Our Daily Scripture – 11/21/23 (Tuesday)

SCRIPTURE:  JOB 36

ELIHU CONTINUED (vs. 1-33)

ELIHU’S DISCOURSE ABOUT GOD:

  1.  God is mighty, but does not despise men; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose (v. 5)
  2.  He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights. (v. 6)
  3.  He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. (v. 7)
  4.  If men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of  affliction, he tells them what they have done – that they have sinned arrogantly. (v. 8-9)
  5.  He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. (v. 10)
  6.  If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. (v. 11)
  7.  But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge. (v. 12)
  8.  Those who suffer he delivers to their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. (v. 15)
  9.  He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. (v. 16)
  10.  God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? (v. 22)
  11.  Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘You have done wrong?” (v. 23)
  12.  How great is God – beyond our understanding!  The number of his years is past finding out. (v. 26)
  13.  He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. (vs. 27-28)
  14.  He spreads out the clouds, and thunders from his pavilion. (v. 29)
  15.  He scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea. (v. 30)
  16.  He governs the nations and provides food in abundance. (v. 31)
  17.  He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. (v 32)
  18. His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach. (v. 33)

ELIHU’S ADVICES TO JOB:

  1.  Now that you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.  Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bribe turn you aside.  (vs. 17-18)
  2.  Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress? (v. 19)
  3.  Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes. (v. 20)
  4.  Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction. (v. 21)
  5.  Remember to extol his work, which men have praised in song. (v. 24)

THOUGHTS:

Elihu criticized Job for questioning God.  But he was proud claiming that he had the perfect knowledge to speak in God’s behalf.  He summarized God as mighty, great, sovereign and worthy to be exalted.

God is incomprehensible and we cannot know nor understand him completely.  We may have some knowledge about him, but we can never know enough to answer all of life’s questions.  All we need is to constantly have a close relationship with God for fresh insights into life’s dilemma.