Text: Job 22:29 – When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, there is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.
These are the words of Eliphaz, a friend of Job, spoken to Job when he was going through a time of trial. Somehow Eliphaz still thought that Job would have sinned; that was why he was cast down; and that he would be lifted again if he humbled himself before God.
In a way; Eliphaz might at that point be right; even though it was not because Job sinned that his ordeal began. But Job, however, has started asking God challenging questions; which if he had not humbled himself; his restoration might not have happened.
I want to, therefore, approach this statement of Eliphaz under three headings: Divine Favouritism; Divine Assurance; and Divine Mandate.
Divine Favouritism
This statement will mean that when other men or people are cast down, or in the times of trial and calamity, which has brought people down, such as we are now all over the world, the believer shall, however, find support and help from God. Your song shall be, “there is a lifting up” in Jesus name.
In Gen. 6:1-7, the bible tells us that God was angry with mankind as a result of the wickedness of Man; He, therefore, decided to wipe off all living things from the surface of the Earth. Instead of creating a new Adam, God preserved Noah and his family to later continue the human race.
Gen. 6:8 – So, while men were drowning in the flood; Noah and all that were with him were kept afloat in the Ark by the favour of God.
Prayer: By the favour of God; the flood that is drowning men in this season will not take me down. I and my family will be kept afloat by the power of God.
The same thing was experienced by Lot residing in the Plains of Sodom. The two cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were evildoers in the sight of God. Their cup of indignation before God became full.
In Gen. 19:1-30, God sent His angels to rain down brimstone and fire upon those cities. Only Lot and his family were escorted out by the angels.
Prayers: Father, escort me and my family by Your Spirit through this prevailing brimstone and fire.
The Children of Israel found themselves living in Egypt by the orchestration of God (Gen. 15: 13-16); but when the Pharaoh that knew Joseph died, the next Pharaohs began to treat them very bad. It got to a stage that God could not allow their affliction and suffering anymore; so, He sent Moses to deliver them (Ex. 3: 7-9).
When Pharaoh did not allow them to go as God has said, God began to rain down one plague and the other on the land of Egypt. The interesting part of the story was that the land of Goshen where the Israelites were; was spared as the plagues intensified (Ex. 8: 20-24).
Psalms 91:7
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
How can that be? It will be because of God’s favour.
Prayer: Father, make my home as Goshen was in the land of Egypt. Do not let any plague come near my habitation in Jesus name.
Divine Assurance
This statement can also be a word of assurance from God; that when everybody is going through a time of casting down, including the believer. There is however a word of consolation and assurance for the believer that there will definitely be a good turn around for him. That light will appear at the end of the tunnel. That all things shall end well in the end.
In I Kings 17:1, Elijah decreed that there will not be dew nor rain for over three years in the land of Israel and it was so. God, however, made provision for Elijah, where ravens were feeding him with bread and meat near the brook of Cherith. When the brook was drying out; God made another provision for him to be fed by a widow who in turn needed a miracle to survive (I Kings 17: 2-16).
The current pestilence might have affected many of us in one way or the other; there shall however be a miraculous turn around in Jesus name. It shall end well for you in Jesus name.
There is a light at the end of the tunnel for you in Jesus name.
Prayer: Father, make necessary provision for me to escape this prevailing pestilence in Jesus name.
In Luke 13: 10-17, a daughter of Abraham was held bound by demonic powers for eighteen years. She was bent double so that she could not straighten herself up at all. Jesus, however, laid His hands on her; she was able to stand upright immediately.
For eighteen years this woman had suffered. The demonic powers would have thought she would die that way. Even spiritual leaders were not happy that she got healed on a Sabbath. Jesus healed her anyway.
There is someone listening to me now, it looks like you have been ‘bent over’ by certain powers. May Jehovah straighten your life right now in Jesus name.
You will stand upright again.
God will put you back on your feet.
You will not end like this. To the dismay and disappointment of your mockers and enemies, you will rise again.
Prayer: Father, disgrace every power seeking to oppress and suppress my destiny in Jesus name.
In 2 Kings 4: 38, the bible says that there was a famine in the land of Israel, people were struggling to find what to eat; when they heard that Elisha was in Gilgal; the sons of the prophets went to visit him. Elisha told his assistants to put a large pot on the fire and cook pottage for everyone.
It has been predicted by economists and financial analysts that a famine will result at the end of this. It will not affect you in Jesus name.
Prayer: Father, bless me beyond the level of what I need. Make me a blessing to many in Jesus name.
Divine Mandate
This statement can also mean, “in times when others are cast down and afflicted, the believer shalt be able to raise them up, or to assist them to their feet. He will be able to go to them and say, ‘Be of good cheer. Do not be cast down. There is consolation for you. Only humble yourselves.’ And he will be able to bring important blessings for them by his counsels and prayers”.
It is the duty of Christians to bring the word of encouragement to the suffering world. We are to tell them the good news. Tell them not to despair; and that God always saves the humble soul.
That was the advice Eliphaz gave to Job, and what a way God saved Job when he humbled himself. God granted him double of everything he had lost.
In Judges 4: 1-9, the Children of Israel became cast down because of their sins, so God sold them into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan. God, however, had mercy on them asked Deborah – the Prophetess to tell Barak – the Israel Army Commander to wage a war against Jabin, and that there would be lifting up for them.
Barak was still afraid; he asked Deborah to follow him. God discomfited Canaan before Israel and they got their freedom afterwards.
Am not sure what is happening in your life right now. Am not sure what life has done or is doing to you. What I am sure of is that if you humble or keep humbling yourself before God; whatever may be your present case or level; there is still lifting up for you.
James 4: 6 – But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
I Peter 5: 5: Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
I speak to everyone listening to me right now: as individuals, families, societies, nation and nations, we are in what we are now, mainly because of our pride as a people before God. Let us return to God in humility, and there shall be lifting for all of us again.
Job 22: 29 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) – When people are brought down and you ask God to help them, he will rescue those who have been humbled.
2 Chro. 7: 14 – If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Prayers
2 Cor. 7: 5-7 – For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fighting, within were fears. Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus. And not by his coming only, but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you, when he told us your earnest desire, your mourning, your fervent mind toward me; so that I rejoiced the more.
Father, in the land of my residence, let my flesh have rest.
Father, grant me peace on every side.
Father, put an end to every external fighting against me.
In the name of Jesus, I command every fear within me to be cast out.
Father, send Your Spirit to comfort me in these times.
Father, make me a source of consolation and comfort to many.
Father, send me men and women that will bring comfort to my life.
Psalms 146: 8; The Lord openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the Lord loveth the righteous:
- Father, open my eyes, raise me up, and forever show Your love to me.
Psalms 30: 1 – I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
- Father, raise me up and do not let my foes to rejoice over me.
Psalms 27: 6 – And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.
- Father, raise my head above those of my enemies and grant me the privilege to offer unto You the sacrifices of joy and singing of praise.
Jere. 29: 11 – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
- Father, let Your thought of peace, and not of evil; the thought of an expected end that You have for me be fulfilled in my life.
A sermon delivered on Sunday, March 29, 2020.