KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, January 12, 2018
Chapters: Job 32-34
Message: Opinionated People
Hello My Friend,
I was scrolling through the news feed, disgusted by all the hate, bickering, immoral, and quite disturbing stories out there. People whining about not getting a paycheck, people lecturing on topics they know nothing about nor care to learn about them, and people making false accusations over matters they have no clue about. People sure have a lot to say when they are not the ones going through what you are going through, and they sure give their true opinions of you when you are going through them. I love what Jesus says, “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” – Matthew 7:3-5.
“and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.” No one is perfect, and we all do need to know when perhaps we are doing something wrong, but far too many people are quick to place judgment and tell us how to fix ourselves rather than deal with their own sin first. There was another man sitting there the entire time Job and his friends were conversing, Elihu, patiently listening and waiting, but once he started talking, he had a lot to say, beginning with his opinion on all the men.
“So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, 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. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.” – Job 32:1-6.
“because he justified himself rather than God.” For a man that sat there quietly listening, he sure did not pay attention, all he heard was that Job was justifying himself rather than letting God justify him. Elihu continues, explaining why he waited so long to say anything. “Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words: Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man. Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches. I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.” – Job 32:11-14,20.
“I will speak, that I may be refreshed:” Did you ever have the urgency to just speak out and say what is on your mind? I have the tendency to do this a lot, and if I am not careful my mouth will get me in trouble. We all have our own opinion on things, what one sees as sinful is what another sees as not, it is not as if we do not know how God feels on matters, it is how far we are willing to accept them in our own lives. It is actually the Holy Spirit in the soul of man that teaches them the things of God, and let me tell you, when the Holy Spirit tells you it is wrong you will know it instantly. That does not mean that we always listen though or apply it. Elihu was also angry at Job because he claimed he was innocent and that his actions were justified by God.
“Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay. Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee. Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man. Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters. For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.” – Job 33:6-9,12-14.
“and I have heard the voice of thy words,” For someone who heard his words he sure did not comprehend them too well. Job never said he never did anything wrong, but he did hold on to his innocence. He literally tells Job that his sin is saying that he was innocent. The funny thing, Elihu wanted a reason to pardon Job, if he would just listen to what he was saying than he would see his wrongdoing and God will forgive and save him. This was an attempt to show Job that it is our good works that save us, if he just admitted he sinned he would be justified.
“If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth: He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness. Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak. If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee. If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.” – Job 33:23-26,31-33.
“for he will render unto man his righteousness.” Elihu believed that only the righteous can be justified by God and that his claiming his self righteousness alone was the sin. He had the same perception as his other friends, that he was hiding some sin and if he came clean then God would answer him. This was an attempt to show Job that good works are what save us, if he just admitted he sinned he would be justified. Well, the truth is our good works cannot save us, they never were the key to our salvation, and today the only way to be justified is through Christ. He became the messenger, the one among a thousand to stand before God on our behalf to show our righteousness. It is not our righteousness, but Christ’s, that is upon us by faith, that we are justified. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 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:” – Romans 3:21-24.
Justified; To accept as just and treat with favor. To understand what being justified by God really means need to understand that being justified by God means for Him to accept us as just. Elihu believed that Job’s friends were not successful in convincing him that he was not justified. Elihu formed his opinion on Job based on things that he and his friends said, but had he really listened he would have seen that Job was innocent. Elihu upbraids Job.
“Furthermore Elihu answered and said, Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. 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. Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 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.” – Job 34:1-2,7-10,35-37.
“My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.” Elihu insisted that Job accept the punishment he was given by God. Did you ever hear someone talking, and just want to shout out, “Oh, shut up!” This is what I was thinking the whole time I read this. It drives me absolutely nuts when people believe themselves to be so righteous that they make themselves our judge. Do not make the mistake of thinking that those who were here before Jesus came were justified by their works, if that were the case the only person who would be in heaven is Jesus and babies and children who died before they had a chance to live life. The only way anyone can be saved is by confession and atonement of their sins to God, and in case you did not realize, God and Jesus are one in the same, Jesus just made it permanent. “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 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: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” – Romans 3:22-24,28.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness: Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.” – Job 33:23-24.
Today’s Prayer: God, I want to live my life in Your will, but know that I am not always in it. I understand the things I go through are not always about Your judgment or tests, it is about trusting You and believing that You can do anything You say, even when I am not in Your will. When I am being afflicted, or judged by others help me to respond with the true knowledge that You have given me, let me not be taken by those who have formed a false opinion on me, but by Your truths. Also, let me not form opinions of others, but learn the facts and truth. Keep me around people who tell Your truths truthfully and keep me in Your Word to let the Holy Spirit be my Guide to Your truths as I study them. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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