I'm going to ask you to take your Bibles and turn with me to the book of Job chapter 10. Job chapter 10. I thank the Lord for his indescribable mercy to send us the Scriptures that we might truly learn, not only from the experiences of others, but from our own personal experiences. It's an amazing truth. This word to a believer is alive. This is real. It's not just religion, dead, cold religion. It's real. And a believer draws much comfort as he hears God open the scriptures to his heart, makes him understand some things.

Now, we've been looking at a man named Job, and Job has been called of God to experience some tough, tough trials, tough trials. But in these trials, though this man, Job, is at best in himself, he's a man, he struggles, he struggles. But this is a man that knows God. A man that has been taught of God. And a man that the Lord has blessed, greatly blessed, to go through some tribulation. The world doesn't know anything about this. They attribute it to luck, bad fortune, whatever. But God's people know. He does all things well. That's what we just sang. Though I know what e'er befall me, Jesus doeth all things well.

Now I want us to hear what the Spirit of God has got to say through this servant, Job. I'm going to read a few scriptures, say a few words of exhortation. Try to look at these 22 verses, and I'll not expand very much on each one, but I pray the Lord give us some understanding of the heart of this passage.

Job began speaking, Job chapter 10, verse 1 and 2, my soul is weary of my life. I will leave my complaint upon myself. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. I will say unto God, do not condemn me. Show me wherefore thou contendest with me.

Now, Job is speaking as one who has been afflicted. And therefore, in his affliction, he's weary. He's tired. He's a man. He's wearied with sorrow. because of what he's been called to go through. And though we may read those first few words that he speaks in this chapter, and it may appear as though that he's impatient in his words, we know that he's speaking as a needy dog. He knows what he is by nature, and he's speaking to his sovereign Lord. He's speaking to his God, the Lord of glory. And it's amazing the comfort that we all receive from listening to the words of Job when he speaks with such an air of familiarity unto the Lord. He's talking to the Lord that he knows. He's talking to the one who rules in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth and has time to hear. That amazes me that the Lord has time. The infinite God has time to listen to those that he's everlasting, everlastingly loved.

Job is going to speak to God about his problems. Are our hearts not moved to do the same thing? Do you know, sadly to say, the only time we really find ourselves in need to truly cry out to God. is when we feel the pain, the frailty of our flesh. That's the only time we really, we do. I wish I could say that that wasn't so with me, but it is.

Job is crying out for mercy. He wants to talk to the Lord and be heard because of the accusations of his so-called friends. And he asked the Lord this question, now remember this, Job, that first chapter of Job, talking about how Job was so respected and he was the greatest man in the land and he had children, he had lands, he had livestock, he had this reputation, he had everything. And the Lord was pleased to take it all, take it away from him.

Don't, don't let none of us assume that tomorrow, tonight, is gonna be the same as it's always been. I mean, in a heartbeat. Things can change so quickly. You think, well, I'll tell you when I, you know, when I, what I'm planning to do, well, don't say what you plan to, look, if the Lord wills, you'll do this or that. But the Lord moved this man to ask this question.

In verse 2, I will say unto God, do not condemn me. You that know the Lord, let me ask you something. Is that not the question of your heart right now? Lord, don't condemn me. Lord, don't leave me to myself.

And these trials that you're going through, look, I am so thankful that the Lord has allowed me the privilege to be be with this group of people and just go through some of the things that you've gone through and I've gone through and we've gone through them together and and we've we've felt each other's pains and we've we've watched each other suffer and we know that the Lord orders all these things but Job is I mean he's is His friends have taken him to the cleaners. You know, I say friends. Scripture says friends, so I'll use the word. But I'm telling you, they have just worn him out.

But Job knows that the Lord has ordered all this. He knows that. And then he says, Lord, show me why you contend with me like you do. I mean, this man's just being honest. This is a believer. It's not that the Lord, I mean, that Job doubts the Lord's right to chase him. But he seeks some comfort in his trials.

And then he's going to say something in these next few verses that just amazes me. And I read over these verses again today. And I thought, oh, the blessing of the Lord giving this man a heart to ask these things, say these things to the Lord, because he's gonna say some things we're gonna look at in just a few minutes that just, by nature, I just wouldn't wanna say, I just wouldn't ask that. In my heart, I think, I don't have the guts to ask those things or to say that. But Job was moved to say them that we might profit from it.

Let's hear what he says. He says in verses three to six,

Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? Lord, is it good in your sight that you should press down, oppress, put in trials? The work of your hands shine upon the counsel of the wicked. It just appears as though they don't, I mean, everything's good and fine with them. They're doing good. They just wail there.

Verse four,

hast thou eyes of flesh, or seest thou as a man seeth, or thy days as the days of a man, or thy years as a man's days, that thou inquirest. after mine iniquity and searchest after my sin?

Here's what he was saying. As we enter into what he is saying, this is what he actually said. Job knew that the Lord had providentially, lovingly, graciously, providentially sent these afflictions in trial. He knew that. And we admit that his goodwill and pleasure to try us in a furnace of affliction is always right.

I mean, just then when Gary said that that song was written by Fanny Crosby, here this woman, she was blind, she went through some tough times in her life. And these songs that she wrote, they were such a blessing to them. And I think, what a miracle of God's grace that we're able to witness the good, pleasure, kindness, and mercy of God. Not when everything is good and fine and right and perfect and the sun's always shining, not then. No, but it's in these moments of adversity. when it just looks like everything's crashing in on you. That's when you see it. That's when our heart is moved to seek after the Lord with a submissive spirit.

And I know though the world cannot understand the thinking of a renewed heart, the world doesn't get it. God's people, even in the heaviness of adversity, God's people will say this and they'll say it, not because they memorize this scripture, just because they happen to be able to quote this particular, but they mean this. It is good for me that I've been afflicted, that I might learn thy statutes.

I'm telling you, there is such a blessing. And I know, I know again, I know what the world says. How in the world can you say that? But by the grace of God, a believer will say it's good for me. It's good for me that you've touched me and brought me down. It's good. I needed that.

You consider the words of our Lord as he hung upon the cross as our substitute, our redeemer. the redeemer of God's chosen bride, as he cried. Now, I've read this scripture so many times. The scripture's the one that says when the Lord said, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And I can, I've read what the commentator said, and he said, well, it's because he was made sin. I understand that, but still I'm at a loss. to grasp hold of the heart of what he was truly saying.

Here was the Messiah himself in the depth of sorrows. And there's no other words that could express such grief as he hung between heaven and earth bearing the guilt of his people. in the fullness of immeasurable agony as the God-man mediator. We as men, women, we speak of pain, trials, sufferings, but we know nothing. We know nothing. While in this world, we think we do, we think we do, but we don't. We know nothing of true suffering.

But we know just enough to know we don't want to leave this world without Christ because then we will. Then we'll know suffering. Then we'll know pain. God Almighty has chosen a people that he should bring them to himself in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. but the Lord Jesus Christ, he experienced. I don't know anything about this and you don't either. So we're not even gonna pretend like we do. Only the Lord, the God man, as a man, as a man, truly man, truly God, truly man, he, as a man, living on this earth knew what it was to have God forsaken.

Like I said, men and women without Christ, they're going to die. And they're going to leave this world. They're going to die in the flesh. They're going to die. And then they're going to open up their eyes. They're going to raise their eyes out of hell. And they're going to know then. We go to a funeral, and someone has passed away, and it doesn't matter who they are, they're always in a better place. I would say that the extreme majority are not in a better place. They're not. I mean, I know they're gonna say that just to try to comfort somebody. Well, they're at peace now. If they didn't know the Lord, no, they're not at peace.

But the thing is, the Lord Jesus Christ knew what it was as a man to be forsaken of God and have God pour out his wrath upon him. My God, my God. Why? Only at the cross do we see the holy and just reason for God to cast out all whereupon sin has been found. The Lord Jesus Christ died being made sin. I've tried to explain that so many times and I still don't get it. I don't get it. But whatever it is, I can tell you this, he knew what it was to be forsaken of God, bearing the sin of his people, he knew. And he cried out, he cried out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? He gave the answer, for you're holy, you're holy.

But here's Job, back at Job, I have to hurry here. Here's Job. Show me, verse two, he said, why, thou dost contend, contendest with me. Show me. Verse seven, Job says, thou knowest that I am not wicked, and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand.

Now here was a man that was convinced The scripture says, I know in whom I have believed. And I'm persuaded that he's able to keep that which I've committed unto him against that day. I know, I know, I know. I know. God's people have got some assurance, they do. They've got some, they're not presumptuous. They know that this world, thinks that salvation is had by something that they've done by the works of their righteousness. But a believer doesn't believe that. A believer knows in his heart, I know in whom I have believed. And I'm persuaded. He's able.

But here's a man right here. And he's saying something that he knows and he's convinced. Thou knowest that I'm not wicked. He's not bragging. Again, he's not presumptuous. He's convinced. And I know that there's none that can deliver out of thine hand.

It's not that Job doubts the truth, that he's a sinner. He knows what he is. A believer knows that he's a sinner. He's a sinner by birth. He's a sinner by choice. He's a sinner by practice. But what he is saying, though I know that sin is still found in me, I know that in me, that is in my flesh, I know this. There dwelleth no good thing. I know that. But he knows there's a new man there. How does he know that? God's taught him. I've said before. Can you actually, truly see the true evidence? True evidence of a man within you, born of God, that is without sin. Can you really see him? No. No, I don't. Somebody says, well, how do you know he's there? Well, because I believe him. I believe God. Is that enough for you? That's all I got. That's all I got. Thou knowest. That's what he says. Thou knowest that I'm not wicked. There's none that can deliver out of thine hand.

Look at verses 8 to 13. Thine hands have made me and fashioned me to gather round about yet thou dost destroy me." Now remember, listen, here's a man that's gone through some stuff. He's gone through some trials and he's still going through them after everything he's lost. Now all of his three so-called friends are wearing him out, telling him, you know, you're just, you're two-faced, Job, you're just, There's something that you're hiding, and God is going to expose it. And I'm telling you, this man, he's suffering.

Verse 8, Thine hands have made me, fashioned me together round about thou, yet thou dost destroy me. Remember, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as clay, and wilt thou bring me into the dust again? Has thou not poured me out as milk and curdled me like cheese? Thou has clothed me with skin and flesh and has fenced me with bones and sinews. Thou has granted me life and favor and thy visitation hath preserved my spirit. And these things hast thou hid in thine heart. I know that this is with thee." Oh, what a marvelous confession of Job's thankfulness that the Lord had physically made him. He said, you've made me. You took pains is what he said. Look the words up. You took pains about and fitted me into place. You fed me. You've sustained me. Brought me safely into this very moment of existence. While Job was found to be thankful for God's physical mercy, how much more thankful is all God's regenerated sheep are for the Lord's spiritual blessings.

Like I said at the beginning of this message, I listen to so many of us in this congregation that are going through some tough, tough trials. And the Lord has made us, and he's kept us. And he sent these trials, and he's kept us. And he's brought us through some deep waters, and he's kept us.

You've made me. You've fashioned me. Has he not, though, made us also new in the Lord Jesus Christ in regenerating grace? Think of the blessing that cannot be taken. The Lord may be pleased to take away our physical health, but we know him. He said, I'll never leave you. I'm not going to leave you. We may go through some of the toughest times. This right here, this may be the best night, physically speaking, that we have for the rest of our lives. It may just, from here on, it may be downhill, but we have him. He promised, he promised, he promised, I'm not going to leave you. I'm not going to leave you.

And you think, you think of that assurance that a believer has. I'm not, I'm not looking to anything that I've done. I mean, what in the world that I walked down some aisle one day and shook a preacher's hand. And I, you know, I spoke in some gibberish or something like, you think that that's going to keep me in the midst of adversity when I need some sustenance, when I need some firm foundation.

Job said, Lord, you made me. You made me. You've called me. You kept me. You've shown me. You've robed me in the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it says, you've hidden these things, these wonderful things in your heart, Lord. They're hidden in your heart. I read that passage of scripture the first time. I thought, what a blessing to go back and read that again. It was found in verse 13, chapter 10, 13. These things hast thou hid in thine heart. When I first read that, I read it, and I read, in my mind, I read the word mine. These things hast thou hid in mine heart. And I thought, well, you know, that's true. The Lord has given us. No, that's not what it says, though. Thou hast hid these things in thine heart. Lord, they're secure in you. You. For that, we're very thankful.

Oh, by his loving grace and mercy, he's kept us through all of this adversity. Will he allow his precious bride that he's everlastingly loved, chosen in Christ, redeemed by the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, kept by his power through faith? Is he going to let us perish? No. The Lord absolutely will keep his own.

And then verses 14 to 22, Job says, if I sin, then thou markest me and thou will not acquit me from mine iniquity. If I sin and you lay it to my account, that's what he says, If I be wicked, woe unto me. If I be righteous, yet will I not lift up my head. I am full of confusion, therefore see thou mine affliction.

I want to just say a couple of things about that so we can understand what he just said. Job had just said, if I sin, and you lay my sins in order, and you mark them against me. And they're laid to my charge, and you don't acquit me. You don't acquit me from mine iniquity, but you bring up my guilt against me in another day, woe is me. I have absolutely no hope. If I be found wicked in this world, and in the world to come, woe unto me. But since, by the grace of God, I'm founded to be in righteousness before you. I'm found righteousness. And I'm not arrogantly lifting up my head in pride. There's enough pride in my old man sent a billion worlds to hell, but Lord, by the grace of God, you've created me new in Christ, and that which is born of God sinneth not."

And here's Job crying out, just based totally on the word of God. That's all he got. You've made me to long after you, to behave myself, and to not maintain Just that, and have only that old man that blatantly lifts himself up against you. But Lord, still, I'm in a state of confusion. This is what he's saying. I'm confused. I know, I know that you've done something for me. I know you are.

And here is what I meant when I said a while ago, I don't know if I could have, I wouldn't have known how to say it. I might have thought it, but I wouldn't have known how to say it. Lord, you've delivered me, you've kept me, you've taught me the gospel, you've kept me by your grace, you've put me in a place where I can be with your people. And Lord, I'm going through these trials and these troubles And Lord, you see my affliction. Show me that, verse two, back in verse two. Show me where you contend with me.

He just, you know. Job saw himself as one that was just hard to figure out. Now I'm gonna go back and read these last few verses again after I explain this to you. And I'm gonna explain it to you the best way I can explain it. I pray that it comes out understandable. He saw himself in a state of confusion. He just being honest with the Lord. One moment, he's in ecstasy at the peace that the Lord has allowed him to enjoy. And in the next moment, he's in the slew of despond, agonizing over the trials that he's been appointed to, like we often do. Often feeling that we don't know how to act. We don't know what to say. We just at a point to where we just cry out to the Lord, Lord, help me. Help me. Help me, Lord, to walk in a way that's honorable before you and before your people.

All the while, knowing he's not going to leave us, he's not going to forsake us. I know that. You know that. But still, we're flesh. We're flesh. And we're suffering. And knowing that, just in a state of, you know, knowing what he's going through, knowing how he's feeling, knowing what he's had to enjoy in this world, and knowing what God is taken away from him, and he had some friends that just wore him down, and he sees in himself that there's no good thing, but he believes God. He's just, he's a man that's tore all to pieces.

Now, let's just go back, just read these last few verses. Verses 14 to 22. Knowing that, and just listen to this man, how he says it. If I sin, Then thou markest me, and thou wilt not acquit me from mine iniquity. If I be wicked, woe unto me. If I be righteous, yet will I not lift up mine head. I'm full of confusion. Therefore, see thou mine affliction. Lord, look at me in this state of mine. I don't know what's going on. I don't know. I don't know. For it increaseth, thou huntest me as a... He's talking about it increases his trials. It increases. Thou huntest me as a fierce lion. And again, thou showest thyself marvelous upon me. Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, increaseth. Thine indignation upon me changes in war. or about me, wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh, that I had given up the ghost and had no eye, and no eye had seen me. I should have been as though I had not been. I should have been carried from the womb to the grave. Are not my days few? Cease then. And let me alone that I may take comfort little. Before I go whence, I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death. A dry, a land of darkness as darkness itself, and of the shadow of death without any order where the light is as the darkness.

This is a man. that knows how to cry by the grace of God and cry unto God. He's in a state of confusion. Hey, Lord, you know I know you. Lord, you know I love you. But Lord, these trials that you've called me to go through, show me, show me where the contention is. Show me what I've done.

I wrote down a statement and I said this, God's love for his people is not always shown in the brightness of sunshine, in the calmness of the wind. God's love for his people is shown that he keeps them. He keeps them. Whatever he's called us to go through, Whatever he's called us to endure, he's done it for his glory and our good. And if he never shows us this side of the grave, why we were called to go through certain things, we know this, he has done all things well.

Lord, you've done, it's right, it's right. He gives his people a heart of submission to bow. I pray that God bless this to our hearts and gives us some peace and comfort in the midst of adversity because we need it.

Man is a few days, few days, full of trouble, full of trouble. That's what we got. For Christ's sake, let us hear these words. Amen.