Job 36:1-33

Elihu continues his speech and points out the glory of God and how His ways are much higher and greater than the ways of man.  In many ways he seems to contradict himself in this chapter because he begins by making blanket statements about how God is and what God does in a variety of situations.  Then he closes the chapter by stating that God’s greatness is beyond man’s ability to comprehend and His ways are beyond man’s understanding.  It is refreshing to hear Elihu state that God is above his ability to understand but in is disturbing to see that this knowledge on his part does not translate into humility when applying these truths to Job’s situation.  We must learn to apply our theology in such a way that it does not contradict what is true of God.

GOD IS HOLY IN HIS JUDGMENTS OF MAN: Certainly God is always holy in all that He does.  His judgments are always perfect, true and right.  However, Elihu makes assumptions about God’s judgments that are not true.  He claims that “He does not keep the wicked alive.” He also states that those who listen to the instruction of the Lord will “complete their days in prosperity.”  These statements may be true much of the time, but they are certainly not true all the time.  There are many wicked people who live very long lives and there are many obedient people who do not experience prosperity.  Certainly in eternity the wicked will not live in God’s presence while the obedient will prosper in the presence of God.  However, those statements are not always true on this earth.  God is very patient in His judgments but that does not make Him unholy.  It is simply a demonstration of His love and mercy.


GOD IS HIGH ABOVE THE UNDERSTANDINGS OF MAN: There is much about God that we can understand, but none of us are able to gain a full comprehension of His greatness.  He is far above us and His ways are often beyond our knowledge.  It is not our job to explain God completely, but it is our job to exalt Him constantly.  His greatness is far above what we might be able to imagine so our position is to be that of worship and not striving to try to make Him fit into our theological boxes.  Elihu would do well to apply his statements about God’s greatness to the situation of Job.  None of the people in this book is able to understand the scope of what is going on in Job’s life.  We have the benefit of the scene in heaven at the beginning of the book but we still are not capable of understanding God’s ways in Job’s life.  The sooner we recognize and apply the greatness of God to our lives, the more humble we will be in our understanding of His dealings with man.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more

1 Timothy 2:1-7

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and   dignified in every way.    This is good, and   it is pleasing in the sight of   God our Savior,   who desires   all people to be saved and   to come to   the knowledge of the truth.    For   there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,   who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is   the testimony given   at the proper time.    For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying),   a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.   Prayer is one of the greatest privileges believers have and it should be one of our greatest priorities.  Too often our lives are more often marked by complaining about our circumstances and our political leaders than by prayers for them.  The government in Paul’s day
Read more