Job chapter 23, verses one through
10. Then Job answered and said, even
today is my complaint bitter. My stroke is heavier than my
groanings. Oh, that I knew where I might
find him. that I might come even to his
seat. I would order my cause before
him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which
he would answer me and understand what he would say unto me. Will
he plead against me with his great power? No, but he would
put strength in me. There the righteous might dispute
with him, so shall I be delivered forever from my judge. Behold,
I go forward, but he, God, is not there, and backward, but
I cannot perceive him. On the left hand, where he does
work, but I cannot behold him, he hides himself on the right
hand, that I cannot see him. But He, our Lord, our Lord God,
He knows the way I take. When He hath tried me, I shall
come forth as gold. I shall come forth as gold. I
got a text this morning, I guess it was last night, I don't know
why I didn't see it until this morning, from a brother who said
he was going to be preaching. Didn't feel that good. And he
was getting, he asked me to pray for him. And he said, he's going
to be talking about trials. And I said, well, pray for me
too, because that's what I'm going to look at here as well. But the verse, verse 10 is what
struck me. He knows the way I take, he knows
the way I take. Now I have often, and I know
you've heard this. I've often quoted Scott Richardson
in many of the messages that I preached, and once again, one
of my favorite sayings, and she said, there's three phases in
the believer's life. They're either heading into trial,
or in the midst of trial, or they're just coming out of trial.
Well, I think Job, if you know anything about Job, the book
of Job, He was under great trial, great
affliction, great distress. And then he has his so-called
friends come, and instead of trying to comfort him, they're
like, you must have sinned horribly, look at you, you're just, you
know, and his wife said, just curse God and die, because he
had boils, and he was just miserable. But I think Job knew this saying
right well, I want us to look and learn from our ancient brother. This is supposedly the first
book written in the Bible. I don't know, can't confirm that,
but a lot of people smarter than me seem to think so. But he's
an ancient brother. Let's look and learn from him
and we'll be better off for it. We will definitely be better
off for it. Look at a few Things, look at verse two, verse three,
and verse eight. Verse two, even today is my complaint
bitter. So you know he's in bitterness
of soul. My stroke is heavier than my groanings. And look at
verse three. Oh, that I knew where I might
find him. There's times you think the Lord may have forsaken you
or you pray and there's nothing going on and you just, you know,
what have I done? You begin to accuse yourself.
that I might even come to his seat. And look at verse eight.
Behold, if I go forward, God is everywhere. And Job knew this.
Job knew that God was omniscient. He's, or I'm sorry, I'm the president.
He's everywhere. But in our trials and our difficulties,
we could say we go forward and he's not there. We go backward,
but I don't, I can't find him. I can't find him. Yes, though all the above discourse,
and these three verses, and actually all many verses throughout Job,
it's true. But look at verse 10, but, but,
God knows the way I take. He is, what comfort, what comfort
is this? Just that one word, but, but
God, is it used in the New Testament? but of all our, he's acquainted
with all of our troubles, our trials, our afflictions. Not
only does he know us, does he know our way and he knows our
difficulties, but he has ordered them all for good. According
to Romans 8, 20, all things work together for good to them that
love God and are called the called according to his purpose. So
not only does he know, but he knows the way I take. He is ordered
them all for good and all for his ultimate grace and glory. Dearest ones, rest ever in the
knowledge and in the truth of God's everlasting arms, of your
great and sovereign God. I like how it's worded, and I
missed this for years. Underneath, it says, and I don't
even have it written down where it's at, underneath are the everlasting
arms. So it's like you can't go any
further. It's like, I'm down. Well, underneath that, well,
I mean, I am, I'm at the Mariana Trench. I'm down. No, even under
that. Underneath are the everlasting
arms. There's no one that understands
us better than our creator. We're his creatures. There's
no one that understands us better than the creator. He can sustain
us. and guide us through all calamities or support us in every
stormy season and carry us to safety, safely, and he'll carry
us safely to Canaan's happy shore. We sing this song. How firm. A foundation, ye saints
of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent word.
What more can he say than to you he has said, to you, who
for refuge to Jesus have fled? Fear not, I am with thee. Oh,
be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will still give thee aid.
I'll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand, upheld
by my gracious, omnipotent hand. When through the deep waters
I call thee to go, the rivers of woe shall not thee overflow,
for I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless and sanctify
to thee your deepest distress. When through fiery trials thy
pathway shall lie, my grace all sufficient shall be thy supply.
The flame shall not hurt thee, I only design thy dross to consume
and thy gold to refine. The soul that on Jesus hath leaned
for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes. That
soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never,
no never, no never forsake. That's, that is based in the
word. We don't look to the hymn, but
if it's based in the word, It's like reading good books. I was
talking to Melinda the other night. I read good books because
if they were here, I'd fellowship with them. I love John Newton
and I read John Newton, but he's not the authority, but he has
some good things to say. If he was here, I'd fellowship
with him. And I could go on and on, Luther and these different
people. Secondly, so firstly, he knows, but he knows the way
I take. Notice, secondly, Job acknowledges
God's hand in all things. He's acknowledging God's hand
in all things. Look at the next phrase. But
he knows the way I take. When he hath tried me. When he
hath tried me. He hath tried me. Not bad fortune. Not sour luck. Not poor chance. It's not even, I was at the wrong
place at the wrong time. These are all phrases that religious
or irreligious people, they use because they're easy to use.
It's not true. The believer, I challenge you
to find the word luck in the scriptures. It's not there. Blessed,
this is what I think, and I've got some of this from William
Jay. Blessed be your eyes, you who connect God in everything. You who connect God in everything. That's why in James, you talk
about going into town, driving into town, and going to a market.
You talk about something basic, but he says, you should rather
say, if the Lord wills. See, he's like every believer
from Noah all the way to Revelations. They connect God with everything. There's not chance, not bad luck,
none of these things. Blessed are your eyes who see
God connected in everything, who see the providence of our
Redeemer in all aspects of life. Indeed, does he not guide the
sparrows in their flight? Matthew 6, yes. Does he not have
all the hairs of our head numbered? Luke 12, yes. We are not at the mercy of foes
or at the beck and call of our enemies. John chapter 19, let
me read, Christ knew this very well, John chapter 19. and verse 11, Jesus answered,
and he's on trial. It was set up, they couldn't
find any fault in him. It was a false trial, it was
a mockery, a mockery of justice, but Pilate said unto him, why
don't you answer me? Don't you know that I have the
power to crucify you or to release you? And this is what Jesus said.
you could have no power at all against me, except it were given
thee from above. Therefore, he that delivered
me unto thee hath the greater sin." Christ is like, no, no. You speak in error. You speak
in error, Pilate. By faith, which is by grace,
we can say the same thing as our loving Savior did. You could
have no power over me. except for it were given to you
from above. Psalms, you don't have to turn
there, Psalm 76, verse 10. Surely the wrath of man shall
praise thee, and the remainder of wrath he shall restrain. God's
in control of wrath. He's in control of everything. Of everything. We saw that last
time we looked at Job. Stand, As all the saints, may
we stand as all the saints have stood upon the solid rock Christ
Jesus. There's, there's, or as one other
person put it, snuggle up brethren, snuggle up to him who loved us
and gave himself for us. Thirdly, how long is the trial
going to last? I don't know. I don't have any,
I don't have a corner on God. I don't have a microscope and,
oh, I see things you don't see. No, no, God, that's, God will
not be owned by anybody. But if you're a believer, he
has given you the Holy Spirit and he makes these things, he
reveals these things to us. Well, back to our chapter in
Job in the same verse, verse 10, but he knoweth the way I
take, When he hath tried me, I shall come forth. We'll stop
there. I shall come forth. It's not going to last forever,
this trial, this difficulty. It will not last forever. I shall
come forth. It may be in the middle of temptation
or trial, but we will come forth. He says in Lamentations 333,
he does not afflict willingly. He's not doing this just for
fun. He's not like these Greek gods. He's not that way at all. He has appointed an hour of your
deliverance or my deliverance, no matter what you're going through,
and it shall come. And not a moment will it delay.
Not a moment will it delay. His time is best. His time is
on time. And His time is always correct. Psalm 64 verse 12, you don't
have to turn here. Thou has caused men to ride,
let's see. Yep, hope I got it right. This is the church speaking,
oh bless our God ye people and make the voice of his praise
to be heard. which holds our soul in life,
and suffers not our feet to be moved, for thou, O God, hast
proved us, thou hast tried us, as Silvers tried." That's his
prerogative. That's what he does. That's what
he does indeed. Blessed are they who wait on
him, Isaiah 30 verse 18. Fourthly, What are the end of trials produce?
Well, go back to Joe. It's all in one verse. But he
knows the way I take, and I'm thankful that he does. I'm thankful
when I get out of the way, he pulls me back. Nobody has him
on a leash, but he has his dear children's best in mind. He brings us back. When he hath tried me, it's his
will is being done, but we will come forth as gold. Fourthly, we shall come forth
as gold. The end of trials, afflictions,
chastisement as gold. Three things about this gold.
Gold comes forth proved, proved. Once in God's furnace, we know
him better and we know ourselves better. We know him better, and
we know ourselves better. I went down that path before. Now, I'm a slow learner. I keep
stubbing my toe, stubbing my toe, and it's like, lift your
feet up. But once, gold is gonna be proved. And once we're in God's furnace,
we know Him better and we know ourselves better. He proves whether
we have grace or it's just a counterfeit. He proves whether we have been
humbled or we're faking it or feigning it. We have pretend
humility. He will prove to us that patience
must have her perfect work, James. Can we worship him and love him,
whether he smiles upon us or frowns? And to sing what David
said in Psalms 139, may we sing this. Same song as our brother David
did. Psalms 139 verse 23 and 24. Search
me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts,
and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the
way of everlasting. That's what he's proving. When a brother, a fellow pastor,
was going through some really difficult times years ago, We
got close and we talked quite a bit. One thing I was trying
to encourage him, help him. But one thing he helped me is
he kept, he said, I don't know what's going on. I don't know
how to deal with this, this and that. He says, but I'm asking the Lord
that I may learn what he's teaching me. I thought that's, that's,
that's good right there. That's good. Right. May we learn.
what the Lord is teaching us. Secondly, gold comes forth purified. We know that. Once we notice
and note in the smelting process, the item goes in and it comes
back out, but it's smaller in size. It's smaller in size. Well, it's dross that's come
out. And we're better off without
dross. Proverbs chapter 25 says very
specifically, 25 in verse four, take away the dross from the
silver and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. And we need, whether we like
it or not, we need to be in God's furnace because It's proved,
it's purified. And somebody said something to
me about this, the devotional, thought I was excellent. Those
three men, those three Hebrew men in the fiery furnace, they
got thrown in and the fire was extremely hot. What did they
lose? What was the only thing they
lost? Well, they went in, found. Right? They went inbound with
cords. And then they fell to the ground
and they stood up and the heat took those away. Not only did
the heat take those away, but there was a fourth person that
Nebuchadnezzar said, we threw three in. This is in Daniel. But there's four, and it looks
like the Son of God is Christ. Christ was with his people in
the furnace, but the only thing that they lost was their cords
that bound them. Once it was burned, they were
able to walk freely about with their Redeemer. And that's what
he's doing when he puts us through the fire. Therefore, may we bless
our gracious God that he is making us more like Christ. And thirdly,
what is this refining fire Job speaks of in verse 10, when he
had tried me, I shall come forth as gold. Well, gold comes forth
prepared. Once gold is extracted, it's
smaller, the dross is gone, what do you use it? Now you can stamp
it, now you can make coins out of it like they used to do, or
ornaments, you can fashion it. Once gold is smelted and it's
cooled, it is fitted, that is coins or ornaments, et cetera. What I'm saying is that we are
made meat, says 2 Timothy 2, 20, 21, we are made meat for
the master's use. And we all know we have that.
We all have a need to be made meat for the Master's use. Turn
with me to 2 Corinthians chapter 4. 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 17. in this smelting
process, in this furnace process, for our light affliction, verse
17, which is but for a moment works for us a far more exceeding
and eternal weight of glory. That's the end result. And turn
to 1 Peter, First Peter chapter one, verses, starting in verse five. Well, verse four, we have an
inheritance that's incorruptible. First Peter one, verse four,
and undefiled that fades not away, reserved in heaven for
you. Those of you who are kept, which all believers are kept,
by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed
in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though
now for a season, it's just a season, seems like a long time, if need
be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations. That, here's
why, the trial of your faith. If faith is not tried, you don't
know if it's real or not. trial of your faith being much
more precious than of gold that perishes though it be tried with
fire might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing
of Jesus Christ. Can we not trust in him What
was Job going to do? His wife told him to do something. To the believer, you get all
these remedies and advices and stuff, and some of the stuff
is just like, it doesn't make any sense. I'm not going to do
that. I'm not going to curse God and die. Well, then his three
friends, so-called friends, they're accusing him, and then this conversation
is going on in chapter 23. But if I, I don't know what's
going, and then he finally starts getting, he's getting aggravated
and pride comes up and then he sends another person to rebuke
Job. But it's all a trial. It's all
a difficult situation. But Job and all this, earlier
on Job and all this did not sin. He trusted his God. He trusted,
and I like what Spurgeon said. I was reading Faith's checkbook
or something. I like what Spurgeon said. He
goes, when I call a carriage, call a taxi. OK, let's say we
were in New York City. We call a taxi. We get in. Do we tell the driver how to
go? What street to turn? How fast
to go? How slow? And Spurgeon's like,
when I go and I get in a carriage and I want to go to the bread
shop or whatever, he says, I trust implicitly the driver. I don't tell him what to do.
I don't interrupt him. He said, I simply trust him that he knows
what he's doing. And there's things that's going
to hit us and knock us, as we say, stem-winded. I don't have
an answer. I'm not that smart. I don't know
what God is up to. But I do know if you're His, He's doing it out of love. Because
He says if you're a child, He chastises a child. Otherwise,
you're bastards. And I do know He's going to get
glory. And it's for our best. And when we get in glory, it'll
all be revealed. It will all be revealed. So a
lot of the whys and wherefores and how comes this and that.
Just get in the cab. And he's he's the master sailor. He's the shepherd, the good shepherd,
the great shepherd, the sovereign shepherd. He knows what he's
doing. Oh, brethren, May we all be proved,
purified, and prepared to honor and glorify and adore our precious
Redeemer.