Sunday, November 6, 2011
WHEN GOD IS SILENT
(Part 1)
Job 33:8-18
I want to ask you a question this morning. Have you ever felt that God was silent? Has there ever been a time in your life when you were really hurting, and seemed that no matter how much you prayed, God simply didn’t hear you? Perhaps you even questioned the ability of God to speak. “If He’s real, He is just a distant Creator who made this world and then left it and us to fend for ourselves.”
Or maybe it wasn’t during great problems that you sensed God was silent. Maybe things were going pretty well for you, but you didn’t feel like God was near. You asked questions like this: “Lord, am I really dependent upon You? Or am I just living my own life? In a way life is good, but Lord, I just don’t know if You’re there. Would you please reveal Yourself to me?” But God didn’t answer. He didn’t come in a flash of lightning nor even with a still, small voice. Like the old saying, “It seemed that the heavens were brass, that God did not answer.” So it was with Job. As we will see, that is Job’s complaint again in chapter 33.
We live in a world where most people believe that, if there is a God, He does not speak. Nevertheless, God’s people know that He does indeed speak. Nevertheless, sometimes we struggle with how to handle things when God is silent. Our theme this morning is “When God Is Silent.”
We find the words of Elihu in chapters 32-37. This section is composed of four speeches by Elihu. If there are six chapters, how can we say there are four speeches? Remember that the chapters are later divisions made by men. We are thankful for these divisions, because the chapters and verses make it easy to navigate our way through the Bible. However, the text itself divides Elihu’s words into four speeches. 32:1-5 is an introduction. Then we read in 32:6, “So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said…” Then in 34:1, “Elihu further answered and said…” Then again in 35:1, “Moreover Elihu answered and said…” And finally in 36:1, “Elihu also proceeded and said…” Each of these introductory phrases is the beginning of a new speech.
Last week we went through chapter 32 and the first seven verses of chapter 33. After our author introduced Elihu and the circumstances of his entrance into the story in 32:1-5, Elihu then introduces himself in 32:6-33:7. This morning, after a few considerations, we are going to begin looking at the rest of chapter 33.
I suggested last week that you keep reading chapters 32-37 with this question in mind: “Is Elihu an arrogant brat? Or, does he have wisdom?” There are solid Bible students who have concluded that Elihu doesn’t have anything to offer us, that his advice is no better than that of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. However, there are many others who see Elihu’s words as a breath of fresh air. Drawing upon the insights of Ray Stedman and John Piper, I want to suggest some reasons why I believe we should view Elihu as a young man who has much godly wisdom…
1. Elihu receives no rebuke from the Lord. In chapter 42 we will see that God did indeed rebuke Job’s three friends, but He does not censure Elihu in any way.
2. Elihu receives no opposition from Job. Job flatly stated that Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar were miserable comforters. He opposed them at every turn. He does not respond to Elihu, even though Elihu invites him to do so.
3. Elihu receives a prominent place in the book of Job, speaking for six full chapters. Elihu has as much to say as Eliphaz and Bildad put together.
4. Elihu is sensitive to Job’s suffering. While it is true that he is angry and is quite hard on Job, he still speaks with courtesy. Job’s other three friends became caustic and ugly, but we don’t see that in Elihu
5. Along the same lines, Elihu offers something new in this discussion. He tells us in 32:14 that he will not use the arguments of Job’s three friends. We also note that Elihu disagrees with both Job and his friends; he brings a new perspective.
We might add other reasons, but I trust those will be enough to convince us that these six chapters will not be a rehash of what Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar said. Elihu does indeed have something to offer. May God give us grace to learn from what God has to tell us through this young man.
Now let’s take time to read Job 33:8-33…
"Surely you have spoken in my hearing, And I have heard the sound of your words, saying, 9 'I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. 10 Yet He finds occasions against me, He counts me as His enemy; 11He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.' 12 "Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man. 13 Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words. 14 For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, 16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, 18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword. 19 "Man is also chastened with pain on his bed, And with strong pain in many of his bones, 20 So that his life abhors bread, And his soul succulent food. 21 His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones stick out which once were not seen. 22 Yes, his soul draws near the Pit, And his life to the executioners. 23 "If there is a messenger for him, A mediator, one among a thousand, To show man His uprightness, 24 Then He is gracious to him, and says, 'Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I have found a ransom';25 His flesh shall be young like a child's, He shall return to the days of his youth. 26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him, He shall see His face with joy, For He restores to man His righteousness. 27 Then he looks at men and says, 'I have sinned, and perverted what was right, And it did not profit me.' 28 He will redeem his soul from going down to the Pit, And his life shall see the light. 29 "Behold, God works all these things, Twice, in fact, three times with a man, 30 To bring back his soul from the Pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life. 31 "Give ear, Job, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will speak. 32 If you have anything to say, answer me; Speak, for I desire to justify you. 33 If not, listen to me; Hold your peace, and I will teach you wisdom."
I. God Doesn’t Speak -- Job’s Complaint (8-13)
Elihu begins by reminding Job of what he had said in the debate with this friends. He accuses Job of saying, “I am pure, without transgression; I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me” (9). Though we find some strong statements from Job, we do not find these exact words anywhere. On the one hand, Job protests his innocence to God, as we read in 10:5-7, “Are Your days like the days of a mortal man? Are Your years like the days of a mighty man, 6. That You should seek for my iniquity and search out my sin, 7. Although You know that I am not wicked, And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand?” He certainly was innocent of the wickedness of which his friends accused him. On the other hand, some of Job’s statements might be a bit too strong, such as when he describes himself as a just and blameless man in 12:4 and maintains that his prayer is pure in 13:18. Either Elihu heard Job speak these exact words, though they are not recorded for us, or he spoke words that gave this impression.
When we come to verses 10-11, there is no question about Elihu’s reference. Listen to Job 13:24-27…
Why do You hide Your face, And regard me as Your enemy? 25 Will You frighten a leaf driven to and fro? And will You pursue dry stubble? 26 For You write bitter things against me, And make me inherit the iniquities of my youth. 27 You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet.
The thrust of Elihu’s charge is this: “Job, you consider God to be unfair to you. You think He is unjust.” We will come back to this theme in chapter 35 and deal with it in more depth. For now, listen to Elihu’s reply to Job’s claim: “Look, in this you are not righteous. I will answer you, For God is greater than man. Why do you contend with Him?” (33:12-13a). Elihu gives a brief and blunt answer at this point. His answer reminds me of Paul’s blunt answer to a complaint against God, when he said, “O man, who are you that replies against God?” (Rom. 9:20).
You may have noticed that I didn’t read the end of verse 13. That is because I want us to examine it a bit more closely. Please allow me to read to you all of verse 13 from three different translations…
NKJV -- “Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.”
ESV -- “Why do you contend against him, saying, ‘He will answer none of man’s words”?
NIV -- “Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man’s words?”
The idea of the NKJV is this: “Job, why do you contend with God? Don’t you know that God does not have to answer to man for any of His words.” The ESV, on the other hand, suggests that Job’s contention against God is that He won’t respond to man’s words. The NIV favors this latter idea and puts it in a way that is very easy to understand. Let me read it again: “Why do you complain to him [God] that he answers none of man’s words.” I believe that is the idea here. While it is certainly true that God does not have to answer man, the idea that this is part of Job’s complaint fits perfectly with what we will read in the verses that follow. Verse 14 (“For God speaks” -- ESV) makes good sense only if we understand Job to be complaining about God’s silence, for Elihu is about to launch into a discourse concerning how God speaks to man. Elihu contends that Job’s cry of injustice on God’s part centers around his complaint that God will not answer him. To a greater or lesser extent, this was Job’s complaint throughout the debate with his friends.
II. God Speaks, but Are We Listening? (14)
Now let’s read verse 14, “For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it.” The ESV (like the KJV) is a bit more literal: “For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it.” The idea is simple -- God speaks, but man doesn’t always hear what He has to say.
Let’s pause right here for a moment. This is a simple concept, but let’s apply it to our own lives. Do you think there are times when God is speaking to you and you aren’t hearing what He has to say? Perhaps God doesn’t speak the way we want Him to speak. Or maybe He doesn’t speak what we want to hear. We need to be careful before we conclude that God isn’t speaking. This is the message Elihu had for Job. Job complained about God’s silence. Elihu answered by saying that God speaks in one way here and another way there, but man does not perceive it.
If you want a challenge, read the little essay by A. W. Tozer entitled “The Speaking Voice.” Let me just read you one quote from that essay. “God is forever seeking to speak Himself out to His creation. The whole Bible supports the idea. God is speaking. Not God spoke, but God is speaking. He is by His nature continuously articulate. He fills the world with His speaking Voice” (Best of A. W. Tozer, p. 20).
III. God Speaks in Various Ways (15-22)
Elihu has said that God speaks in one way or in another, but he doesn’t leave it there. In verses 15-22 Elihu is going to tell Job two specific ways that God speaks to human beings. The first way is through dreams. Let’s read it again in verses 15-18, “In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, 16 Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction.17 In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, 18 He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.”
Elihu remind Job that God speaks to men through dreams -- that is, visions of the night. Elihu is not using the term “dream” in a figurative sense (“I have a dream”). No, he is talking about the dreams that occur while a person is asleep at night. Can any of young ones remember any occasions in the Bible where God spoke to people through dreams? I am thinking of one particular occasion. God spoke to Pharaoh through dreams. Did Pharaoh understand the dreams? No. As Elihu said, “God spoke, but man didn’t perceive.” But then when he told those dreams to Joseph, he found out that they did indeed have a meaning, because Joseph told him what they meant. Of course, we remember that the Joseph of the New Testament also had a dream, in which God told him not to be afraid to take Mary to be his wife (Matt. 1:20). Later God spoke to him in another dream, warning them not to return to Herod (Matt. 1:12). Shortly after, God used another dream to tell Joseph to take young Jesus and his mother Mary to Egypt (1:13). Yes, God spoke through dreams.
Now we might ask the simple question, “Was God speaking to Job through dreams?” I’m asking you. Isn’t it amazing how we can skip over things so easily. It was a trip to the concordance that jogged my memory and took me back to chapter 7. Let’s go back and read Job 7:13-16… “When I say, 'My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,' 14 Then You scare me with dreams And terrify me with visions, 15 So that my soul chooses strangling And death rather than my body. 16 I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Let me alone, For my days are but a breath.” Note those words: “You scare me with dreams and terrify me with visions” (17:14). I take that to be an example of parallelism. Job says the same thing in two ways for emphasis.
Though we are not told specifically, we can’t rule out the idea that Elihu is making reference to Job’s own words about his dreams. “Job, you yourself acknowledged that God scared you with dreams and terrified you with visions. So how can you say that God doesn’t speak?” If this is the case, it would fit Elihu’s contention that God speaks and man doesn’t perceive, for though Job acknowledged that God sent the dreams, he doesn’t seem to receive any message.
At this point we must deal with the difference in the translation of 33:16. The NKJV (like KJV) reads, “The He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction.” Others read more like this: “Then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings” (ESV). It seems most likely that the ESV and others follow the translation of the LXX (the Greek translation of the Old Testament). The word translated “instruction” by the NKJV may indeed carry the idea of warning. However, the term “seal” is in the text. A seal made something official and binding. We still have that same concept today. Recently I had to have something notarized. I signed the paper, and the lady who is a notary public signed it and then attached her seal. That made it official and legal. Albert Barnes summarizes the idea here like this: “The sense is that God communicates warnings to people on their beds in a manner as solemn and impressive as if it were ratified with a seal and made as secure as possible” (Albert Barnes, Commentary on Job; found at www.bible.cc)
Now comes the big question: Does God still speak to people in dreams today? That is not an easy question to answer. On the one hand, I am not going to say, “No, God does not speak to people in dreams today.” I believe it would be foolish for me to say such a thing. On the other hand, I must confess that I am skeptical of most people in our culture who talk about receiving messages from God in dreams. Why? First of all, because that can be very subjective. Does every dream have a spiritual message from God? I hope not. If so, what do I do with my dream about doing donuts in the parking lot in the church dump truck? Or Justin Burks grabbing his gun and shooting at me through the door of his house? Dreams don’t generally come with an interpretation manual.
Having said that, let me be more to the point. Elihu certainly knew what he was talking about. Do you remember King Abimelech from Genesis 20? Abraham came into his country with his wife Sarah, but he told everyone that Sarah was his sister. Now read Gen. 20:2-3, "And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. 3. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife." Abimelech then explained to God how Abraham had deceived him by saying Sarah was his sister. Now Gen. 20:6-7, "And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7. Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine." God warned Abimelech through dreams, and he clearly understood what God was saying to him and heeded the warnings.
God spoke through dreams. There is strong evidence that God is still speaking through dreams. We find this to be especially true of Muslims in other countries. There are many stories of how Jesus appears in a white robe and invites that person to come. Most of these dreams are preparatory to the understanding of the gospel. They often give the Muslim courage to seek Jesus. I see no reason to discount these dreams.
What does the Word of God say? The Old Testament has numerous accounts of God speaking through dreams. We have already mentioned a few. We have also noted how God spoke to Joseph, Mary’s husband, through dreams. However, we must note that Mary and Joseph were still living in old covenant times, before the cross. But again, we find God speaking through dreams and visions in the book of Acts. At his conversion Saul of Tarsus heard the Lord speak to him in a vision. Cornelius saw the angel of God in a vision and heard him speak. In relation to Cornelius, Peter received the vision where the sheet came down with all kinds of animals, and he heard a voice say, “Kill and eat.” It was through a vision that Paul heard a man from Macedonia say, “Come over into Macedonia and help us.” Later, when Paul was in Corinth, the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, saying: “Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: 10. For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10).
Beyond the book of Acts the terms “vision” and “dream” are used three times. II Cor. 12:1, “It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” Paul was given visions from the Lord in the past and he expects the same in the future. Jude 8, “Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.” Jude is talking about the false teachers. Rev. 9:17, “And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone…” John was given visions from the Lord which became the scripture we read. The letters of the New Testament tell us absolutely nothing about dreams and visions. That does not mean that God cannot and will not speak through dreams and visions, but surely it indicates that dreams and visions will not be the normal way or the main way that God speaks to His people today. Even in the book of Acts we find that the dreams and visions were closely associated with the spread of gospel in its infancy and with the apostles who gave us the scriptures.
Notice that when God spoke to people through dreams in both the Old and New Testaments, the message He gave was most often communicated through words. Even in the case of the dreams of Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar, which were not communicated through words, the interpretation given by God’s servants Joseph and Daniel were in definite words. Brothers and sisters, we have God communicating to us through words today. We have the words of the New Testament, where the Lord reveals to us the gospel of Jesus Christ and the great and glorious consequences of that gospel in the lives of men and women.
Elihu tells Job of two ways in which God speaks. The first is with words -- yes, dreams and visions, but through words. Notice in 33:16 that God opens the ears of men. Their ears were opened so that they could hear words. Praise God that He has communicated to us with words, not just vague impressions. Jesus Himself is the Word of God, and He is the greatest and clearest communication from the Father. According to John, if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus (John 14:9).
Yes, God still speaks through dreams and visions, but not with the same frequency and regularity as in Old Testament times. The context where He seems to speak most often through dreams today is in those areas where there has been little revelation, where there has not been access to the Bible or where people have been greatly deceived by Islam and other religions. Can God speak to people right here through dreams? I would say that He certainly can, but I don’t expect Him to do so with regularity. What He has given us is far better to dreams and visions; He has blessed us with His Word and with His Spirit.
So what if you encounter someone who says that God is speaking to him through dreams and visions? Focus on the Word. All other forms of revelation must stand the test of the Word. But what if it is something that can’t be tested by the Word? I’m not sure it’s possible to say with authority that any individual has not received a dream from the Lord, unless it contradicts the written Word. However, don’t be led by the dreams of people. Be led by the Spirit of God, who is the author and illuminator of the written Word of God.
Could God communicate to you personally through a dream? He is certainly able to do that, and if He wants to do so, you can’t prevent it. We serve a mighty God. If you should have a dream that you believe is sent from the Lord, test it by the Word. We have to do the same thing with impressions we have. Don’t be slaves of dreams and visions;
be slaves of the Lord and obey His Word.
Conclusion
We will finish the rest of chapter next week, Lord willing. Let’s think together for a moment.
It is the nature of God to reveal Himself. That’s what we see from Genesis to Revelation, from creation to the consummation. That doesn’t mean that there aren’t times when His revelation is more abundant than at other times. We understand this from both scripture and experience. What we must focus on is the fullness of God’s revelation in Christ. Whether or not you sense the Lord speaking to you personally today, rest assured that God has spoken and continues to speak in and through His Son. Let’s read again that magnificent passage in Heb. 1:1-4…
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himselfpurged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Christian, when you can’t hear the Lord speaking, run to Jesus. Find Him in the written Word and rejoice that He lives in you through His Spirit. It may be that you need to repent of sin that is blocking your fellowship with Him. On the other hand, you may need to be reminded that nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 8:38-39). If the words of Psalm 139 were true for David, how much more for us who have His Spirit dwelling in us? If you are struggling with God’s silence, I encourage you to dwell this week on Ps. 139:1-14…
O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 2. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 3. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 4. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 5. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 6. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 7. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 8. If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 9. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 10. Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 11. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 12. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. 13. For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 14. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
If you are crying out and it seems that God doesn’t answer, understand that you are not alone. Matt. 27:45-46, "Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" His cry was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Psalm 22:1-3, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2. O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." Our Lord Jesus faced the silence of His Father.
Don’t dwell on His silence; dwell on what He has revealed about Himself. Trust Him in the dark; praise Him in the silence. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
If you don’t know God through His Son Jesus, you have nevertheless heard much from Him. He has shown you His greatness and His judgment and His love. But there is a silence, for you have yet to hear Him say, “My child,” and you have yet to respond, “Abba, Father.” But praise God that He is not hiding Himself. Let’s read the truth of Rom. 10:5-10…
For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them." 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' " (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, " 'Who will descend into the abyss?' " (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Call on Jesus, who is Lord of all, to save you. Trust Him with your whole life.
*** In the near future, another sermon should follow dealing specifically with Acts 2:14-21, which has much bearing on the subject of dreams and visions.
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