Job 35 “Elihu: God Will Not Hear Vanity”

“Surely God will not hear vanity, nor will the Almighty regard it” (v.13)

Back in chapter 30 Job complained that God did not regard the cries of the oppressed against their oppressors (v. 20). Now Elihu gives his account for why sufferers are not relieved. The solution he gives is that, it is not consistent for God to hear a prayer where there is no sincerity. Meaning Job, your prayer for relief has not been answered because you are not sincere enough, you need to pray harder and with more passion.

I don’t believe God has an intensity meter He uses to determine if He will hear our prayers, nor does He have a 1000 word requirement for us to meet before determining our sincerity. However I do know that, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18), and that, “When the righteous cry out, the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles”. Therefore, I believe Elihu’s accusation of Job is off here.

Yes there are things that can hinder our prayers from being heard, but as we know from chapter 1, God knew Job and regarded him as blameless, upright, one who feared Him and shunned evil, none like him in all the earth. And even though God allowed Satan to destroy all he had, Job did not sin nor charge God with any wrong.

Therefore, I believe Job to be simply a man in search for understanding with sincerity of heart, seeking answers from God to things he could not reconcile himself. Like Job, we all have questions and someday we shall have our answers.

The Truth: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14)

Job 34 “Elihu: Don’t Blame God”

"Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to commit iniquity." (v.10)

Elihu knew of the holiness of God. How Could God possibly commit wickedness, even if some might consider it justified. Job’s three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar) saw God as responsible for all the evil that had befallen Job. Even though they suspected some hidden sin in Job’s life, according to them, his troubles still came down to God’s doing.

People are good at blaming God when things go wrong. If a house burns down, it’s God’s fault. If a job is lost, it’s Gods fault. However, such accusations are simply not true. Sometimes things happen because of our own carelessness or sinfulness. Other times they happen because of the forces of evil in the world or because of human error. But God is not to blame.

James says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning" (James 1:7). While we may not understand the circumstances of our trials, there is one thing we can know for certain: There is no "dark side" to God. Therefore, don’t blame the Lord when things go wrong in this life, but look to Him for strength, wisdom, and guidance to get you through your difficult days.

The Truth: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Job 33 “ Elihu: God Has Fashioned Our Days”

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (v.4)

God fashioned our days even before we existed (Psalm 139:16), and we exist now only because “the breath of the Almighty gives us life” (Job 33:4). Though we don’t know how many breaths we have left—we can rest in the knowledge that He does.

It’s not unusual for any of us to ponder what it will be like when we face our final moments on earth. But those who “die in the Lord” have the certainty that they are “blessed” (Rev. 14:13), that there death is “precious in the sight of the Lord” (Psalm 166:15), and will have everlasting life in Him (John 3:16)  

From our first breath to our last, we are in God’s care, and He holds our future in His hands.

The Truth: “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” (Psalm 139:16)

Job 32 “Elihu: Understanding Comes From God”

“There is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives understanding.” (v.8)

Elihu makes a valid observation here. In man's essential nature there is spirit, a Divine creation that makes it possible for man to have direct contact with God. Through this spiritual contact we can take our petitions to Him in prayer, then He can impart His revelations to us.

The Scriptures tell us that, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (James 1:5). Jesus himself tells us in Luke’s Gospel to, “keep asking, keep knocking - For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who seeks finds” (Luke 11:10). But, we must be patient for His response. Job asked, pleaded, petitioned, and even challenged God for understanding to his great trial, and as of yet in our reading, all Job received was silence.

Yes Elihu was correct. God gives us understanding, but our ways are not His ways, and our timing is not His timing. Therefore, during times of great trial and personal suffering, keep praying for wisdom, keep seeking His will and He will give you knowledge and understanding in His timing as we will see with Job.   

The Truth

“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6)

Job 31 “Nothing More To Say”

“The words of Job are ended.” (v. 40b)

 

Chapter 31 is occupied with Job's solemn oath of innocence. It was his final answer to the argument presented by his three friends, that his affliction must be the outcome of his sin. In a carefully prepared statement he now affirms his innocence: personally (vv.1-12): in his dealings with men (vv.13-23): in his attitude toward God (vv.24-34): with his signature, and demand for an indictment (v.35). Finally, the chapter closes with the statement: "The words of Job are ended.” This is generally attributed to the author of the book, or to some subsequent editor or copyist. But, it makes sense to me to believe they constitute Job's last sentence - that he had nothing more to say. The mystery of his suffering was unsolved, and he relapsed into silence.

Job's silence is now God's opportunity for speech. He often waits until we have said everything: and then, in the silence He answers. His answers are not always what we desire, but they bring rest, strength, stamina and satisfaction to all who trust in Him. 

I've had my share of personal trials, and have poured my heart out to God on many occasions. I have experienced both the answers I was hopping for, and some that I wasn't. However, in looking back over my life, everything was for my good and in most cases, I understand God's workings. Yes there are a few trials that are still a mystery to me, but He has brought me through them and some day I will see clearly why I needed to walk those paths. For now, I simply accept His sovereign hand and trust that all things are working together for good.   

The Truth: “But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Job 30 “Can You Hear Me?”

“I cry unto Thee, and Thou dost not answer me.” (v.20)

One of the hardest things to do as a parent is not to rush in and try to fix everything our children are struggling with. As parents we naturally want to relieve our children’s pain, and struggles, but all situations our kids find themselves in are not the same, nor do they all require our immediate involvement.

When training a child up in the way he/she should go, it sometimes calls for us to step back and let them struggle through on their own. While I’m sure to them it may seem like we are ignoring their needs, but in reality we are right there overseeing their growth - So too is our heavenly father.

While it obviously seemed to Job that God did not hear his cry because He did not answer in Job’s timing, this will eventually prove to be far from the truth. There is not a single cry that comes from an anguished heart that God does not hear. Therefore, you can be sure that the cry of your heart will be answered in God’s perfect timing and in His perfect will, when it is most appreciated for its value.

The Truth: “Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:1-4)

Job 29 “Job Looks Back”

“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, as in the days when God watched over me.” (v.2)

Back in chapter 28 we saw Job still defending himself against Bildad, even going so far as to take a solemn oath of his innocence while still without a solution to the mystery of his sufferings. Here in chapter 29 his address to his friends takes a shift from his defense, to looking back at “the days when God watched over him.”  

Here we discover Job’s deepest sorrow, the feeling that, in some way, and for some reason, God no longer watched over him. He knew that God still saw him, as his previous words have proved, but there was a difference in the watching. Because we know the whole truth, which Job did not know, we recognize that the watchful care of God had never ceased through all the troublous times (Job 1:12, 2:6).

C.H. Spurgeon said, “Too often too many of us write our blessings in the sand and our infirmities in marble.” Meaning, we focus on our pain and problems and forget to reflect upon what God has done for us. During times of trial it is necessary to realize what God has already done for us. Why? Because he saw us through the past, He is sure to see us through the future - He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Take a few moments to reflect on God's hand of protection and provision in your life and give glory and honor to whom it is due. 

The Truth: And I said, “This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God?” (Psalm 77:10-13)

Job 28 “Where Can Wisdom Be Found?”

"From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?” (v.20)

Job was perplexed by his situation. He had been a righteous man, yet now it seemed as though his world was falling apart. He felt the need for wisdom. "But where," he asked, "do I find it?" His Heavenly Father gave him the answer: It is in the fear of (respect for) the Lord (v.28).

If you are looking for wisdom today, the best source you’ll ever find is as close to you as your Bible. God speaks clearly through His Word to give you the guidance you need for your daily life. If you fear Him, obey what He says and take note of the benefit of heeding His Word.

The Truth: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.” (Psalm 111:10)

Job 27 “Job Maintains His Integrity”

“As long as my breath is in me, and the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit.” (vv. 3-4)

Here in chapter 27 Job maintains his integrity (to his friends) by taking an oath of not speaking wickedly or deceitfully against God. It seems the more his friends tried to convict him, the more adamant Job became in his position of righteousness. Even though he was perplexed as to his situation and in pain, Job remained unshaken in defending his position.

This should speak volumes to us that conviction is the job of the Holy Spirit, not man. It is impossible to argue anyone into repentance. It will just cause people to become more hardened in their own position. Better to love and pray for them, trusting the Holy Spirit will work in their lives on the issues that need attention.

The Truth: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:7-8)

Job 26 “Job: The Mere Edges of His Ways”

“He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing.” (v.7)

The National Geographic Society has this notation on their world map: “The earth’s mass is 6.6 sextillion tons.” What supports all that weight? Nothing. The planet we inhabit spins on its axis at 1,000 miles per hour as it hurtles through space in its orbit around the sun, and this virtually goes unnoticed every day.

Job however, repeatedly considered God’s creation in his struggle to make sense of the numbing loss of his health, his wealth, and his children. “God stretches out the north over empty space,” Job said. “He hangs the earth on nothing” (v.7). He marveled at the clouds that did not break under the heavy water inside them (v.8) and the horizon “at the boundary of light and darkness” (v.10), but called them “the mere edges of His ways” (v.14).

Job did not find the answers to his questions in creation, but the heavens and the earth pointed him to God, the Creator, who alone could respond with help and hope. Therefore, if your struggling with a heavy load, or suffering from the loss of a loved one, look to the one who holds all things at the power of His Word and gives understanding to all who call upon His name.   

The Truth: “Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:1-2)

Job 25 “Bildad: How Can A Man Be Righteous Before God”

“How then can man be righteous before God? Or how can he be pure who is born of a woman?” (v.4)

Here we find the question of the ages. The simple answer to Bildad’s questions is, not in our own righteousness (good deeds or keeping the Law), but in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Many believe that if they do good works, or keep the law, they will stand righteous before God, not so. The law brings only the knowledge of sin, and no man can keep it. Good works are simply that and cannot buy our righteousness before God. 

We are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in His Son Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation for our sin. There is one condition though, faith. We must believe in Him who gave His life for us. Then through faith in the Son, in His righteousness we can stand before God.

No greater love! Happy Valentine's Day.

The Truth: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)