Elihu continues in ‘educating’ Job on the attributes of God. Take a look.
Job 36: Elihu Extols God's Greatness
1 And Elihu continued, and said:
2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 "Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives the afflicted their right.
7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction,
9 then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
10 He opens their ears to instruction and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him, they complete their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
13 "The godless in heart cherish anger; they do not cry for help when he binds them.
14 They die in youth, and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress into a broad place where there was no cramping, and what was set on your table was full of fatness.
17 "But you are full of the judgment on the wicked; judgment and justice seize you.
18 Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing, and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress, or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long for the night, when peoples vanish in their place.
21 Take care; do not turn to iniquity, for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has prescribed for him his way, or who can say, 'You have done wrong'?
24 "Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung.
25 All mankind has looked on it; man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not; the number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water; they distill his mist in rain,
28 which the skies pour down and drop on mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he judges peoples; he gives food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its crashing declares his presence; the cattle also declare that he rises.
Job 37: Elihu Proclaims God's Majesty
1 "At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.
2 Keep listening to the thunder of his voice and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven he lets it go, and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
4 After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.
5 God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6 For to the snow he says, 'Fall on the earth,' likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7 He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it.
8 Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens.
9 From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds.
10 By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast.
11 He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning.
12 They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world.
13 Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.
14 "Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16 Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
17 you whose garments are hot when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, like him, spread out the skies, hard as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
21 "And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 Out of the north comes golden splendour; God is clothed with awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty---we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
24 Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit."
Things to think about…
While Elihu may have some wisdom from the Lord, his statement of “truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you”, Job 36:4, Surely such a statementis not only arrogant, it is simply not true. Only the sinless Son of God can accurately make such a claim.
Elihu continues in ‘educating’ Job about the Lord. Sadly some of his words have some biased personal bites, as in Job 36:11, 12. He says Job’s prosperity is gone and his kids have perished. Elihu is inferring that Job has therefore done something wicked. This echo’s a little of what the other three had said even though Elihu said they had nothing to offer Job. It seems most of Elihu’s advice is also of little help except to heap more guilt on the poor hearer.
Elihu says some wonderful truth about the Lord’s creation however. Consider Job 36:27 – Job 37. This is really an introduction to the Lord’s response which Job would soon receive directly from God.
Look at Job 37:13 “Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen”. The whole of God’s will in creation is for one of these three purposes. So which one was it for Job. Elihu seems to agree with the other three friends that it was ‘for correction’. But was it for love? If so how was God showing His love to Job? Surely it was in drawing him to a greater knowledge of God and His purposes. I think this is love, Rom 8:38.
Elihu in Job 37:14 says "Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God.” We know that when the Lord speaks to Job that he does in fact rebuke Job by asking Job to consider God’s handiwork. Creation is a wonderful apologetic for God. Christopher Hitchens the atheist when he was alive was asked if there was one argument the Theists had that was a powerful argument against atheism his response was “a fine tuned universe”. Basically saying that it is all too well ordered to be an accident, intelligent design must have been involved.
Elihu seems to be describing the ‘Northern Lights’ or aurora borealis in Job 37:22. One of the beauties in God’s creation that we are too far from either pole to experience here in Australia.
One final barb for Job in Job 37:24. Job is wise in his own conceit according to Elihu. Elihu was not rebuked by the Lord as Job’s other 3 friends. Perhaps this was due to his age and the Lord had mercy on him because he had yet to grow out of his youthful folly, Prov 22:15.
Vision Point for Cell groups
CBC's Vision "To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission".
Cell group questions from Sunday morning’s sermon “God’s taking a break” Job 23.
1. Ever felt like God was on vacation in your life? You have been praying for years about something and nothing has been happening. Jay shared about Doug and Elma McPherson and Doug’s conversion after 50 years of marriage. Discuss.
2. Job felt forsaken by God. Jay asked would God forsake God. We know Jesus was forsaken “My God, My God why have you forsaken Me”, Mt 27:46. Discuss the significance and meaning of this statement by Jesus.
3. Jesus was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, Is 53:3. We are being conformed into the image of Christ, Rom 8:29 and not our fallen image. Discuss the role of suffering in conforming to Christ, 1Pet 4:12-16.
4. Prayer and praise points below.
Prayer Points
1. Joe Biden been elected President, but a peaceful transition is not looking likely with supreme court challenges. Pray for truth, grace and peace.
2. Zac’s dad, Mark Torrington is now moving around. Miraculous really.
5. People who have visited the church that they settle in.
6. Sunday’s messages. The message this week – “God’s got this” Job 40-42, Jay.
7. Church finances to meet our expenses and to put a roof over our café.
8. Our City and Country – Pray for revival over our city and the leadership of our country even through these challenging times.
Praise Points.
1. More visitors on Sunday.
2. Communion – thankyou Gary and Christine.
3. Our worship team on Sunday – thanks Rod, Riley and Molly. Sounded amazing. Rin did a great job with the words and streaming.
4. Angelo, Helen, Doug, Maddison, Yuki thankyou for your efforts every week.
5. Young Life will be using our facilities on Friday afternoons. Zach Lipp heading this up. Contact Zac for more details. Starts after school on Fridays 3:30pm.
6. Unity, peace and grace at CBC.
6. Praise God for all those who helped clean up after the storm, Richard, Sally, Murray, Rhonda, Steve.
Announcements
1. Carols Sun 20thDec 6pm. Start with a meal. Carols to start after the meal around 7pm.
2. AGM – this Sunday 15thNovember after the morning service. Open for all.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Kids Church activity sheets provided – either in the house or church.
