
of the fathers
on the children
and the
children's
children
to the
third
and fourth
generation
it's
important
to
understand
that
God's
anger
is
right
God's
anger
is
something
that
we
deserve
and
God's
anger
is
not
something
that's
simply
contained
in the
Old
Testament
but it's
an anger
that describes
the character
of God
from eternity
past
to eternity
future
it's not
what some
might say
well
the Old
Testament
God
is a
God
of
wrath
the New
Testament
God
is a
God
of mercy
there is
something
different
it's not
that God's
righteous
standard
has been
softened
it's that
God has
provided a
way
for his
righteous
anger
to be
vented
so that
his
anger
doesn't
have to
be
extinguished
on us
we find
from Romans
6 23
the wages
of sin
is death
the penalty
for your
sin
and my
sin
is the
wrath
of God
that comes
and obliterates
us
but the
verse
continues
it says
but
the gift
of God
is eternal
life
through
Jesus
Christ
our
Lord
there
is a
right
punishment
for sin
that results
in
physical
death
and spiritual
death
of those
who do
not believe
in God
but those
who embrace
Christ
the gift
of Christ
the forgiveness
that he seeks
to provide
for us
through his
death
and through
his
resurrection
the wrath
of God
is vented
now on
his son
and Jesus
stands in
the gap
for us
so that we
can enjoy
the benefits
of forgiveness
and mercy
in God's
anger
he addresses
these three
men
but I take
encouragement
that God
does not
obliterate
them
even as
Eliphaz
had predicted
earlier
in his
speech
he talks
about the
breath
of God
and the
wicked
will
perish
but by
the blast
of his
anger
they're
consumed
that's
what
Eliphaz
predicted
that's
what he
knew
what he
deserved
and yet
God was
here
in his
anger
to make
a provision
for anger
that's what
we see
next
what will
God
do
his
stern
rebuke
we find
at the
end of
verse
7
at the
end of
verse
8
God's
stern
rebuke
notice
he says
my anger
burns
against
you
and
against
your
two
friends
for
you
have
not
spoken
of
me
what
is
right
as
my
servant
Job
has
now
at the
end
of
verse
8
for
you
have
not
spoken
of
me
what
is
right
as
my
servant
Job
has
God
has
repeated
this
twice
for
effect
he
wants
to
reinforce
the
point
that
there
is
something
wrong
about
the way
that
you
represented
me
you
misrepresented
my
truth
you
misrepresented
my
heart
and
you
misrepresented
the
message
that I
sought
to give
to Job
through
his
trial
it
does
raise
a
question
for
us
in
what
way
did
they
misrepresent
God
in
what
way
were
they
wrong
and
Job
was
right
well
first
they
had a
warped
theology
they
misunderstood
God
they
recognized
his
justice
but
they
assumed
that
God
in
his
justice
would
always
bless
those
who
were
obedient
and
always
curse
those
who
were
wicked
and
so
if
your
life
was
cursed
it
was
indicative
of
a
life
that
was
out
of
step
with
God
they
misunderstood
God's
heart
they
misunderstood
that
some
trials
happen
and we
don't
understand
the
reason
why
Eliphaz
will say
in Job

Job 4:7
chapter 4
verses 7
and 8
he says
remember
who
that was
innocent
ever
perished
or where
were the
upright
cut off
as I
have seen
those who
plow
iniquity
and sow
trouble
reap
the same
you reap
what you sow
you get
what you
deserve
this cause
and effect
kind
of situation
with God
build
will say
in Job

Job 8:5
8
verse 5
if you
will seek
God
and plead
with the
almighty
for mercy
if you're
pure
and upright
surely
then
he will
rouse
himself
for you
and restore
your
rightful
habitation
behold
God
will not
reject
a blameless
man
nor
take
the
hand
of
evildoers
Job
if you
were
righteous
if you
were
truly
blameless
you
wouldn't
be
experiencing
the
hard
things
of this
life
they
missed
and
misrepresented
the
theology
the
truth
about
who
God
was
they
also
misunderstood
Job's
situation
and in
several
instances
they
actually
assume
things
about
Job
that
are
just
simply
not
true
an
example
of that
is found
in
Job

Job 22:4–9
22
verses
4
to
9
Eliphaz
will
speak
again
he
says
is it
for your
fear
of him
that he
repute
repute
you
and enters
into
judgment
with
you
is not
your
evil
abundant
there
is no
end
to your
iniquities
for you
have
exacted
pledges
of your
brothers
for nothing
and stripped
the naked
of their
clothing
you have
given no
water
to the
weary
to drink
you have
withheld
bread
from the
hungry
the man
with
power
possessed
the land
and the
favored
man
lived
in it
you
have
sent
widows
away
empty
and the
arms
of the
fatherless
were
crushed
oh
really
Eliphaz
where do
you get
your
proof
how in
the world
do you
derive
this
information
of course
none of it
was true
it was
baseless
these accusations
that were
derived out
of nothing
because it
had to
meet with
his own
theology
had to
confirm
the things
that he
believed
to be
true
about
God
of course
Job
felt
their
attacks
Job
understood
that there
was no
mercy
coming
from
them
but
while
their
theology
was
poor
and
while
they
were
a
poor
reflection
of
God
I
believe
there
is
something
deeper
something
that
goes
to the
core
of who
they
are
God
contrasts
their
words
with
Job's
words
he
says
you
have
not
spoken
of
me
what
is
right
as
my
servant
Job
has
well
what
is
God
referring
to
and
I
believe
it
goes
deeper
to
the
very
heart
of
Job
we
find
from
Job
from
the
very
beginning
this
posture
of
humility
we
find
from
Job
from
the
very
beginning
one
who
is
sensitive
to
the
will
of
God
but
also
sensitive
to
his
own
sin
we
see
on
several
occasions
both
at
the
beginning
of
Job's
discourse
and
also
towards
the
end
of
Job's
discourse
where
in
his
pleadings
with
his
desire
is
to
know
how
he
stepped
out
of
fellowship
what
he
has
done
to
break
this
relationship
in
Job

Job 10:15
chapter
10
verse
15
he
says
if
I
am
guilty
woe
to
me
if
I
am
in
the
right
I
cannot
lift
up
my
head
for
I
am
filled
with
disgrace
and
look
on
my
affliction
in
Job

Job 13:23
13
verse
23
Job
says
how
many
are
my
iniquities
and
my
sins
make
me
know
my
transgression
and
my
sin
throughout
the
testimony
of
these
discourses
there
has
been
sensitivity
in
Job's
heart
towards
his
sin
any
possible
sin
that
might
be
there
disrupting
his
communion
with
God
if
he
could
just
hear
from
God
and
understand
what
that
sin
was
that
he
could
make
that
right
and
he
could
restore
that
relationship
this
really
was
an
issue
of the
heart
I
believe
Job
spoke
what
was
right
because
Job
fundamentally
understood
his
position
before
God
he
understood
that
God
being
righteous
and
being
perfect
was
higher
and
that
as
a
creature
he
was
below
he
was
humble
and
he
was
accountable
to
God
himself
and
yet
the
number
of
times
that
Job
will
confront
his
friends
for
their
wicked
counsel
Job

Job 13:7
chapter
13
verses
7
and
10
I
don't
think
I
have
this
in
the
slides
but
listen
to
how
Job
kind
of
summarizes
his
argument
he says
will you
speak
falsely
for God
will you
speak
deceitfully
for him
will you
show
partiality
towards
him
will you
plead
the
case
for
God
will
it
be
well
with
you
when
he
searches
you
out
or
can
you
deceive
him
as
one
deceives
a
man
he
will
surely
rebuke
you
in
secret
if
in
secret
you
show
partiality
Job
recognized
that
in
their
theology
of
retribution
their
cause
and
effect
they
were
willing
to
foist
on
Job
and
claim
that
Job
was
responsible
for
some
egregious
sin
because
of the
situation
that he
was
in
and
yet
they
could
not
see
their
own
unworthiness
they
could
not
see
their
own
sin
they
could
not
recognize
that
just
because
they
were
enjoying
the
blessings
of
God
that
it
was
a
grace
of
God
that
was
on
them
not
something
that
they
deserved
so
here
Job
is
calling
attention
to
the
sin
of
their
life
how
are
you
going
to
do
when
he
searches
you
out
and
yet
in
spite
of
that
challenge
they
continue
to
advocate
for
their
own
righteousness
they
could
not
see
the
wickedness
of
their
own
heart
and
because
of
this
core
issue
though
God
provides
some
instruction
God
gives
some
gracious
provision
that we
find in
verse 8
and verse 9
in his
anger
God
does not
obliterate
them
in
God's
anger
he
warns
them
and
now
he
instructs
them
and
makes
way
for
them
to
enjoy
a
reestablished
relationship
with him
again
notice
this
provision
that
begins
in
verse
8
God
says
now
therefore
take
seven
bulls
and
seven
rams
and go
to
my
servant
Job
and
offer
up
a
burnt
offering
for
yourselves
and
my
servant
Job
shall
pray
for
you
for
I
will
accept
his
prayer
not
to
deal
with
you
according
to
your
folly
for
you
have
not
spoken
of
me
what
is
right
as
my
servant
Job
has
so
Eliphaz
the
Temanite
and
Bildad
the
Shuhite
and
Zophar
the
Namathite
went
out
and did
what
the
Lord
had
told
them
and
the
Lord
accepted
Job's
prayer
God's
provision
is
amazing
God's
provision
should be
an
encouragement
that even
here in
an Old
Testament
setting
that God
had made
a way
for them
to be
reestablished
in relationship
with him
and who
does God
choose to
use
to bridge
the gap
who does
God
choose
to use
as a
priest
like
mediator
between
them
and God
the
very
one
who
they
accused
of
being
wicked
the
very
one
whom
they
accused
of
being
out
of
step
with
God
God
says
okay
fine
you
think
this
to be
true
of
my
servant
Job
well
Job
is
actually
going
to
be
the
one
who's
going
to
plead
for
you
Job
is
going
to
be
the
one
who
will
advocate
for
you
Job
will
be
the
one
who
represents
you
before
me
take
seven
bulls
and seven
rams
and go
to
my
servant
Job
and offer
this
burnt
offering
one
commentator
says
the number
of seven
bulls
and seven
rams
in atonement
for the
wrongdoing
of the
three
friends
is
astonishingly
high
we might
compare
the seven
bulls
and seven
rams
offered
for the
whole
people
of Israel
on each
of the
seven
days
of the
Passover
in
Ezekiel
we find
a sacrifice
of seven
bulls
and seven
rams
in three
other
places
in the
Hebrew
Bible
in the
narrative
of Balaam
and Balak
at the
installation
of the
ark
of the
covenant
in David's
time
in the
cleansing
of the
temple
in
Hezekiah's
time
and on
all
three
occasions
the stakes
are much
higher
than they
are
for just
three
friends
seven
bulls
seven
rams
offered
for the
sake
of an
entire
nation
now
are being
made
for the
sake
of three
but God
has made
a provision
this high
cost
is something
that will
help them
come to
terms
with the
sin
that was
so true
of their
lives
but God
has made
a way
it's
fascinating
because it
was Job
who had
asked for a
mediator
through the
course of
his pleadings
Job 16
20
he says
my friends
scorn me
my eyes
pour out
tears
to God
oh that
one might
plead
for a
man
with God
as a
man
pleads
with his
neighbor
and here
is Job
having
pleaded
for a
mediator
God
has
installed
him
essentially
as a
priest
like
mediator
for
his
friends
Job
prays
for them
never
once
had
Job's
friends
prayed
for him
but here
is Job
Job
is in
a place
of being
able
not to
return
the favor
not to
hold a
grudge
but to
willingly
embrace
with
obedience
the task
of
pleading
on behalf
of his
friends
he mediates
for them
this repentance
which they
had recommended
for Job
is now
something
that they
themselves
will have
to do
and finally
they've come
to terms
with their
own need
for God
and Job
will stand
in the
gap
he stands
in the
gap
for these
men
who had
heaped
insult
upon
injury
to him
God's
rebuke
of them
was sufficient
you see
it's a
reminder
of the
ministry
that God
has also
entrusted
to believers
to those
who live
in this
day and
age
who call
Jesus
their
Lord
we have
been given
this
ministry
of turning
enemies
into
friends
it's
called
reconciliation
it's
allowing
there to
be peace
between
two
parties
that
once
had
experienced
hostility
against
one
another
and God
has given
to us
those who
have enjoyed
now peace
with God
through the
Lord Jesus
Christ
have been
given
the
responsibility
the
privilege
and the
joy
now
to act
as this
kind
of
mediator
as it
were
in a
message
of
reconciling
broken
wicked
men and
women
to God
we find
that in
2nd
Corinthians
5
17
to 19
it says
therefore
if anyone
is in
Christ
he is
a new
creation
the old
is passed
away
behold
the new
has come
all this
is from
God
who
through
Christ
reconciled
us
to
himself
and
gave
us
the
ministry
of
reconciliation
that is
in
Christ
God
was
reconciling
the world
to himself
not
counting
their
trespasses
against
them
and
entrusting
to us
the
message
of
reconciliation
I know
that's
a big
word
reconciliation
essentially
it's
allowing
there to
be
friendship
now
where
there
once
was
a
hostility
where
once
there
was
anger
where
once
there
was
enmity
and
you
and
I
now
as
friends
of
God
because
of
Jesus
Christ
get to
usher
in
and invite
others
to participate
in that
same
friendship
moving
them
from
enmity
or becoming
from an
enemy
of God
to now
becoming
a friend
of God
through
faith
in
Jesus
and
forgiveness
of sin
God's
word
that he's
given
to his
friends
and
because
of
this
word
now
we
find
what
God
will
do
to
provide
restoration
God's
lavish
restoration
is
detailed
for us
in
verses
10
to
17
his
lavish
restoration
notice
in
verse
10
what
is
this
first
piece
of
restoration
we
find
it
says
and
the
Lord
restored
the
fortunes
of
Job
when
he
had
prayed
for
his
friends
and
the
Lord
gave
Job
twice
as
much
as
he
had
before
I
believe
what
we
find
here
in
verse
10
is
not
just
restored
possessions
but
especially
restored
fellowship
with
God
that
is
the
best
and
greatest
restoration
that
Job
has
experienced
because
that
has
kind
of
been
the
tension
of
his
heart
the
struggle
through
this
entire
time
of
suffering
where
are
you
God
why
have
you
become
my
enemy
you
were
once
my
friend
things
were
so
great
before
what
is
in
the
way
now
and
now
Job
has
this
assurance
that
God
has
never
departed
from
him
God
has
never
left
him
God
has
always
been
present
even
though
Job
has
felt
like
God
was
distant
and
through
this
experience
of
God
showing
up
in
chapter
38
through
chapter
42
and
now
God
reestablishing
Job
as
this
man
who's
able
to
act as
a
mediator
between
his
friends
and God
to help
Job
understand
that
relationship
that you
enjoyed
that
ministry
that you
had
in chapter
one
for your
family
and
sacrificing
for them
is a
ministry
that you
can have
again
now for
your
friends
you see
Job
the
greatest
anguish
in
the
suffering
was
an
anguish
of
a
broken
what
he
believed
was
a
broken
and
severed
relationship
with
God
notice
in
Job

Job 29:2
chapter
29
verse
2
he
says
this
oh
that
I
were
as
in
the
months
of
old
as
in
the
days
when
God
watched
over
me
when
his
lamp
shone
upon
my
head
and
by
his
light
I
walked
through
darkness
!
as
I
was
in
my
prime
when
the
friendship
of
God
was
upon
my
tent
when
the
almighty
was
yet
with
me
when
my
children
were
all
around
me
what
I
craved
the
most
what
I
enjoyed
the
best
was
this
treasure
of
relationship
with
God
and
now
that
I
have
that
back
now
everything
is
okay
and
nothing
has
really
changed
for
Job
up
to
this
point
at
least
in
terms
of
his
circumstances
except
that
now
he
knows
that
God
is
present
and
God
was
enough
for
him
this
restored
fellowship
with
God
was
really
what
he
was
after
what
he
craved
the
most
and
notice
what
God
says
about
Job
here
at
the
end
of
this
narrative
and
how
it
compares
with
what
God
said
at
the
beginning
in
chapter
1
verse
8
when
God
spoke
to
Satan
he
said
to
him
have
you
considered
my
servant
Job
my
servant
Job
one
who
worships
me
one
who's
devoted
to
me
one
who
has
this
relationship
to
me
have
you
considered
Job
my
servant
then
in
chapter
2
verse
3
where
Satan
presents
himself
before
the
Lord
again
God
says
once
more
have
you
considered
my
servant
Job
and
what
seemed
to be
broken
in
all
the
chapters
in
between
is
now
restored
so
that
in
chapter
42
verse
7
we
find
that
God
will
repeat
this
title
and
he
will
place
this
on
Job
to
reaffirm
once
again
he
is
my
servant
notice
verse
7
you
have
not
spoken
what
is
right
about
me
as
my
servant
Job
has
then
in
verse
8
go
to
my
servant
Job
then
my
servant
Job
shall
pray
for
you
and
then
you
have
not
spoken
right
as
my
servant
Job
this
relationship
that seemed
to be
severed
is now
restored
and Job
his heart
is full
his posture
has always
been to
want
God
to yearn
for God
to long
for God
and now
God
has restored
the beauty
and the
experience
of that
relationship
once more
and finally
this restored
relationship
that now
Job
will have
with
others
restored
relationship
with
others
and I
know
on the
surface
as we
read
through
these
verses
what we
see
is the
stuff
but I
want you
to read
this
or at
least
listen
to this
with new
ears
this morning
as I
read
through
this
passage
from
verse
10
to
verse
17
what I
want you
to hear
is how
all the
things
that God
will bless
Job
with
is
encouraging
and
amplifying
accentuating
community
relationship
with others
and that
should make
a lot of
sense
to us
because
the first
two commands
that God
has given
to us
love the
Lord your
God
with all
your heart
soul
mind
and strength
love
your neighbor
as yourself
the outflow
of our love
for God
shows up
in how
we love
others
and we
draw others
into
seek to draw
others
into
relationship
with God
and that's
what Job
will do
with his
restored
possessions
notice
so the
Lord
restored
the
fortunes
of Job
when he
had prayed
for his
friends
restored
relationship
notice
and the
Lord
gave Job
twice as
much
as he
had
before
now
verse
11
so then
came to
him
all his
brothers
and sisters
and all
who had
known him
before
and they
ate bread
with him
in his
house
they showed
him
sympathy
and comforted
him
for all
the evil
that the
Lord had
brought
upon him
and each
of them
gave him
a piece
of money
and a ring
of gold
family
that's
restored
brothers
and sisters
and any
of us
in that
position
might have
thought
well where
were you
all this
time
it's kind
of convenient
that you're
here now
but you
don't detect
that heart
in Job
at all
it was this
welcoming
heart
this inviting
heart
and I would
say a
godly
heart
that loved
the community
the family
that God
had brought
near him
verse 12
and the
Lord blessed
the latter
days of
Job
more than
his beginning
he had
14,000
sheep
6,000
camels
1,000
yoke of
oxen
1,000
female
donkeys
which is a
double
of everything
that we
read back
in chapter
1
God
doubled
it all
why
well this
is the
reason in
verse 13
he had
also seven
sons and
three daughters
and he
called the
name of
his first
daughter
Jemima
and the
name of
his second
Keziah
the name
of his
third
Karen
Hepuk
and in
all the
land
there was
no women
so beautiful
as Job's
daughters
and their
father
gave them
an inheritance
among
their brothers
God
blessed
his family
through
Job's
generous
heart
that he
didn't
just
share
his
heritage
and the
inheritance
to his
sons
but there
was so
much
wealth
that Job
was happy
to share
that with
his daughters
as well
that God
allowed Job
out of the
abundance
and the
overflow
of the
blessings
that he
enjoyed
Job's
heart
was to
bless
indiscriminately
!
without
partiality
especially
in a
culture
like this
for Job
to bless
his daughters
was shocking
and yet
that's what
those who
love God
will do
they will
see the
resources
that God
has given
to them
as he
means
to
distribute
the
kindness
of God
to those
around
them
verse 16
and after
this Job
lived 140
years
God doubled
his life
it's probably
safe to assume
that Job
was 70
when all
this went
down
God added
140 years
and what
was the
reason
for the
doubling
well here
it is
he saw
his sons
he saw
his sons
sons
four
generations
this investment
of people
investment
of relationship
investment
of pointing
his sons
to God
the blessing
was just
a conduit
a conduit
to bless
others
a conduit
to draw
others
to
the God
that Job
loved
and Job
died
an old
man
in full
of days
it's
interesting
the author
mentions
the Lord
gave Job
twice
as much
as he
had
before
and
God
used
all of
this
abundance
for Job
so that Job
could be
a conduit
of blessing
others
and pointing
people
to God
it really
is a reminder
of what we
see in James

James 5:10
chapter 5
verses 10
and 11
and I'll
close with
this
the writer
James
in commenting
about Job's
life says
this
my brothers
take the
prophets
who spoke
in the name
of the Lord
as an example
of suffering
and patience
indeed we count
them blessed
who endure
you have heard
of the perseverance
of Job
and seen
the end
intended
by the Lord
what was that end
what was God's
purpose
in allowing Job
to suffer
it's this
so the world
would see
that the Lord
is very
compassionate
and merciful
your testimony
of the goodness
of God
will be
amplified
through suffering
and not
necessarily
through
good times
because when
good things
happen to us
then everyone
celebrates
but when
bad things
happen to us
and we
still
depend on
the kindness
and goodness
compassion
and mercy
of God
it helps
people who
are outsiders
to see
that faith
is genuine
that life
is genuine
that commitment
to God
is sincere
and genuine
and we have
the privilege
and opportunity
to point to God
when things
are really hard
I'm going to
pray for us
we're going to
close with
a song
that helps
remind us
of the significance
of the testimony
that we can have
about God
in hard times
let me pray for us
and the manwellers
will come forward
they'll sing
and then I'll
close this
when they're done
Father thank you
thank you that you
consistently
use hard things
to prove
that you are a God
who is compassionate
and full of mercy
really
the essence
of it is
it demonstrates
that you're enough
not our stuff
not our prosperity
not our good health
not all the
the great positions
and the
the family
and the
the good things
that we might enjoy
that while those
are good blessings
of yours
it's
it's the gift
and we
as your people
should celebrate
and call attention
to the giver
of good gifts
I pray that you
help us to do that
faithfully
and thanks for the
reminder of
this song
that we're going to hear
and for the privilege
that we have
as your people
through suffering
to point to you
help us to do it
faithfully
amen
do you remember
how Mary
was grieving
how you wept
and she fell
at your feet
if it's true
that you know
what I'm feeling
could it be
that you're
weeping
with me
arise
oh Lord
and save me
there's
nowhere else
to go
you're always
good
always
good
well somehow
the sorrow
is shaping
my heart
like it should
you're
always
good
always
good
always
good
well it's so hard
to know
what you're doing
why won't you
just tell it
all plain
but you said
you'd come back
on the third day
and Peter missed it
again
and again
so maybe
the answer
surrounds us
but we don't
have eyes
to see
that you're
always
good
always
good
good
this heartache
is moving me
closer than
joy ever
good
you're
always
good
good
my God
my God
be near me
there's
nowhere
else
to go
and Lord
if you
can hear
me
please
help
your child
to know
that you're
always
good
always
good
good
as we
try to
believe
what is
not meant
to be
understood
will you
help us
to trust
your intentions
for us
still
good
cause you
laid down
your life
and you
suffered
like I
never
could
you're
always
good
always
good
always
good
always
good
always
praise the
Lord
he's
always
good
maybe
maybe
you've
gone through
a time
right now
where you
don't feel
like God
is so
good
well you're
not a
stranger
to Job
Job
understood
that
but by
God's
grace
there is
a way
a way
for us
to enjoy
goodness
and by
the way
it's not
a goodness
that we
deserve
right
that just
like Job's
friends
and just
like Israel
so often
did
we deserve
condemnation
we deserve
judgment
we deserve
the hand
of God
and the wrath
of God
to come on us
that's what we
deserve
but God
has made
a way
he's made
a way
for his
goodness
to be known
through
through
Jesus
and I
don't know
where you
are this
morning
I'm not
sure if
you've
experienced
and enjoyed
that goodness
that forgiveness
but it's
available
whoever
believes
on the
name
of the
Lord
will be
saved
will be
forgiven
do you
need to
enjoy
that fresh
start
of forgiveness
and goodness
the mercy
of God
on your
life
and maybe
maybe this
morning
you are
already
a believer
but you
need to
that reset
as it were
you need to
experience
that fresh
wave
of God's
kindness
and goodness
for you
don't leave
this morning
without
finding somebody
to share with
and to pray
with
so they can
encourage you
pray with you
and introduce
you
reacquaint you
back
with our
merciful
and good
faithful
God
thanks for
coming this
morning
and I trust
that our time
in Job
has been a good
reminder
of his
goodness
and blessing
so that we
can enjoy
this happily
ever after
that is not
like the happily
ever after
of this world
but it's the
happily ever
after
that even
when things
are really
hard in this
world
you have him
and that's
what makes
it happy
that's what
makes it
full of joy
that's what
gives us
peace and
strength
and I trust
that if you
are in a
place today
where you need
to experience
and enjoy
be reacquainted
with the joy
that God
desires to
lavish on us
through his
son
that you
don't leave
without talking
to me or
talking to
someone else
who can
point you
to him
thanks for
coming
God bless
you
be a
messenger
of
reconciliation
be an
advocate
for
friendship
this
week
God bless
you