Elihu continues to lecture Job

The Book of Job Chapters 34, 35 & 36

Then Elihu said to Job and his friends that they needed to discern what is right and what is good, for Job is insisting that God has taken his rights and he claims his innocence. He says that Job is arrogant and does nothing but talk. But the Almighty can do no wrong and repays people according to their deeds and ways, he does not twist justice. God could not govern if he hated justice. He watches the way people live and no wickedness can hide from his eyes. He does not care if a person is rich or poor. And it is not up to mortals to decide when to come before God in judgment. God does not tailor his justice to their demands. So, he says that Job speaks without knowledge and his words lack insight.

In chapter 35, Elihu says it is wrong of Job to declare "I am righteous before God," then ask how will a righteous life benefit me? The oppressed groan, but they don't ask "where is God?" and if they cry out and God does not answer, it is because of their pride. It is wrong to say God doesn't listen; he is concerned. And it is false to say he doesn't see what is going on. He will bring justice to those who wait, but if you cry out against him, you protest in vain and speak like a fool,

In chapter 36 Elihu speaks and say he will show Job the truth of what he says as he defends God. He says that God is mighty, yet does not despise anyone. He is mighty in both power and understanding. His eyes never leave the innocent and he takes the trouble to show them the reason. And if the innocent listen to God, they will be blessed with prosperity through their lives. But if they refuse to listen, they will perish and die from lack of understanding. Elihu tells Job that God led him from danger and gave him freedom and prosperity but perhaps his wealth and efforts kept him from distress? Be on guard and turn from evil, for it was to prevent you from getting into a life of evil that God sent this suffering.

Then Elihu reminded Job that God was all powerful and a teacher like him. So glorify his mighty works and sing songs of praise, he said. We cannot begin to understand his power and mighty acts.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Like Job's other three friends, Elihu has some truth in his speech. But it is hidden in layers of false assumptions. One theme of the Bible is that God is incomprehensible and we cannot know him completely. We may have an eternal relationship with God, but we can never know enough to answer all of life's questions to predict our future or manipulate God for our own ends. We must constantly go to God for fresh insights into life's dilemmas.

HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? Elihu spoke to the point of wondering if being faithful does any good at all. Many people throughout time have pondered that view. Elihu's conclusion was that God is concerned even though he doesn't intervene immediately in every situation. In the broad scope, God executes justice and we must not lose hope, but wait upon God. GOD WATCHES. GOD WAITS. GOD SEES ALL AND KNOWS ALL. GOD IS A GOD OF COMPASSION. PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is out of rehab after many months for a crushed leg and doing well and being cared for by her ex. Pray for Gabe and Wanda. Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
Update on my cousin Diane who had total mastectomy surgery for breast cancer. She is doing fine and will not need chemo as hers was not an aggressive type of cancer. So I am removing her from our prayer list.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.