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Call to worship: 1 Peter 1:3-13

Text: Job 18-19

Sermon Outline:

1. Poking a Job-sized hole in Bildad's proverbial worldview, 18:1-19:24.

2. Fortifying a God-sized hope for Job-like sufferers, 19:25-29.

   5 things Job knows that we must:

   • Job's Redeemer lives, 19:25a.
   • Job's Redeemer will triumph, 19:25b.
   • Job will enter that triumph, 19:26-27.
   • Job will be vindicated.
   • Job knows there is a judgment, 19:28-29.

Prepare

Questions to Consider:

1. In 18:1-19:24, the book and existence of Job seems to exist to poke a hole in a proverb like Proverbs 12:21. Read that proverb. See that it's behind the worldview of Job's friends. Ask yourself, 'what's wrong with that?' After all, it says it in the Bible. But then, ask yourself if what that proverb says is always absolutely the case in this life. It takes wisdom to apply proverbs. Does Bildad apply it correctly? If not, where does he go wrong? How does a proverb like that and the equally scriptural story of Job coalesce? When will the proverbs be absolutized? Think Job 19:25b.
2. In 19:23-24, Job calls for his story to be written down forever, presumably as a vindication over against the claims and charges of his 'friends.' Have you ever been wronged? Opposed for Christ? Said to be something you're not, or not something you are? How do you respond to offense? How would the Bible have you respond? How did Jesus respond to his revilers? How is that possible for us? Read Romans 12:19-21. Have you ever thought that the doctrine of hell would help you live like Jesus in this world? What about the second coming?
3. In 19:25-29, Job gives the high point of his faith to date. It's a remarkable sight given his distance from what we know as the Gospel! Read it. Meditate upon it.
4. In 19:25a, Job begins to tell the world of five things he knows, four explicit, one implied (but it's the main aim). What does Job know that we ought to know in 19:25a? Who is this Redeemer? What composite can we put together from Job 9:33, 14:13-17, 16:19-17:3? What does Job know that we ought to know in 19:25b? What does it mean that this Redeemer will 'at last stand upon the earth'? What does Job know that we ought to know in Job 19:26-27? What's the final stage of our salvation? What's the main attraction? How will this suffice for all our tears? From these three things, a fourth bit of knowledge follows: Job will be vindicated. What's the significance of that for Job? What does Job know that we ought to know (and warn about) in 19:28-29? Are we as burdened as Job for his friends that, yes, our enemies be warned of what Christ's return will mean for them?
5. In 1 Peter 1:13, Peter writes, "set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Are we doing that? Yes, let's focus on Christ's life, death, resurrection, but let's more than 'not forget' His return! Consider it's importance afresh in view of it's importance to Job—and God's Job-like sufferers.