Job 26-31 THE SMELL OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

Pastor Carolyn Sissom (7350 views)

THE SMELL OF SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

Job 26-31

 

Taught by:  Carolyn Sissom

 

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

  

In chapter 29, Job unconsciously reveals the reason why Jehovah should have placed him in the crucible.  Job’s very first words show that there was a further stage of surrender unto God he had yet to learn.  There are over 50 personal pronouns in chapter 29. 

  

29:2:  “O that I were as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me.”

  

His craving the past was not a demonstration of a full abandonment to the will of God.  Most want to look back with regret, or look forward with wishes.  The adversary knows this:  hence his persistent endeavor to occupy our minds with what we once were, and, apparently, are not now; or what we ought to be and seem not to be at the moment.  Comparing ourselves with ourselves is a fatal hindrance to our presently resting in the will of the Father.

  

(11 Cor. 10:12)  “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves; but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”

  

(Phil. 4:11) “Not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

  

What grieved Job the most was the cloud that had come over his fellowship with God.   This is the cry of the Cross.  Psa. 22:1:  “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are You so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?”

  

Job knew what he had lost, but he did not yet realize all that he was to gain.  It is evident that Job regarded his past experience as the ripest stage of his spiritual life, but he was mistaken.  Job did not know that Jehovah was never more his Friend than now!  The Lord had never watched over His servant more closely than while Job was in the crucible.  He had not left Job!  Note Job’s mistaken confidence that he had tasted the “fullness” (“ripeness”- Jn. 3:34 of God.) “For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives not the Spirit by measure to him.”

  

29:4b” “when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle”.  29:20: “My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand.”

  

It is also revealed in Chapter 28 and 29, that Job was a prophet of God. 

  

28: 28: and to man He said, “Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.”

  

29:21: “to me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel.  (23) And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.”

  

Like Moses, this “somebody had become a “nobody;” but Jehovah was about to resurrect his “nobody”.

  

This is often the journey of God’s true   prophets.  The Lord uses them in seasons, and then places them in the crucible until the next season of God’s purposes.  

  

29:21: I chose out their way, and sat chief, and dwelled as a king in the army, as one that comforts the mourners.

  

This is a special grace that had been given to him to be able to comfort mourners.  Now he is moving through his own grief to transformation.  Thus far, satan sent him friends who are part of the problem.  However, his spiritual labor and contractions between hope and despair, faith and doubt, and courage and fear are the tools that are helping him to give birth to New Life.

  

Receptivity by:  J. R. Miller

  

There is a large part of the bible which can be received by us only when we come into the places for which the words were given.  There are promises for weakness which we can never get while we are strong.  There are words for times of danger which we can never know while we need no protection.  There are consolations for sickness whose comfort we can never get while we are in robust health.  There are promises for times of loneliness, when men walk in solitary ways, which never can come with real meaning to us while loving companions are by our side.  There are words for old age which we never can appropriate for ourselves along the years of youth.  When the arm is strong, the blood warm, the heart brave, God cannot show us the stars while the sun shines in the heavens.”

  

Job knows the Lord has the answer, but he is still without a solution.   When we get to chapter 33, Elihu introduces a new approach, a new answer and a new appeal.  He will minister to Job from the realm of the Holy Place.  He has revelation, but he sees in part and knows in part.   The three messengers of the religions of the time (outer court) did not have any answers for him.  This final speech of Job completes the discussion with the three so-called friends.  They spoke to him through Human wisdom, experience, and knowledge.  They know about the Lord, but the do not have an intimate and personal relatinship with HIm.

  

From chapter 26 through the end of the book, there are now three main speakers – Job, Elihu, and the Lord.

  

The language of Job’s description of his days of spiritual power shows that he was not indifferent to the position in which he was placed.  The happiest we can ever be is when the Lord places His Hand on us and uses us for His Glory.  The enemy’s challenge to Jehovah had been well timed by Jehovah Himself.  Job had been in the most perilous position a human being could occupy.

  

 “11 Cor. 12) “Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak then I am strong. I am become a fool in glorying, you have compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you.” 

  

Job had not quite reached that place of Grace.  On the other hand, Job’s description of his experience strikingly confirms the words of Jehovah in chapter 1 & 2 when the Lord said he was a perfect man.  He feels he is forced to commend and defend himself. His conclusions show that his sufferings were not the consequences of transgression or disobedience, but by the Will of God, for the development of a FAITH which is only possible in a soul who knows how to be led by the Spirit.  His religious friends did not have this Grace on their lives. 

   

(Romans 8:14)  “For as many as our led by the spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”

  

This is a journey into a walk with God that is more precious than gold that perishes.

  

(1 Peter 1:7) “that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found to praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.”

  

In the New Testament, the ripened grain of wheat falling into the ground to die that it may bring forth much fruit (Jn. 12: 12-21).  The conformity to the death of Christ that follows the knowledge of identification with Him on Calvary’s Cross. (Phil. 1:1-14).  In Paul’s own experience, the sentence of death:  (11 Cor. 1:9) “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead.”

  

This sentence of death was upon all that Paul was in himself that he might rely only upon the resurrection energy and power of God.  this corresponds to this stage in Job’s spiritual journey.  Our brother Job had been stripped of all that he was, that he might be clothed upon with all that God is!  This is the great exchange.  Our sin for His own righteousness.  It is more than fair…it is most reasonable.

  

Chapter 30 reveals Job in the crucible.  His story bears a strange prophetic resemblance and likeness to the path of the Cross trodden by the Son of God, when he became obedient unto death, and was despised and rejected of men.

  

In Isaiah 53, Isaiah prophesied of the suffering Savior.  Job was a prophetic portrait of the One Who was to come.  Job. 30: 10-14:  foreshadows the Cross as Job tells of the crowd who had gathered around the dung-hill upon which he lay, crucified to the world. (Psa. 22:7; 16; Isa. 53:12) 

  

Job. 30: 10-14: “they abhor me; they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.  Because He has loosed my cord, and afflicted me, they have also let loose the bridle before me.  Upon my right hand rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.  They mar my path, they set forward my calamity, and they have no helper.  They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters; in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.”

  

This is part of participating in the sufferings of the Cross.  Once we have had Grace lifted and we are persecuted by people, even those closest to us, we then know that His Grace is all that is between us and the love and good will of people.  We then learn, it is not about our righteousness are what we deserve, but it is all about His Grace upon us.

  

As the words pass his lips that the Lord has loosed his cord and afflicted him, he already knew that he was wrong.  Job had reached the crucial moment of his trial and did not know it.  When he gave himself up to the luxury of dwelling upon his past, his regret and despair at his present condition grew more and more acute, until he uttered words of bitter reproach to his Almighty Friend. 

  

After this comes self-excuse, and from this he sinks into self-pity. (30:2-25) then in turn comes self-dejection and hopeless sorrow.  At last Job’s spirit had been touched; he lost his inner anchor, and began to faint under the Hand of God.  Proverbs 18:14:  “the spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?”

  

His spirit was strong enough to bear up under his illness, but through satan’s last attack, his friends had wounded his spirit.

  

Nevertheless the faithful Lord is ever watching the crucible.  He will not permit the fiery trial to last one moment too long.

  

(1 Cor. 10:13):  “There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

  

Even now Job has not renounced God!  There is a striking dis-similarity between the endurance of sufferings of Job and the Lord Jesus, even though there is a similarity as well.  In contrast with Job, the whole life-pathway of the Lord Jesus shows calm and a steadfast acceptance of all that was keenly painful to Him as Man.  He humbled himself in every step of His path, and was obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. “Christ who being in the form of God thought it not robbery to be equal with God.  But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.”

  Job was led to the Judgment Hall, and there he was surrounded by those who had gathered, even men of the very same type as Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar.  Religious men who professed to know God, and were confident that they were fit to be guides of the blind and correctors of the flesh.  Jesus had ministered in a far greater measure than Job, but answered nothing.   

When he suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously!  Job’s “You do not answer me…You are turned to be cruel to me” wilts in the shadow of the words of Jesus, “But you are holy…”

  

In chapter 31, Job sinks back into himself.  It is all about me.  When we get past,  it being all about me, we are being equipped for the ministry of Jesus Christ.  His attitude toward sin, the world, his neighbor, wealth, idolatry and his enemy is all covered in his self-righteous speech of chapter 31.  31: 24-25:  “If I have made gold my hope, or have said to the fine gold, You are my confidence; If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much.” 

  

Our Faith in all things must be in the provision, sustainer, healer, deliverer, salvation, and protection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

  

Job 32:1:  “The Holy Spirit of God did not bear witness to Job’s self-righteous, undaunted vindication.  The friends were silenced, but not convinced!  They felt that his attempt to clear himself brought dishonor upon himself, and failed to glorify God.  Job had undoubtedly walked with a conscience void of offence toward God and man, but the persistent accusations of his friends, added to his sufferings, added to his sufferings, and has stung him into a self-defense.  The very language of Job’s self-vindication shows that he needed the refining fire!  It unveiled an aspect of the subtle life of self that can only be revealed after an experience of power and fruitful service.

  

The hidden depths of the true character of Job were thus revealed. (1 Cor. 4:4) “For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified; but He that judges me is the Lord.”

  

When the pressure of the crucible is on is when our true character is revealed.  This was why the Lord goaded satan to attack Job. 

  

The debate is over and it is a stalemate.

  

Job 32:2-3:  Enter Elihu the son of Bar a-chel 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.

  

Buz is mentioned as the son of Nahor, brother to Abraham, and it is of this family that Elihu comes. 

  

The Hebrew word for “Elihu” is “Eliyhuw” )#453, 410, 1931) and means “God of him; God is Lord; my God is that which is, whose God is He, my God is He, or God is He (Jehovah).”

  

That he was the kindred of Ram indicates that Elihu was a descendant of Judah (“praise”).

  

Elihu was a self-assertive youth with a far juster and spiritual conception in dealing with the problem, but gives only half the truth marred by his own manner.  Revelation gives way to speculation, and the common mistake of extending oneself beyond the anointing is made.  Elihu has a revelation, but rushes in over his head in youthful speculation, demonstrating the realm of the Holy Place, the “young men” realm of 1 John 2: 12-14.  “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.  I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him that is from the beginning.  I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one.  I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father.  I have written to you, fathers because you have known Him that is from the beginning.  I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.”

  

He emphasizes the disciplining of God, and attempted to vindicate God and His dealings.  While the first three friends magnified Job’s trouble, Elihu magnifies God!  Yet he was angry at the three comforters because they were condemning Job without helping him, and he was upset with Job for his self-justification.  Elihu admonishes all to witness God’s greatness in creation, and His goodness in His revelation to man.

  

This young observer (and possibly stenographer) served as a kind of John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord.  “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

  

Elihu was a man like Job who spoke as a friend.  Elihu came as a brother.  He sat as Job’s equal to plead his case and to present some further truth concerning God.  He sat with Job in the fellowship of human compassion.  At the same time, he spoke the truth of God to him.

  James 3: 13-18:  “Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you?  Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.  But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.  This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, bull of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”  Elihu bridges the gap between those empty solutions of the three friends and the clear voice of God Himself.   Ez. 22:30:  “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.” 

11 Cor. 5: 17-21: “therefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and has given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to say,, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be you reconciled to God.  For He has made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”

  

Elihu’s discourse fills six chapters and has been criticized as verbose and as the speech of an impudent and conceited young man.  However, it is the most courteous speech of the debate, and undoubtedly surpasses all the preceding ones in spiritual grasp. 

  Elihu’s new approach is his claim to a special inspiration from God, yet one who can take Job’s part as being of the same clay.    Instead of a judge, Elihu would be a brother of human sympathy, yet at the same time speak the real truth from the Lord.  He felt that he was Job’s answer as a mediator.   31: 35-37:  “Oh that one would hear me! Behold my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me and that my adversary had written a book.  Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.” Elihu’s new answer is not totally New Testament.  Yes God is greater than man and man has no authority except that which is given to him by the Lord.  Elihu contends that man has no right or authority to require an explanation of the Lord.   He does not yet have the revelation of the Sons of God and Jesus Christ as our elder brother and our inheritance of full son-ship in Christ Jesus. 

He sees a different and superior purpose in suffering from that which the three friends have seen.  Suffering is not exclusively punitive:  it is also corrective.  It is not only penal; it is moral and restorative.  It is not only the judge’s rod; it is the shepherd’s goad.  This new way of thinking reaches its full expression in chapters 36 and 37.  The doctrine of Elihu is through suffering, man is restrained, refined and restored.

  

So, Elihu’s doctrine births into the religion of his time a new approach, a new answer and a new appeal.  Elihu though incorrect in some places, and thus inadequate, does not cover all the ground.  He was still ignorant of the real cause of Job’s suffering seen in chapters 1-2.  As the reader, we know the intent of the Lord. 

 

Elihu’s was a great theme.  In fact, it was too great for him.  He was not equal to it.  A more-than-human voice needed to speak and thus the Lord did speak.  The Word of the Lord comes from the Most Holy Place.  It flowed out of Zion (north).  It came from the “whirlwind.”  The word of the Lord reveals a strong moving of the Holy Spirit.

  

We will continue next week starting with chapter 32 and the Doctrine of Elihu.

 

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