Category: Stop Talking

Job 38:1, 42:6 (NIV)
¹ Then the LORD spoke to Job out of the storm.

⁶ My ears had heard of you
   but now my eyes have seen you.

“The Lord desires to be known deeper. God loves us so much, he is drawing us into a deep intimacy with him because that is what glorifies him, that is what he desires, that is his purpose and plan… As human beings we have this tendency to confuse knowledge and understanding with intimacy. But the Lord invites us into intimacy through the breaking of familiarity, the breaking of reducing God down to something we understand. He draws us in to experience firsthand he is far exceeding any of our knowledge and understanding. As we realize how not familiar he is as Almighty God, we will then experience the intimacy with him that he longs for and desires.” [Adapted from P. Brian’s message]

Prayer: Our Father, we ask that you would speak to us out of the storm, and that our knowing you would be from firsthand, direct encounter. Break through every sense of familiarity and human understanding of you with your majesty, and draw us into true intimacy that glorifies you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Echo Holy” by Red Rocks Worship (click here).

-KW

Let’s read, confess, and affirm the following aloud:

Job 42:1-6 (NIV)
¹ Then 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.”

“Who am I? I confess:
I am weak (42:2),
I am unwise and wordy (v. 3)
I am unworthy (v. 6)

Who is God? I affirm:
I know that Your power can do anything for me, and
Your purpose will be accomplished for me (42:2),
I know that Your will is good for me (v. 3),
I know that Your presence is real to me (v. 5),
and I know that Your grace is given to me (v 6).”

[Adapted from McKenna, David L. The Preacher’s Commentary – Vol 12: Job. p.318, 321]

Prayer: Father, shepherd us to this place of repentance for our empty words and lead us to reverent worship before you. We confess our deep need for you and affirm in worship your greatness and goodness towards us. Thank you, Father. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Psalm 139” by Shane and Shane (click here).

-KW

Let’s behold the majesty and glory of God as we read aloud the following:

Romans 11:33-36 (NIV)
³³ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
³⁴ “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
³⁵ “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
³⁶ For from him and through him and for him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Job 42:2,5 (NIV)
² “I know that you can do all things;
  no purpose of yours can be thwarted…
⁵ My ears had heard of you
   but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
   and repent in dust and ashes.”

Prayer: Father, we behold you and acknowledge that you are very God of very God, that life comes from you alone. No one else is worthy to rule the universe. You are holy and there is no one like you. You are worthy to receive honor, praise, dominion and power. Your love is incomparable and we have no words to magnify it enough. Receive from us today the worship that you are due, for you created us to wonder at your glory and majesty, and we worship you with the whole of our lives. In Jesus’ name, amen. [Adapted from John White, Daring to Draw Near, p.103, 108]

Let’s worship to “Magnificent” by Matt Redman (click here).

-KW

Job 38:4-6, 40:3-5 (NIV)
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—”

³ “Then Job answered the LORD:
⁴ ‘I am unworthy – how can I reply to you? 
I put my hand over my mouth.
⁵ I spoke once, but I have no answer-
twice, but I will say no more.”

“After all this talking, talking, talking for 30 some chapters at this horizontal level, we get to Job chapter 38. It’s as if God has been waiting and waiting for his turn or the right time for him to speak and for Job to stop talking and listen…Job is silenced by the greatness of who God is. He covers his own mouth as he starts to encounter the ‘who’, the God of this universe, and he responds by silencing himself.” [Adapted from P. Brian’s message]

Prayer: God of the universe, today is the time for first-hand encounter with you. As you speak and reveal yourself, may we silence ourselves in light of how good, sovereign, true, powerful, and beyond our comprehension you are. Lead us into the true peace and true rest, no matter what is going on, as we are found in your presence. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Let My Words Be Few” by Matt Redman (click here).

-KW

Job 38:1-3 (NIV)
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.”

“Job needs to learn that the issue is not ethical, the question is not why, and the need is not understanding. The issue is spiritual, the question is who, and the need is trust.” [McKenna, David L. The Preacher’s Commentary – Vol 12: Job. p.302-303]

Job has been waiting, but God answers in a way that he does not expect. It appears that God is going to shake Job to the core of his being and he does so, but not through condemnation or destruction but through grace. God and his words burst into Job’s flawed understanding and perception of God and reveals the majesty of his wisdom and power. The smog of all the misconceptions that Job held about God and himself is exposed and begins to clear. When God draws near and speaks, this is the trigger that changes everything.” (Carol)

Prayer: Father, may all of our “why’s” be transformed into trust as we see more clearly “who” you are. Help us be aware of your nearness and speak to us today, so our flawed perception of you will be cleared and we will know your majesty and wisdom and power. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Let’s worship to “Touch of Heaven” by Hillsong Worship (click here).

-KW