Three Men - Ezekiel 14

Ezekiel 14:16 "Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God."

One thing struck me in this verse. Ezekiel is receiving this prophesy during the captivity and that is when Daniel was living his life in captivity. (We will study about Daniel later.) But the Lord put him in this group of three righteous men. Two from the olden days. Daniel must have had great favor with the Lord and indeed he did.

I believe the point here is that when God starts his judgment on a people, it is bound to be carried out regardless of who prays. Although he has great respect for someone, His will must be carried out. So even Noah, Daniel or Job could not stop this judgment.

Now in the first part of the chapter some elders have come to Ezekiel, it seems they were wanting to find out what God had in mind for the future. The problem with them was that they had not turned lose of their idol worship even though there may have been no images, they still held idols in their heart.

v1 "Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me."

v3 "Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face; should I be inquired of at all by them?"

People cannot come to God for a new life when they hold on to their old life. The first step is repentance which means to 'turn from'.

v6 "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God, Repent and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations."

The same is true for this generation. As I've said, people cannot make a deal with God. We must come under His conditions. It starts with recognizing that we are sinners and then a willingness to turn from that sin.

Because these men held sin in their heart, the Lord answered thus:

v8 "And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD."

There will be a few that remain who will encourage the hearts of the captives. It is called the remnant. These are such people as Daniel and others who stayed true to God.

v23 "And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings; and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God."

I am encouraged by some young families coming up who honor the Lord. It seems at times that there is nothing but Hollywood and meanness in the world. Then, I find there are those who have taught their children properly and those children are raising families to fear the Lord. It is an encouragement to me.

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Job Repents and is Restored Job 42

Job 42:5-6 "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear; but now mine eye seeth thee, Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." See also Romans 10:17

I do not want to breeze over this last chapter for it is the conclusion of the matter.

The devil came to God and the LORD mentioned Job. Satan laid down a challenge that if the hedge were taken away, Job would curse God. Well, the afflictions were upon Job while his friends told him it was because of his wickedness. Job held to his integrity but still there was a lesson for him to learn from all of it. Job was a wise man, a prince, a teacher and a man of standing in the world. He was not equal to or above God. He could not demand of God. He must rely on God's grace just as we do.

Job said it like this: v3 "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefor have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not."

I Peter 2:10 "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strength, settle you."

That's four things that can come out of affliction: perfection (not sinless perfection but maturity), stablish, strength, settle you. These are all indications of a mature Christian who knows that what ever happens around us or to us, God is still in control and knows all the circumstances and needs that we are not aware of and the ones we are aware of.

The conclusion that I got from all this was that even when Satan buffets us, we may still have something to learn from what happens. Our praise may be weak and we may get beaten down but our faith can stay intact. These are enduring times and joy will come in the morning.

Psalm 30:4-5 "Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

After this Job's friends were rebuked and instructed to make appropriate offerings. Then:

v10 "And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before."

v15 "And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren."

v16 "After this lived Job and hundred and forty years, and saw his sons and his sons' sons, even four generations." (140 years)

We have now finished the book of Job. I have often read the book but in this study I discovered the character Elihu who prepared Job to talk with the LORD like John was before Jesus. I learned of the patience of the LORD in dealing with his children even when they get a little full of themselves. I learned that affliction can have some rewards although I do not seek the affliction part. I learned that all must repent and depend on the grace of God and not on our own righteousness.

Psalm 1:6 "For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Job repents.

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Leviathan Job 41

Job 41:1 "Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down? Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?" v2

Here the Bible describes a creature beyond anything I have ever seen alive or in pictures.

I've tried to thing of some creature that would match the description. The dragon in mythical stories is the only one that comes to mind. I know that many legends come from truths.

For me, if the Bible says it is so, then it is so and there was at this time such an amazing creature although his kingdom seems contrary to Bible teachings: v34 "He beholdeth all high things; he is a king over all the children of pride." Of course, we know that pride comes before a fall.

Let's look at some of the description: v10 "None is so fierce that dare stir him up: who then is able to stand before me?" God is saying, if you cannot tame this creature which I made, God is greater that it.

v14 "Who can open the doors of his face? his teeth are terrible round about."

v18 "By his sneezings a light doth shine, and his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning."

v19 "Out of his mouth go burning lamps and sparks of fire leap out, v20 Out of his nostrils goeth smoke, as out of a seething pot or caldron. v21 His breath kindleth coals, and a flame goeth out of his mouth."

v22 "In his neck remaineth strength, and sorrow is turned into joy before him."

I thought this indicated that the creature could influence the emotions of anyone coming near it.

v23 "The flakes of his flesh are joined together; they are firm in themselves; they cannot be moved. v24 His heart is as firm as a stone; yea, as hard as a piece of the nether millstone."

It goes on to describe the uselessness of trying to subdue it.

v30 "Sharp stones are under him; he spreadeth sharp pointed things upon the mire."

v31 "He maketh the deep to boil like a pot; he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment. v32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary. v33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear."

That is quite a description. The point is that the LORD has covered many of his creation. Job said he would contend with God. Now, he can see that the LORD is way above him and that humility is appropriate before him.

I think Job may have been aware of this creature since he did not question its existence.

caldron, cauldron: a large kettle

Genesis 1:24 "And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so."

Leviathan used in God's discussion with Job.

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Job's Confession Job 40

Job 40:4 "Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth."

Job's confession is in two parts, here in chapter 40 and then in chapter 42:6.

Job is shaking off his robe of self-righteousness before the majesty of Almighty God. Many will be lost because they feel that they do not have to humble themselves before God or trust in HIS plan of salvation.

Luke 18:9-13 "And he (Jesus) spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

So, we have it in the words of the Son of God. We must see that we have a need before we will reach out to the one who can save us.

v9 "Hast thou an arm like God? or canst thou thunder with a voice like him?"

Almost the whole chapter 29 of Psalms is about the voice of God: v4 "The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

When Jesus was in the ship with his disciples and a storm came up. The disciples thought they would sink but they called the Master and he had but to speak and the waves calmed.

In the book of Genesis, God had to but speak and what we see was created out of nothing but his words. That word was made flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ. John 1:14.

Here in Job 40 the LORD ask Job some questions and then tells him this:

v14 "Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee."

Now we know that we cannot save ourselves. Had that been possible, Jesus would not have had to die. It is logical when you think about it. There would be no reason for God to give up his only begotten son to die for our sins if there was another way for us to save ourselves.

v15 "Behold now behemoth, which I made with thee, he eateth grass as an ox."

He goes on to describe this giant beast. In the next chapter a creature called leviathan is described and it is something else!

Job's confession.

Romans 3:10 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;"

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God talks to Job Part 2 Job 39

Job 39:1 "Knowest thou the time when the wild goats of the rock bring forth? or canst thou mark when the hinds do calve?"

In these chapters the LORD builds step by step to a mysterious creature of the deep.

-38-the elements as we call them, the universe and the earth
-39-the animals we do not normally see but still they survive
-40-behemoth, a creature that is unafraid to try to swallow the Jordan
-41-the creature that leaves a trail of light and has scales and breaths fire

In Isaiah it is said of the LORD that he is counsellor(Isaiah 9:6). In job's case he builds a case step by step to convince Job of his wrong.

v13-17 "Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich? Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust. And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's; her labor is in vain without fear; Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding."

Job is being brought to a point where he can see for himself that self-righteousness is not sufficient. As Scofield said that is a path to more fruitfulness. I Cor. 11:31,32, Heb 12:7-11.

I Corinthians 11:31-32 "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."

God talks to Job.

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God Speaks to Job - Job 38

Job 38:1-2 "Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?"

Now Job starts to learn some things and as my large print Bible says in the heading 'God shows Job's limits'.

The chapter is filled with questions. A teacher often asked questions of students. Not to learn from them but to teach them the answers. God is the master teacher.

v4 "Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding."

v5 "Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?"

v6 "Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof?"

v7 "When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"

Then in verse 9 we learn the answer:

v9 "When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, v10 And said Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further; and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?" v11

The LORD tells us that like a child he has created the universe and told it where it can go and where it cannot go. He was there when the child first started out. But Job was not there then.

The passage contains the Where, Who, the When and the How.

Then Job is asked if he was involved in any of the creation:

v12 "Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; v13 That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it?"

A number of verses start with "Hast Thou" and they show Job his limitations. Then Job is pointed to the stars and to the heavens:

v33 "Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth?"

The desolate places where Job has not been are cared for by the LORD:

v26 "To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man v7 To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?"

It seems like a good time to say 'I didn't think about that.'

Hast thou, Knowest thou, Canst thou, Wilt thou... All questions for Job to ponder.

v3 "Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee and answer thou me."

You know how children are. They go through phases in their childhood. They are tender babies, curious toddlers, willful, then full of knowledge by the time they are 18 or sooner. While their parents try all along to tell them that they have a lot to learn about life. Job had gone by the book, so to speak, and knew himself that he had lived a good life. Even Job could not equate himself with God. He was not so full of wisdom and good deeds that he could declare that he had no sin or that it was God that made mistakes and not himself. Remember the children 'Mom and Dad are old and they just don't get it'.

Job could have endured his affliction (although he was really going through a lot) without accusing God. Job could have admitted that he was not altogether righteous and taken his chastening as a child instead of laying down a challenge to God. But God is his lovingkindness takes Job as a student and teaches him in person from the whirlwind. See also Exodus 19:36 and Ezekiel 1:4.

We serve a big God. I am so glad that he does not seek out an opportunity to destroy us but rather holds out his hand to us in love. See John 3:16

Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."

God shows Job his limitations.

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Elihu Part 6 Job 37

Job 37:16 "Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?"

We come to the last of Elihu's chapters. He here speaks of the way God balances the weather. We have a weather observation system in place now but back in those days when there was no global travel, this would have been great information but that was not the purpose for giving it here.

Elihu is magnifying the Lord. It is he who set these things in motion and it is he who keeps the delicate balance necessary to keep the earth fertile and yet not destroy it with too much of any one thing.

v5 "God thundereth marvelously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend."

He brings the snow. v6 The beasts go in their dens. v8 Whirlwinds come from the south, cold from the north. v9

v10 "By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened."

I cannot see the relationship of two things but our text verse does say they are wondrous works.

Then of the turning of the clouds at his bidding upon the earth, the world.

v13 "He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy."

Then Job is asked the question: v15 "Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?"

Which is followed by a series of questions to which Job had no answer. Remember there has been much speech about just about everything in previous chapters. Now, all the talk is quiet while these questions are asked. Truth is, these smart men just do not know the answers.

v19 "Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness."

Job had said he would reason with God if he could just come face to face with him. As Job was, I too would be overwhelmed. Perhaps when there is nothing to say, it is best to say nothing.

v23 "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict."

Exodus 33:20 "And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live."

John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."

Like with Adam in the garden, God often shows us our way by asking a question. A person who does not know they are lost will do little if anything to be found. Jesus also asked questions of learned men to show them they were in the presence of one who had more wisdom than they.

Psalm 33:11 "The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations."

Elihu's last words to Job.

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Elihu Part 5 Job 36

2Job 36:3-4 "I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words shall not be false; he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee."

Those words are from Elihu who has a special place in these studies. He reminds me of John who came before Jesus declaring that people repent and that one greater than he was coming.

Elihu is preparing Job to hear words directly from God who will speak from the whirlwind.

v5 "Behold God is mighty, and despiseth not any; he is mighty in strength and wisdom."

The next few verses remind us of Israel and how God told them if they would follow and obey Him, he would establish them in the land but if not they would be chastened.

v7 "He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous; but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them forever, and they are exalted."

II Chronicles 7:14 "If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

I think many people think that God must do things to people to discipline them but it is that he only has to take his protecting hand off people for bad things to happen. If we push Him away, then he will not impose on us. We do need his protecting and guiding hand in these days.

v10-12 "He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge."

We could say it like this, There are two kinds of rulers: 1) is not a rightful ruler and forces people to serve them, they perhaps are not of the blood line of the king and so do not have a right to the throne; 2) there are rightful rulers, those who treat their people well, who came to the throne because it belongs to them. That is a simple way to put it but it's the best I can do to make my point. God is a rightful ruler. There is none above him. He created what is. It is in His prerogative to establish right and wrong concerning all that is made because he made it.

v26 "Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out."

Things that man could not possibly do, He does. Some would say that it is 'just' the elements or 'mother nature' but it was God who set these things in order so that they would be compatible with man. We could not take the moisture falling from the clouds in one big blast. It would wash away our land and probably us but look at this verse.

v27 "For he maketh small the drops of water; they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof; v28 Which the clouds do drop and distill upon man abundantly."

So tender is the rain that a rose pedal can be hit and glisten in the light but not be damaged.

So the chapter says that God is mighty and then that he is great. I agree.

'God is great, God is good and we thank Him for our food. Amen.

Psalm 107:8 "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!"

Elihu part 5.

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Elihu Part 4 Job 35

Job 35:1-3 "Elihu spake moreover, and said, Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?"

The advantage is to man and the profit is to man. It brings him into a closer relationship to God.

Those things done on earth have a direct bearing on the state of the person committing the acts. However, it is not for God's benefit that people do right for our activity will neither diminish nor lift God up.

v7 "If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?"

Elihu then tells us how God has elevated man above the animals by teaching us more than they. v11 "Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven?"

We are reminded that it could have been different if God had so desired it. He is the designer.

Then we come to one of those statements that man makes that is really out of man's control. I've heard people talk about how they are unafraid of the legal system and they will go on and on about how they will tell them a thing or two or maybe not even show up. It is a different story when they stand before the judge either willingly or by the hand of the law.

v14 "Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him."

People can say all they want that God is not real and therefore that they will not stand before him to give account for their life. That belief does not change the fact that God is real and will hold man accountable whether or not they belief in him.

v16 "Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain, he multiplieth words without knowledge."

Amen.

Elihu talks to Job about righteousness or wickedness before God.

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Elihu Part 3 Job 34

Job 34:5 "For Job hath said, I am righteous: let us know among ourselves what is good." v9 "For he hath said, it profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself in God." chapter 9:22

Elihu has brought to their remembrance words spoken before. I think people think that they can say things and never stand in judgment for them. It will be a great surprise to hear those hateful words again.

Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."

I think the central thought in this chapter is that men's deeds either hurt or benefit them and have no physical effect on God. God having compassion on the cry of the helpless is another matter. He does hear them.

v10 "Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity."

v11 "For the work of man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways."

It is important to be born again which is by the grace of God and not any deeds we have or could do. So far as our life is concerned, we are not to just rest in grace and ignore the needs around us. It is good to do good.

v27-28 "Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways; So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted."

What God seeks is for man to acknowledge his wrongs and not to accuse God of some misdeed because he is reaping the seeds he has sown.

v31 "Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend anymore; v32 "That which I see not teach thou me; if I have done iniquity, I will do no more."

Hebrews 12:6 "For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

Our society has found it cruel to discipline children. They instead let children rule the home and call it love. The results bloom like wild flowers in our nation. Children have grown up without correction and guidance and now run wild with knives and guns. That is not love. It is more like hate or laziness to just let a child find their own way without guidelines in their life. Chastening is love in action.

Now, back to Job. He gets a strong rebuke in the last two verses of this chapter.

v36-37 "My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God."

So Job is being tried in the fire. It is not pleasant. There would be no point to the test if Job had nothing to learn. We are to that part now. I personally do not mind learning something but I (like most students) do not care for test.

Psalm 12:6 "The words of the LORD are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times."

Elihu points out Job's mistake.

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Elihu Part 2 Job 33

Job 33:4 "The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life."

Elihu continues with is credentials and tells that he is there at Job's request to God. He gives opportunity for objections then since there were none, ask that he be heard.

First he goes right to one of Job's wrongs: Remember Elihu is talking to Job in God's stead.

v8 "Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying (Job's words)v9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me."

Then he charges God: v10 "Behold he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy."

Elihu's reply: v12 "Behold in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man."

Although Elihu here explains some things to Job, he says God is not accountable to man.

v13 "Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters."

God does warn people of danger: v15 "In a dream, in a vision of the night...v16 Then he openeth the ears of men...v18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit..."

Man is close to perishing but it takes only the concern of one to stop it.

v23 "If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness; v24 Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom."

Here we are reminded of Jesus and the ransom he paid for lost man. The first speaks to grace not justice and the new birth as in verse 25 "His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth: v26 He shall pray unto God, and he will be favorable unto him." See also Luke 23:33

Next we see the importance of repentance: v27 "He looketh upon men and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not v28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light." Also Romans 6:23.

Elihu has told of the love of God. He is not the enemy.

I John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not."

Elihu explains God's ways to Job.

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Elihu Job 32

Job 32:2-3 "Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Busite, of the kindred of Ram; against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job."

The name Elihu means God himself.
Ram (the best I can figure) was the brother of Abram (Abraham) Genesis 22:21 (A'ram).

Elihu was sent in response to one of Job's pleas. See the next chapter verse 6 "Behold I am according to thy wish in God's stead; I also am formed out of the clay." Chapter 9:32.

We can safely say that Elihu has been with the older men throughout the whole ordeal. He is younger than they and has respectfully kept quiet while they battered back and forth.

v7 "I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom."

Now that the older men have exhausted their words Elihu takes a turn but not simply as a bystander. He even attended to there needs. v12 "Yea, I attended unto you, ..." He is there under the inspiration of God.

v 18-19 "For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent, it is ready to burst like new bottles."

I thought of another man who appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Genesis 14:18 "And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine; and he was the priest of the most high God. Hebrews 7:1 "For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; v2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation king of righteousness, and after that also king of Salem, which is King of peace;"

I would not call it a mystery, although that word came to me, rather it is an unusual personality that comes on the scene. He is filled with wisdom to the point of closing the mouths of these elder wise men.

v16 "When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)" This statement got me to thinking that Elihu may have recorded the book of Job. His statement here is in the first person as were some other prophets when they were rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem.

It is as if these men say Elihu in a new light. Elihu had been in attendance and silent. I suppose that is the way of the elder. They expect the younger to be silent and mostly that is appropriate when older people are talking but it is not always God's way. Paul told Timothy to not let them despise his youth. Even Jesus was a young man and I expect that is one thing that rubbed the elder priest the wrong way. They could not withstand his wisdom but still he was just a youngster, so they were confused as to how to handle it. It would be good to take serious note of a name that starts with Eli. Remember Elijah, Elisha?

Well enough on that track. Elihu is on the scene. He speaks with the wisdom of God and we will listen.

Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me."

Elihu takes over the conversation with Job and his friends.

'IF' Job 31

Job 31:4 "Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?"

These conversations have been a journey. The 'friends' talked a long time to convince Job that his troubles were because of his wickedness. Job searched his life and found that he had been pretty much on track with his life except he did mention the 'sins of his youth'.

Now Job goes down the list in search of his wrong. It is tough for me to know exactly where Job is but I know he has something to learn from this test. For his friends, it came down to Job justifying himself. In a court, it might be a lack of remorse by a criminal over a deed he did. But this is no criminal this is the perfect and upright man of Job chapter 1.

So we had a 'they' chapter a while back, we could call this the 'if' chapter for it has 20 or so ifs in it. Each a search by Job for his wrong deed.

v5 "IF I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; v6 Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity."

That has been the theme of Job's questions throughout the conversations. As if to say "Just tell me what I did wrong!"

v16 "If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fall; v17 Or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof;"

And so on...

You can't blame Job for wondering. His trials are terrible. I cannot picture how he looks with the afflictions in his body. We have read of them and found he has no relief day and night. His mind is tormented. His faith is attacked. Still he holds firm to what he thinks is right.

v29 "If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him; v30 Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul."

No wonder God picked Job out. He held himself to a very high standard.

v35 "Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. "

So the chapter ends as does the conversation with the last words of verse 40 "...The words of Job are ended."

Psalm 42:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance."

Job ends his words with passages starting with 'if'.

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Job's Calamity Job 30

Job 30:1 "But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock."

Job has just told us in chapter 29 of his greatness. Now, in this chapter he tells of his great fall. Like so many of us, Job measures his greatness by his riches, position and what people think of him. In the first part of this chapter, Job describes the fathers of the youth who are now showing disrespect for him. He even goes back as far as their grandparents.

v8 "They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth."

Once he established that the lineage of the disrespectful was corrupt, he makes this statement:

v9 "And now am I their song, yea, I am their byward."

I've seen it in the movies where the homeless and forgotten are pushed aside on the streets and shoved from place to place without regard that they are a human being. Such is the picture I have of the fallen prince Job.

v12 "Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction. v13 They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, they have no helper."

It was a bad time for Job when he lost his possessions and his health. He lost his family and the respect of his household. Now, he is pushed around like a common bum. It seems Job has gone as low as he can go without actually dying which would seem a blessing now.

I'd like to note here that Satan's hand was in Job's distresses. Satan will destroy a person and then leave them without pity. Satan does not care for people but only hurts them.

v15 "Terrors are turned upon me; they pursue my soul as the wind: and my welfare passeth away as a cloud."

v19 "He hath cast me into the mire, and I am become like dust and ashes."

Then an echo of prayer comes from Job's lips as it came from David's in Psalm 40:

Psalm 40:2 "He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings."

Not yet though Job. v20 "I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me; I stand up, and thou regardest me not."

I'm not an expert on the meaning of the Bible. I have picked up on what could be a fault of Job's. He has declared that he is righteous and finds it a great loss that people no longer bow to his wishes. It is difficult for a well respected man to swallow the fact that he is no longer held in high regard. BUT should any of us expect that we should be raised above another. Perhaps God will raise some up, but should we demand it or expect it based on our goodness. I think not.

From verse 20 Job prays but still he is attempting to justify himself by his deeds. He did do some good things. Man's deeds, however, are man's deeds.

Let's jump to the New Testament and remember what Jesus told Peter: Luke 22:31 "And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."

That was my first text way back when I wrote down my first Bible lesson. I knew even then that we were all in Satan's gun sights. Satan would like to have had Peter to do to him as he did to Job but first he had the gospel to preach and the church to help establish. Satan had not changed his ways from Job to Peter and has not changed them today.

It is the LORD who protects us from him. The key was 'don't loose faith Peter'. Keep the faith.

Chapter 31 will continue Job's discourse but we are soon coming to the end of this long conversation and a new person steps into light.

Psalm 3:2-3 "Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah. But thou, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."

A chapter on Job's calamity.

Some places of my interest: Chatsworth, Georgia, Brazil, Brasil, Papua New Guinea, Australia, United States, Guatemala

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Job as Rich Man Job 29

Job 29:6 "When I washed my steps with butter, and the rock poured me out rivers of oil;"

That is a picture of a man who had plenty. Butter and oil would have been precious commodities.

Job in the continuation of his parable becomes personal with the life he once lived when all of heavens blessings were on him and he was a prince among men.

v2 "Oh, that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me; v3 When his candle shined on my head, and when by his light I walked through darkness."

In all this, Job still gives God credit for the good times he has had. I find no bitterness toward God, only a sense that Job feels God has left him.

v5 "When the Almighty was yet with me, when my children were about me;"

Job was a man of position then but now he is a sick old man waiting to die. No wonder he is a little discouraged. I would be.

v10 "The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth." Referring to being in Job's presence, no doubt, waiting for what he would say.

v23 "And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain."

The people craved the leadership of Job and he guided them. It's different now. Job has lost his health, his family, his means and his position among men. In the next chapter, Job makes the comparison with his present condition to the way it was.

Psalm 20:7 "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God."

Job describes himself as a man of position and means.

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Search for Wisdom Job 28

Job 28:27-28 "Then did he see it, and declare it; he prepared it, yea, and searched it out. And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

We have so far in the conversations discussed whether or not the trials of Job are because of wickedness. The friends think so. Job declares his righteousness and rather expresses that it is God's business and He can do as he wishes.

Now we hear Job talking about the difficulty of finding wisdom and then ends with the above verses. After all the discussion, it all comes down to fearing God.

Also in this chapter we get a lesson in minerals and some geography.

We find that silver runs in a vein and that gold must be refined: v1 "Surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they refine it."

Then there is iron and brass. v2 "Iron is taken out of the earth, and brass is molten out of the stone."

Job gives credit to the Lord as the one who controls everything.

Job even knew of the fire under the earth: v5 "As for the earth, out of it cometh bread; and under it is turned up as it were fire."

If you are looking for precious stones, you should know this: v6 "The stones of it are the place of sapphires: and it hath dust of gold."

Then the question "V12 "But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? "

Verse 15 tells us that wisdom cannot be bought for no price can be put on it: V15 "It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof."

We know where to find all sorts of precious metals and jewels and they can be used to purchase many things but wisdom is not one of them. Job again asked the question:

v20 "Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?"

Now Job tells us the place to find wisdom. It is with the one who measures the wind and the water of the sea. Sometimes you just got to go to the source to get the right answer.

v23 "God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof."

When we consider, as Job did, that God is the maker of all that is, He controls the wind and the waves, He tells the elements to stay in their boundaries. It is only the sensible thing to do to fear the One who made it all and can change it as He sees fit.

So we have the conclusion: v28 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding."

I Kings 4:20 "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the seashore."

Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all they that do his commandments; his praise endureth forever."

Job speaks of wisdom and understanding.

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Job's Speech Part 2 Job 27

Job 27 : 6-7 "God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live."

Job talks here of the wicked but in the first part he is basically saying that he will remain as he is and not change his mind or his ways.

v3 "All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; v4 My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit."

I think that is a good attitude to have. What I picked up on and could be wrong about is that Job was saying that he would not forgive his friend. "God forbid that I should justify you.." Of course Job could not even if he wanted to. But I think he might also have been saying that he would not agree with what his friend was saying and therefore justify his remarks.

The balance of this part of Job's parable is concerning the wicked and in this vain: v13 "This is the portion of a wicked man with God, and the heritage of oppressors, which the shall receive of the Almighty."

I know these things are written for our benefit but I would be hesitate to try to go into detail about what God thinks. From observation, Job must have had some examples to support his pronouncements about the wicked. I'm glad grace intervened for us.

v23 "Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place."

Romans 3:23-24 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"

We will continue with Job's parable in the next chapter.

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Job's Long Speech Part 1 Job 26

Job 26:1-2 "But Job answered and said, How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?"

This is followed by several other questions that would make the most devoted person wither:

v3 "How hast thou counseled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?"

v4 "To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?"

Then in a final (well not completely final) Job shows an edge to his words:

v5 "Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof."

Although there are many precious insights gained from Job and even his friends that give us an idea of when Job was written, when he lived and their knowledge of the earth; it seems to me that their conversations have turned accusatory in nature. We are leading up to another person who is waiting on the sidelines or in the wings if this were a play and not real life.

I think Job may be feeling some better. Perhaps the healing process has already begun. We will find out later and it seems obvious that Job has started to justify himself some. He also has become a critic of his 'friends'. I do not think it is a good thing to return spiteful words with the same.

The next verse goes back to the previous discussion of whether God is hide in heaven and cannot see what goes on on earth (as one friend said) or as Job rightfully said, that his eye is everywhere.

v6 "Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering, he stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing." v7

That last verse would have helped NASA and scientist long ago if they had read the Bible: "He...hangeth the earth upon nothing."

Job goes on to talk about the clouds holding rain, how the oceans are held in place and relates their movement to the day and night (tides). The chapter but not the speech ends with this verse:

v14 "Lo, these are parts of his ways, but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?"

Psalm 139:6 "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it."

Job has shown that he knows a lot about most everything. He must have been a great teacher. But he reached the same conclusion as David in the verse above when he said:

Job 42:3 "Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not;"

Job speaks of God's expanse.

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"They" Job 24

Job 24:1 "Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his days?"

Why as in "Y". Job states the fact that the Almighty (God) sees all, so those who know God ought to know that.

Here is a verse for our day.

v2"Some remove the landmarks; they violently take away flocks, and feed thereof."

In our day, this could encompass changing history to eliminate the role God and Christianity had in the development of our nations and all nations for that matter. Take away the landmarks and the truth in history and future generations will believe the half-truth that is left. Few will do difficult research to find the whole truth.

From here we have many verses with the term "They". It refers in some cases to those who are out for number one at the expense of the helpless. In other verses it refers to the victims.

The bad guys:

v4 "They turn the needy out of the way: the poor of the earth hide themselves together."

The needy:

v8 "They are wet with the showers of the mountains, and embrace the rock for want of a shelter."

Nowadays, it is often alleys and concrete staircases and tunnels but the picture is the same. Many people are without help and are hungry.

v12 "Men groan from out of the city, and the soul of the wounded crieth out: yet God layeth not folly to them."

My large print Bible shows a reference to Ecclesiastes 8:11 for the last part of the verse:

v11 "Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

It is not God who causes these troubles for people but those of the darkness who turn from the light and conduct their evil in darkness.

v13 "They are of those that rebel against the light; they know not the ways thereof, nor abide in the paths thereof."

Job could have preached this sermon today and it would be current.

v16 "In the dark they dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light."

Like the vampires in the old black and white movies. The evildoers settle their evil deeds before the morning and scurry off to hide.

v17 "For the morning is to them even as the shadow of death: if one know them, they are in the terrors of the shadow of death."

Evildoers will have their day in judgment. It seems often that they will go on forever but their day will come.

v24 "They are exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low, they are taken out of the way as all other, and cut off as the tops of the ears of corn."

Back on the farm we would sit for hours shucking corn and brushing away the husk. We used a big butcher's knife. The very first thing we did was take a whack at the top couple of inches of the ear of corn where it is brownish and good for nothing. The knife swiftly went almost through with practice and then the top was bent over and pulled down to the other end and discarded in a swift easy motion.

Job as given us the plight of the needy and the tactics of the evildoers, then he lays out a challenge: Prove me wrong if you can. v25 "And if it be not so now, who will make me a liar, and make my speech nothing worth?"

Philippians 2:14-15 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings; That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, with out rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"

Job preaches on the needy and the evil who cause their plight.

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Job Looking for God Job 23

Job 23:3 "Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!"

I heard a good sermon on this verse last week from this preacher. He was talking about all of Job's losses during this time of testing. He explained that even though the loss of his family and property was bad and the loss of his health was bad, feeling that God had left him was the worst of all.

I've heard of a number of people who have gone through dark times when it seems God was far away. They kept on by faith and made it through the time of testing. That is what faith is all about. It is not knowing all the facts and trusting God anyway. I have seen impossible situations in my life just calm down seemingly without great effort by anyone. We should do all we can but there are times when we need to just wait on God. As he told Israel, their strength was in being still.

I have a little story of my own. I was a Marine guard on a small liberty boat that carried people across a rather large bay. We could not see one side while on the other so the boat driver had to go by those floating markers in the water. The problem was that another boat always came the opposite direction on the same schedule. One of those sudden storms came up and blinded all of us. The driver could not find the next marker and we were in danger of crashing into the on-coming boat. The people all got afraid and began to stand up and holler and disturb the balance of the boat. From somewhere within me I got the strength to confront the large group. In true Marine fashion I told them to "Shut up and sit down!" They complied and the boat steadied. I could then deal with the driver who had panicked and was going around in a circle looking for a marker. I told him that obviously the marker was not here so go a little ways and circle again. In this manner he found the marker just as we heard the motor of the oncoming boat. All came out fine and I'm glad because I could not swim more than a few yards at a time. The point is those passengers were afraid but the best thing for them to do was be still and let the ones in charge get them to safety. There was no time to explain. Every one needs to recognize when it is their time to lead but also when it is their time to 'shut up and sit down'.

v8 "Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:"

I am reminded of Daniel. He once set his face toward Israel and prayed to God for an answer. He prayed for 21 days before the answer came. The angel said he was on his way the first day but was hindered by Satan's angels until another angel came to help him. See Daniel 10:12-13.

So we are reminded of the spiritual warfare that goes on without us seeing it except for some results.

Job reasons things out in his heart.

v11 "My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food." v12

Job takes inventory of his life and finds that he has done the best he could to live for God. He then wonders at the fact that he was not taken out of this life before darkness overshadowed him. Sometimes you get out before the storm - sometimes you must trust him through the storm.

v16-17 "For God maketh my heart soft and the Almighty troubleth me; Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face."

Perhaps this is the key to this testing time for Job. He was an upright man but in the last part of this book, God will talk to him. He must be prepared to received what God says. So we see the phrase 'God maketh my heart soft'. He was being prepared.

Job will continue in the next chapter with a little preaching of his own.

Job Looking for God.

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