“Because he hath loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me,”  Job 30:11.

Job experienced not only a change in his personal circumstances but following upon the afflictions that God permitted the devil to bring upon Job he experienced a change in his public standing.

In chapter 29, Job looks back upon the blessings that he had enjoyed in the days before his trial. In verses 7-11 we have the public perception of Job. In verses 12-17 we have the record of Job's public service which formed the basis of his public esteem.

But in chapter 30 things have changed. “But now” are the opening words of the chapter. He has become the target of cruel derision and that from young men. Verses 9-12 show how unrestrained they are in their despising of Job. 

Our text is the verse 11. It give us an explanation of why Job's public standing has so suddenly plummeted. It begins with the word because. That word always introduces an explanation or a reason. The language of the text is symbolic. He speaks of his cord. The word is used of the string of a bow,  Psalm 11:2. He is speaking here of God unstringing his bow, taking away his strength, his usefulness. How different from what he said of former times, 29:20. In consequence of God loosing his cord, the attitude of the wicked changed toward him. He says “they have also let loose the bridle before me”. It means that there was a shaking off of all restraint by the wicked toward Job. They no longer show him any regard or respect and openly mock and despise him. 

There are lessons to be learned from this verse. They are especially relevant as we see many of the structures and barricades that were erected in Ulster to give defence against IRA terrorism being dismantled. We need to realise just where our safety lies. It is neither with governments or armies or our own arm of the flesh. It is the Lord Who is our defence.

I. THE CHILD OF GOD LIVES IN A VERY HOSTILE WORLD

What comfort and peace we enjoy results from the restraint that God exercises upon the spirit of opposition within this world. 

1. If we have standing and influence today it comes from the Lord. The world only takes heed of us because of God's restringing hand. He strings our bow and places a bridle on the ungodly. Ps 34:7, 59:16, 71:3, 144:2.

2. God may take away our standing at any time. He has done it with kings, Dan 2:21. He has done it with individuals, David, II Sam 16:5-11; Samson, Judges 16:20. Should the Lord's hand be taken from us, either individually or as a church, we becomes as useless as a stringless bow. 

3. The cause of such withdrawal is sin. Job's case was unique in that God was permitting him to be tested by the devil in order that God's grace in Job may be manifested. Ordinarily, it is sin that causes such a downfall, II Kings 11:4-14.

II. SHOULD GOD TAKE AWAY OUR STANDING AND INFLUENCE THE WORLD'S HOSTILITY WOULD OVERWHELM US

1. They are greater in number.

2. They are greater in standing. They occupy every position of power. 

3. They would employ every means at their disposal to destroy the witness of God. Ps 124:1-8. Swallowed, 3; burned, 3; drowned, 4-5; savaged, 6; ensnared, 7. The history of the cruelties of men to God's people testify of this.

III. A FULL PICTURE OF THE FATE AWAITING GOD'S PEOPLE SHOULD THEY BE FORSAKEN OF GOD IS SEEN AT CALVARY.

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”   Matthew 27:46. 

When Christ became sin for us He was forsaken of His Father. Those identified as followers of Christ would suffer a similar fate at the hands of the wicked should we ever be forsaken. “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain,” Acts 2:23.

Is this not what John 15:6 refers to. “If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Is this not an incentive for faithfulness. Self-preservation would call upon us to live in obedience to God.