Lean On God’s Understanding

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King James Bible StudyAnd when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” – Mark 8:34

Date: Sunday, January 12, 2020
Chapters: Job 32-34
Message: Lean On God’s Understanding

Hello My Friend,

Understanding; Comprehending; apprehending the ideas or sense of another, or of a writing; learning or being informed. We must admit that what we often comprehend by the things we see and hear are not always what they perceive to be. For example, we see someone go through a red light, and automatically think, they broke the law. What we may not have saw was the danger around them, and the reason why they had to go through the light. I say that because one time I was waiting at a red light when someone actually going through the red light on the other side was heading straight toward me, I had no choice, but to go through the light. And let me tell you, our own perception of ourselves can often be not what it appears either. I could have condemned myself for going through the red light, but had I not gone through it, I may not be here right now. When our understanding is clouded, that is when we need to stop overthinking things and start thinking, “God, let me not lean on my understanding, but yours.” “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” – Proverbs 3:3-6.

and he shall direct thy paths.” Sometimes God’s paths will lead us down roads that we do not comprehend at all what they actually perceive to be. People see us struggling, and automatically think we are breaking God’s law, while none of us are sinless, we are not always sinning. And if we are faithful in our walk with God, then we can expect some suffering for no reason at all other than God allowing Satan to afflict us to see if we are going to remain faithful to God. There were other people sitting there with Job as he and his friends go back and forth with three of his friends accusing him of being a wicked sinner, who needs to repent, and Job defending himself. Elihu, was the youngest of them all, he sat there and listened to these men, and after Job had spoken for the last time, everything was silent for quite some time. Elihu speaks up, first, he has to explain who he is.

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. 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. I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. Let me not, I pray you, accept any man’s person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.” – Job 32:1-3,6-10,19-22.

because he was righteous in his own eyes.” This is what they thought of him, Job never said that he never sinned, he said he did not do anything to bring all this suffering upon him. “because they had found no answer,” No one really knew why Job was suffering, they just made their own assessment based on what they saw, they assumption was that God will never put such suffering on someone who was righteous. And here is the thing, this is why we cannot lean on our own understanding, our perception of what is righteous is not always what God sees as righteous. “Great men are not always wise:” Yes, sometimes younger people do have more knowledge than older people, but knowing something does not make one wise, how we use that knowledge is what gives us wisdom. “I also will shew mine opinion.” Keep in mind that this is his opinion from what he was been seeing from the four men, not actually what was going on. Elihu continues to speak.

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. 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, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy, He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. 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. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.” – Job 33:3-17.

My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart:” You see, he is basing his opinion on what he sees as right in his own eyes. From the bottom of his heart, he believes that God has given him this knowledge. This is how Scripture is often used out of context, anyone can pick some Scripture out of the Bible to justify their reason behind it, but that does not mean that is it true. “saying, I am clean without transgression,” Do you see what he is doing? He is using Job’s words against him. This may be the biggest tactic that Satan uses to get us to cloud our understanding, what they comprehend is the complete opposite of what we mean. “I will answer thee,” Elihu believes that he has the answer that none of these men could give Job, that Job’s justifying himself was his sin, and God was doing this so that he can let go of his pride. Elihu goes on with some encouragement.

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. He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 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 33:23-28,31-33.

to shew unto man his uprightness:” Elihu believed that only the righteous can be justified by God and that his claiming his self righteousness alone was his sin. He had the same perception of Job as his other friends, that he was hiding some sin and if he came clean then God would answer him. “Deliver him from going down to the pit:” This was an attempt to show Job that good works are what save us, if he just admitted he sinned then he would be justified. Well, the truth is our good works cannot save us, they never were the key to our salvation, our faithfulness to God is the key, and today that faithfulness includes Christ. The only way we are just before God is through our faith in Christ. “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 really means we need to understand that being justified comes first by God accepting us as just. Elihu believed that Job’s friends were not successful in convincing him that he was not just because they too were unwise about God. Elihu formed his opinion on Job based on things that he and his friends said, had he really listened to what what being said, he would have understood that Job was innocent. Again, Elihu repeats Job’s words, taking them out of context.

For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. 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. For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.” – Job 34:5-11.

and cause every man to find according to his ways.” Elihu is saying that Job is getting what he deserved, and starts upbraiding him for questioning God. He goes on to say that he has no knowledge or wisdom about God.

If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands. In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. 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 34:16-23,35-37.

My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end” Right there Elihu chose Job’s judgment, he insisted that God was punishing him for his sin, and added rebellion to his sin. It aggravates me to no end when people believe themselves to be so righteous that they make themselves our judge. And when they twist our words as though we are the ones in the wrong, when in fact, they are the ones without wisdom. There is no doubt that we are all sinners saved by grace, and those who say they have no sin, then that is their sin. However, God knows the way that we take, and when our heart is right, when we confess our sin, when we come to God with all our troubles, we are upright in our heart, and that is why God hears our prayers, and will answer them.

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” – Psalm 32:1-2,5-6,8,10-11.

Today’s Prayer: God, I understand the path You take me is not always a result of some hidden sin, it is about trusting You and believing that You can do anything You say You can do, even when I do not always understand why. I know what it feels like to be judged by others, to have them form some opinion on me, even though they know me. Lord, help me to respond to these things with the true knowledge that You have given me. Also, let me not form opinions of others by hearsay, but learn the facts and truth before I comprehend what is actually going on. 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. Let me not lean on my own understanding, but totally on Yours. I pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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