LAUGHTER

(Transcribed from actual tape) September 11, 1983
9:40 AM

LAUGHTER

Job 8:21


Satan, in short order, brought Job to his knees. Quicker than you can say super-

califragilisticexpialidocious, Job had lost his prosperity, he had lost his child-

ren, he'd lost his health, his wife had counseled suicide and his friends who came

to comfort him accomplished the exact opposite of the purpose of their trip. And

so we see patient Job in Job 1 and Job 2. We see longsuffering Job. We see Job

who blesses and praises the name of God in the middle of terrible adversity. But

then beginning with Chapter 3, it's a transitional time and now we encounter a Job

who is profane. He curses the day of his birth. He asked God, "If it's all right,

just let me die." He gives up, and patient Job in 1 and 2 becomes impatient Job

in Chapter No. 3.


And then we see in Chapter 4 and 5, the first of the three erstwhile friends appear-

ing on the scene. First, there is Eliphaz the Eloquent. Then there is Bildad the

-Blaster. Then there is Zophar the Zealous. Eliphaz stands up and he makes a long

running account, boiled down after you cut through all the eloquence of that silver

tongue, equals this: "Job, good men are not punished the way you're being punished;

therefore, Job, your suffering is the result of sin. Confess your sin. You'll

either get well or die, and this ordeal will be over." That summarizes Eliphaz,

except he said it in beautiful Hebrew.


And then following his oration, Job gives a long, lengthy answer to him. He

speaks in Chapter 6 and Chapter 7, and Job says, "I have a right to complain. Look

-2-


at me. Look what's happened to me. I had everything, now I have nothing. My

health is gon ...

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