Job 32
Now a new voice joins in the conversation, a young man named Elihu, who comes perhaps closer to the root of things than Job and his friends.
Job maintained his innocent plea and his friends have not managed to convince him otherwise.
Elihu explained that he has kept silent until now because he was young and wanted to show respect for the older fellows.
Yet now he cannot remain silent any longer showing no partiality or flattery - "For if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away"
Job 33
Elihu charges Job to listen, his words come from an upright heart and are spoken with sincere lips speaking what he knows.
Elihu is like Job in the eyes of God - a piece of clay that Job has no need to fear and Elihu's hand is not heavy on Job.
Yet Job - you said in my hearing that you are pure and have done no wrong yet God has found fault with me and made me his enemy - In this Job is not right - God is greater than mortal man.
Job complained that God has not responded to his charge, yet God does speak however sometimes in one way and sometimes in another though no one perceives it.
Sometimes God speaks by dreams and vision - giving warning of judgement ahead and to turn the person (or people) from doing wrong and becoming too proud.
Or somebody may be afflicted with pain so bad that they cannot eat and food loses its flavour. wasting away they draw close to death.
Yet if there is an angel at their side, one messenger out of a thousand sent to tell them how to be upright and says to God "I have found a ransom for them, let their flesh be restored as in they day of their youth"
That person will see God and say to others "I sinned, but did not get what I deserved, God delivered me"
God can do this to a person more than once so that the light of life may shine.
The chapter ends with Elihu telling job to shut up then speak up if he has an answer - difficult to do!
Job 34
"Hear my words, you wise men, listen to me men of learning. For the ear tests words as the toungue tastes food. Let us discern for ouselves what is right and together learn what is good.
Job has maintained that he has done no wrong and God is denying his claim for justice.
Job uniquely drinks scorn like water and says that there is no profit in trying to please God.
However far be if from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong!
It is unthinkable that god should do wrong and pervert the cause of justice - who appointed God and put him in charge of the world?
God follows the ways of mortals and there is no dark place to hide from him.
But if God is (apparently) silent, who can condemn God?
It seems that Elihu too is convinced that for Job to be suffering like he is then he must have done something to deserve it.
Job 35
Job, you question and say that I'm right and God is wrong, then ask "What profit is it to me and what do I gain from not sinning?"
Look at the heavens, and the clouds high above - look deep at the vastness of space and consider how it affects God if you do sin? What benefit is it to God if you do the right thing?
Job 36
God does not despise any person, the righteous person is honoured and exalted, but if they are under affliction, bound with chains he tells them what they have done wrong - that they have sinned and if they repent they are released and obey God from that time forward they will end their days in prosperity
Job is being corrected for his sins and the sooner he realises this the better it would appear!
Job 37
Elihu seems to be getting excited and a storm is about to break over Job and his friends
In the face of a huge event like a storm and the forces of nature are unleashed we should stop and consider the wonders of God - How doe1s God control the clouds? How do you make lightening?
How do the clouds hang poised above the earth?
Can you join God in making the skies like a mirror of bronze?
What should we say to God - we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness?
Nobody can look directly at the sun without damaging their eyes
The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power
I'd like to touch on something from this last chapter - how are the clouds controlled? and how do you make lightening?
These processes are now much better understood - after all the reason I am able to write this blog and the reason that you are able to read it is due to our scientific understanding of electro-magnetism in being able to generate and use tame lightening - yet even the biggest lightening chambers that we have built to study lightening and its affects still can generate a lightening bolt a tiny fraction the size of one in the wild.
Our understanding of nature is still quite rudimentary - Terry Pratchett the author of the discworld novels (of which I am a fan) cites an illustration on how things can be connected in that a butterfly a thousand miles away can have an effect on something as extreme as weather.
In the discworld the butterfly is its own species, the Quantum Weather butterfly.
He wonders if scientists would be better employed in catching the butterfly responsible for the terrible weather we have been having?
Now a new voice joins in the conversation, a young man named Elihu, who comes perhaps closer to the root of things than Job and his friends.
Job maintained his innocent plea and his friends have not managed to convince him otherwise.
Elihu explained that he has kept silent until now because he was young and wanted to show respect for the older fellows.
Yet now he cannot remain silent any longer showing no partiality or flattery - "For if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away"
Job 33
Elihu charges Job to listen, his words come from an upright heart and are spoken with sincere lips speaking what he knows.
Elihu is like Job in the eyes of God - a piece of clay that Job has no need to fear and Elihu's hand is not heavy on Job.
Yet Job - you said in my hearing that you are pure and have done no wrong yet God has found fault with me and made me his enemy - In this Job is not right - God is greater than mortal man.
Job complained that God has not responded to his charge, yet God does speak however sometimes in one way and sometimes in another though no one perceives it.
Sometimes God speaks by dreams and vision - giving warning of judgement ahead and to turn the person (or people) from doing wrong and becoming too proud.
Or somebody may be afflicted with pain so bad that they cannot eat and food loses its flavour. wasting away they draw close to death.
Yet if there is an angel at their side, one messenger out of a thousand sent to tell them how to be upright and says to God "I have found a ransom for them, let their flesh be restored as in they day of their youth"
That person will see God and say to others "I sinned, but did not get what I deserved, God delivered me"
God can do this to a person more than once so that the light of life may shine.
The chapter ends with Elihu telling job to shut up then speak up if he has an answer - difficult to do!
Job 34
"Hear my words, you wise men, listen to me men of learning. For the ear tests words as the toungue tastes food. Let us discern for ouselves what is right and together learn what is good.
Job has maintained that he has done no wrong and God is denying his claim for justice.
Job uniquely drinks scorn like water and says that there is no profit in trying to please God.
However far be if from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong!
It is unthinkable that god should do wrong and pervert the cause of justice - who appointed God and put him in charge of the world?
God follows the ways of mortals and there is no dark place to hide from him.
But if God is (apparently) silent, who can condemn God?
It seems that Elihu too is convinced that for Job to be suffering like he is then he must have done something to deserve it.
Job 35
Job, you question and say that I'm right and God is wrong, then ask "What profit is it to me and what do I gain from not sinning?"
Look at the heavens, and the clouds high above - look deep at the vastness of space and consider how it affects God if you do sin? What benefit is it to God if you do the right thing?
Job 36
God does not despise any person, the righteous person is honoured and exalted, but if they are under affliction, bound with chains he tells them what they have done wrong - that they have sinned and if they repent they are released and obey God from that time forward they will end their days in prosperity
Job is being corrected for his sins and the sooner he realises this the better it would appear!
Job 37
Elihu seems to be getting excited and a storm is about to break over Job and his friends
In the face of a huge event like a storm and the forces of nature are unleashed we should stop and consider the wonders of God - How doe1s God control the clouds? How do you make lightening?
How do the clouds hang poised above the earth?
Can you join God in making the skies like a mirror of bronze?
What should we say to God - we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness?
Nobody can look directly at the sun without damaging their eyes
The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power
I'd like to touch on something from this last chapter - how are the clouds controlled? and how do you make lightening?
These processes are now much better understood - after all the reason I am able to write this blog and the reason that you are able to read it is due to our scientific understanding of electro-magnetism in being able to generate and use tame lightening - yet even the biggest lightening chambers that we have built to study lightening and its affects still can generate a lightening bolt a tiny fraction the size of one in the wild.
Our understanding of nature is still quite rudimentary - Terry Pratchett the author of the discworld novels (of which I am a fan) cites an illustration on how things can be connected in that a butterfly a thousand miles away can have an effect on something as extreme as weather.
In the discworld the butterfly is its own species, the Quantum Weather butterfly.
He wonders if scientists would be better employed in catching the butterfly responsible for the terrible weather we have been having?
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