Thursday, August 7, 2014

The Foreshadowing - Job Part 12


    Both Job and the Lord Jesus Christ passed the particular tests of their faith and their faithfulness.  

   "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (Job 13:15).   
   "When He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously" (I Peter 2:23).

    Satan boasted to God that he could cause Job to curse the Lord to His face (Job 1:11; 2:5).  The devil failed in the attempt.  Job voiced significant complaint, of course, questioning the very fact of his existence: "Why died I not from the womb?  Why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?" (Job 3:11).  The Lord severely rebuked His servant for such audacity: "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?" (Job 38:1-2).  Four chapters of Scripture follow with more of such chastening by the Lord, resulting in great repentance on Job's part: "I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:6).  It remains true, however, that Job overcame the primary challenge of his ordeal.  He never cursed God to His face (in a message to come, we will consider the possible meaning of this interesting phrase).  Thus, the Lord triumphed, His word was confirmed, and the devil suffered yet another defeat at the hands of his Creator whom he so frequently, foolishly, and catastrophically challenges.

    We do not know whether the devil ever made a similar boast to God the Father about the Lord Jesus.  We know he tempted Him incessantly, both in the wilderness challenge recorded in Scripture, and in a lifetime wherein the Savior was "tempted in all points life as we are" (Hebrews 4:15).  Over and over again, our Lord trusted God in submission to His will: "I do always those things that please Him" (John 8:29).  This ultimately led to the hour just before the cross when He could have called twelve legions of angels to save Him (Matthew 26:53).  He did not do so, in obedience to God.  Thereafter, He entered Gethsemane, where He experienced temptation so severe as to draw bloody sweat from the Lord's holy pores.  He overcame, in obedience to God.  Finally, on the cross of Calvary when God poured out His wrath and then left His Son to die alone for our sakes, the Savior cried in agony, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matthew 27:46).  In agony He cried.  Not in rebellion.  Thus, He overcame every trial and temptation to the resounding degree of obedience that "God raised Him from the dead, and set Him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come, and hath put all things under his feet" (Ephesians 1:20-22).

   I look forward to meeting Job in the heavenlies in order to thank him for his vivid foreshadowing of Christ, the lessons we learn from his trial, and his overcoming of the devil's challenge.  And, I look forward to seeing the Lord Jesus face to face in the heavenlies, but only for a brief moment before falling at His nail-pierced feet in gratitude, adoration, appreciation, and loving worship.  Our Savior overcame challenges far beyond any degree and magnitude of severity we will ever know, and a long eternity will not suffice to extol Him for the life He lived for us, and the death He died for us.

Over and Over and Over

Sometimes it seems that the enemy of our soul wins
over and over and over again.
But if we could see the truth much more clearly, my friend,
we'd see Christ triumph over death, hell, and sin
over and over and over again.

Over and over and over again.

The tomb is empty, the throne above occupied.
For Christ is risen again, from death glorified.
Oh remember when hot, stinging tears fill your eyes
the triumph He's shown so many times in our lives
over and over and over again.

Over and over and over again.

Forever draws nigh, we will be with Him there soon, my friend.
The trials of this life will be gone when we're with Him in Heaven.
Glories we'll see, majesty without end,
that sing the glad hymn, "Christ is risen again,"
over and over and over again.

Over and over and over again,
Over and over and over again.

"Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place."
(II Corinthians 2:14)

Weekly Memory Verse
    And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.
(II Thessalonians 3:5)

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