RPG Adults
A MAN SPEAKS FOR GOD
SATURDAY, JUNE 11
Job 33:1-13
2 Thessalonians 2:5-11
“He that speaketh truth
sheweth forth righteousness…”
A MAN SPEAKS FOR GOD
Elihu wanted to speak honestly in the hope of helping Job, recognising that he was just a man created by God. He did not want to frighten or condemn, but only to enlighten. He felt that he had the proper answer and demanded that Job stand up and give a direct answer to his comments (Job 33:1-7).
Elihu’s attitude was in stark contrast to Job’s three friends. These men had a certain amount of divine truth, but they tried to meet the problem with human reasoning. Such reasoning never brings spiritual understanding but only confusion (1 Cor 3:19; 2 Cor 5:7). They were so set in their religious dogma that they were not open to further teaching. Like Job’s friends, the spiritual growth of many Christians is stunted because they feel they possess all spiritual truth.
A major basis for the three friends’ dogma was their certainty that they were able to judge men accurately, but man is unable to do this because he can only look on the outward appearance. On the other hand, God is able to judge man properly because He can look at the inner man (1 Sam 16:7).
Elihu stated that Job was wrong when he insinuated that God’s punishment was a questionable act. Job had said he was righteous before God but God punished him harshly anyway. Elihu said this was wrong because it cast aspersions on the justice of God. Elihu did not say Job was lying when he claimed a proper relationship with God but he did say that Job was wrong to complain about God’s dealings constantly. In so doing, Job implied that God had acted improperly (Job 33:8-13). We too must be careful of the implications of our speech so that we do not appear to say things we do not mean.
We see in Elihu a willingness to listen and to learn. May we also come to the Scriptures with open hearts and minds so that the Lord can teach us in the proper way.
THOUGHT: What made Elihu different from Job’s other friends?
PRAYER: Father, help me to firmly base my beliefs on the Scriptures.