Sunday, February 5, 2012
HOW GREAT THOU ART
Job 36-37
Last week we were directed to recall the self-centeredness and self-importance of man in general. One of the ways we see this is in a person’s tendency to make himself or herself the center of the universe. You can do this without thinking ugly thoughts. You simply make your plans and go your way. That may not seem to be ugly, but indeed it is.
In Job 35 Elihu addressed this problem directly. Now in his last speech (chapters 36-37), he again addresses this problem of self-importance in a subtle but practical way. In these two chapters we will find warnings for Job, but those warnings do not comprise the bulk of our text. Rather, the focus is upon God’ Himself.
Earlier this morning we sang “How Great Thou Art.” The song is about beholding the wonders of a mighty God. Yes, in the first two stanzas, we see those wonders in creation, but the intensity increases in verse 3: “When I think that God, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in; that on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.” The song reaches its climax in the last verse: “When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart. When I look down in humble adoration and there proclaim, ‘My God, how great Thou art.’” No wonder our souls sing to our Savior and our God, “How great Thou art”!
What a blessing when we are able to leave our puny thoughts behind and lose ourselves in Him, gazing at the wonder and beauty of His greatness! Yes, the world will laugh and scoff. Other well-meaning Christians may look down on the one who is a little out of it because his eyes are more on God than the things that are going on in this world, but I assure you that this man is blessed! God is not cursing us when He says, “If you have been raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, and not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1-2). It is a supreme blessing to be able to look away from this world to the next, and may we never forget it.
This is exactly what we are going to see this morning in Job 36-37. Elihu is pointing Job toward the solution to all his problems -- Look to God and God alone. Yes, that is the solution. At the same time he is also preparing the way for One who will speak some of the same truths, and that One is God Himself. After chapter 37, Elihu will leave the scene and will not be heard from again, but in this last speech are the seeds of the message that the Lord Himself will speak to Job.
You will notice that we are covering a bigger chunk of scripture than last week. There are a couple of reasons for that. There are only two basic themes in this chapter -- God’s greatness and warnings given to Job. The sections about God’s greatness are the longer of the two and much of what they contain needs little explanation. Also, some of what we find this morning will be repeated in the chapters that follow.
Introduction to the Last Speech (36:1-4)
Before he launches into what he has to say, this young man Elihu gives us a little introduction. Let’s read it in 1:1-4…
Elihu also proceeded and said: 2 Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God's behalf. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. 4 For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
It is obvious that Elihu wants to assure Job that he needs to pay attention to the words he is about to speak. Elihu has already said plenty to Job, but he isn’t yet finished. He has more to say on God’s behalf. Notice especially those words “on God’s behalf.” That is the main point that Elihu is making. He claims that he is not speaking on his own, but that there is divine authority behind his words.
Elihu’s strongest statement is found in verse 4, “For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.” On the surface, it may seem that Elihu is arrogant. Who could possibly say, “One who is perfect in knowledge is with you?” Before you judge this man too quickly, remember that though the Lord will rebuke both Job and his friends, He never does so with Elihu. Perhaps we need to look a little deeper before we accuse this young man of arrogant pride.
Let’s take just a minute to read another statement from this same speech. 37:16, “Do you know how the clouds are balanced, those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?” Notice that Elihu uses the exact same phrase “who is perfect in knowledge.” To whom is he referring here in 37:16? Obviously, he is talking about God as the One who forms the clouds. Since the identical expression is used here in 36:4, it is most likely that Elihu is referring to God as the “One who is perfect in knowledge.” The Amplifed Version brings this out, capitalizing the words “He” and “Who” (“He Who is perfect in knowledge”). Verse 3 confirms this idea; Elihu is not elevating himself, but His Maker. He is emphasizing that he is speaking on behalf of God, who is right there present with Job. Surely the Lord Himself can confirm the truth that Elihu is speaking.
I. God Is Mighty in His Justice (36:5-15)
Now in verses 5-15 we come to the first of three sections which speak of God’s greatness. This one we might entitle, “God Is Mighty in His Justice.” We find the overall theme in verse 5, “Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one…” As we will see in the rest of the section, God uses His strength to deal out justice for all. Let’s read it -- Job 36:5-15…
5 Behold, God is mighty, but despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding. 6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed. 7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted. 8 And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction, 9 Then He tells them their work and their transgressions-- That they have acted defiantly. 10 He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity. 11 If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. 12 But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. 13 But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them. 14 They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons. 15 He delivers the poor in their
affliction, And opens their ears in oppression.
God is mighty! No one can argue with that. That same truth is repeated again later in verse 5, “He is mighty.” In both cases, the statement is followed by a qualifier. “God is mighty, but despises no one.” If there were not this corresponding truth, we could expect God to wipe mankind off the face of the earth. But praise God that He does not look down on anyone. Seen from the positive side, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy” (Ps. 103:8).
Yes, “He is mighty,” but that statement is also qualified: “He is mighty in strength of understanding.” When we think of might and power, we tend to think of great miraculous acts, but here power is defined in terms of wisdom and understanding. “Strength of understanding” is a very literal translation. A looser translation such as the NIV reads, “He is mighty and firm in his purpose.”
Verses 6-15 indicate that this strength of understanding is demonstrated in the way He gives out justice. Rather than despising people and crushing all of humanity, God looks at the individual. In this section Elihu speaks of the wicked, the oppressed, the righteous, the exalted, the afflicted, the obedient and disobedient, and the hypocrite. In other words, He considers the situation of each individual. At the very beginning in verse 6, he gives us a summary statement: “He does not preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the oppressed.” God has adequate understanding to treat different people in different ways. He will not let the wicked get away with murder, though they be kings and rulers. Nor will He allow the oppressed to be denied justice, though they have no power of their own.
As you read through this section, perhaps you notice what I have noticed. It would seem that Elihu is making the argument that God will reward the righteous with prosperity and will repay the wicked with death and destruction. I confess that I do not completely understand this section. I would have to say at this point that Elihu is speaking in the context of God’s timetable, for sooner or later God will certainly reward every person for his deeds.
Now come to the concluding verse of this section. Verse 15, “He delivers the poor in their affliction and opens their ears in oppression.” “Poor” might be better translated “afflicted.” He is not talking just about those who are financially poor, but about those who are afflicted in various ways. The good news is that God delivers the afflicted in their affliction. While our first inclination is likely to understand this to mean that God delivers the afflicted in spite of their affliction, Elihu is more likely saying that God delivers the afflicted by means of their affliction. The ESV bluntly translates it so: “He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ear by adversity.” God works in various ways, but it is far more likely that He will use your affliction than your success to deliver you.
Think about Job. God was in the process of delivering Job from his affliction by his affliction. Job was complaining about all his problems, but God was working to use those very problems to deliver Job from affliction that was beyond his understanding. Surely that is why this verse is immediately before the warning that Elihu issues to Job.
II. Watch Out, Job (36:16-21)
We see a change of tone in verse 16, as Elihu turns his attention more directly to Job (“thee” in KJV). Let’s read this section -- 36:16-21…
Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness. 17 But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you. 18 Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it. 19 Will your riches, Or all the mighty forces, Keep you from distress? 20 Do not desire the night, When people are cut off in their place. 21 Take heed, do not turn to iniquity, For you have chosen this rather than affliction.
In verse 16 the ESV reads, “He also allured you out of distress into a broad place…” NIV, “He is wooing you from the jaws of distress into a spacious place free from restriction…” God’s desire is to use Job’s affliction to bring him out of his deep distress. By the way, this idea of moving from a cramped place of restriction into a broad and spacious place is not confined to this passage. Ps. 18:19, “He also brought me out into a broad place…” Ps. 31:7-8, “I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place.” Job was confined by the mental and spiritual turmoil that was raging inside of him. Through the very affliction Job despised, God wanted to bring him out into a spacious place of freedom.
The “but” comes in verse 17, “But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.” In the larger context of the book of Job, it seems that God’s call to a place of comfort and refreshment is dependent upon Job repenting of his demand for justice from God. Job has demanded justice, and for the time being that is what he is getting. God is treating him like He would treat the wicked, because Job has lost sight of the greatness of God. The Lord is waiting for his child to come to repentance, so that He can bless him with the richness of His peace.
Verses 18 and 19 are a bit difficult to understand. Elihu is warning Job against trusting in riches and bribes. But Job has said with a clear conscious that he has never been guilty of taking anything that didn’t belong to him, that he has never trusted in riches. Was he lying? No, not at all. However, we must understand that we are always in danger of lusting after riches, and even Job was not above the temptation to do so. In verse 20 Elihu warns Job not to long for the night. Surely he is talking about death, which desire Job has already expressed more than once. In verse 21 he bluntly tells Job not to turn to iniquity, implying that Job seems to prefer such iniquity to his affliction.
Why these stern warnings in verses 18-21? Surely a man like Job isn’t about to trust in riches or turn to bribes. How can he be described as turning to iniquity? “Iniquity” is a word that speaks of perverseness or crookedness, but that does not always indicate the ugly outward sins that immediately come to our minds. We can be crooked in our thinking. Our hearts can be crooked, even as we appear to walk uprightly. The Pharisees of New Testament times are a great example of this. Job’s strong demand for justice was leading him further along in this crooked thinking. And when such demands, coupled with resentment, are allowed to continue in the heart, we become capable of things to which we thought we were immune. Yes, such hidden sins of the heart could lead Job even to trust his riches and offer bribes. That’s why Elihu warns him against such things.
Job was in need of this exhortation to watch out. In the terms of Prov. 4:23, he needed to guard his heart with all diligence.
III. God Is Exalted By His Power (36:22-33)
The theme of this section is in verse 22, “Behold, God is exalted by His power…” With that theme clearly in focus, Elihu says to Job in verse 24, “Remember to magnify His work…” We read again in verse 26, “Behold, God is great…” Let’s read the entire section now, 22-33…
Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him? 23 Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, 'You have done wrong'? 24"Remember to magnify His work, Of which men have sung. 25 Everyone has seen it; Man looks on it from afar. 26 "Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; Nor can the number of His years be discovered. 27 For He draws up drops of water, Which distill as rain from the mist, 28 Which the clouds drop down And pour abundantly on man. 29 Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, The thunder from His canopy? 30 Look, He scatters his light upon it, And covers the depths of the sea. 31 For by these He judges the peoples; He gives food in abundance. 32 He covers His hands with lightning, And commands it to strike. 33 His thunder declares it, The cattle also, concerning the rising storm.
In this section great statements about God and his power alternate with questions which reveal the great gap between God and man. It starts immediately in verses 22-23, “Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like He teaches? Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?” One of the ways we see God’s power is by comparing ourselves and others to Him. Do you know anyone who is a teacher like He is? Do you know anyone who can convict Him of doing wrong?
We find the same theme in verse 26, though it is not stated in terms of a question: “Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him, nor can the number of His years be discovered.” We see His greatness, but how much can we really know of Him? Can we trace His years back to His beginning? There is a sense in which our view of God is like our view of an iceberg. About 90% of an iceberg is below the surface of the water and is unseen. So it is with God. He has revealed Himself, but our understanding of Him is shallow at best. Even when we have some understanding, while we ponder one truth about the Almighty, we are neglecting another truth. Because we are limited, we can’t think of both at the same time. God, on the other hand, can know everything all at once, can be present in all the heaven and the earth in a single moment, and can perform a thousand wonders at one and the same time. No wonder Elihu tells Job, “Remember to magnify His work” (24).
In the rest of this section Elihu emphasizes God’s great power in creation and the sustaining of that creation. In the midst of that emphasis comes the question of verse 29, “Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds, the thunder from His canopy?” Truly, we are wise to recognize that God is exalted by His power. When we have any understanding of the power of the Most High God, we will exalt Him. We will lift up His name, for there is no one who can compare with Him. Behold, God is great indeed. Remember to magnify His work.
IV. God Thunders with His Voice (37:1-13)
In the first 13 verses of chapter 37, Elihu continues to build upon the same theme. He has said that God is mighty in His justice. We have just seen that God is exalted by His power. Now Elihu is going to tell us that God thunders with His voice. Let’s read it in 37:1-13…
At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place. 2 Hear attentively the thunder of His voice, And the rumbling that comes from His mouth. 3 He sends it forth under the whole heaven, His lightning to the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard. 5 God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. 6 For He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth'; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength. 7 He seals the hand of every man, That all men may know His work. 8 The beasts go into dens, And remain in their lairs. 9From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north. 10 By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen. 11 Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. 12 And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth. 13 He causes it to come, Whether for correction, Or for His land, Or for mercy.
Notice the great emphasis in the first part of this section on the Lord’s voice. Verse 2, “Hear attentively the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.” In verse 4, “He thunders with His majestic voice” and “His voice is heard.” The climax comes in verse 5, “God thunders marvelously with His voice.” Then the simple words in verse 6, “For He says to the snow…” Then the rest of the section details the works of God, but it is implied that they originate with His voice. This accords perfectly with the story of creation in Genesis 1, where God speaks and it is done. “And God said, Let there be light, and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). That creative process is aptly summarized in Ps. 33:9, “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.
Don’t miss the message of this section. Not only does God do great and mighty things, but He is able to do it by merely speaking. I say “merely speaking,” but that doesn’t describe the force of His voice. God thunders with His majestic voice (verse 4). I am always intrigued by the Psalm that majors on the power of His voice. Are you familiar with Psalm 29? Let me sum up this section by reading Ps. 29…
Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones, Give unto the Lord glory and strength. 2 Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; The God of glory thunders; The Lord is over many waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; The voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars, Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes them also skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox. 7 The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth, And strips the forests bare; And in His temple everyone says, "Glory!" 10 The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood, And the Lord sits as King forever. 11 The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.
V. Attention, Job (37:14-24)
In a way this last section of chapter 37 is just like the last one, detailing more of the mighty works of God. This is the great theme of this entire last speech in chapters 36 and 37. But we can’t miss the fact that Elihu pauses to make sure Job knows that he is being addressed. Verse 14, “Listen to this, O Job: Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.” There was a pause in verse 16 of chapter 36 to give Job a warning, but here it is even more pronounced with the calling of Job by name. The ESV reads, “Hear this, O Job,” and one higher than the captain is speaking. So throughout this section Elihu will continue to tell of the wondrous works of God, but now he does it through searching questions addressed to Job. We found some such questions at the end of chapter 36, but now Elihu will ask one right after the other.
Let’s read it in 37:14-24…
Listen to this, O Job; Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine? 16 Do you know how the clouds are balanced, Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge? 17 Why are your garments hot, When He quiets the earth by the south wind? 18 With Him, have you spread out the skies, Strong as a cast metal mirror? 19 "Teach us what we should say to Him, For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness. 20 Should He be told that I wish to speak? If a man were to speak, surely he would be swallowed up. 21 Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, When the wind has passed and cleared them. 22 He comes from the north as golden splendor; With God is awesome majesty. 23 As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, In judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress. 24 Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.
It is almost as if Elihu is saying, “Job, get ready, for there is more to come. These questions may be difficult, but you haven’t heard anything yet.” When we begin to hear God’s words in chapter 38, we will hear echoes of what we are reading here. This is another indication that Elihu was in tune with the heart of God.
Listen to those words: “Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God” (verse 14). Doesn’t it remind you of Ps. 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” Don’t miss the “Stand still.” Job had a tendency to so busy himself with trying to escape his affliction and demand justice from God that he could miss the wondrous works of God. Job is not the only person with that problem. Brothers and sisters, let us stand still. Do you find yourself going through an entire day without standing still? If you do, rest assured that you are missing some of the wondrous works of God. God is working; are you standing still and beholding? Back to 36:5, “Behold, God is mighty.” 36:22, “Behold, God is exalted by His power.” And now, “Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.” Children of God, seekers of His righteousness, stand still, open your eyes, and see! Then we can say with David, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars which thou hast ordained, what is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him?” (Ps. 8:3-4). “For the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork” (Ps. 19:1).
When you stand still, listen to the questions that Job heard and apply them to yourself. “Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes His lightning flash (NIV)? Do you know how to balance the clouds? Can you quiet the south wind, when it heats you up with its blast? Can you spread out the skies like God does? If you know so much, maybe you can teach us how we ought to address Him.” Listen. If you ever suspect you are getting just a little bit proud, submit yourselves to these questions. Continuing in verse 20, if a man were to try to answer such questions, he would be swallowed up. Man can’t even look at the sun because of its brightness, the sun which is a dim reflection of His majesty.
Elihu’s speech reaches its climax in verses 22-24. Notice especially the words at the end of verse 22, “With God is awesome majesty.” Or as the ESV puts it, “God is clothed with awesome majesty.” We can’t yet see the glory of that majesty, but we can observe those who have. The seraphim who stood above the throne cover their faces and their feet and cry out one to another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory” (Is. 6:2-3). We can listen to the thousands upon thousands of angels who cry, "And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing" (Rev. 5:11-12). “O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth” (Ps. 8:1,9).
Our God is so great that we cannot find Him. That is, we cannot find the extent of His glory and power. Nevertheless, His power comes to us with justice and abundant righteousness. Though He has the power to crush us, “He does not oppress.” So how should we respond? “Therefore men fear Him” (24). We tremble in His presence, but we come to Him. We serve Him with fear and rejoice with trembling (Ps. 2:11). As we do, we understand that He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit (ESV). I believe that is the sense of the words “wise of heart.”
Conclusion
Elihu has been speaking to Job, but let’s leave Job for a minute and think about the Spirit’s message to us. How can we even think about coming into the presence of a God so mighty and majestic, a God whose power and knowledge we cannot begin to understand? We cannot even answer His questions, much less approach Him when it comes to righteousness. He is righteous; we are not. He is God; we are His creatures. Surely there is a gulf between God and us that no man can bridge.
Good news! There is one man who bridged that gulf. God sent such a man, the man Christ Jesus, who is the one mediator between God and man (I Tim. 2:5). All the things we have been saying about Almighty God, we can say about Jesus, for apart from Him was not anything made that was made (John 1:3). God Almighty created everything through the agency of His Son. And some day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus, the Word, was with God and He was and is God (John 1:1-2).
While we must never miss the glory of Jesus, who was and is God, we must also understand that He is a man. That’s right, a man. Jesus didn’t just look like a man and talk like a man; He is a man. As a man, He lived a perfect life and was obedient to everything the Father wanted Him to do. His ultimate obedience was seen at the cross. Though He was in the glorious presence of His Father, He "made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." But Jesus isn’t hanging on that cross any more; nor is He in the tomb where they placed Him. He rose and ascended to His Father, where He now sits at the right hand of the Majesty on High, and some day He is coming back to claim His own.
Jesus stands in the gap that is between us and the holy God. It was at the cross that God poured out the justice that qualifies us to stand in His presence. Justice was done when God punished Jesus instead of us. We who rebelled against Him and spit in His face were set free by the One “who his own self bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness” (I Pet. 2:24).
Brothers and sisters, “now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (I John 3:2).
So in light of all this truth, what must we do? Look at it with me in I John 3. Let me go back and read again the verse I just quoted, adding to it the words of verse 3. 1 John 3:2-3, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure." This is what we do -- we purify ourselves, even as our Lord is pure. But how? Look on Him who is high and holy, but who also dwells with those of a contrite and humble spirit (Is. 57:15). Gaze on Him until you are consumed with the desire to be like Him. Look on Him who lived, died, and rose until you cannot bear your sin. Then run to Him in repentance and faith. He will never turn away the one who comes to Him in humility, “for the Lord is near to them who are of a broken heart, and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (Ps. 34:18).
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