46. A Surety With Thee

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Hymns: RHC 406 Who Is on the Lord’s Side? 359 My Faith Looks Up to Thee 339 When I Fear My Faith Will Fail

Job 17:1-9

1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are readyfor me. 2 Are therenot mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who ishe thatwill strike hands with me? 4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them.5 He that speaketh flattery to hisfriends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. 6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. 7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members areas a shadow. 8 Upright menshall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

A Surety with Thee

OUTLINE

(1) Shielding from Mockers (v1-7) 

(2) Strengthening of the Upright (v8-9)

INTRODUCTION

In the time of a Christian’s trial, he may lay hold upon his Lord for surety and strength. He looks to the promises of God in His Word for anchor and stability. He lays hold with confidence on the unbroken chains of divine anchor that secures his faith to the stout rock of Christ wherewith the manacing storm cannot overcome the ship of life on which his lot is cast. God is with him through all his journey because he has committed his life to the care of his God in Christ. 

The Apostle Paul said well in 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God isfaithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The Apostle Peter said well in 1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:   

Job was in the heat of the furnace of trial as it were ramped up seven times hotter. In the moment of his great sorrow, he took hold of the truth that his Redeemer lives and he shall stand with Him in the latter day. Such was Job’s confidence in his God amidst his sorrow like the three friends of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego who will not bow down to worship the statue of Nebuchadnezzar’s image that was set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon (Daniel 3:1).

Daniel 3:17-18 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver usout of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Like Job, Daniel’s three friends maintained their integrity before mockers and persecutors. They will not compromise nor flinch from the faith in the God of Israel. It became a testimony to strengthen the faith of all who will read of their steadfastness and God’s deliverance.

(1)Shielding from Mockers (v1-7) 

(2) Strengthening of the Upright (v8-9)

  • Shielding from Mockers (v1-7)  

1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. 2 Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 3 Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? 4 For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. 5 He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. 6 He hath made me also a byword of the people; and aforetime I was as a tabret. 7 Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow.

In the midst of Job’s suffering and sorrow, he was able to take hold of his God for strength against mockers to his faith that threaten to discomfit him. It was well nigh the darkest hour of his trial when he felt that life can leave him anytime, feeling his ailing body giving way anytime, that he calls upon his God for help.

Did You Think to Pray? By Charley Pride

Hey, you left your room this morning

Did you think to pray?

In the name of Christ our Savior

Did you sooth for loving favour as a shield today?

Oh, how praying rests the weary

Prayer will change the night to day

So when life seems dark and dreary

Don’t forget to pray

When you’ve met with great temptation

Did you think to pray?

By his dying love and merit

Did you claim the Holy Spirit as your guide today?

Oh, how praying rests the weary

Prayer will change the night to day

So when life seems dark and dreary

Don’t forget to pray

When your heart was filled with anger

Did you think to pray?

Did you plead for grace my brother

That you might forgive another who had crossed your way

Oh, how praying rests the weary

Prayer will change the night to day

So when life seems dark and dreary

Don’t forget to pray, don’t forget to pray

It is in these moments of anguish in the midst of a Christian’s trial that he needs to pray so that God’s grace may be outpoured to change the night to day, to rest his weary soul.

Recall our Lord’s hour of affliction in Matthew 27:39-44 And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads, And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest itin three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.

Our Lord remained silent that the divine purpose of human redemption will be accomplished by His suffering. He remained unperturbed – Psalm 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Hebrews 7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he waswounded for our transgressions, he wasbruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace wasupon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Isaiah 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

What a Saviour! Is there a Surety for the afflicted of God’s children? Surely, there is in Jesus!

The mockers, void of understanding as in Jude 16 These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

Such are these mockers – Psalm 17:10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.2 Peter 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

The Lord is able to handle such mockers as the psalmist testifies inPsalm 12:2-3 They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: withflattering lips andwith a double heart do they speak. The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, andthe tongue that speaketh proud things:

  • Strengthening of the Upright (v8-9)

8 Upright men shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. 9 The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Romans 8:32-33 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It isGod that justifieth.

The people of God who see the faith of the saints in the times of their trial will be made courageous to be steadfast in the midst of their own trial.

Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the just isas the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

In the day of our trial, God’s grace will be surely be sufficient to meet our every trial –  2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.