JOB 22:1-30 TEXT: v21 ACQUAINT NOW THYSELF WITH HIM…
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
These words are among the kinder words which Job heard when he was
suffering, not only his bodily afflictions but also the overall
unsympathetic and hectoring comments of his so called comforters - of
whom the speaker/text was one
Probably a strong hint in these words: Job did not have an acquaintance with God and that he should effect one immediately
If so, this was entirely false, because we know that Job, although not
without sin, was described as "perfect and upright, and one that feared
God, and eschewed evil." (1:1)
It is true that he had lost sense of that acquaintance (23:3/8-9)
This was the cause of much untold distress etc., but the acquaintance
itself was always intact - something which Job never forgot and took
great comfort in (23:10-12)
These words sound good, however, in whatever context
Not dependent on the motive/mood/thoughts of the speaker
Strictly speaking, we believe they not even Eliphaz's words at all, but
the very inspired words of the Holy Spirit/God, which He spoke through
the lips of this very imperfect medium
Certainly good words for a gospel message
One church in Belfast (Grove Baptist) has these words very prominently
displayed as their wayside pulpit, so that passers-by may see from them
their need of Christ and the way of salvation
3 simple thoughts flow from our text:
1) A MAN AT ENMITY WITH GOD CANNOT KNOW TRUE PEACE:
Strong implication/text
A/ True peace is described as being the fruit/Spirit of God
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… (Galatians 5:22)
A man who is an enmity with God does not have the Spirit/God in him
The Spirit might well be striving with Him (Genesis 6:3)
He is certainly rebelling against/vexing the Spirit/God (Isaiah 63:10)
Certainly grieving the Spirit/God (Ephesians 4:30)
Not indwelt by the Spirit/God as the Christian is (1 Corinthians 3:16)
And therefore he does not enjoy this fruit/Spirit
B/ True… might have some kind/peace as far as world is concerned
Might live in a stable society in a lovely pleasant neighbourhood
Might have no financial or domestic worries and be totally undetached
from the turmoil of political strife and war in faraway places etc.,
But he does not/cannot know true peace where it matters i.e. in his soul
The peace that he now enjoys is an outward peace
It is dependent upon outward circumstances like good health and political stability and financial security
Let these things be taken away - let him face eternal issues like
death/judgement and the thought of heaven or hell (esp. the latter) and
his countenance will change and his peace will flee away
Bible/clear: There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked
Like a troubled sea that cannot find rest, whose waters cast up mire/dirt (Isaiah 57:20-21)
C/ The more the unsaved man thinks about/accepts spiritual things, then the more troubled he will get
Bible affords him, as an unrepentant man - absolutely no comfort with which they calm their troubled hearts
This is why often those who hear the gospel for any length of time
either embrace it or flee from it and refuse to talk any further
Yes…certainly (as we will see) there is comfort for those who
wish to engage in repentance/faith, but for the stubborn wicked:
No such comfort at all and neither indeed can be
D/ God in His absolute holiness is at continual war with sin
Once a war called "The 100 Years War" (Actually lasted 116 years) but
it came to an end.
Hostilities ceased. Friendships were forged
But God never makes friendship with sin loving individuals and so they
cannot know this most precious fruit of the Spirit/God as long as they
maintain their love for sin
E/ Hell is the ultimate place where any kind of peace is missing
Even the temporary stuff enjoyed by many wicked here on earth is all
taken away and they go to the place designated by an inmate as
"a place of torment" - it is so for all eternity
2) A MAN WHO IS AT ENMITY WITH GOD NEEDS TO MAKE PEACE WITH GOD ON GOD'S TERMS:
A/ That he can make peace with God is a truth that can only be revealed by Divine Revelation i.e. the written word/God
Nature may illustrate this truth (Cp many parables) but not reveal it
B/ That he needs peace/God: Evident from what has been said
A lot/folk believe that religion is a voluntary thing. To a point it
is, but it is not totally relevant only to those who choose to get
involved
Paul spoke for the whole human race/all time when he referred to God as the "God with whom we have to do" (Hebrews 4:13)
Euphemism meaning: To whom we must give an account and receive the
judgement (if any) that He deems appropriate and enjoy/endure it
C/ For all who want to make peace with God and get this war finished
and the sin issue solved once and for all in their hearts, then they
can only do so (as said) on God's terms
[i] He is the Sovereign One whose law has been broken
Where the law is broken, then the Judge must step in
Anything less is a kangaroo court without any moral authority
[ii] God is the Offended One … therefore it is morally right that He dictate the terms whereby His offence is removed
Amazing how the offender often wants to dictate the terms
Such terms usually minimise the seriousness of the sin, minimise the
standards/God (usually out of criminal ignorance) and maximise the
worth of their own good works or contributions
This adds insult to injury and therefore sin unto sin
It is especially dangerous when the offender believes that his set of proposals have been accepted! Worst form of self delusion
[iii] The Lord Jesus told parables relating to those who thought they could forge ahead on their own initiative on this matter
The man without the wedding garment (Matthew 22:1-13) is one
When others snubbed the wedding completely, he still came along
He wasn't coming to mock or to detract any…but he didn't come
the way he should and he paid a heavy price, even hell itself
D/ Thankfully God has published His terms of forgiveness and peace
What grace he shows towards the guilty rebel!
He tackles the problem at its very root and solves it so that it will last for all eternity without fundamentally braking down
(As said) What grace is this?
He offers the glories/Heaven instead of automatic Hell
He does all to ensure that His offers do not fall by the wayside
Indeed: What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? (Isaiah 5:4)
Nothing is being left to chance
Nothing is even being left (finally) to the guilty, peace-less , sinner
God is undertaking to save lost sinners on His own terms
3) GOD'S TERMS FOR SUCH PEACE IS A SAVING ACQUAINTANCE WITH JESUS CHRIST:
A/ Word acquaintance means much more than access to bare information or even more than a passing interest
[i] The context demands it: Job had more than a passing acquaintance
[ii] The situation/sinners demands it:
Consider words/v5 as a universal condemnation (Quote)
Is it possible that a mere acquaintance can rid the soul of such great wickedness and infinite iniquity?
How can such a flimsy response to eternal realities produce any change
of heart that enables people to live godly in Christ Jesus?
Peace with God (to quote Romans 5:1) is the fruit/God justifying the
sinner (declaring him to be righteous) and is accompanied by holy living
Faith without works is dead
B/ Hebrew word for acquaint is variously translated:
[i] Appears again as acquaint in Psalm 139:3 re: God's knowledge/us
(Hardly a "passing" knowledge) Charge/v13 obviously false re: Job - but others may be tempted to use these words as an argument
[ii] Translated in 1 Kings 1:2 by the word cherish (David/Abishag)
Obviously more than the passing or even mere intellectual acquaintance
It is something that is deep and even passionate, affecting the heart
[iii] Translated profitable (v2) and again as profiteth (34:2)
Much more than a mere passing acquaintance as is favoured/world
C/ Bible does not leave us in any doubt as to what it means to be saving acquainted with Jesus Christ:
[i] Rubbish's all the alternatives i.e. self help salvation and self contributions and salvation through any other means
(Acts 4:12/Ephesians 2:9/Romans 3:28 etc.,)
[ii] Rubbish's the displays/aspirations of a false faith and a false
repentance (James 2:19/2 Corinthians 7:10) and holds up examples of
false believers like Judas/Simon/Demas etc., to be avoided/plague
[iii] Expends great detail on how Jesus Christ alone can save us:
Who He is (God) and what He has done (Died/Rose again)
Whole thrust of the Bible and particularly the NT
[iv] Explains in great simplicity the concept of saving faith
John 1:12-13/Acts 16:30-31/Isaiah 45:22/Romans 10:13
[v] Gives many goodly examples of those who are so acquainted
[vi] Invites in the simplest/widest terms all sinners to come and partake of it, with the most comforting/assurances
This being the case it remains little else to do but invite sinners to
acquaint themselves/Him and experience this peace for themselves
[i] Peace like a river (Isaiah 48:18) cp. Troubled sea (58:20-21)
[ii] Peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7)
[iii] Peace the world cannot give nor remove from us (John 14:27)
[iv] Peace that is not dependent upon outward circumstances
While the main thrust/Hebrews 11 is faith - yet you cannot read those
last few verses speaking of severe persecution and not witness a people
enjoying peace. All these things are linked
Appeal
THE END