Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?

Job 9:1-35

Then Job replied: “Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand. His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him. If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.

Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy. Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing. He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him? Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.

“Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life. It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent. When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?

Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain? Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder, you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.

Why?

The Lord is almighty, who can dispute with the Lord? No one.

Job knew he is already found guilty, so he don't need to struggle with the Lord.

How great is the Lord and how small all our be created lives. How can we ask the creator?

How?

Great is the Lord, for his love endures forever, we may retain the everlasting life in Jesus Christ.

Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers

Job 8:1-22

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: “How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind. Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?

“Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned, for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow. 

Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water? While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass. Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless. What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web. They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.

“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers. He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”

Why?

Friend of Job, Bildad said the common information about man and the Lord. But he did not know Job is a special case before the Lord. 

We do not know why pain, suffering, or disaster come upon us. What we have to do is trust in the Lord and rely on the Lord in any situation.

All of the troubles and suffering bring the truth of the Lord guide us to know what the characters of the Lord are, and let our faith be more solid in the Lord.

How?

Trust in the Lord for God has his schedule and his best plan, we do not know, but we can live in faith in the Lord.

Have I become a burden to you? Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins?

 Job 7:1-21

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Remember, O God, that my life is but a breath; my eyes will never see happiness again. The eye that now sees me will see me no longer; you will look for me, but I will be no more. As a cloud vanishes and is gone, so one who goes down to the grave does not return. He will never come to his house again; his place will know him no more.

Therefore I will not keep silent; I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul. Am I the sea, or the monster of the deep, that you put me under guard? When I think my bed will comfort me and my couch will ease my complaint, even then you frighten me with dreams and terrify me with visions, so that I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine. I despise my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone; my days have no meaning.

If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you who see everything we do? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a burden to you? Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more.”

Why?

Dead is a way to somewhere and never return to everyone in the world.

Job asked the Lord to let him die and not suffer this pain in body and spirit.

Job knew everyone would die but he asked the Lord to show him where he offended the Lord, if Job sinned, please forgive my sins.

The job was frustrating and lost hope to live. Because he did not know why this suffering came upon him.

How?

All of the tragedy or suffering comes up to us, and usually, we don't know why, most of the pain is because of our sins. But the Lord has much love so our suffering will pass soon, even it is longer than we expected we need faith in the Lord, there is a way to us.

Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?

Job 6:1-30

Then Job replied: The arrows of the Almighty are in me, my spirit drinks in their poison; God’s terrors are marshaled against me. Does a wild donkey bray when it has grass, or an ox bellow when it has fodder?  tasteless food eaten without salt, or is there flavor in the sap of the mallow?

“Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for, that God would be willing to crush me,  to let loose his hand and cut off my life! Then I would still have this consolation—   my joy in unrelenting pain—     that I had not denied the words of the Holy One. “What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient? Do I have the strength of stone? Is my flesh bronze? Do I have any power to help myself, now that success has been driven from me?

Have I ever said, ‘Give something on my behalf,  pay a ransom for me from your wealth, deliver me from the hand of the enemy,  rescue me from the clutches of the ruthless’? “Teach me, and I will be quiet; show me where I have been wrong. How painful are honest words! But what do your arguments prove? Do you mean to correct what I say, and treat my desperate words as wind? You would even cast lots for the fatherless and barter away your friend.

“But now be so kind as to look at me. Would I lie to your face? Relent, do not be unjust; reconsider, for my integrity is at stake. Is there any wickedness on my lips? Can my mouth not discern malice?

Why?

Job did not ask anything from his friend for help. It is the Lord who gave terrors against Job. Job hopes the Lord will crush him and cut off his life.

Job asked his friends to show him where he had been wrong, is there any wickedness on his lips, or his mouth not discern malice? No at all!

How?

God makes any decision and does not ask for agreement from man but on God's way and plan. Because He is the Lord.

Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

Job 5:1-27

Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple.

The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.

For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.

“But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

For he wounds, but he also binds up;  he injures, but his hands also heal. From six calamities he will rescue you;  in seven no harm will touch you. In famine he will deliver you from death,  and in battle from the stroke of the sword. You will be protected from the lash of the tongue,  and need not fear when destruction comes.

“We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself.”

Why?

All spoken by Eliphaz is correct but it is not the case for Job.

Blessed is the one God corrects, but the process is painful and hard for everyone.

How?

Believe in the love of the Endure forever and I have experienced many times.

Can a mortal be more righteous than God?

Job 4:1-21

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied:

But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?

“Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished?  Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.

Can a mortal be more righteous than God? Can even a strong man be more pure than his Maker? If God places no trust in his servants, if he charges his angels with error, how much more those who live in houses of clay, whose foundations are in the dust, who are crushed more readily than a moth! Between dawn and dusk they are broken to pieces; unnoticed, they perish forever. Are not the cords of their tent pulled up, so that they die without wisdom?’

Why?

Eliphaz according to the general rule to judge Job, must have done some evil or wrong doing so the punishment of the Lord came upon him.

A mortal can not be more righteous than God. 

The Lord never makes the wrong decisions or makes mistakes, God has his own plan and with love to all of us.

Those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it is a general rule, but it is not a common rule to the Lord

How?

Be humble and give honor to the Lord! For God's love endures forever.

Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul

Jon 3:1-26

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. He said: “May the day of my birth perish, and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’ That day—may it turn to darkness; may God above not care about it; may no light shine on it.

“Why did I not perish at birth, and die as I came from the womb? Why were there knees to receive me and breasts that I might be nursed? For now I would be lying down in peace;  I would be asleep and at rest with kings and rulers of the earth   who built for themselves places now lying in ruins, with princes who had gold, who filled their houses with silver. Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child, like an infant who never saw the light of day? There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest. Captives also enjoy their ease; they no longer hear the slave driver’s shout. The small and the great are there, and the slaves are freed from their owners.

“Why is light given to those in misery, and life to the bitter of soul, to those who long for death that does not come, who search for it more than for hidden treasure, who are filled with gladness and rejoice when they reach the grave?

Why is life given to a man whose way is hidden, whom God has hedged in? For sighing has become my daily food; my groans pour out like water. What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me. I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”

Why?

Job felt turmoil and had no peace at those moments. Job curses his birthday. Job wants the dead for there was pain and turmoil.

Under this turmoil, living every day is bitter to him.

This is the question to everyone who is in Job's situation.

We can get rid of wealth, property, and joy, but losing health is hard to live every day.

How?

May the Lord bless me during my living day with a healthy body and spirit to worship the Lord.

Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.

Job 2:1-13

On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him. 

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was.

Why?

Satan from roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it to search anyone they can attack.

"Skin for skin" is Satan's way of saying that if Job were held to the prospect of losing his life then he would surely curse God. This is the second test to which God permits Satan to submit Job to, which is why God says to Satan that he may do anything to Job BUT take his life. 

A man can give up all properties and money, house or others, but could not bear to lose his life or health. So Satan asked the Lord to allow Satan to put disease upon Job, but have to keep Job's life.

Three friends of Job are good to visit Job, for they care about Job was suffering pain and difficulty. They sat with Job for seven days and no one said a word to him, because no one word could comfort Job.

How?

It is difficult to be a good servant of the Lord, it does not depend on our strength but on the Holy Spirit and love of the Lord.

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away

 Job 1:13-22 

A messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Why?

Job lost 1)oxen and donkeys,  2)sheep and the servants, 3)camels and servants, 4)his sons and daughters and house.

Job knew all he had came from the Lord, if the Lord gives he have if the Lord take away for I came from my mother's womb and naked.

Yes, without the blessing and mercy of the Lord, I have nothing.

How?

Praise the Lord! House, money, daughters, and my life belong to the Lord. All are the gift of the Lord to me.

Job#But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face

Job 1:1-12

In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”

Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”

Why?

Job is a good man and under the blessing of the Lord and Job obeys the word of the Lord and fears the Lord.

Satan asked the Lord if Job feared God for nothing. So the Lord allowed Satan to test Job without anything but to keep his life.

How?

Even a righteous man like Job could be tested by Satan and allowed by the Lord, how about us. Anything that comes upon us is permitted by the Lord, to test our faith and weakness before the Lord, and knowing God is our blessing and fortress.

All who go down to the dust will kneel before him

Psalm 22:1-31

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.

But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help.

The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the Lord will praise him— may your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!

Why?

All the end of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord.

All the families of the nations will blow down before him.

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship

All who go down to the dust will kneel before him.

This is our mighty God, no one can escape from the judgment of the Lord.

Here, it describes the situation of Jesus Christ on the cross. They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.

How?

David under a dangerous situation wrote this psalm, which described the vision of Jesus Christ.

The unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken

Psalm 21:1-13 

You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. You came to greet him with rich blessings  and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him—    length of days, forever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great;  you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord;  through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies;  your right hand will seize your foes. When you appear for battle,  you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath,  and his fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth,  their posterity from mankind. Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed. You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.

Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.

Why?

Through the unfailing love of the Most High, he will not be shaken. So trust in the Lord when I am in distress or dark way.

The faith needs to be tested, for the unfailing love of the Lord, I won't worry too much.

I have many unknown things but I know that the Lord knows my weakness and my strength. God's arranged for me never shaken.

How?

Be strong, for the Lord is my stronghold, I will sing and praise God's might.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

 Psalm 20:1-9

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests. 

Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

Why?

David knew that the Lord is our only hope and salvation, so David prayed 1) to answer us when we are in distress, 2) to protect us from distress 3) to remember our sanctuary and support us, and 4) our desire for hearts and make all our plans succeed.

Even though I am in distress I trust in the Lord our God!

How?
May the Lord guide us to find a new living place.