Lesson 15 Job 7:1

Lesson 15
Job 7:1

I. Introduction.
A. We are continuing our discussion of Job's response to Eliphaz's first address.
B. So far in our discussion, we have examined:
1. The reality of Job's sufferings.
2. Job's longing for death at the hand of God.
3. Job's frustration at the uselessness of his friends.
4. Job's challenge to his friends.
C. Now, starting in chapter 7, we will examine part one of Job's dissertation of the brevity of life.

II. The nature of the fact of an appointed time to man.
A. That the existence of man will be terminated by death.
1. It is interesting to note that this furthers the teaching on death found in chapter 5, and verse 26.
a. This indicates that the christian death is always timely. { in full age}
b. Man is of full age when the whole circle of christian excellence is present in his life.
3}Christian maturity is the fullness of spiritual experience.
B The existence of man is confined to a small period of time.
a. Psalm 90: 10a, The days of our years are threescore years and ten;
C. The existence of man is, as to its precise duration, uncertain and unknown.
D. This life is but the threshold of eternity; we are placed here as probationers for eternity.
E. The feelings that arise from the contemplation of the brevity of life.
1. We ought to be motivated to moderate our attachment to this world.
2. We should be motivated to seek an interest in that redeeming system by which we may depart in
peace with the prospect of eternal happiness.
3. We should be motivated to pursue those great employments which the Gospel has proposed.
III. There is a Divine appointment ruling all human life.
A. God rules mortal life.
1. As to its term. {an appointed time}
1} God's determination governs the time of human life.
2} The continuance of life is equally determined by God.
3} The termination of life is also fixed by God.
2. As to its warfare.
a. God has appointed life to be a warfare
b. Every person will find himself a soldier under some captain or another.
c. No christian is free to follow his own devices.{we are all under the law of Christ}
d. A soldier surrenders his own will to that of his commander.
e. Thus, the christian life is one of surrender to, and subjection to, to will of God.
3. As to its service. {are not his days as the days of an hireling?}
a. All men are servants to one master or another .
b. This life is a set time of labor and apprenticeship.
c. We are bound by solemn indentures to God until our term of life is over.
d. A servant who has let himself out for a term of years has not a moment that he can call his own.
4. God does not employ hirelings without proper compensation.
B. The inferences to be drawn from having an appointed time.
1. Job's inference was that as there was only an appointed time, and he was like a servant employed by
the year, he might be allowed to wish for life's speedy close.
2. The devil's is that if our time, warfare, and service are appointed, there is no need of care, for we
shall surely work out our destiny.
3. The sick man's inference is that his suffering is measured out with Divine love.
a. The sick man should therefore patiently await the end of his indenture.
4. The sinners inference is that he has waged a warfare against God, and have served the devil ,and will
reap the reward of the lost impenitent sinner.