The Devotional - 48

The Devotional

Comment:

Doing more harm than good is a result of ignorance, we have touched on this earlier in the Book of Job in that when we decide to speak, or even when it comes to be our turn to speak (on any subject) we are mostly ignorant of what is going on in the heart of the listener. Yes, we hear their words and we know much of the conditions that have brought about the conversations, but there are at least two relevant thoughts that do not line up with anyone else in the conversation. The first thought is, how does God relate to the subject at hand and the second is how do the persons listening relate to your words (prayer with those involved to God helps). And in-between those to thoughts are a host of relational issues that often add stress to the listeners who ought to be at peace with one another. Certainly these men failed the test of Philippians 2:3 and 4:6-7 as do we if we do not have love for one another or pray with one another.

Challenge: Job 35

As we will soon see, the LORD will have enough of the conversations or discourses regarding Job’s suffering. Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar and Elihu, even Job has overlooked God’s Character. God clearly establishes that all of the counsel of these men, including Job have darkened God’s counsel with words that are without knowledge – Job 38:2 and we will get to this chapter soon. Elihu seems the harshest of those to speak and at this point I would like to say that the only recorded prayer in the Book of Job is found in the first 5 verses of chapter 1.

I did not see as we traveled this far in the Book that the six men collected themselves together for prayer, but I do see that they sat silently for seven days and seven nights with no words spoken to Job, maybe they were praying and yet I sense not. Prayer is vital in all ministry, if we as God’s children fail to pray and seek the wisdom, comfort and faith that God promises we are willingly giving place for the devil to come in and destroy all attempts to counsel – 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 and 1 Peter 5:5-9.

Reading through Job, especially the chapters where Elihu speaks is like someone who has knowledge but has become “puffed up” – Colossians 2:18-19 describes this to us very well. We see this in younger people and this also reminds me of the insubordinate young people of today. As we are seeing our culture denigrate (being entirely darkened) in the counsel of human good it is increasing evident that the minds of our young people are being equipped to have a false confidence in human integrity and faith is dismissed as a false concept of believing.

As I mentioned yesterday, I can hardly wait to hear what the LORD God has to say, so we may start there tomorrow, but I have some reading to do since maybe chapters 36 and 37 may have something that needs to be said. In the meantime, let us as the apostle John speaks clearly on, let us love one-another – 1 John 4:7-12, now in parting for today; if you are not reading the verses highlighted, then shame on you.