Finally . . . Justice Rolls Down │ Msg 19/22

0:26 Since I'm speaking on justice today, I think it's appropriate that I go on here. Job 42, verse 5. we will only have about five more Sundays in the book of Job. And then I'll come to the end of the book for you. Job 42.5, I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you. Therefore I retract and I repent in dust and ashes. It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job. The Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Now, therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves.

1:35 And my servant Job will pray for you, for I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly. Because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite And Zophar the Namathite went and did as the Lord told him. And the Lord accepted Job. The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends. And the Lord increased all that Job had twofold. Pray briefly with me, will you? May we bow together? Father, we've rarely even used the word forever as it relates to anything on this earth. So temporary is a part of our lives, but the eternal remains a rare commodity.

2:39 We've sung several times this morning and we've heard sung back to us that your kingdom is forever. it's a privilege and it's an honor. It's a choice distinction to be numbered in your forever family, a part of your forever plan, doing the work of your forever will. Forgive us, our Father, for the wasted efforts and the spent hours worrying over the temporary, concerning ourselves with things that lack the dimension of forever. Thank you for catching us up short this morning with that thought. Thank you for the faithfulness of this man we have been visiting with through these weeks. Thank you for the lessons learned for the model he leaves of faithful endurance as he focused on eternal things.

3:45 Help us to do that. Begin today in some lives who have come from this world system and found themselves under this roof and inside this house, surrounded by others who desire this.

4:07 And wean us from this dependence upon the temporal so that we might understand a fulfillment in life that is rare and rich. Now, Father, remind us as we give our gifts today that the gifts are given for a forever cause, that they will be used carefully and wisely to promote your forever work. we give these gifts with gratitude and joy and we give them generously in the name of Jesus our Savior and everyone said Amen There is something wonderfully satisfying about justice.

5:04 We love it when right is rewarded and when wrong is punished. No one is better at either than the living God, who is all-fair and all-knowing. when his justice rolls down it is always right one of the reasons christians love to learn about future things is a part of the future things deals with rewards that are promised god's people those rewards are sometimes specified for us in prophetic books of the bible for example there are crowns that are promised, the faithful. Not just one or two, but there are five specific crowns, and they make quite a study when you go into the New Testament and learn of the rewards that God has for his own people as we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, which is set forth in the third chapter of 1 Corinthians. You may remember singing as a child that little gospel song, will there be any stars, any stars in my crown when at evening the sun goes down. Actually, the lyrics are fanciful because the Bible never promises stars in one's crown, but it does promise crowns. And there's something wonderfully satisfying about knowing that individuals who may have been ignored or even worse, mistreated, sometimes martyred for their faith, that they will not be forgotten, that justice will roll down. They will be rewarded. God will not forget or overlook them.

7:03 Justice has a flip side as well. Those who do wrong will suffer the consequences for the wrong. And there's something inside all of us that finds a satisfying relief when we hear that wrong was dealt with. We even have the phrase brought to justice.

7:29 A close-to-home illustration comes to mind. Three weeks in October of 2002, a sniper was on the loose in the mid-Atlantic states. There's hardly a person hearing me right now who has not followed the story of the mass murders, ten of them, as people were cowardly and brutally shot at random, coming out of malls or getting into their cars or pumping gas or getting off of a bus. From somewhere, someone had the audacity to kill in cold blood.

8:14 Cynthia and I have a friend who lives about a mile from where the first shot rang out. He's a federal judge. and he said to me just this past week when we talked about it that there was a sense of terror that stretched across those communities as they couldn't find the killer or killers and then it seems they've been found. And if they are in fact the ones they shot out of the trunk of their cars, causing their deed to be all the more cowardly and unfair. And something inside us is incensed by that. We live for the day that they will be brought to justice. and ideally that they will be killed for their deeds.

9:13 So we wait. We're pleased that they've been captured. And we're grateful that justice has rolled down yet again. Or it soon will. I came across a very interesting statement in the little book of Amos just this week.

9:40 Amos, just before the book of Obadiah, or just after Joel. I know it's hard to find. Let me just cut to the chase. It's page 1409 in my Bible. maybe not in yours. It's over in the minor prophets, and you've probably not turned to Amos maybe ever in your life, but right in the middle of the book, this prophet who was making the indifferent rather uncomfortable with his prophecy represents the words of the Lord when he says, 521. I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies.

10:36 Even though you offer up to me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them. He's quoting the Lord. I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from me the noise of your songs. I will not even listen to the sound of the harps. Let justice roll down. Don't you like the way that reads? Let it roll down like water. And then in good Hebrew poetic fashion, the statement follows that intensifies it. Let righteousness like an ever-flowing stream roll down. It's been a long time coming, says the Lord. but remember I am just, as one man wrote, the mills of God grind slowly, yet they grind exceedingly small.

11:31 Another in our day put it this way, all God's accounts are not settled at the end of every month. Eugene Peterson in the message renders this passage in words that probably will seem a little more current to you and me. I can't stand your religious meetings. I'm fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I'm sick of your fundraising schemes. your public relations and image making. I've had all I can take of your noisy ego music. When was the last time you sang to me?

12:18 You know what? I want justice, oceans of it. I want fairness, rivers of it. That's what I want. That's all I want. You're hearing justice in these words of passion. God ultimately brings people into account. You know, the problem is that he's often so slow in doing it. I heard of one of the Puritan prayers, very brief for a change, for a Puritan. And he simply said, oh, Lord, hurry up. don't you say that sometime this wrong has been going on long enough hurry up god or when will he ever step in and deal with whatever or reward these people why do we say that because we want justice you know what it's how he made us Thank you.

13:35 We are like God when in our righteous walk we long for justice. He's pleased with justice and equity and fairness. I am pleased to tell you that in the story of Job, justice finally rolls down.

14:02 This man who did not deserve the boils that covered his skin or the loss of his business and home and family and happiness ultimately gets them back and gets them back in multiplied fashion, as we're going to learn. and those who made his life even more miserable hear from the Lord about that too. He does not overlook either. Our faithful God rewards the righteous, and he also disciplines the unrighteous. Back in Job 42, we were forced to move along rather quickly in our last message, and we finished before I was through. That happens somewhat regularly.

14:56 And I want to go back briefly and pull from it some lessons that I don't want you to miss because I think they will help us in the living of our lives as Job finally sees it through a couple of interesting illustrations with, you remember, the hippopotamus and the crocodile. Remember that strange, those strange examples the Lord uses in chapters 40 and 41. Finally, it dawns on Job what the Lord is getting at. That his plan is profound. That his reasoning is right. That his ways are higher than we can ever understand. And Job waves the flag of surrender and says, I back away. I retract and I repent. I said things I shouldn't have been saying. I spoke about things I knew nothing about. And Lord, please know my heart is yours and I place myself at your disposal. When you get to chapter 42, those are Job's words in verses two through six. And I pulled from these verses four lessons that I want you to remember. And they go with us toward the end of the story. Job says, verse 2, I know, he's speaking to the Lord, I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You can do all things and no one can hold you back. Here's the lesson I learned from that. God's purpose is unfolding.

16:40 and I cannot hinder it. some of you need to hear that I do not know the details of your circumstances but surely in a group this large there must be some pretty tough situations there are some pretty severe needs and you may begin to wonder if this is getting out of control and God really is absent remember the principle God's purpose is unfolding mysterious as it may seem and I cannot hinder it you will discover before I'm through with these four that the whole focus is on the Lord it's not on life it is on the Lord, it's not on others it is on the Lord it is not on the difficulties, it is on the Lord now the second comment Job makes is in verse 3 who is this that hides counsel without knowledge sort of a self confession there therefore I have declared that which I did not understand I would render the next things too deep for me which I did not know here's the second thought God's plan is incredible and I will not comprehend it I hope after the study of Job that you make a point in your life of reminding yourself regularly things are happening that I cannot hinder things are happening I will never comprehend if you will tell yourself enough that enough you will find a peace you've never known before The lack of peace comes when we try to make sense out of everything that is occurring and try to make it fit our human logic.

18:38 And we forget his ways are higher than our ways. His plan is deeper. His purposes are far more profound. We cannot hinder them and we will not comprehend them. Let it rest. Let it be. It's okay. you don't have to know to have peace you have to trust to have peace now the third principle is in verses four and five here now and i will speak i will ask you and you instruct me he's talking to the lord i will ask you lord and you lord instruct me I've heard of you by the hearing of the ear. Now my eye sees you. Third principle. God's instruction is reliable. I dare not ignore it.

19:37 God's instruction is reliable. I dare not ignore it. I think I should warn every one of you that because you place yourself under the teaching of the word of God, as I do, we are accountable. When you hear principles such as this and then either ignore them or disobey them, there is a consequence that will follow. There's sadness in place of relief. There's a discouragement in place of a sense of fulfillment. his instruction is reliable and therefore we dare not ignore it this isn't just a religious exercise this isn't just another way to spend a Sunday morning this isn't just an empty pastime that we do out of habit it is a time of allowing his truth to filter into our gray matter and impact us so that our attitudes and our actions and our words change to fit his, to fit him.

20:52 You see him? You see Job? That's what he does in verse 6. Therefore, since your purpose is unfolding, since your plan is incredible, since your instruction is reliable, I retract. I pull back from a number of the things that I said, things I used to believe. I repent in dust and ashes. This is saying to us, God's way is best, I must not resist it. God's way is best, I must not resist it. That did it. When the Lord heard Job's heart, as these words reveal his heart, when the Lord saw the humility and the openness and the teachability of Job, mercy kicked in. And grace, grace flowed down.

21:47 In fact, the Lord decides to use Job in the process of restoring these friends who have gotten so far off track. That's another point. You will be amazed at how the Lord will use you and others' lives when you adjust your ways to his ways. You will be for them a refuge, a point of hope, a reason to go on, a source of strength, a calming presence. You will be that and so much more to those who lack the things that you now possess by his grace. The Lord hears his servants say that and he then turns his attention to the three friends. Before we go to this section, he doesn't mention Elihu by name, probably because Elihu, the last of the friends, was more right than the others, probably was more on target, though his heart needed a little adjustment at times and his pride needed to come down a few notches. He was not guilty as Eliphaz and Bildad and Zophar were, and that's why the Lord addresses them directly.

22:56 Before I go there, let me give you a statement. Life is all about our God. Life is all about our God. Will you say that with me? Life is all about our God. If you, sounds simple, maybe sounds silly, but if you will repeat that every morning when you get up, it'll make a difference in your day. Because from the earliest years, we think life is about us. my comfort, my space, my rights, my will, my career, my salary, my plans, my health. Life is not about that. It is about our God.

23:51 And as he works his way and will and purposes through us, It is amazing when we get on track how absolutely delightful more of life can be. Now, I'm not saying you will be free of any trials. I'm not saying difficulties will leave you by the tons and you'll never know what it is to be depressed or discouraged. That's not what I'm saying. You're only human. I'm just saying the way you've been living will not be the way you will live when you focus on the fact that life is all about your God. Job sees it. These other men don't. They're standing in the background frowning with their arms folded, wondering why the lightning isn't striking Job and the Lord isn't vindicating them for what they said. Boy, are they in for a surprise.

24:44 It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, verse 7, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends. Stop. I know you want to go on, but stop. I love that.

25:06 I love it that the Lord says, you made me angry. Your words were wrong words. your actions were wrong actions, and I have a wrath that is kindled over what you have been doing. You know why I love it? Because I was reared in a world that taught Christians should never be angry. If you are angry, you are sinful, and you need to confess that you got mad. It's a little bit more complicated than that, honestly. I mean, if the Lord can show a wrath that is kindled, surely there's a place for anger.

25:53 The Lord Jesus driving those people who were desecrating the temple out of the temple as he plaited together those leather thongs and made them into a whip and drove them out. You can't tell me, he said, now, gentlemen, I'm a little uneasy about what I'm seeing here. when you have time would you clean up the mess and be on your way he drove them out of the temple I would love to see a picture of that got his sleeves rolled up and he is swinging that whip and I thought it's fantastic those pharisees saw him coming toward him it was like what is this but he's never done a sin in his entire existence so it couldn't have been sinful It was a righteous indignation. Something's wrong if you don't get mad over that.

26:52 The Lord God says, it's not a temper tantrum here. It's not a sudden overreaction as he pitches a fit. Hey, this has been a long time coming. He's been standing back, waiting and waiting, and finally he reaches the limit of his tether. My wrath is kindled. It's a good time for me to add just another thought, practically speaking. I was also reared in an era when they said you should never discipline your children when you're angry. yeah I know I know is that ridiculous or what I think sometimes our children need to see a standard of righteousness or a standard of rightness that when it's crossed you pay for it you stepped into wrong.

27:57 And you remember, I can remember my parents, who, by the way, didn't buy that. I used to want them to buy that, but they didn't buy that. This is the greatest of all fathers who is angry at these three men. Now, before you rush out and tell people I'm a child abuser, I want you to know I never have. I stand against it. I don't believe in it. I think it's dreadful. In fact, I think it's one of the worst crimes of our era, how much abuse goes on. I'm not talking about an out-of-control rage. I'm talking about a justifiable anger that comes from the heart of one who is holy in God's case. My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends.

28:55 So my wrath is kindled against y'all. So he's got all three in mind. Because y'all have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job has. That's the reason he was angry. He gives the reason. That's also important. Children should know what made you angry. Children should understand what it is that they did that is wrong. and understand that ahead of time, as these men certainly must have known. Now, the reason is given here at the end of verse 7, and it is repeated in the very same words at the end of verse 8. Look at it, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. Because? Because. what does it mean they had not spoken of him what was right well one man put it this way in their effort to uphold god's justice they limited his sovereignty it's not an interesting way to put it they had insisted that human suffering is always the result of sinfulness and that boxed god in it's not true it's not always the reason people suffer it is a reason on occasion but it's not always and it's not true in the case of Job they claim Job had some secret sin they claim Job had wrong and transgression that was hidden and if he would only come to terms with it and deal with it then he'd be healed of this that's wrong it isn't right they didn't speak of God as they should have you have not spoken to me what was right as my servant Job had. You know what this underscores? And if you're a teacher, hear me well. We who are teachers, we who are communicators of the truth, God cares very much that he is presented in an accurate manner. Let's be sure we do our homework. Let's be sure we represent him accurately.

31:01 the cults feed on this very wrong, not speaking of him what is right. They'll give half verses or they'll give principles that can't be defended in the scriptures. They're notorious for this kind of teaching. Legalists claim that they stand on the word of God and so they'll use the word of God to manipulate you or shame you, claiming various characteristics of God as the basis of their condemnation, and you live under the guilt of that kind of teaching. It's not a fair representation of the living God. These men have not presented me correctly. They've not said what is right. I have a good friend who was a part of a real liberal church for his growing up years, and it wasn't until he was in his mid-30s that began to dawn on him what he was missing as he was exposed to evangelical teaching.

32:00 And he realized what he was missing. And he said to me on one occasion, you know what, Chuck, I realized? I realized that they would have loved me right into hell. What a chilling way to put that. I heard all about the love of God and the goodness of God. I never heard of the justice and the righteousness and the holiness of God. and whatever it was okay God's full of love that's presenting him in a wrong light you men have been guilty of that I also love the fact that the Lord does something about it he doesn't say as a result get out of my existence or go to your room or you're finished that's not gracious that's not merciful there's justice rolling down but notice the mercy now therefore verse 8 presents the mercy you have done this and it is wrong and you have not done as my servant job has done now therefore here's what you do about it Look at the plan.

33:15 Take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams. okay you got it this is unusual teaching because it's old testament teaching and in the old testament days when you came to bring your offering of request for forgiveness relief from your guilt and wrongdoing you came with an animal and and you brought the the the animal before the lord and various different numbers of animals and different kinds of animals and sometimes foul. And you would usually cut the throat of the animal, blood would be spilled out, and sometimes you would even place the entire carcass of the animal, as in this case, you would lay it on an altar that's blazing with fire, and it would consume it, and the smoke would come before God as a sweet-smelling aroma.

34:12 It's all very strange to us. We didn't live in that era. We've never seen such a thing. but in those days that's how that's how God's anger is assuaged it's satisfied you come with an offering and you place it on this altar and it'll be consumed and I will forgive you look at where they were to bring this by the way it was a costly offering wasn't it not just seven animals but seven bulls that could be used for the purpose of enlarging the cattle in their fields. But no, I want seven bulls and I want seven rams. He specifies, and I want you to go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering. This word means a whole burnt offering from the hoof all the way to the nose. The entire carcass is to be laid on the altar. One after another after another. You're to go and do this before my servant Job. Look, the one who was offended receives the offering of the offender. Really, the ultimate offended is the Lord God himself who had been misrepresented. And my servant Job will pray for you.

35:38 I love that the offended prays now for the offenders look closely for I will accept him the Hebrew says I will lift his face up isn't that a great way to put it Job will lift his face up I will accept his intercession on your behalf as you've offered the offerings and he prays I will lift his face up that I may not do with you according to your folly, meaning that I may not do for you what you deserve. Because he repeats, you have not spoken of me what is right as my servant Job had. Did you miss something? I went over it rather quickly. Four times he calls Job his servant. What an honorable title.

36:33 Verse 7 concludes, as my servant Job has spoken of what is right. Verse 8, three times, bring these bulls and rams and go to my servant Job, offer the burnt offering, and my servant Job, and the end of that verse 8, my servant Job has spoken what is right. in ancient days and days of the old testament a servant it was an honorable title for one who who served the living god it speaks of a bonding between the two there's a closeness between us he and i have this relationship that is dear and near it's a title of honor and it's a good place for me to add, anytime you're engaged in the service of the king, you are engaged in an honorable work, whatever it may be. However God may have you serving, perhaps one that very few people would even know your name, but you serve faithfully there as a servant of his, you are honoring him in that. It's an honorable role.

37:49 Now, justice has come rolling down. Here are these men who have been standing over Job as judges, now getting the animals and coming up before Job and offering their offering, waiting for Job's prayers. Isn't this a great scene? I mean, this is time for humble pie. to be consumed by these three men. It's good for them. It's good for us to confess our wrongdoing to those we have offended and to say by our actions, we have done what is wrong against you. And our presence is here in all this vulnerability to say to you, we trust our God.

38:49 to cleanse us from the wrong. Pray for me. And they come, and Job does exactly what the Lord told him to do. Look at Eliphaz, verse 9. Eliphaz and Bildad and Zophar went and did. Well, I have a feeling they did it rather quickly. There was no arguing. There's no wrestling. There's no reluctance. Because remember, when the Lord instructs, there's no other alternative that will bring any sense of peace and relief. And they did exactly as the Lord told them. And look at this. The Lord lifted up the face of Job. I love that.

39:31 It's great that Job doesn't say, okay, kneel down. Guys that put me through hell, I'm going to see what you look like when you're humbled. Kneel down. Now get on your faces. None of that. I think Job in this moment, having learned what he's learned and having repented as he's repented in verse six, I don't think he carried any further rancor. I don't think there was any sense of lingering offense. I think he considered himself privileged to represent the need before the Lord. It was part of his obedience too, wasn't it? When he lifted up his face, what a grand scene is here you know what's happening sins are being washed away that's the greatest moment there's justice and there's mercy you know what that represents for all of us the cross the cross that's why the death of Christ is called efficacious that's why it is effective because God's justice against sin is satisfied in the death of the lamb and God's mercy is revealed in the forgiveness of those who trust in the lamb Frederick Faber put it this way there's a wideness in God's mercy as the wideness of the sea there is kindness in his justice which is more than liberty and the next generation William Newell wrote a song we've sung throughout our growing up years as Christians says the same thing in other words years I spent in vanity and pride caring not my Lord was crucified, knowing not it was for me.

41:28 He died on Calvary. By God's word, at last my sin I learned, then I trembled at the law I'd spurned till my guilty soul, imploring, turned to Calvary. Oh, the love that drew salvation's plan. Oh, the grace that brought it down to man. Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary. Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me.

42:03 There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary. At Calvary. justice rolled down and when it did mercy washed over them and graciously got them all back on their feet wonderful wonderful setting now the full reward we'll wait till our next time but just get a little peek through the through the tent door here look at verse 10 and the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed. Not until. I got the word when circled in a bright blue in my Bible. When he prayed for his friends, the Lord restored the fortunes and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.

43:07 Isn't that just like him? I told you he was the best at justice. All these long, sleepless nights and restless, painful days, all of the sermons he's had to sit through and listen to from these clowns that have been acting like they're representing truth and their judgmental spirit. And now Job, broken in his own repentance, having his face lifted up on behalf of his friends, his friends restored because of the mercy. and now grace on top of grace he looks up and the Lord says hey Joe come here it's going to be twice as good boils are gone I mean why not he made us so is all it takes and he blows them away and he gets his health back and he gets his home back and he gets his property back and he finally gets his family back. There's grace here so he doesn't get twice as many kids. He gets the same number of kids, 10.

44:09 He didn't want 20 kids, but he got 10 kids back. Remember Job prayed. not for himself and please observe not for his own restoration of fortune it wasn't like winning the divine lottery where he lucked out he has no plans he has no knowledge of how the story would end all he knows is that the Lord says you lift up your face before me you pray for these friends And they come in with humility and offer up their sacrifices. And Job prays for his friends. And the Lord is so pleased when it's done right.

45:05 And he says, now, come here, Job. Let me tell you what I'm going to do. You know what's wonderful too? Where's Satan? In your face, Satan. His silence reveals that he has now witnessed the truth of what God had told him. Consider my servant Job.

45:44 He has integrity. Though you may not kill him, you can touch him, and even if you touch him, he'll never curse me. And so the Lord blesses, and that's the way we're going to see the end of this story next time. A couple of similar sounding truths emerge from this study that came to me late last night.

46:14 And I wasn't sure quite how to end a message like this one. It's a little unusual on justice. But it occurred to me that there are two things to be remembered. First, forgiveness is worth asking for. It really is. Forgiveness is worth asking for.

46:40 Always of the Lord, it's worth asking for. There's something that's come between you and your heavenly father. What in the world are you waiting for? He loves to hear the cries of his children. he takes delight in the humble confession of the saint just tell him he'll never turn you away Forgiveness is worth asking for. And I'll tell you this second. Justice is worth waiting for. So you know that application. Wait for it. It'll come. If not now, later.

47:29 If not later in eternity, God will make it right. his fairness is part of his veracity. God, who has patiently allowed this experiment to run its course, has now come to terms with it with his servant, and has now dealt with it with these friends, and Satan is gone, again proven wrong. and the Lord is still enthroned. above us. I don't know what your situation is right now. I don't know what you wrestle with. I don't know who's wronged you.

48:23 I'm sure several. I don't know how severe it's been. Probably greatly severe in some cases. I know this, that it's my privilege to spend my life with some of the greatest people I've ever met. And I would number many of you among them. And I know from knowing many of your stories that life hasn't been easy.

48:50 I know that it's been difficult. And obviously, not compared to Job, that may have been the worst possible of trials. But your trial has been tough. And I think I sense from you today a desire to cooperate. forgiveness is worth asking for i think you'll ask it and if you've wronged another person the most wonderful thing you can do is to make it right with them Just make it right Whatever it takes It's worth it It's worth asking for Spell out what you've done and say it Just let it be Don't worry about your pride Don't worry about what they're going to think Or what somebody else thinks You answer to God And then you've had wrong done Turn it over to him Just let him handle it He has a million ways, a million options And he will not leave his people in the lurch And, of course, if you've never brought your offering to the Lord and stood before the cross and acknowledged the Savior's death is for you, start there.

50:15 You were in his sights when he said, Father, forgive them. You don't even know what they're doing. Let's bow our heads. It's a sweet moment here. you have been generous and gracious people.

50:36 So many of you are such faithful sheep in the Lord's pasture. I'm not flattering you. I'm telling you the truth. I learned so much from so many of you. I want your life to be all that it could possibly be as you embrace the truth that it is all about our God. I want you to go there and I want you to live there. so that your whole focus is on him. It's vertical. You'll be amazed at what it will do to you horizontally. Just be amazed. You won't be as angry. You won't be as irritable. You will find that you're approachable and you listen better.

51:29 And, my goodness, getting the forgiveness of someone else will relieve you of that guilt and giving the forgiveness, releasing that person will take the strain out. You won't have to act like God. You can let the Lord be the Lord. Maybe a member of your family. It may be one who was once a close personal friend. Maybe a former mate, partner.

52:00 Maybe one of your parents. It could be a pastor or coach or teacher, neighbor, relative. Let it go. Deal with it. Let it go. Mercy there was great and grace was free. Pardon there was multiplied to me. And there my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary. Father, I thank you that there is now comfort in the cross, that the bloody sacrifice has been lifted up once for all and the penalty paid once for all.

52:58 Now their open-armed invitation inviting us in to live like your son modeled for us. it's a dirty and dusty world, Lord. It gets real complicated really fast, the pace we live. And it's quiet moments like this that help us put things into proper perspective. Quiets our nerves, calms our spirit. Thank you for Job. thank you for his model his honesty and his vulnerability thank you for his humility and obedience thank you for not walking away from those three men who'd made such fools of themselves but for caring about them too we're somewhere in this story Lord and wherever we are your arms are around us and you care about the shame and the guilt that we've lived under long enough.

54:08 I pray you'd help us come to terms with all these things. And as justice rolls down, may mercy follow quickly. Dismiss us, Lord, in the quietness of this moment with the reminder.