Monthly Archives: January 2009

Hand-Over-Mouth Humility: Job, 13

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Chapter 38 begins the narrative finale as the LORD himself answers Job (38:1-3; 40:6-7). The answers to Job’s seeking is not something that you find in a modern self-help book. The LORD’s response is simply to refer to His explicit sovereignty expressed in creation. This puts the Job narrative in the context of the creation narrative in Genesis 1-2–the LORD is the God of creation, the Author and Designer of all that is.

The series of rhetorical questions demand a universe-attested “NO!” To do these things is to be the only Sovereign. To be the only Sovereign is to be God. Everything from the constellations (38:31) to Him withholding wisdom from the ostrich (39:17)– from the snow that falls (38:22) to the goats of the mountains that give birth (39:1)—the LORD knows this all. These words are for us as much as they are for Job…

how shall you contend with the Almighty? (40:2)

Job’s response to the God of 38:1-39:30 is most appropriate. And, perhaps, it is what Paul had in mind in Romans 9. Job says in 40:4…

Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? 

I lay my hand on my mouth.

This is for us. This is for me.

We Shouldn’t Rush In Babbling: Job, 12

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How trembling is it for us to speak about this God described in the book of Job! Let us never rush into the metaphorical room of conversation babbling away, running our mouths about the only Sovereign–oh that we would consider Him! Are we professionals concerning God? This God of creation who causes all things to happen (37:13)! Are we professionals concerning Him!

Stop and consider the wondrous works of God (37:14).

Elihu concludes, yearning here for Job to behold God, the writer of the narrative desires the same for us!

The Almighty–we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate (37:23)

Therefore, we are to fear Him and not “be wise in our own conceit” (v. 24). What a gift to see a God like this, to know and realize that He is sovereign and right. That He is a God plentiful in resolute mercy given to us in Jesus Christ alone. Wisdom is realizing this and living in light of its wonder.

Behold the Unsearchable: Job, 11

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Elihu continues with his declared intention in 36:3 to “ascribe righteousness to my Maker.” So he goes to assert the sovereign glory of God and His enduring righteousness (the Lord punishes the wicked and rescues the afflicted). Elihu cries, yes! Behold God! 

He implores the understanding for Job and the reader that there is none like God–transcendent in glory and incomprehensible in power. And after such theological discourse he concludes…

Behold, God is great, and we know him not… (36:26).

This is reminiscent of the Apostle in Romans 11:33-36. Compare Job 36:22-23. Paul sees the same logical reference in his defense of God’s election, namely, that God is always righteous and sovereign and entirely outside of our abilities to grasp. So who are we to say to him,

“You have done wrong?” (v. 23). 

 

Sovereign and Righteous: Job, 10

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Chapters 34 and 35 continue Elihu’s indictment of Job. Job has delcared his rights before God, rather than seek His mercy. Elihu repeats Job’s error to be clear…

For Job has said, “I am in the right, and God has taken away my right…” (34:5).

Job has charged God with injustice–that although He is sovereign, God has treated Him unfairly. But Elihu proclaims:

… the Almighty will not pervert justice (34:12)

The Lord is both righteous and mighty (34:17). The Sovereign over the universe and every person’s heart is a God that will never ever do wrong. 

How shall I declare my rights before a God like that? Any attempt to justify myself is an insult of His character. For He is righteously sovereign. He can do whatever He wants anytime He wants wherever He wants. And whatever that is will always be right. 

Oh, how this propels us to seek His mercy!  And it must be asked, “how shall I receive mercy and God’s righteousness be vindicated?” Well, there is the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ! And there is this cross…

Drenched With That Rain, Please!

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As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;

when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

Psalm 17:15

 

Sometimes I find myself in this fog. I realize that I am reading the Bible and have forgotten about God. I cannot see the forest. I do not sense the reality. But then this grace comes from a distance. I can see the sky darken and hear its encroaching volume as it moves closer to me. It is like the summer rains that appeared across the cotton field behind the North Carolina home where I grew up. A short and cool wind precedes the downfall verifying that it is rain indeed. My blurry vision begins to clear. And I stand drenched in the fruit of the clouds.

 

If Only Eyes to See…

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Low as I am as a creature, I am lower as a sinner; I have trampled thy law times without number; 

Sin’s deformity is stamped upon me, darkens my brow, touches me with corruption:

How can I flaunt myself proudly? Lowest abasement is my due place, for I am less than nothing before thee.

Help me to see myself in thy sight, then pride must wither, decay, die, perish.

(Valley of Vision, 160)

The word humility without the realization of our sin makes us blush. At the place where we see ourselves through His eyes… humility is no longer an illusive miracle.

The Question is “Who”

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Jesus thanked the Father that it was the insignificant to whom He chose to reveal Himself. For such was his gracious will (Matt 11:25-26).

What does belonging to Jesus really say about me, then?

Paul is clear. I am foolish and weak. If I have any wisdom, His name is Jesus. And that’s the point. 

…so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Cor 1:29-30)

The Mercy Song: Job, 9

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Elihu steps in full of passion. We are told that he “burned with anger” four times in 32: 1-5. The indictment on Job is nearly as clear. Twice it is said that he was seeking to justify himself.

“he was righteous in his own eyes” (v. 1)

Elihu burned with anger at Job “because he justified himself rather than God” (v. 2)

Elihu has been the silent observer. He watched Job and his three friends and now he speaks up in the LORD (v. 8). Who is man before God? What right do we have before the Almighty? What shall we do? How then shall we be?

Our hope is God’s mercy. It is only in the LORD’s mercy that we are delivered, then we are accepted, by mercy! The song is a song not of the righteous, but of the redeemed! This man who has found mercy…

He sings before men and says: “I sinned and perverted what was right and it was not repaid to me” (v. 27).

Thank you, Father, that the depths of Your mercy abound with supreme beauty in Jesus on the cross.

More of You

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Grant that I may never trust my heart, depend upon any past experiences, magnify any present resolutions, but be strong in the grace of Jesus; that I may know how to obtain relief from a guilty conscience without feeling reconciled to my imperfections.

Sustain me under trials an improve them to me; give me grace to rest in thee, and assure me of deliverance.

May I always combine thy majesty with thy mercy, and connect thy goodness with thy greatness.

Then shall my heart always rejoice in praises to thee.

(Valley of Vision, 150)

 

 

Where is it?…: Job, 8

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Wisdom is the them of the “wisdom literature”, Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7. Job gets something of the theme and declares that wisdom belongs to the sovereign God. And yet how should we understand Job’s defense? He affirms his own righteousness and the incongruence it has to his present suffering. The open-ended conclusion in chapter 29, when the “word of Job are ended” (v. 40b), is that something is not right and the “unrighteousness” is not in Job. Hmm. To whom then does it belong?

Here is where Elihu steps in to speak. Read on…