(Job 35:1) Elihu spoke moreover, and said, (2) "Do you think this is right, that you said, 'My righteousness is more than God's'? (3) For you said, 'What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?'
Job never said his righteousness was more than God's, but Elihu further qualifies his interpretation of Job's meaning by adding what Job indeed said. I'm not sure that Job really said those things, either, but it may have seemed he insinuated them when he said God destroys the perfect and the wicked. This passage reminds me of a commercial I heard on Christian radio one time, and the moral of it really stuck with me. When we fall into the trap of mind-reading and start acting on what we think the person means, and not on what they really meant but may not have expressed well, then we are acting on a lie. I don't believe for a moment that Job believed he was more righteous than God. He was just lamenting the fact that he tried to do good, but look where it got him.
Actually, when you look at what Elihu said Job had said, there is really nothing wrong with "What advantage will it be to You?" There is no advantage to God when we are righteous. God doesn't NEED our righteousness. He can act with or without it. It is always about OUR good.
"What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?" Again, taken literally the way Elihu expressed it, it's merely a pondering question. Obviously, from the benefit of knowing the end of the story, we know God is still working this to Job's benefit. He may not can see it at this point, but the vast bigger-picture ways of God are not finished yet. Part of following our Lord is to do His will. We want to do His will because we know it is far better than what our puny human minds can contemplate. In this case, Job was indeed blessed more abundantly by God, and the story of Job has been an example of faith for hundreds of years to countless souls. And if you want to lament the death of his children, if they were true followers, then they will be with their Lord, which is a far better place than still living on earth. Believers never have to fear dying, and although we may grieve selfishly because we miss them, because we love them we would never want them to be removed from that better place. If Job's children were not believers, then they were never going to be believers; you can have faith in that. The all-seeing God knows His people!
(4) "I will answer you, and your companions with you."
Elihu states he will now answer Job and his friends, and one can assume he means to better explain Job's situation. Whether he plans to truly answer Job's questions or plans to answer what he, in error, thinks Job thinks, remains to be seen at this point.
(5) "Look to the heavens and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than you. (6) If you sin, what do you (accomplish) against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? (7) If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?"
So far, so good. Elihu points out that God's ways are higher than our ways, and that indeed, God is not hurt nor does He profit from anything man does.
(8) "Your wickedness may hurt a man as you are, and your righteousness may profit the son of man."
In this case the "son of man" seems to mean "generations of men". Job's (or any man's) actions do not hurt or profit God, but they may hurt or profit mortal men, and even generations to come. We sometimes forget this when we want to blame God for what seems to us senseless acts that we know He alone could have prevented. When my precious Daddy died way too young of a painful cancer 23 years ago, I was angry at God for months, probably even a couple of years or more. Then one day I realized that man had created cancer, not God. The things we do to our environment, the additives in our food, the additives we put on our skin and use every day, are full of carcinogens. Once again, men become fools thinking they are so wise making things better and better with chemicals! We have brought disease to ourselves. I am sure it is even more painful to see a young child suffer and die with cancer, or a young mother who dies and leaves small children. God surely could have prevented or reversed that! Yes, He could have, and in some cases He does perform miraculous healing. But why does He choose to heal some and not others? Well, only the sovereign Lord knows that, but He is always about the greater good, His ways being higher than our ways. Often people in the very worst of circumstances, only then, turn to the Lord. I believe often He may allow these things to happen in order to bring His people back to Him. Recall Jesus's words in Matthew 18:8-9 that say it's better to enter heaven maimed or blinded in one eye than to be whole and cast into hell. Whatever it takes to save us!! What a merciful God we have! The sweet children who suffer and die go to be with Him, so they are much happier, and through grief and despair, perhaps their parents are able to join them. It is hard for us to understand how God could sacrifice an innocent little child like that, but then again, He sacrificed His own son to save us sinners. He loves us ALL!
Another thought along the same lines on why some people are healed and others are not: again God knows the bigger picture. He knows what will happen if one is saved, and what will happen if one is not. What is the greater good? What will save His lost sheep? Just like the hypocritical leader and nation described in the last post, if people are continually blessed when they are doing wrong, they may be ensnared into believing they are doing right. Tragedy often brings us closer to God. And we must remember the tragedy was not caused by God, but He does, in fact, allow it.
(9) "Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; they cry out because of the arm of the mighty."
We are back to the people Job may hurt with his wickedness from verse 8.
(10) "But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, (11) Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth, and makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?'"
Apparently Elihu is making a point that the oppressed do not reach out to God when they suffer. "In the night" is a picture of "in the midst of trouble". God has given men wisdom to know Him, but they forget Him and don't think to call on Him in their times of trouble.
(12) "There they cry, but none gives answer, because of the pride of evil men."
The oppressed cry, but there is no one to answer them because they don't cry out to the right One. Whether they are crying ABOUT the pride of evil men that has caused the trouble, or because their own pride keeps them from calling on God, either way, they do not look to their Creator.
(13) "Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it."
God will not hear empty hollow words or lies.
(14) "Although you say you will not see Him, yet judgment is before Him; therefore trust in Him."
Elihu seems to be turning his point about how the oppressed do not call on God to Job. Paraphrased, "Just because you don't look to Him, He and His righteous judgment are there; therefore you should trust in Him."
(15) "But now, because it is not so, He has visited in His anger; yet he doesn't know it in great extremity: (16) Therefore does Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplies words without knowledge."
It looks like Elihu believes that because Job did not turn to God, God has visited him in anger, although we have to believe that an apparent righteous and Spirit-led man as Elihu must have meant chastisement rather than vengeful anger. Otherwise, I would have to say Elihu has really lost it by this point, and should have stopped talking in the last chapter! I had to chuckle when I looked at the original meaning of the word that was translated as "extremity". It means "stupidity"! Elihu says Job was so stupid he didn't even know why God had visited him in anger. Well, now I know Elihu has gone too far. He may have started talking feeling led by the Holy Spirit, but I am sure he let his own ego take over at some point. Elihu concludes this chapter by saying that Job has been speaking senseless and meaningless words in his complaints against God, and that he speaks without any real knowledge. And we, knowing the rest of the story, could say that last part about Elihu, as well!
"Multiplying words without knowledge"...I could not help but get an image of the so-called intelligent of our day, who "professing themselves to be wise, they became fools". Paul tells us in Romans 1:22 how people reject God, changing "the truth of God into a lie" and become fools, wise in their own eyes.
Showing posts with label bad things happen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bad things happen. Show all posts
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Elihu's Wisdom from the Holy Spirit
Continuing a Bible study of Job:
(Job 32:1) So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. (2) Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. (3) Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
At least they thought that Job was being righteous in his own eyes, but they had just failed to convince Job on any of their points because they argued from false principles. This angered Elihu; his friends condemned Job when they had found no reason to, and Job seemed to be all about himself, justifying himself rather than glorifying God.
(4) Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were older than he. (5) When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was aroused. (6) And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said, "I am young, and you are very old; therefore I was afraid, and dared not show you my opinion. (7) I said, 'Age should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.'"
Elihu was younger than Job and his three friends who had previously spoken, and was respectful of them, allowing them to speak and not interrupting them. After they had ceased speaking, and he had taken in all of their vain conversation that apparently went nowhere, he could hold his peace no longer.
(8) "But there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives him understanding. (9) Great men are not always wise; neither do the aged understand judgment."
The Holy Spirit of God can give man wisdom and understanding at any age. Great men or old men are not always wise just because of their position or age, but when the Holy Spirit of God gives His inspiration to man, the man may have Godly understanding if he listens.
(10) "Therefore I say, 'Listen to me, I also will show my opinion.' (11) Behold, I waited for your words; I listened to your reasons, while you searched out what to say. (12) Yes, I paid attention to you, and behold, none of you convinced Job, or answered his words; (13) Lest you should say, 'We have found out wisdom; God thrusts him down, not man.'"
Elihu points out that he did wait until they had all finished speaking before offering his opinion. He listened to them, but they did not really answer Job. So rather than having them falsely satisfied that they had the wisdom and understanding of God, he will now speak, obviously feeling he is speaking under inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
(14) "Now he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches."
Because Elihu did not partake in the conversation up to this point, Job has not directed any of his comments to him, and he indicates he will not answer Job with any of their false words.
(15) "They were amazed, they answered no more, they left off speaking. (16) When I had waited (for they did not speak, but stood still, and answered no more), (17) I said, 'I will answer also my part, I also will show my opinion.' (18) For I am full of matter; the spirit within me constrains me. (19) Behold, my belly is like wine which has no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles."
Once again Elihu points out that he waited until Job's friends quit speaking. Perhaps his friends were astonished or filled with wonder that they could not convince Job with their wisdom, but the word translated as "amazed" meant more completely "dismayed, discouraged, or broken down", so they were simply exhausted with trying to convince Job, and quit trying. Elihu implies he is so full of inspiration from the Holy Spirit that he feels about to burst. The Holy Spirit constrains, or better translated with another of the original word's definitions, presses upon him to speak.
(20) "I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer. (21) Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person; neither let me give flattering titles to man. (22) For I know not to give flattering titles; (in so doing) my Maker would soon take me away."
As he is about to burst, Elihu will be relieved to at last speak. To accept a man's person is to show partiality, so Elihu determines not to show partiality nor offer flattery in his speech. Our modern day way of speaking, and evidently the way of the KJV translators in 1611, who added the phrase "in so doing", would make the gist of verse 22, "I know better than to give flattering titles, or else my Maker would strike me dead." "In so doing" was not in the original text. Additionally, whenever we read "I know not" or any other word and then "not" in the Bible, it means "I do not know" or "I do not (whatever)", so the real meaning of the first part of that verse is that Elihu doesn't know how to offer flattery. Whether it is not in his nature or he has just learned not to do it, he is pointing out that he will not be offering any false flattery when he speaks. "My maker would soon take me away" is a little more difficult to understand exactly. He might mean that he does indeed fear the wrath of God if he were to do something he knew were wrong, such as fearing and revering man rather than God. It might be a more matter of fact statement that Elihu knows he will leave this life at some point and will have to answer to his Maker for his actions. I have my own thought on this that I did not read from any other commentary. Just maybe Elihu meant that if he spoke any flattering words, adding to what the Holy Spirit was telling him, that that Spirit would be taken away. It's a thought that doesn't change the sense of this passage.
(Job 33:1) "Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words."
We begin chapter 33 with Elihu directing his words to Job.
(2) "Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth. (3) My words will be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will utter knowledge clearly."
I believe the sense here is that Elihu will speak to Job as truly as he can what he feels the Holy Spirit is speaking to him.
(4) "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life. (5) If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up. (6) Behold, I am as your mouth in God's stead; I also have been formed out of clay."
Elihu encourages Job to take a stand and answer him, if he can, after he has finished speaking, as Elihu and Job are equals in God's eyes. The original KJV reads "I (am) according to thy wish in God's stead". The word translated as "wish" actually means "mouth". It can also mean "word", and the sense the KJV's translators were trying to convey was that it was like breath blowing a word or saying, so Elihu's words, thoughts, and wishes were as Job's; they were equal in God's eyes.
(7) "Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my hand be heavy upon you."
Elihu may mean that he will not be as rough as Job's friends had been, or perhaps he alludes to Job's previous statement from Job 9:34, "Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His fear terrify me."
(8) "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying, (9) 'I am clean without transgression; I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. (10) Behold, He finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy; (11) He puts my feet in the stocks; He marks all my paths.'"
Elihu intends to show that he has been listening to Job and begins by referring to Job's own words. However, Job never used the exact words that he was without transgression; as a matter of fact at one point Job indeed said in Job 9:20, "If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I say, I am perfect, it will also prove me perverse." However, Job did say that he was pure and righteous. Although some of the time I felt Job may have been speaking of his enemy counting Job as his enemy, rather than God doing it, he does seem to imply it is God in some places, like in Job 10:6, when he talks about God inquiring and searching out his sins. In Job 13:27, Job said exactly, "You put my feet also in the stocks, and watch closely all my paths."
(12) "Behold, in this you are not just; I will answer you, that God is greater than man. (13) Why do you strive against Him? For He does not give an account of any of His matters."
Elihu states that Job has not been correct in his conclusions about God. God and His plans are greater than man's and we don't always understand them. I am reminded of the scripture in Isaiah 55:9, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
(14) "For God speaks once, yes, twice, yet man does not perceive it. (15) In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbering on the bed, (16) Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, (17) That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man."
God does often show us His ways, but we fail to see. He shows us wonders in His creation and in His Word, and His Holy Spirit often speaks directly to us, but we don't recognize it as the Spirit of God, and dismiss it. He shows us things in dreams that we either forget or once again don't recognize as from Him. Most of the time, when there is that confirmation of something, or that "coincidence" that turns you away from something, you can be sure the Spirit of God was at work! God can change our direction in life and humble us before Him. Sometimes we may be "brought down" for our good, to save us from our own selfish pride and arrogance. I am reminded of the apostle Paul and the thorn in his flesh that kept him humble and dependent on his Lord.
(18) "He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. (19) He is chastened also with pain on his bed, and with strong pain in many of his bones, (20) So that his life abhors bread, and his soul, succulent meat."
God keeps us on a right track and saves our lives and eternal souls. Wow! If we could really get our minds around this passage! Sometimes God allows bad things to happen for our ultimate good! How many times do we want to be angry at God for something we think He did or didn't do, when all the while our loving Father is working things for a more excellent good that we can't see at the moment?! If we would only learn that our heavenly Father is ever-loving and faithful and merciful and just learn to trust Him because we know He knows best, how much more peaceful our lives would be! Of course, we do good and do what we can, but when it is out of our hands, we trust God.
(21) "His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. (22) Yes, his soul draws near to the grave, and his life to the destroyers. (23) If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his uprightness, (24) Then he is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.'"
Wow! The opinions on verses 23 and 24 are as varied as I have seen in this study! The messenger could be an angel or perhaps someone led by the Holy Spirit to lead the person to salvation. The word translated as "interpreter" also means "ambassador", an authorized representative; it comes from a root word which also means "intercede". Thus it is someone who will intercede for him. Does he lead man to his own uprightness, or does he show the man His uprightness, that of the Lord, his Savior? Either way, the only uprightness that will save him is that of his Lord. Again, I'm not sure if the "he" in verse 24 is "he", the angel or interpreter, or "He", Jesus Christ, who intercedes for us all, as He paid the price of our sins. Once again, either interpretation works. The sense is that upon the man's death bed, he is saved from the pit of hell. How many times do we hear of people hitting rock-bottom and only then turning to their only true salvation? So rather than affliction being the punishment of a vengeful God, it is actually a merciful act of a loving Father turning His children back to Him and therefore saving their eternal lives. How wonderful that He loves us enough to do whatever it takes to bring us to Him! And perhaps unfortunately, it takes more to bring some of us back than it does others. Our heavenly Father knows just what it takes, and He works all things for ultimate good. If we really understood that, we could always trust God and fear not.
(25) "His flesh will be fresher than a child's; he will return to the days of his youth; (26) He will pray to God, and He will be favorable to him, and he shall see His face with joy, for He will return to man His righteousness."
"Fresher than a child's"...a beautiful picture of what we are told in the New Testament happens when we are born again! Ephesians 4:24 says, "And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Colossians 3:9-10: "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds, And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created him." Elihu, obviously inspired by the Holy Spirit, is telling Job essentially the same thing the Apostle Paul told the churches almost 2000 years later! God's plan has always been the same! Since the fall of Adam, God has mercifully and lovingly sought to return man to Himself and restore Him.
(27) "He looks upon men, and if any say, 'I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it did not profit me', (28) He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life will see the light. (29) Lo, God works all these things oftentimes with man, (30) To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living."
Elihu reiterates that God uses all the ways he described before to bring a soul to Him. Again very akin to something Paul would later say in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
(31) "Mark well, O Job, hearken to me; hold your peace, and I will speak. (32) If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. (33) If not, hearken to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom."
Elihu urges Job to pay close attention to him, but he is also a fair man who would do Job justice and not pervert what he said and attribute wrong motives, as his friends had done.
(Job 32:1) So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. (2) Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. (3) Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
At least they thought that Job was being righteous in his own eyes, but they had just failed to convince Job on any of their points because they argued from false principles. This angered Elihu; his friends condemned Job when they had found no reason to, and Job seemed to be all about himself, justifying himself rather than glorifying God.
(4) Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were older than he. (5) When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was aroused. (6) And Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said, "I am young, and you are very old; therefore I was afraid, and dared not show you my opinion. (7) I said, 'Age should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.'"
Elihu was younger than Job and his three friends who had previously spoken, and was respectful of them, allowing them to speak and not interrupting them. After they had ceased speaking, and he had taken in all of their vain conversation that apparently went nowhere, he could hold his peace no longer.
(8) "But there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives him understanding. (9) Great men are not always wise; neither do the aged understand judgment."
The Holy Spirit of God can give man wisdom and understanding at any age. Great men or old men are not always wise just because of their position or age, but when the Holy Spirit of God gives His inspiration to man, the man may have Godly understanding if he listens.
(10) "Therefore I say, 'Listen to me, I also will show my opinion.' (11) Behold, I waited for your words; I listened to your reasons, while you searched out what to say. (12) Yes, I paid attention to you, and behold, none of you convinced Job, or answered his words; (13) Lest you should say, 'We have found out wisdom; God thrusts him down, not man.'"
Elihu points out that he did wait until they had all finished speaking before offering his opinion. He listened to them, but they did not really answer Job. So rather than having them falsely satisfied that they had the wisdom and understanding of God, he will now speak, obviously feeling he is speaking under inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
(14) "Now he has not directed his words against me; neither will I answer him with your speeches."
Because Elihu did not partake in the conversation up to this point, Job has not directed any of his comments to him, and he indicates he will not answer Job with any of their false words.
(15) "They were amazed, they answered no more, they left off speaking. (16) When I had waited (for they did not speak, but stood still, and answered no more), (17) I said, 'I will answer also my part, I also will show my opinion.' (18) For I am full of matter; the spirit within me constrains me. (19) Behold, my belly is like wine which has no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles."
Once again Elihu points out that he waited until Job's friends quit speaking. Perhaps his friends were astonished or filled with wonder that they could not convince Job with their wisdom, but the word translated as "amazed" meant more completely "dismayed, discouraged, or broken down", so they were simply exhausted with trying to convince Job, and quit trying. Elihu implies he is so full of inspiration from the Holy Spirit that he feels about to burst. The Holy Spirit constrains, or better translated with another of the original word's definitions, presses upon him to speak.
(20) "I will speak, that I may be refreshed; I will open my lips and answer. (21) Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person; neither let me give flattering titles to man. (22) For I know not to give flattering titles; (in so doing) my Maker would soon take me away."
As he is about to burst, Elihu will be relieved to at last speak. To accept a man's person is to show partiality, so Elihu determines not to show partiality nor offer flattery in his speech. Our modern day way of speaking, and evidently the way of the KJV translators in 1611, who added the phrase "in so doing", would make the gist of verse 22, "I know better than to give flattering titles, or else my Maker would strike me dead." "In so doing" was not in the original text. Additionally, whenever we read "I know not" or any other word and then "not" in the Bible, it means "I do not know" or "I do not (whatever)", so the real meaning of the first part of that verse is that Elihu doesn't know how to offer flattery. Whether it is not in his nature or he has just learned not to do it, he is pointing out that he will not be offering any false flattery when he speaks. "My maker would soon take me away" is a little more difficult to understand exactly. He might mean that he does indeed fear the wrath of God if he were to do something he knew were wrong, such as fearing and revering man rather than God. It might be a more matter of fact statement that Elihu knows he will leave this life at some point and will have to answer to his Maker for his actions. I have my own thought on this that I did not read from any other commentary. Just maybe Elihu meant that if he spoke any flattering words, adding to what the Holy Spirit was telling him, that that Spirit would be taken away. It's a thought that doesn't change the sense of this passage.
(Job 33:1) "Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words."
We begin chapter 33 with Elihu directing his words to Job.
(2) "Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth. (3) My words will be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will utter knowledge clearly."
I believe the sense here is that Elihu will speak to Job as truly as he can what he feels the Holy Spirit is speaking to him.
(4) "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life. (5) If you can answer me, set your words in order before me, stand up. (6) Behold, I am as your mouth in God's stead; I also have been formed out of clay."
Elihu encourages Job to take a stand and answer him, if he can, after he has finished speaking, as Elihu and Job are equals in God's eyes. The original KJV reads "I (am) according to thy wish in God's stead". The word translated as "wish" actually means "mouth". It can also mean "word", and the sense the KJV's translators were trying to convey was that it was like breath blowing a word or saying, so Elihu's words, thoughts, and wishes were as Job's; they were equal in God's eyes.
(7) "Behold, my terror will not make you afraid, neither will my hand be heavy upon you."
Elihu may mean that he will not be as rough as Job's friends had been, or perhaps he alludes to Job's previous statement from Job 9:34, "Let Him take His rod away from me, and let not His fear terrify me."
(8) "Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard the voice of your words, saying, (9) 'I am clean without transgression; I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. (10) Behold, He finds occasions against me; He counts me as His enemy; (11) He puts my feet in the stocks; He marks all my paths.'"
Elihu intends to show that he has been listening to Job and begins by referring to Job's own words. However, Job never used the exact words that he was without transgression; as a matter of fact at one point Job indeed said in Job 9:20, "If I justify myself, my own mouth will condemn me; if I say, I am perfect, it will also prove me perverse." However, Job did say that he was pure and righteous. Although some of the time I felt Job may have been speaking of his enemy counting Job as his enemy, rather than God doing it, he does seem to imply it is God in some places, like in Job 10:6, when he talks about God inquiring and searching out his sins. In Job 13:27, Job said exactly, "You put my feet also in the stocks, and watch closely all my paths."
(12) "Behold, in this you are not just; I will answer you, that God is greater than man. (13) Why do you strive against Him? For He does not give an account of any of His matters."
Elihu states that Job has not been correct in his conclusions about God. God and His plans are greater than man's and we don't always understand them. I am reminded of the scripture in Isaiah 55:9, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."
(14) "For God speaks once, yes, twice, yet man does not perceive it. (15) In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbering on the bed, (16) Then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, (17) That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man."
God does often show us His ways, but we fail to see. He shows us wonders in His creation and in His Word, and His Holy Spirit often speaks directly to us, but we don't recognize it as the Spirit of God, and dismiss it. He shows us things in dreams that we either forget or once again don't recognize as from Him. Most of the time, when there is that confirmation of something, or that "coincidence" that turns you away from something, you can be sure the Spirit of God was at work! God can change our direction in life and humble us before Him. Sometimes we may be "brought down" for our good, to save us from our own selfish pride and arrogance. I am reminded of the apostle Paul and the thorn in his flesh that kept him humble and dependent on his Lord.
(18) "He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. (19) He is chastened also with pain on his bed, and with strong pain in many of his bones, (20) So that his life abhors bread, and his soul, succulent meat."
God keeps us on a right track and saves our lives and eternal souls. Wow! If we could really get our minds around this passage! Sometimes God allows bad things to happen for our ultimate good! How many times do we want to be angry at God for something we think He did or didn't do, when all the while our loving Father is working things for a more excellent good that we can't see at the moment?! If we would only learn that our heavenly Father is ever-loving and faithful and merciful and just learn to trust Him because we know He knows best, how much more peaceful our lives would be! Of course, we do good and do what we can, but when it is out of our hands, we trust God.
(21) "His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out. (22) Yes, his soul draws near to the grave, and his life to the destroyers. (23) If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show to man his uprightness, (24) Then he is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.'"
Wow! The opinions on verses 23 and 24 are as varied as I have seen in this study! The messenger could be an angel or perhaps someone led by the Holy Spirit to lead the person to salvation. The word translated as "interpreter" also means "ambassador", an authorized representative; it comes from a root word which also means "intercede". Thus it is someone who will intercede for him. Does he lead man to his own uprightness, or does he show the man His uprightness, that of the Lord, his Savior? Either way, the only uprightness that will save him is that of his Lord. Again, I'm not sure if the "he" in verse 24 is "he", the angel or interpreter, or "He", Jesus Christ, who intercedes for us all, as He paid the price of our sins. Once again, either interpretation works. The sense is that upon the man's death bed, he is saved from the pit of hell. How many times do we hear of people hitting rock-bottom and only then turning to their only true salvation? So rather than affliction being the punishment of a vengeful God, it is actually a merciful act of a loving Father turning His children back to Him and therefore saving their eternal lives. How wonderful that He loves us enough to do whatever it takes to bring us to Him! And perhaps unfortunately, it takes more to bring some of us back than it does others. Our heavenly Father knows just what it takes, and He works all things for ultimate good. If we really understood that, we could always trust God and fear not.
(25) "His flesh will be fresher than a child's; he will return to the days of his youth; (26) He will pray to God, and He will be favorable to him, and he shall see His face with joy, for He will return to man His righteousness."
"Fresher than a child's"...a beautiful picture of what we are told in the New Testament happens when we are born again! Ephesians 4:24 says, "And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Colossians 3:9-10: "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds, And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created him." Elihu, obviously inspired by the Holy Spirit, is telling Job essentially the same thing the Apostle Paul told the churches almost 2000 years later! God's plan has always been the same! Since the fall of Adam, God has mercifully and lovingly sought to return man to Himself and restore Him.
(27) "He looks upon men, and if any say, 'I have sinned, and perverted what was right, and it did not profit me', (28) He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life will see the light. (29) Lo, God works all these things oftentimes with man, (30) To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living."
Elihu reiterates that God uses all the ways he described before to bring a soul to Him. Again very akin to something Paul would later say in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."
(31) "Mark well, O Job, hearken to me; hold your peace, and I will speak. (32) If you have anything to say, answer me; speak, for I desire to justify you. (33) If not, hearken to me; hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom."
Elihu urges Job to pay close attention to him, but he is also a fair man who would do Job justice and not pervert what he said and attribute wrong motives, as his friends had done.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Why Does God Allow Bad Things to Happen?
The genealogical introduction to Abraham in the last study, chronologically ordered by a Skip Andrews study, brought us to about 2000 BC. Job probably lived about the same time.
(Job 1:1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. (2) And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. (3) His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. (4) And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day, and sent and called their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
Most of the early commentaries suggest feasting "every one his day" probably meant on their appointed days, perhaps birthdays, and the fact that they always invited all their sisters indicate much family harmony and good will. It should not be reasoned that these were drunken rebel-rousing type parties because they would have never invited their sisters to such events.
(5) And so it was, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.
There was no indication that his children did anything wrong in their celebrations, but when the cycle of feasts were done, Job, being the pious man that he was, did these things just in case they had sinned or blasphemed God in their festivity.
(6) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
The sons of God here are generally understood to mean angels by all the early commentaries.
(7) And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
Notice that this seems to be a rather matter-of-fact question and answer, as God does not become angry with Satan, but continues the discourse. Remember that Satan is the god of this world and that he continually walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, as Peter tells us in the New Testament.
(8) And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a pious and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" (9) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? (10) Have You not made a hedge around him, around his house, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. (11) But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face." (12) And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
There are people who believe this was either the act of a cruel God, or must be only a story because how could a loving God allow Satan to destroy such a good man? The old taunt of Satan's to get us to question God, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Once again Satan is the god of this world. When God told Satan that all that Job had was in his, Satan's, power, once again he was stating a matter of fact. But Satan can only do what God allows him to do, and in this instance, He did not allow Satan to touch Job's body.
Why has Satan been allowed to do all that he wants to do to us? Therein lies our choice. Do we willingly CHOOSE God or do we choose the world, and therefore Satan? If God never allowed evil and therefore evil choices, if we all lived in the Garden of Eden with no serpent ever tempting us with anything, what choice is there? We would merely be God's dolls and robots.
(13) And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; (14) And a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, (15) When the Sabeans descended upon them and took them away; indeed, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (16) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (17) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (18) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, (19) And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (20) Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and fell down on the ground and worshiped.
These were actions of grief, but he did not blame God, but instead worshiped Him.
(21) And he said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
I believe this is my favorite memory scripture in all the Bible. The Lord is still the Lord and He has given us salvation, true eternal life; anything else is just frill that comes and goes. The true blessing of the Lord still stands, and He is to be blessed INDEED!
(22) In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly.
Once again the question might be asked, why did Job have to suffer so much loss in so short a time? Once again the answer lies in the fact that Satan is the god of this world. Some times more bad may happen to good people because Satan thinks it takes more to drive them away from God. With some, it doesn't take much. Satan is all about keeping us from the Truth and our salvation. But why does God allow Satan to do so much? I already said I believe giving us a true choice is one reason. Another thing to remember is that God sees a much bigger picture than we do. He wants us ALL to be saved. If by allowing an example to be made of Job, more people are brought to salvation, then that is a good thing in God's eyes. And we should be willing to do God's will. Think of a parent who would willingly give his life to save his child's life. We like to think of it as being the parent's choice, like standing in the line of bullet fire to protect the child. But what if it is not the parent's choice, but it is his or her faith through a trial like death by cancer? Suppose through that child's witness of that faith or by their own grief bringing them back to the Lord, the child is saved as a result of that parent's death. Is that not a good and wonderful thing? We humans have a very different idea of what good and evil are. Although Satan does bring the evil things in our lives, God allows them because He uses them for good as we are told in the following scriptures:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. - Genesis 50:20
Blessed be the name of the LORD!
(Job 1:1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil. (2) And there were born to him seven sons and three daughters. (3) His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. (4) And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day, and sent and called their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
Most of the early commentaries suggest feasting "every one his day" probably meant on their appointed days, perhaps birthdays, and the fact that they always invited all their sisters indicate much family harmony and good will. It should not be reasoned that these were drunken rebel-rousing type parties because they would have never invited their sisters to such events.
(5) And so it was, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job said, "It may be that my sons have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Thus Job did continually.
There was no indication that his children did anything wrong in their celebrations, but when the cycle of feasts were done, Job, being the pious man that he was, did these things just in case they had sinned or blasphemed God in their festivity.
(6) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
The sons of God here are generally understood to mean angels by all the early commentaries.
(7) And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" Then Satan answered the LORD and said, "From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down in it."
Notice that this seems to be a rather matter-of-fact question and answer, as God does not become angry with Satan, but continues the discourse. Remember that Satan is the god of this world and that he continually walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, as Peter tells us in the New Testament.
(8) And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a pious and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?" (9) Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, "Does Job fear God for nothing? (10) Have You not made a hedge around him, around his house, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. (11) But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face." (12) And the LORD said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person." So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.
There are people who believe this was either the act of a cruel God, or must be only a story because how could a loving God allow Satan to destroy such a good man? The old taunt of Satan's to get us to question God, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" Once again Satan is the god of this world. When God told Satan that all that Job had was in his, Satan's, power, once again he was stating a matter of fact. But Satan can only do what God allows him to do, and in this instance, He did not allow Satan to touch Job's body.
Why has Satan been allowed to do all that he wants to do to us? Therein lies our choice. Do we willingly CHOOSE God or do we choose the world, and therefore Satan? If God never allowed evil and therefore evil choices, if we all lived in the Garden of Eden with no serpent ever tempting us with anything, what choice is there? We would merely be God's dolls and robots.
(13) And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house; (14) And a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, (15) When the Sabeans descended upon them and took them away; indeed, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (16) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God has fallen from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (17) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (18) While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house, (19) And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you." (20) Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and fell down on the ground and worshiped.
These were actions of grief, but he did not blame God, but instead worshiped Him.
(21) And he said, "Naked I came out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
I believe this is my favorite memory scripture in all the Bible. The Lord is still the Lord and He has given us salvation, true eternal life; anything else is just frill that comes and goes. The true blessing of the Lord still stands, and He is to be blessed INDEED!
(22) In all this Job did not sin, nor charge God foolishly.
Once again the question might be asked, why did Job have to suffer so much loss in so short a time? Once again the answer lies in the fact that Satan is the god of this world. Some times more bad may happen to good people because Satan thinks it takes more to drive them away from God. With some, it doesn't take much. Satan is all about keeping us from the Truth and our salvation. But why does God allow Satan to do so much? I already said I believe giving us a true choice is one reason. Another thing to remember is that God sees a much bigger picture than we do. He wants us ALL to be saved. If by allowing an example to be made of Job, more people are brought to salvation, then that is a good thing in God's eyes. And we should be willing to do God's will. Think of a parent who would willingly give his life to save his child's life. We like to think of it as being the parent's choice, like standing in the line of bullet fire to protect the child. But what if it is not the parent's choice, but it is his or her faith through a trial like death by cancer? Suppose through that child's witness of that faith or by their own grief bringing them back to the Lord, the child is saved as a result of that parent's death. Is that not a good and wonderful thing? We humans have a very different idea of what good and evil are. Although Satan does bring the evil things in our lives, God allows them because He uses them for good as we are told in the following scriptures:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. - Romans 8:28
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. - Genesis 50:20
Blessed be the name of the LORD!
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