No 30 Job―as Prophet

 

Job was a very busy man. The needs of his family, his community, and the multitudes who sought his help pressed heavily upon his time. But no needs were as important as his time with God. Job’s communion with God must have been full of fire and zeal. Job was consumed by the presence of God as demonstrated in his personal talking-time with God. My foot hath held His steps, His way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food (Job 23:11,12). His talking-time with God was paramount―even more than eating food. Job highly esteemed every word that came to him from God’s mouth. Job had tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Psa 34:8). Job was blessed because he trusteth in Him (Psa 34:8).

In these experiences of daily and constant communion with God, Job received from Him that which was useful for others as well as his own soul. That abundance made him a prophet. Speaking about something before it happens is in the ministry of being a prophet. Prophecy is a statement made or a story told that is expected to come true. To speak about the things of God to others is in that same ministry.

To speak of the occurrence of a thing before it happens is an important mark of a prophet. But Prophets do not necessarily have to give prophecy. To speak before (as in front of) someone or some particular people the words of God is the way a prophet typically spends most of his time. Or her time. Women can be prophets as well.  Job preached to his own people rather than being sent to an outside community (as Jonah was sent to Nineveh). Almost invariably, the prophets went to their own people with a message. A prophet is anyone who makes known the word of God. By that definition, yes, Job was a prophet. A prophet teaches. Admonishes. Exhorts. Advises. If nothing else, Job’s life did all that. 

Job Would Have Done It That Way

The transmission of inspiration and revelation is noted in Rev 1:1-3: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: 2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

 

God

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Jesus

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angel

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John

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servants (who read and hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein).

 

Job would have received from God to give to his people.

 

Evidences

These are evidences of his function as a prophet found throughout his book.

A. He had dreams and received visions (Job 7:14). This was normally a healthy and wholesome process, yet in the verse referred to, Job’s expression is colored by the horrible calamities he has recently experienced, and the lack of resolution perceived. Thou scarest me with dreams, and terrifiest me through visions. The usual communion between he and God has been compromised by unending pain and stagnated by unanswered questions. [This subject will come in a separate study soon.]

B. Job acknowledged that light had come to him. Again, his present statement is colored by his present and, now, ongoing experience of suffering. Why is light given to a man whose way is hid and whom God hath hedged in? (Job 3:23).

C. Job is able to perceive God’s presence and guidance in time of trouble. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? (Job 2:10). For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me (Job 3:25). Trouble came (Job 3:26). The Lord had prepared him for crisis of any sort. And when the crisis came, it was no surprise! He held on to his integrity. He did not sin with his lips. The Holy Spirit had taught him to patiently continue in the way of the Lord.

D. Job was able to describe future events., Some see here a description of earth during the Second Coming? Surely the mountain falling cometh to nought and the rock is removed out of his place 19 The waters wear the stones Thou washest away the things which grow out of the dust of the earth and Thou destroyest the hope of man (Job 14:18,19).

E. Job could see and hear things that only God could have informed him concerning. He knew things no one, otherwise, would have had any way of knowing. Notice this: He increaseth the nations and destroyeth them He enlargeth the nations and straiteneth them again 24 He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth and causeth them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way 25 They grope in the dark without light and He maketh them to stagger like a drunken man 13.1 Lo, mine eye hat seen all this mine ear hath heard and understood it (Job 12:23-13:1). Verse 23 may summarize the golden image of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel 2. Verses 24 and 25 may summarize the experience of Nebuchadnezzar's insanity in Daniel 4. Then Job adds that his eye saw, his ear heard, and his mind understood these things (13:1).

F. Job gives a prophecy of life after death in Job 14:13-15: O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. 15 Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands. Job gives the truth of man’s state in death. He waits in the grave until the change comes in the resurrection. The righteous hear that call at the last trump, and answer, by coming forth from the grave when Jesus comes to gather His people. Does this not accord with Paul’s description of the same event in 1 Cor 15:51-57? 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

G. Job knew that God would one day stand on the earth. For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me (Job 19:25-27).

H. Job knew of a coming judgment. Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment (Job 19:29).

I. The supreme prophecy is this: Deep in Job’s heart, and deep in the Book of Job, are the Messianic Prophecies of Jesus Christ. The Book is rich in foreshadowings of our Saviour. From the outset, chapters 1 and 2, comes the story of an innocent sufferer. The whole story of Job himself becomes a type of the Messiah who was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth (Isa 53:7). He had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth (Isa 53:9). Christ is the True, Innocent Sufferer. The person of Job foreshadows the suffering Son of Man.

Certainly, Jesus Christ, our Advocate, is foreshadowed in these verses: For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment. 33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both (Job 9:32,33). Job cries out for help, for a Daysman, who could come between himself and God, that he might lay his hand upon us both. Jesus Christ perfectly came between God and man fulfilling that very plea.

Christ’s ministry of reconciliation is bound up in these words: O earth, cover not thou my blood, and let my cry have no place. 19 Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. 20 My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God. 21 O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour! (Job 16:18-21).

We do have a Neighbor in heaven! Even more than a Neighbor, a Neighbor Brother, who is our Pledge and Surety. If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous (1 John 2:1). Jesus answers Job’s cry, Oh that I knew where I might find him! (Job 23:3), with He that hath seen me hath seen the Father (John 14:9).

The culmination of the prophecy is in the Second Coming, when He, Himself, comes to get us and take us home with Him. Why? Because He wants us to be with Me where I am (John 17:24).

Assurance and Certainty

 

 The populace deals with the question mark.

 

The prophet deals with the exclamation point.

 

This is why God has given the prophet through all time―from Job (the first of time) to our generation (the last of time).

            To encourage us.

            To inspire us.

            To keep our eyes fixed on Him.

And when everything around us seems dark, we have a more sure word of prophecy. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts (2 Pet 1:19). The Spirit of Prophecy helped Job to look beyond his circumstances and lay hold upon his future hope.

 

❶ Job kept the commandments of God.

❷ Job had the Spirit of prophecy.

❸ Job knew that man waited in the grave in death till the resurrection at the Second 

      Coming

❹ Job awaited that same Second Coming.

APPEAL

Job, being a chosen prophet of God, would remain committed to God, despite his own experience of despair. We, too, may remain so committed. This is my prayer. Is it yours?

 

Please send questions or comments to Will Hardin at P O Box 24 Owenton KY 40359.