(Text and notes from the Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation, Tyndale 1996)
“How you have helped the powerless!
How you have saved the weak!
How you have enlightened my stupidity!
What wise advice you have offered!
Where have you gotten all these wise sayings?
Whose spirit speaks through you?
- Job 26:2-4
With great sarcasm, Job attacked Bildad’s comments. Job’s friends’ theological explanations failed to bring any relief because they were unable to turn their knowledge into helpful counsel. When dealing with people, it is more important to love and understand them than to analyze them or give advice. Compassion produces greater results than criticism or blame.
“I will maintain my innocence without wavering.
My conscience is clear for as long as I live.”
- Job 27:6
In the midst of all the accusations, Job was able to declare that his conscience was clear. Only God’s forgiveness and the determination to live right before God can bring a clear conscience. How important Job’s record became as he was being accused. Like Job, we can’t claim sinless lives, but we can claim forgiven lives. When we confess our sins to God, he forgives us. Then we can live with clear consciences (1 John 1:9).
“And this is what he says to all humanity:
‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom;
to forsake evil is real understanding.’”
- Job 28:28
“The fear of the Lord” is a key theme in the wisdom literature of the Bible (Job through Song of Songs). It means to have respect and reverence for God and to be in awe of his majesty and power. This is the starting point to finding real wisdom (see Proverbs 1:7-9).
Those were the days when I went to the city gate
and took my place among the honored leaders.
- Job 29:7
Job was walking a fine line between bragging about past accomplishments and recalling good deeds in order to answer the charges against him. Job’s one weakness throughout his conversations is that he came dangerously close to pride. Pride is especially deceptive when we are doing right. But it separates us from God by making us think we’re better than we really are. Then comes the tendency to trust our own opinions, which leads to other kinds of sin. While it is not wrong to recount past deeds, it is far better to recount God’s blessings to us. This will help keep us from inadvertently falling into pride.
“Have I put my trust in money
or felt secure because of my gold?
Have I gloated about my wealth
and all that I own? “
“Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies,
or the moon walking down its silver pathway,
and been secretly enticed in my heart
to throw kisses at them in worship?
If so, I should be punished by the judges,
for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven.”
- Job 31:24-28
Job affirmed that depending on wealth for happiness is idolatry and denies the God of heaven. We excuse our society’s obsession with money and possessions as a necessary evil or “the way it works” in the modern world. But every society in every age has valued the power and prestige that money brings. True believers must purge themselves of the deep-seated desire for more power, prestige, and possessions. They must also not withhold their resources from neighbors near and far who have desperate physical needs.
I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak,
for wisdom comes with age.’
But there is a spirit within people,
the breath of the Almighty within them,
that makes them intelligent.
Sometimes the elders are not wise.
Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.”
- Job 32:7-9
“The breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent.” It is not enough to recognize a great truth; it must be lived out each day. Elihu recognized the truth that God was the only source of real wisdom, but he did not use God’s wisdom to help Job. While he recognized where wisdom came from, he did not seek to acquire it. Becoming wise in an ongoing, lifelong pursuit. Don’t be content just to know about wisdom; make it part of your life.
Then Elihu said:
“Do you think it is right for you to claim,
‘I am righteous before God’?
For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me?
What’s the use of living a righteous life?’
- Job 35:1-3
Sometimes we wonder if being faithful to our convictions really does any good at all. Elihu spoke to this very point. His conclusion was that God is still concerned even though he doesn’t intervene immediately in every situation. In the broad scope of time, God executes justice. We have his promise on that. Don’t lose hope. Wait upon God. He notices your right living and your faith.
“Do you still want to argue with the Almighty?
You are God’s critic, but do you have the answers?”
- Job 40:2-5
How do you argue or criticize almighty God? Do you demand answers when things don’t go your way, you lose a job, someone close to you is ill or dies, finances are tight, you fail, or unexpected changes occur? The next time you are tempted to complain to God, consider how much he loves you. And remember Job’s reaction when he had his chance to speak . Are you worse off than Job or more righteous than he? Give God a chance to reveal his greater purposes for you, but remember that they may unfold over the course of your life and not at the moment you desire.
So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.” So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the LORD commanded them, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer. When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before!
- Job 42:8-10
After receiving much criticism, Job was still able to pray for his three friends. It is difficult to forgive someone who has accused us of wrongdoing, but Job did. Are you praying for those who have hurt you? Can you forgive them? Follow the actions of Job, whom God called a good man, and pray for those who have wronged you.
Important Lesson:
The main question in the book of Job is timely: Why do believers experience troubles and suffering? Through a long debate, Job’s supposedly wise friends were unable to answer this question. Job’s friends made a serious error for which God rebuked them. They assumed that trouble comes only because people sin. People make the same mistake today when they assert that sickness or lack of material blessing is a sign of unconfessed sin or lack of faith. Though normally (but not always) following God leads to a happier life, and rebelling against God normally (but not always) leads to an unhappy life, God is in control. In our world invaded by sin, calamity and suffering come to good and bad alike.
This does not mean that God is indifferent, uncaring, unjust, or powerless to protect us. Bad things happen because we live in a fallen world, where both believers and unbelievers are hit with the tragic consequences of sin. God allows evil for a time although he turns it around for our good (Romans 8:28). We may have no answers as to why God allows evil, but we can be sure he is all-powerful and knows what he is doing. The next time you face trials and dilemmas, see them as opportunities to turn to God for strength. You will find a God who only desires to show his love and compassion to you. If you can trust him in pain, confusion, and loneliness, you will win the victory and eliminate doubt, one of Satan’s greatest footholds in your life. Make God your foundation. You can never be separated from his love.
No comments:
Post a Comment