Sermon – The King James Bible

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City

Sermon – The King James Bible

Reformation Sunday, October 25, 2015

          Today is Reformation Sunday.  This is the day each year when we celebrate our Reformed heritage rooted in the work of John Calvin and others in the 16^th century Protestant Reformation of the church.  2015 is the four hundred and fourth anniversary of the publishing of the first authorized English language translation of the Bible from the original Hebrew and Greek, the King James Version.  And so today we will celebrate the reformers who risked their lives to make an English translation possible.  But first let's pray.

          “Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

          The year was 1382.  The government of King Richard II of England was running a deficit.  They needed more revenue.  So the King imposed a new tax, a flat tax.  Everyone had to send in one shilling.  This was a hated tax and started a peasant rebellion.  The people asked their priests what the Bible had to say about all of this.  But the priests didn't know.  The Bibles in their churches were written in Latin which very few priests could read.    The Bishops told the priests and the people to pay the tax because whatever the king said and did was certainly God's will.

          But there was a man in England who argued intensively that the Bible should be translated into English so that anyone in his native country could read it for themselves and know what God had to say.  His name was John Wycliff.    Wycliff's ideas were dangerous to the king and the church hierarchy because it would break the monopoly they held in interpreting scripture.    The king declared translating the Bible into English a crime, but Wycliff and others cited Divine Law and translated the Latin Bible into English. 

          In 1450 a German blacksmith had an idea.  What if we could use movable metal type to print books?  Until then printing required that each page be carved into a block of wood, a time consuming and expensive process.  But Johannes Gutenberg thought that movable metal type would make printing far more economical.    He developed a permanent ink made from varnish and lamp soot and found that this bonded well with paper.  He also found that the paper could be pressed on the metal type covered with ink with a screw mechanism similar to what was used in the production of paper.    Gutenberg had invented the printing press and began printing Bibles to pay off his debts.

          The church found a use for this new invention, the printing press, and began printing indulgences which could be sold to gullible people as tickets to heaven.  This upset a German monk whose writings were also printed on printing presses and distributed all over Europe.  The year was 1510 and Protestant Reformation had begun as Martin Luther began publishing his ideas for all to read.  He even translated the Bible into German from its original languages, a book which became a best seller.    Luther's work had a powerful impact on an English scholar named William Tyndale. 

          Tyndale had studied Greek and Hebrew at Cambridge and was interested in translating the Bible from these original languages into English.    Neither Oxford nor Cambridge had any interest in translating scripture into English, but Tyndale, influenced by Luther, wanted everyone to be able to read the Bible.  So he went to Germany and translated the Bible from its original languages into English.   In 1526 Tyndale's English Bible was printed in Germany and smuggled into England. 

          But the King of England and his church were not happy.  Tyndale saw translation as a literary function; he wanted the translation to reflect the original meaning of the authors as much as possible.  So he translated the Greek word  presbyteros as “elder” rather than the word “priest” as the church had taught.  He also translated the Greek word ekklesia as “congregation” rather than “church”.  This satisfied the Protestants who saw the church as an assembly of people, a congregation led by the elders.  But the English church saw this as a way of undermining the authority of the institutional church and its bishops.  So the church attempted to suppress Tyndale’s translation, but it was so popular in England that the smugglers could not be stopped. 

          By 1535 the English church realized that an English translation was needed that was free from the problems they saw in the Tyndale translation.  Henry VIII had separated the Church of England from Rome and it needed an English Bible.  So the church hired Miles Coverdale to put together a new English Bible.  What Coverdale did was to put together various translations and correct them to conform to the traditional teachings of the church.    With the approval of the church and the king a copy of Coverdale’s “The Great Bible” was placed in the pulpit of every church in England.

          In 1560 John Calvin was established in Geneva where he had started a school for Reformed Theology.  A group of pilgrims arrived from England and an English congregation was started in a French church.  John Knox arrived from Scotland as their pastor and they needed an English Bible.    William Whittingham developed a new translation with prefaces before each chapter and margin notes to explain difficult passages.  The new Geneva Bible was printed cheaply and in a smaller size for family use.  It was an instant best seller sweeping across England.  Even William Shakespeare quoted from it in his plays.  And when James I came from Protestant Scotland as the new King of England many though that the Geneva Bible would become the official Bible of the Church of England.

          But James I had a passionate dislike of the Geneva Bible.  He was upset with those margin notes, for example the Geneva Bible's treatment of Daniel 6.  King Darius issued a decree that everyone should pray only to him for 30 days.  Daniel prayed to God rather that Darius, and was thrown into the lion's den.  Daniel then said that he had been saved from the lion's mouth because he had obeyed the command of God.  The Geneva Bible margin note pointed out that God had approved Daniel’s disobedience of the King's decree because the king did not act within the will of God.  This infuriated King James who did not want the English church to have a Bible that said it was ok to disobey the king.  James believed that the king was ordained by God with the divine right to rule.  So he initiated a process to produce a new translation from the original languages, consistent with the traditional teachings of the church, which would be free from those annoying margin notes of the Geneva Bible.  The King James authorized translation of the Bible was begun.  And in 1611 the first King James Version of the Bible came off the presses of the King's printer. 

          The new version fell flat.  People preferred the Geneva Bible.  The king granted a monopoly to the printers of the King James Version and banned the Geneva Bible.  But it continued to be printed in the Netherlands and smuggled copies were still preferred by the people of England.    But within a generation, as the economic benefits of the publishing monopoly took hold, the King James Version eventually became the translation everyone used.

          When settlers came to Jamestown in 1607 and later to the eastern shore of Maryland, they came escaping religious persecution in England.  They were intensely religious and brought with them their Geneva Bibles.   The Geneva Bible and margin notes had allowed them to see the hand of providence guiding them to a promised land.    But England controlled the importation of books into colonial America.  This monopoly ensured that only the King James Version would be available to the American colonist and so the King James Version became the American Bible.

          In 1769 Robert Aitken came from Scotland and established a printing shop in Philadelphia.  By 1777 he was printing the King James Version of the Bible.  Congress approved Aitken's freedom to print Bibles in 1782.  Aitken's decision to print the King James Version ensured that it would be the preferred Bible of the new country.

          The King James Version remained our preferred English translation until World War II when rival translations such as the Revised Standard Version became available.  Today there are many quality modern translations.  But we still love they majesty of the language of the King James Version.  Listen as I conclude with the King James Version's rendering of Psalm 23.

Psalm 23:1-6  KJV Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Amen.

Sermon – Job 42 – Job’s Restoration

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City

Sermon – Job 42 – Job’s Restoration

October 18, 2015

Today I will be preaching my fourth and final sermon drawn from the Old Testament Book of Job. Job is a literary work of wisdom. It explores the complex subject of undeserved suffering. It uses the literary device of personification. The central character Job is the personification of undeserved suffering. Through Job we learn the wise way of dealing with suffering.

In this book there are several responses to undeserved suffering. Job's wife suggested that it be blamed on God. Job rejected this. Suffering is not God's fault. Job's friends suggested that undeserved suffering be blamed on Job. But Job rejected this knowing that he was blameless. Suffering is not the victims fault. Blaming God and blaming the victim for suffering is not the wise thing to do. So let's take a look at Job's reaction to suffering.

Job was angry at God for his suffering and so he demanded a hearing to explain his side. God accepted this offer, and, as we heard last week, responded to Job with a series of questions. These questions were designed to help Job realize that if he just looked up from his suffering he would see that God's blessings were far greater than he ever imagined. God's blessing far exceed his own suffering. And when Job realized that the blessings he received from God were so great he also realized that his own personal suffering was really quite small. This is wisdom we can all use. Whenever we experience suffering we can look up from the suffering to see God and remember all that God has done for us. When we do this our suffering seems not as important as it did before. With this new perspective Job responded to God. We will get to this, but first let's pray.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.

In the 4^th century the Roman Emperor Constantine converted to Christianity. He wanted Christianity to be the official religion of the empire. And so he called together the leaders of the church in a council at Nicea. 318 Christian delegates came from all over the world. Of those 318 bishops 306 had lost an eye, a hand, or became lame in the persecution of Christians that preceded Constantine's conversion. Only 12 of the 318 were healthy and whole.¹ In the midst of their undeserved suffering Christians gathered in Nicea to praise God in gratitude for his love and blessings. Sustaining these men of the faith through persecution was scripture especially the Book of Job. Let's now turn to the conclusion of this important book.

Job 42:1Then Job replied to the Lord:

2 “I know that you can do all things;
    no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’
    Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
    things too wonderful for me to know.

4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.’
5 My ears had heard of you
    but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
    and repent in dust and ashes.”

When Job finally looked up from his problems and saw God, he realized that the suffering he had experience was nothing when compared to the enormity of blessing he had received from God. He realized that God's purposes were so immense he could not possibly understand all that God was doing. His God was much bigger than he thought. And when he realized all this, Job's anger abated. When Job meditated on the bigness and goodness of God he repented. He turned away from his anger at God and turned to gratitude for all of God's blessings.

This is wisdom we can learn from. Even though we may be suffering, a bad hip may prevent us from walking, a stroke may prevent us from driving, an oxygen tank may prevent us from resuming our activities, God still blesses us richly. We receive from God the blessing of life. We receive the blessing of a new day. We receive the blessing of sunshine and comfortable homes. We receive the blessing of church and friends and family. We receive the blessing of good food to eat and clean water to drink and clothes to wear. All these blessings come from God. And the benefits we receive from God far outweigh whatever problems we experience. The moment we realize that God's blessing far exceed our problems is the moment we become content with our lives. We lose our anxiety. Our anger dissipates. We become grateful. This is what happened to Job.

But what about Job's friends? They had blamed Job's suffering on Job. They believed a lie that all suffering is a result of the victim's sin. And because of this belief they will blame themselves when they suffer. God wants to help Job's friends deal with suffering properly. And so this is what God told Job to do.

7 After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has. 8 So now take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer and not deal with you according to your folly. You have not spoken the truth about me, as my servant Job has.” 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them; and the Lord accepted Job’s prayer.

God knew that Job's friends would beat themselves up for their poor advice. He also knew that they would blame themselves for their own suffering. And so to prevent this God wanted them to experience forgiveness through sacrifice and prayer. Job's friends were to sacrifice a bull for themselves and Job was to pray for them.

So too with us. We blame ourselves when we suffer. And this makes suffering so much worse. God wants us to experience forgiveness from him so that we will also forgive ourselves. And that is why he blessed us with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the opportunity to confess through prayer here in worship. Here in church we hear the wonderful message of forgiveness. And this helps us to forgive ourselves when we suffer.

Our God is so much more than someone who blesses good people and curses bad people. God does some reward and punishment, but he goes far beyond that. Our God graciously blesses us. He gave his Son for us. He forgives us and assures us of eternal life. When we experience undeserved suffering our God responds with unmerited favor. This is called “grace”. The answer to the question of why good people suffer is that God responds graciously with blessings in abundance.

So what should we do when we experience suffering. The wisdom of Job is that we should count our blessings. Remember this poem:

Count your blessings, name them one by one.

Count your blessings, see what God hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one.

Count your many blessings, see what God hath done. (Johnson Oatman Jr. Hymn #563)

And so Job, after his anger turned to gratitude and after he prayed for his friends was graciously blessed by God. He received God's unmerited favor, God's grace. Let's count Job's blessings.

10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before. 11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the Lord had brought on him, and each one gave him a piece of silver[a] and a gold ring.

12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. 13 And he also had seven sons and three daughters.14 The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. 15 Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers.

16 After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. 17 And so Job died, an old man and full of years.

This brings the story of Job to a close. God's response to undeserved suffering is unmerited love. Whenever you are suffering or someone you love is suffering do not blame God and do not blame the victim. Rather remind the sufferer that God loves them unconditionally, and continues to bless them in many ways. Help the sufferer to avoid anger and become grateful by counting his blessings. Let's pray.

Lord God of heaven we all experience great suffering from time to time. Suffering is a part of life. But you bless us to richly. And your blessings come in such abundance. Whenever we suffer help us to count our blessings so that our anger can turn to gratitude for all you do for us. This we pray in the name of your greatest gift, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

1(http://www.sermonillustrations.com/a-z/s/suffering.htm)

Sermon – Job 38 – God Responds to Job

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City

Sermon – Job 38 – God Responds to Job

October 11, 2015

This is the third in a series of four sermons I am preaching on the Book of Job. Two weeks ago I told you that the Book of Job is not narrative history, or a set of laws. Rather it is a work of wisdom. In wisdom literature a literary devise is often used to exemplify a complex thought or idea. In this Book, Job is the personification of suffering. And the purpose of the book is to explore the question of why suffering occurs in a world make by the good Lord.

One possible answer to this problem of suffering came from Job's wife who blamed it on God and told her husband to curse God and die. Job faithfully rejected this advise. Suffering is not God's fault. Then Job's friends told him that he was suffering because of what he had done. They blamed the victim. Job rejected this advise too. Suffering may be caused by something we have done, but not always. Sometimes good people suffer. And the victim should never be blamed. Then, last week we heard Job's impassioned plea for a hearing with his God. Job thinks that if God would just listen to him his suffering will end. Today we will hear God's response to this request, but first let's pray.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.

When we first met God, in the Book of Job, he was sitting on a throne as judge of the world. Today the image of God that we have is not that of a judge, but rather that of a rabbi. In ancient times people would go to their rabbis with important questions because rabbis, or teachers, were very wise. An ancient rabbi would respond to someone's question not with an answer but with another question. If a rabbi gave an answer to the question then the conversation would be over. But by answering a question with a question the search for wisdom has just begun. This is what we see in the 38^th chapter of the Book of Job. God is sitting on a whirlwind as a rabbi. Job comes into his presence with his request for a hearing. Job asks his questions about suffering. And God, the rabbi, responds not with an answer, but with more questions.

Job 38

1 Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm. He said:

2 “Who is this that obscures my plans
    with words without knowledge?3 Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.

God appeared to Job in a storm. He did this to assure Job that he was same God who spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai. This is Job's God who will now respond as a rabbi would, not with answers, but with questions for Job and of course for us. God's purpose in doing it this way is not to give Job and answer but to make him wise. Let's listen.

4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
    Tell me, if you understand.5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
    Who stretched a measuring line across it?6 On what were its footings set,
    or who laid its cornerstone—7 while the morning stars sang together
    and all the angels[a] shouted for joy?

So where you there when God created the world? Do you know how he did it? We know he spoke the world into existence with his voice, and he did this for six days, but what exactly did he do? How did God start the Big Bang or whatever else happened?

8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors
    when it burst forth from the womb,9 when I made the clouds its garment
    and wrapped it in thick darkness,10 when I fixed limits for it
    and set its doors and bars in place,11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther;
    here is where your proud waves halt’?

We have beach here in Ocean City. Have you ever wondered why the ocean comes to a certain point and stops? Even during last week's storms when sea levels had risen twenty feet the water was limited and did not get to 13^th street and the church. Who set this limit? And how and why was the limit set this way?

12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning,
    or shown the dawn its place,13 that it might take the earth by the edges
    and shake the wicked out of it?

If you stand on our beach early in the morning you will see a beautiful sunrise. Why does the sun come up regularly every day? Who tells it to rise and set? Who establishes the time of sunrise and sunset each day? And who designed the sunrise so beautifully?

14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
    its features stand out like those of a garment.15 The wicked are denied their light,
    and their upraised arm is broken.

16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea
    or walked in the recesses of the deep?17 Have the gates of death been shown to you?
    Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness?18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
    Tell me, if you know all this.

Consider for a moment the vastness of the land. Who made the mountains and the rivers? Who placed pockets of metal and minerals where miners could find them? Who put good drinking water underground for our wells and water systems?

19 “What is the way to the abode of light?
    And where does darkness reside?20 Can you take them to their places?
    Do you know the paths to their dwellings?21 Surely you know, for you were already born!
    You have lived so many years!

Where does darkness go when you turn on a light? What happens to the light when you turn a lamp off? Surely you must know because you have turned lamps on and off for years and years.

22 “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow
    or seen the storehouses of the hail,23 which I reserve for times of trouble,
    for days of war and battle?24 What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
    or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?25 Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
    and a path for the thunderstorm,26 to water a land where no one lives,
    an uninhabited desert,27 to satisfy a desolate wasteland
    and make it sprout with grass?28 Does the rain have a father?
    Who fathers the drops of dew?29 From whose womb comes the ice?
    Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens30 when the waters become hard as stone,
    when the surface of the deep is frozen?

We all know that water is essential for life. And water comes to us in many ways. Who put all that water in the sky that dropped down on us last week? Who blew that 30MPH wind that lasted all week and caused the flooding? And where will all that snow come from this winter? And isn't it amazing that we have plenty of water to drink and grow our food? And, by the way, how did water get on Mars?

31 “Can you bind the chains[b] of the Pleiades?
    Can you loosen Orion’s belt?32 Can you bring forth the constellations in their seasons[c]
    or lead out the Bear[d] with its cubs?33 Do you know the laws of the heavens?
    Can you set up God’s[e] dominion over the earth?

34 “Can you raise your voice to the clouds
    and cover yourself with a flood of water?35 Do you send the lightning bolts on their way?
    Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?36 Who gives the ibis wisdom[f]
    or gives the rooster understanding?[g]37 Who has the wisdom to count the clouds?
    Who can tip over the water jars of the heavens38 when the dust becomes hard
    and the clods of earth stick together?

Look up to sky. Did you put the clouds there? Who tell the clouds when the rain should start and stop? How about the stars and the moon and planets, did you start them on their orbits? Did you arrange the constellations we see in the night sky?

39 “Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
    and satisfy the hunger of the lions40 when they crouch in their dens
    or lie in wait in a thicket?41 Who provides food for the raven
    when its young cry out to God
    and wander about for lack of food?

Do you feed the fish in ocean? Do you put crabs in the bay? Do you tell the rock fish where to swim. Do you tell the corn and tomatoes how to grow? If not who did, and how did he do it?

When a wise person is suffering or knows someone who is suffering the best thing to do is to remember who God is and what God has done. God tells you who he is through the world he created and the Word he has given you in the Bible. As you sit with someone in a nursing home or hospital or hospice been don't blame God for the situation. And don't blame the victim for his own suffering. Rather remember who God is and all that God has done for you. The proper response to suffering is to read scripture and pray.

Next week we will listen as Job tries to answer God's questions. We will see what he does and God's final response. Until then think about this amazing God who is so much bigger than your problems. Let's pray.

Father in heaven we thank you for giving us this good earth with everything we need to thrive. Help us to always approach you with a spirit of thanksgiving, even in suffering, for all you have given us. This we pray in the name of the one who suffered for us, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Sermon – Job 23 – Job Responds

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City

Sermon – Job 23 – Job Responds

October 4, 2015

Last week we heard about a great biblical tragedy. Job had everything, money, family, and health. And then, all of sudden, he lost everything, no money, no family and poor health. More than any other book of the Bible the Book of Job forces us to see reality as it really is. Twice a month we go to the Berlin nursing home and see people who had everything, money, family and health. But now they sit alone in wheel chairs without the strength to even raise their heads. They have lost everything, and one day so will we. The question of Job is, what will be our response. At the nursing home their response is to hold onto their faith and come to worship with us twice a month. What will be our response? When we lose everything will we still have our faith or will we lose it? This was the question facing Job. Today we will hear his response, but first let's pray.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.

According to Buddhist teaching the world we live in is a world of suffering. According to the Four Nobel Truths of Buddhism, “Birth is ill, decay is ill, sickness is ill, death is ill.” The purpose of religion, according to Buddhism, is to get away from this world of suffering by denying it's existence. Buddhism teaches people to deny themselves and their desires and move to a higher spiritual existence.

Christian teaching is the opposite of this. We learn from the very first chapter of the Bible that God created the physical world and declared it good. The world God created is a paradise made just for us. And we are to enjoy the blessings we receive from a God that loves us. If Christian teaching is true, and it certainly is, then why is there so much suffering in this world? How can a benevolent God allow suffering in the good world he created. This is a question each Christian must answer. And our answer is that suffering came into the world as a result of human sin.

We insist on eating from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. We want to decide for ourselves what is right and what is wrong. But doing this is called sin. Sin is deciding for ourselves right from wrong. And it is easy to do right if we set the standard. But we are not to set the standard. That's God's job. And so whenever we decide for ourselves right from wrong we sin and through sin suffering has come into the world. We don't follow the instructions in creation's user manual, the Bible. And we suffer the consequences.

Job had three friends who knew all this. They knew that suffering was a result of human disobedience, sin. But when they sat down to console Job after his losses they made the same mistake we often make. They saw Job's suffering and concluded that Job himself must have sinned. Job must have done something wrong to deserve his suffering. They blamed the victim. But we learned this in the first chapter of the Book of Job.

Job 1:1 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.

Job's suffering had nothing to do with him and his behavior. He was righteous before God. He had done nothing wrong. His friends were wrong. Job did not deserve the suffering he experienced.

Suffering is a result of sin. But when people suffer it is not always because they have sinned. Sometimes it is obvious that a person suffers as a result of his sin. A drug addict suffers as a result of drug use. A violent person suffers from violence. This list can go on and on.

But it is also true that some good people suffer. Like Job, good and faithful people, suffer unjustly. And this creates a problem for Christians who believe in a God who just shouldn't let people suffer for no reason. The good people suffering from this week's storms did not deserve their suffering. Good Christians were martyred for their faith in Oregon this week. They and their families do not deserve the suffering they now experience.

When we console someone who is suffering, we must not act like Job's friends and blame the victim for his own suffering. But neither should we blame God for allowing unjust suffering to occur. Job knew that he did not deserve his suffering. And he knew not to blame God. Let's hear what Job had to say.

Job 23:1 Then Job replied:

2 “Even today my complaint is bitter;
    his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning.3 If only I knew where to find him;
    if only I could go to his dwelling!4 I would state my case before him
    and fill my mouth with arguments.5 I would find out what he would answer me,
    and consider what he would say to me.6 Would he vigorously oppose me?
    No, he would not press charges against me.7 There the upright can establish their innocence before him,
    and there I would be delivered forever from my judge.

Job did not despair in guilt for having done something to cause his suffering. Neither did Job blame God for what was happening. Rather Job held onto his hope that God would judge him justly and deliver him from his suffering. All he had to do was find God and ask for a hearing. This should be our response to suffering. We should rest in the hope that God will redeem us because he loves us and cares for us and wants the best for us. But sometimes it is hard to rest in this hope because at times God seems so far away.

8“But if I go to the east, he is not there;
    if I go to the west, I do not find him.9 When he is at work in the north, I do not see him;
    when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him.

Where ever Job looks God is not there. This is the problem we often face. When we experience suffering God seems to be absent. Even Jesus experienced this apparent absence of God when on the the cross Jesus quoted Psalm 22.

1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
    Why are you so far from saving me,
    so far from my cries of anguish?2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
    by night, but I find no rest.

This seeming absence of God could lead to despair and loss of faith. That's what happened to Job's wife when she told him to curse God and die. But Job's faith allowed him to realize that even if he can't find God right now, God will find him.

10 But he knows the way that I take;
    when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job is confident that God will find him and will listen to his complaint. He is confident that when God hears his plea he will be exonerated because he is righteous and God is just. Job has already prepared his defense. Let's listen.

11 My feet have closely followed his steps;
    I have kept to his way without turning aside.12 I have not departed from the commands of his lips;
    I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Job is confident in his righteousness and confident in God's salvation. But don't think for a moment that Job's confidence will overcome his fear. He is terrified of his upcoming meeting with God. He know his case is solid, but he is appealing to the creator of the universe.

13 “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?
    He does whatever he pleases.14 He carries out his decree against me,
    and many such plans he still has in store.15 That is why I am terrified before him;
    when I think of all this, I fear him.16 God has made my heart faint;
    the Almighty has terrified me.17 Yet I am not silenced by the darkness,
    by the thick darkness that covers my face.

And so Job sits in ashes. His money is gone. He has lost his family. He is covered with sores. His wife has lost her faith. His friends all blame him for his own suffering. All he has left is his faith in a just, but terrifying God. And in fear he sits and waits for God to respond. Next week we will hear that response from God.

We have all been there, sitting and waiting for God to come and put things right. We sit in hospital rooms or nursing homes. We hold hands with friends and loved ones, read scripture and pray. We don't know what will come next in their frail lives. All we have is faith in the God who is just, hears their prayers and sends a Spirit of comfort and strength.

Today we have come into the presence of this God. He has sent his own son to invite us to this table. We remember his son's sacrifice on a cross when he paid for the world's sins. And therefore we can be assured that suffering in this world is temporary because one day Jesus will return to earth, and we will be resurrected to eternal life. And in our new resurrected bodies suffering will be no more. Filled with this hope I invite you to eat this feast with your savior. Let's pray.

Father in heaven we thank you for being close to us both here in worship and when we need so much. We thank you for sending your son to redeem us from suffering and death with the promise of eternal life. This we pray in his glorious name. Amen.

Sermon – Job 1 and 2 – Why Do We Love God?

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean City

Sermon – Job 1 and 2 – Why Do We Love God?

September 27, 2015

Today we turn to the Book of Job. This wonderful book is found in the Old Testament. It is also part of the ancient Hebrew Bible where it is classified as a work of wisdom. The Hebrew Bible has three sections. The first contains God's instructions for life and we find these in the first five books of our Bibles, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The second section of the Hebrew Bible contains the prophets, Samuel, Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah and others. The third and final section of the Hebrew Bible contains wisdom, practical ways of living you lives wisely. We have been looking at this wisdom for several weeks now as we have studied the Song of Solomon and Proverbs. And today we enter into another wisdom book, Job.

The books of wisdom do not contain a history of God's people or the pronouncements of God's prophets as do the other books in the Bible. Rather, they tend to use allegory and personification to explain complex ideas in way we can understand. In the Book of Job, we have the central character Job, who is the personification of all believers. We also have God and the heavenly district attorney. We will get to this, but first let's pray.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our redeemer.

Let's turn to the first chapter of the Book of Job.

Job 1

 1In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 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.

Job was a billionaire. He had a house on the water, and a yacht. He spent winters in Naples and summers in Maine. His high tech company is now run by his son who has expanded seven fold. He has been married to his beautiful wife for forty-eight years. He feels that he has been richly blessed by God.

4 His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.

Job and his wife were faithful believers. They came to church every Sunday. They tithed 10% of their vast income to their church and other non-profits. And they prayed for their children every day. Job and his wife were models for living a blessed life. But now in their retirement somethings happens.

Before we get to verse 6 of the first chapter of Job let me set the context. God is seated on his throne in his role as judge of the world. At his left hand is heaven's prosecutor, the accuser, ha satan. These Hebrew words sound a lot like the English word, “Satan”. But this is not the man in a red cape with a pitchfork. This is not the focus of evil on Earth battled by Jesus. Get these images out of your mind. The ha satan is the personification of the complex idea that in heaven we will be judged for our sin. In this story the ha satan is the heavenly district attorney who has a list of everything we have done and will accuse us when we meet God for judgment.

The accuser sits at the left hand of God telling God about us. Jesus sits at the right hand of God reminding God that we have already confessed to these sins and that he, Jesus, already paid our penalty. So God declares us washed clean and allows us into heaven. This is how it now works. But let's suppose, as a hypothesis, that Jesus is not there one day, and we are meeting God and the accuser without our savior. Here is what would happen.

6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. 7 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.”

8 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.”

9 “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10 “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.11 But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

12 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.”

Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

And with that the accuser has proposed a test. Certainly people love God because of all the blessings they have received. And all of us have been richly blessed. But what if we lost our blessings? What if our money was gone? What if we lost our homes and our families? Would we then still love God as much as we do right now? Let's see what Job did.

13 One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 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!”

16 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!”

17 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!”

18 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, 19 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!”

The stock market has crashed and all Job's retirement accounts have gone bankrupt. He lost his house and his boat. All of his children have died. He and wife are now living in a small efficiency apartment with Social Security as their only income. What do you think? Will he still love God? Let's see.

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 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.”

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Yes, Job continued to love God even after his economic and family misfortune. At least he can be thankful that he still has his wife and his health. And so he continues to love God. But what if he also loses his health? What then? Would he still love God?

Job 2

On another day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 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.”

3 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.”

4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.”

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

7 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. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

So now Job has lost his health. He has no money, no family, and now shingles. What will he do? What would you do? I've met many people in nursing homes with nothing. Their money and family and health are all gone. Do they still love God? Would you love God at a time like this? Job's wife has had enough. Let's hear from her.

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

Is that what we would do? At that moment when we have lost everything should we curse God? Or sould we continue to love God? Let's hear Job's reaction.

10 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.

And with that Job continued to love God even though he had lost everything. This is a wise thing to do because God always love you. God will always be there with you. He will send his spirit to strengthen you and comfort you in your final days. The day will come when you leave behind the treasures of this world, and you will leave behind your diseased body and you will appear before the throne of God in heaven. The accuser will be there with a list of all the things you have done. Your only hope is that Jesus, sitting at right hand of God, rises at that moment to say that you are forgiven because you still love God. Continuing to love God, no matter what happens, is a wise thing to do.

When Job was facing God he had something to say about all this. We will hear from Job next week. But this week remember that God loves you no matter what may happen. Love God with all your heart. Let's pray.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for all the blessings we have received in this life. Bless us on the day we lose everything with your gracious love and forgiveness. This we pray in your name. Amen.