Something new

Part 14

 "The Words  of Scripture are for Children The thoughts are for men" Seed of the Women"     Dr. Arthur Custance

Gentle Reader,

We said that Elihu had First, a new approach,. Second, a new answer. Third a new appeal.

We have looked at the first two now lets consider the third thought:

A New Appeal

The appeal of Elipaz (aka Larry), Bildad (aka Curly) and Zophar (aka Mo) if appeal could be called an appeal finally amounted to, "Own up, and cease being a hypocrite."

"The reason, pastor why I don’t attend any church is because there are too many hypocrites" I have been told so many times to which my standard reply is "There is always room for one more!"

The appeal of Elihu has nothing to do with that sort of attitude. It is an appeal foe a new attitude in Job toward his afflictions. Larry, Curly and Mo had kept harping on some supposed wicked behaviour in the past. Elihu is concerned with a wrong attitude in the present. He does not discuss whether Job has committed grievous sin in the past. He accepts job’s protestation of innocence and while it may very well be that the protestation is genuine enough, Job’s present attitude and his spirit are all wrong. Job’s suffering may not be for past sin at all! His suffering is more than likely a chastening with some ultimately good purpose. But (there’s that but) Job is thwarting his own good by his impossible attitude.

Now then, in line with his philosophy of affliction as being corrective and educational rather than judicial and punitive, Elihu’s appeal is for a teachable humility on Job’s part. This is where Elihu feels that Job has mainly failed. As with others who have not been heard by God because their motive was wrong (Chapter 35 verse 12) " There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men." . So even Job’s requestions and protests earnest though they may have been, have sprung from a wrong motive, namely pride-a pride which has been self-righteously occupied with the vindication of Job himself even to the point of impugning God’s righteousness. God will not hear such "vanity" (Chapter 35 verse 13) "Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it." Job needs to realize his own impotence and ignorance (Chapter 37 verse 14-24)

" Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?

Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?

How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?

Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?

Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.

Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart. "

This Gentle Reader, is what most of us who study seriously the word and the Words of the Bible which is called the word of God as is Christ Jesus.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not." (Gospel of John Chapter 1 verses 1-5 )

This is what we consider discerning or perhaps discernment. Discernment is seeing life through God’s perspective. Which we note "for the record" that Science which takes only evidence which it can see, feel, touch, taste, cannot ever touch God. For Gentle reader if God could be proved then God wouldn’t be would He?

Next time we’ll get just one step closer to explaining for once and for all why bad things happen to good people.

Love,

Denis