All right, let's take our Bibles
once again. Turn with me to the book of Job. Job. Job chapter 1. Job chapter 1. I'd like to look at the first
five verses in this book and preface with something you know
I'm going to say that There's a lot of things said
about this man Job. But of everything said of Job
in this book, in these five verses that Lord will and will look
at, the one we see is the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything in this
book gives honor, glory, and praise unto Him who is deserving. of all honor, glory, and praise. So what we'll do is we'll read
and we'll flee to him and behold the glory of God in his precious
faiths. Verse one, there was a man in
the land of Uz whose name was Job. And that man was perfect
and upright and one that feared God and eschewed evil. Now, there was a man in the description, the definition
of that word. Now it surely does mean a male,
it means that. There was a man, there was a
male, but it also means that word is husband, servant, champion,
or great man. And when we look upon Job as
a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, We behold in type Him who is
our Mediator, our Priest, our King, God's Servant
for our sake, our Redeemer. There was a man in the land of
Uz John Gill said this of that land, it was a land that was
probably a wicked and idolatrous place. Us. It was a place where we behold
the distinguishing grace of God because that's where Job was
from, this man. But oh the beauty of beholding
the one in whom Job was chosen out of this idolatrous place. And the object of God's favor
in our passage, Job, there was a man in the land of Oz and his
name was Job. You know what Job means? Hated. Hated. hated, persecuted. And only of him, the Lord Jesus
Christ, is it said that he was despised and rejected of men,
a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, and we hid our faces
from him. That's what all of us by nature
do. and he was despised, and Isaiah, the prophet said, and
we esteemed him not. Now you think about this. How
much, Neil and I were just talking about this, the spirituality
of the law. If someone were to ask you, do
you esteem the Lord Jesus Christ? Now, let's just be honest. Do
you honor Him as He's deserving to be honored? Do you exalt Him
in your heart as He is deserving to be exalted? Isaiah said, we
esteemed Him not. There was a man in the land of Uz whose name
was Job, and that man, the Scripture says, perfect and upright. Now we all say and all agree
that in Christ Job like all of God's people is perfect and upright
for his sake according to his righteousness imputed. We are complete The scripture
says, in him. All but the one that Job pictured
was not found from the loins of Adam, but rather conceived
of the Holy Ghost. Perfect. God in human flesh. Hebrews 7.26 says, for such an
high priest became us. who is holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. One day, by the grace of God,
we'll understand that. We have not in high priests,
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities,
but was in all points tempted like as we are. Now, you think
about this. How many, think of the temptations
that we have. The temptations, all of them,
all of them. Don't exclude any of them. All the temptations. The scripture
says, he was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin, without
thought, without a deviation in his heart, he who is truth. Job was said to be upright. He was straight. That's what
that word means. He was straight. In himself? No, not in himself. The scripture
says the good man is perished out of the earth and there's
none upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood. They hunt every man, his brother
with a net. That's Micah 7.2. but there's one among men who
is upright, one. Psalm 25, eight, good and upright,
straight, just, and faithful is the Lord. Therefore will he teach sinners
the way. Job was a man, the scripture
says, that feared God. He reverenced God. Here again, which man, which
woman would be willing to stand up and say, I reverence Him as
He is deserving? The one Job pictures reverenced
God and eschewed evil. turned aside, never considered it, never bowed
to it, never succumbed to it. The scripture says Job feared
God and eschewed evil. Hebrews chapter 5. Hebrews 5,
amazing passage of scripture, verse 7, says concerning the
Lord Jesus Christ, who in the days of his flesh,
when he had offered up prayers and supplication with strong
crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death,
and was heard in that he feared. was his reverence. It doesn't say he was fearful.
He was submissively reverent and did always, for the honor
and glory and praise of his father, those things that pleased him. John 8, 29, He that sent me is
with me. The Father hath not left me alone,
for I do always those things that please Him. The scripture says in Matthew
17, five, while he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed
them and behold, a voice out of the cloud which said, this
is my beloved son in whom I'm well pleased, hear ye him. There was a man in the land of
Uz whose name was Job and that man was perfect and upright and
one that feared God and eschewed evil. And the scripture says, and there
were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. He had some children. He had
some children. Psalm 127.3 says, lo, children
are in heritage of the Lord. They're a possession of the Lord. Who gives children? Of the Lord. They're a heritage of the Lord.
And the fruit of the womb is His reward. All but concerning the Lord Jesus
Christ. There is a heritage to Christ
given by the Father of people Chosen in Him. Now this is Ephesians
1. We've read it so many times.
God has a people. He has a heritage given to the
Lord Jesus Christ. A people of His choosing. And
they were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
God has a heritage, a people, a possession, a peculiar people
of His choosing, and they were predestinated unto the adoption
of children by Jesus Christ to Himself. And those that He has chosen
shall be presented to Him, to the Father, as vessels of God's
grace. Let me read this to you. Hebrews
2, 11 to 13. Hebrews 2. Hebrews chapter 2, verses 11 to 13. Now listen,
listen to the relationship of God's heritage to the Lord Jesus
Christ. Hebrews 2.11, for both he that
sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one, for
which cause he's not ashamed to call them brethren. They're his by gift of his father. They're his by purchase of his
blood. and they're His by willful submission
of them unto made willing in the day of God's power in regenerating
grace. They're His. They're one. Saying,
I will declare thy name unto my brethren in the midst of the
church while I sing praise unto thee. And again, I will put my
trust in Him. And again, behold, here's the
words of the Lord Jesus Christ, I and the children which God
hath given me." Job had some kids. Scripture said he had seven
sons and three daughters. And the Scripture says in verse
3, his substance also was 7,000 sheep. 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, 500
she-asses, and a very great household, so that this man was the greatest
of all the men of the East. Job, relatively speaking, in
himself was a rich man. He had much possession. He had a great household. But of the one that Job pictures, the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. The
world and they that dwell therein. Job was a rich man. Almighty God is rich in creation. He's rich in mercy, rich in love,
rich in power, rich in grace. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 4,
but God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith
he loved us even when we were dead in sins. Now you talk about
mercy. Mercy. when we were dead in sins, when
we were in our hearts, children of wrath, even as others, hath quickened us together with
Christ. By grace ye are saved. Job, relatively speaking, had
some earthly possessions. The Lord owns all of it. It's
all his. Job had a great household, the
scripture says. Oh, the Lord's household, out
of every nation and kindred and tribe and tongue, out of every
household, out of every place, out of every... Brother Henry
made this statement one time. He said, God's got a people out
of every family. How many children have died in
infancy? How many do you think? How many?
I'm convinced. These children die in infancy
according to the scriptures, according to the words of David.
I can't go where he is. Now you say, he can't come back
to me. I go where he is. God's got a people. The scripture
says his substance was sheep, cattle, oxen. He had a great
household. And this man was the greatest
of all the men of the east. Oh, but let me tell you who is
the greatest of all the men. Let's leave off the east part. Psalm 96, four, for the Lord
is great and greatly to be praised and he is to be feared above
all gods. Great. But for his people to be saved,
He who is rich, humble himself. Humble himself as a submissive
servant to his father. 2 Corinthians 8, 9, for you know
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Now here's the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Here's the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your
sakes, he became poor. that ye through his poverty might
be rich. How great was it? Lord, you know. I'm going to have to just answer
like Ezekiel. Can these bones live? Lord, you
know. How great is the Lord? Lord,
you know. I don't know. He who was rich became poor. How poor did he become? Lord,
I don't know. I don't know. The youth through his poverty
might be rich. And the scripture says, verse
4, And his sons went and feasted in their houses every one his
day, and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and
to drink with them. You know, though, many, many
wonderful qualities could be found with the children of Job. You know, they loved one another,
their fellowshipping was together, they preferred one another's
company to other people and other places. Obviously, they seemed
to stay out of situations that might hinder them or drag them
down, but Though there were many wonderful things, they faced
it in their own houses. They called their three sisters
to eat and drink with them. Families are so wonderful. It's
wonderful when there's harmony and peace and comfort in a family. And this was one that obviously
was that way. It was good. But there was a
concern and a love that Job was said to possess for his children. He desired the mercy and grace
of God and he knew something of their nature, that all men
are sinners. Job knew that. 1 John 1.9, if we say we have
no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is in us. His people,
his children, they fellowship together. We fellowship together. Here we are. We come together.
It's good to be together with God's people. I missed last Sunday
and last Wednesday. And you know, when you're not
here, it's just empty. You just miss it. I want to be
where they are. I want to be with God's people. And he had a tight family, tight,
tight. What a blessing. What a blessing.
But there was something about Job. And here's the preciousness
of Job, the one he pictures. the great high priest. The scripture
says in verse five, and it was so when the days of their feasting
were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them and rose
up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to
the number of them all. For Job said, it may be that
my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. What was it that concerned Job? Well, the scripture, the wording
says it may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in my heart. I tried to spend much time to
get that The meaning of that word. That word cursed, it means
blessed or cursed. It's the same word, but in this
instance, the Spirit of God wrote that word as cursed. And it means to deviate. To deviate. To turn, to err,
to get off track. That's what the meaning of that
word is. What tenderness and compassion. After the days of their feasting,
this man that feared God, shewed evil, picture of the Lord Jesus
Christ, sent and sanctified him. He sent and he brought them unto
himself, is what he did, to allow them to know the love and concern
that he had for them. Do you know the way that the
Lord sends and brings us to himself. We know that through the preaching
of the gospel. How do we know? How do we know his love for us?
How do we know? And again, I admit the depth
of my understanding is so shallow. But Job sent and sanctified them. Not that he could make them holy.
He couldn't. But he was going to set forth
the one who does. for His people. He rose up early
in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number
of them all. In particular, He offered that
burnt offering, that burnt offering was that sweet smelling savor,
that offering that was a sweet smelling savor unto the Lord.
The burnt offering, there was different offerings, the meat
offering, the wave offering, the burnt offering, was that
offering that was offered unto the Lord that pictured the willingness
of the Lord Jesus Christ in His submissive death to put away
the sin of His people. To be made sin to put away. That
was the burnt offering. And it was a sweet smelling savor.
He offered a burnt offering according to the number of them all. set forth that he was praying
for them individually. It wasn't just a blanket statement. He was, whenever he died, the
Lord Jesus Christ, he died for his people. He had them on him,
I know my sheep. Whenever he prays, do you think
it's just a blanket statement? That he just, you know, no. I
know my sheep. whenever he told Peter, Satan hath desired to have you
and sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you. I prayed for you. When I consider
this precious thought, whenever the Lord Jesus Christ, whoever
liveth to make intercession for his people. When I think that
he calls my name before the Father's throne, that's personal. That's personal. I can try to pray for you. I
try to call your names. And I don't know, I don't know
the depth of your need. The Lord prays for His people.
He prayed for His children. The Scripture says He offered
burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job
said, it may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in
their hearts. The scripture says that all we
like sheep. Now I read this word again, I
looked at it again. Here's what he said, for Job
said, it may be that my sons have sinned. Now there's a word
that a man would have to say, it may be. But the one that Job
pictures, he knows, he knows. all we like sheep have gone astray,
and we've turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has
laid on him the iniquity of us all." It may be. It may be that they've sinned,
that they're led astray and cursed God in their heart, renouncing
or forgetting Him. This is the definition. Renouncing
or forgetting Him. Now who's not guilty? putting him out of sight, not
giving him the honor which is his due. We know. We know that he knows. We know
that we have and we know that he knows. It may be that my sons have sinned
and cursed God in their hearts. I was talking to you about that
scripture. Let me just read that. I'm going to close here. This
is Luke chapter 22. Luke 22. Think of the impression
that was made. Peter, we talked about this.
Luke 22, verse 31 to 34. Here's the account of what I
quoted a while ago. The Lord said, Simon, Simon,
behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you
as wheat. But I've prayed for thee that
thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren. when you learn something, when
you're taught something, when you are converted. I mean, Peter
was a man regenerated by the grace of God, but when the Lord
said, when you're converted, when you're taught. I've prayed
for you that thy faith fail not, and when thou art converted,
strengthen thy brethren. And he said unto him, Lord, I'm
ready to go with thee both into prison and to death. And the
Lord said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this
day before thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. But
when you're converted, when you're taught, when my spirit
brings these things back to your mind, I want you to strengthen
the brethren. You're going to learn something,
Peter, by experience. Well, years later, Peter, who obviously
had been taught something, he stood there and he made that
bold statement to the Lord, I will go to prison. I'll die for you. I'll die for you, Peter. When
you're converted, when you're taught, strengthen the brethren. And years later, the Spirit of
God moved upon the Apostle Peter. In 1 Peter chapter 5, listen
to these words. Verse 6 to 10, 1 Peter 5. 6 to
10. Humble yourselves, therefore,
under the mighty hand of God. Peter's saying, don't boast.
Don't tell God what you're going to do. I won't do that. I'll never do this. Humble yourselves
therefore unto the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you
in due time, casting all your care upon him, for he careth
for you. Be sober. Be vigilant. I wonder if he thought back on
that instant, that night when he told the Lord, I'll never,
I'll never deny you. Be sober, be sober-minded, be
vigilant, be watchful, because your adversary, the devil, as
a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. Peter said, I know just a little
bit about that. whom resist steadfast in the
faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished
in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all
grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after that you've suffered a while, make you perfect, establish,
strengthen, and settle you." The scripture says that Job had
called his kids, sent for them, sanctified them, and offered
burnt offerings because it may be that they had sinned and cursed
God, deviated in their heart. And thus did Job continually,
praying for them. Hebrews 7.25, Wherefore, he is
able also to save them to the uttermost. that come unto God
by him, seeing he ever liveth. Job, scripture says, he did that
continually. He ever liveth to make intercession
for them. There was a man, lived in the
land of Uz, and he was perfect, feared God,
eschewed evil, had some children. taught those kids, prayed for
those kids. What a glorious picture of God's
church, his children, kept by the power of God through faith,
ready to be revealed in the last time. Lord, bless it to our hearts
with your glory. Amen.