Job 33 here tonight, Job 33. Turning there, I'll remind you what we saw in chapter 32. You remember Elihu, the younger of the ones who were listening to Job and in his presence. Of course, his three friends were listening. reproved by the Lord in chapter 42, but Elihu is missing in all of that. And Elihu actually does not show up in the account until chapter 32. And the two lessons that we saw, I remind you that he waited, according to our Bibles, he waited for 29 chapters to speak up. And he also waited to get angry. He was slow to wrath, slow to speak, even as we have seen in James chapter 1. And I'll remind you where we finished off as far as chapter 32 here. It says, verse 20, 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. Wherefore, notice that this is why I wanted to finish up or see where we finished up before in chapter 32. Wherefore, notice, he's continuing this emphasis as to what he was sharing with Job. Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches and hearken to all my words. Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. 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. I want you to notice here, first of all, he says in verse 1, Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches and hearken to all my words. What I think is very interesting is he's humbly speaking to Job here. Even though he has finally spoken as a younger man, he's still humble before an elderly man, older man than him, not elderly. There is a distinction between that I'm learning as I get older, but elderly and older are two different things. But anyway, Job, he says to him, notice in the spirit of humility, I pray thee, hear my speeches and hearken to all my words. And I was reminded as I was going through this, I was reminded of what Jesus said to the devil in his temptation. It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Of course, Matthew words it according to Deuteronomy, by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. So when we think about the importance of all words, And let me just say this. Notice he emphasizes, hear my speeches and hearken to all my words. We probably would say it this way, hear me out. That's probably the way we would say it in our day. Hear me out. I want you to listen to everything. Hear what I have to say. And what I think is very interesting, the times that I get into trouble, the times when I don't hear everything that my wife says. I hear parts of it. I don't hear all of it. Hearken to all my words. I paid attention to that statement. Here's what I want you to think about. It says, hearken to all my words. Listen carefully to what is being said before responding. Notice it says in verse two then, behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. Now I have a note written in my Bible right here, bridle my tongue. So when you think about, he says, finally, after he's waited and waited and waited to speak, he finally says, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth. What I want you to understand is not saying something at times is wrong as much as saying too much. but we need to have our tongue bridled so that we know when we should speak. But I think it's very interesting, he says, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue has spoken in my mouth. He's now speaking up, he's now presenting what is on his heart, and as we're gonna see again, he's emphasized that these are things from the Holy Spirit. It says, my word shall be of the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. Now, I want to emphasize this, as I said before in my statements about Eli who, when I had taught through Job years ago, I emphasized that he was young, he was zealous, he was very opinionated as a young man, I told you that it's not necessarily wrong to have an opinion. In fact, if we don't have an opinion based on scripture, we are going to be caught up in all kinds of different things. But here's what I want you to take note of in verse 3. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart. So he's not proud of his opinion. I believe we see here, he's speaking boldly. There's nothing wrong with speaking boldly when we have the truth of God that we are presenting. Then he says in the last part of verse three, says, my lips shall utter knowledge clearly. He's not presenting obscure philosophies of man. He's presenting truth. And I want you to notice he emphasizes he's uttering knowledge clearly. Notice with me a Proverbs 22. I want you to notice something here that Solomon says, and of course in Scripture we understand that Solomon was not always spiritually right with God. When we understand that Proverbs was probably written earlier in his life before all of the corruption of his going after all of the gods of his wives. And we understand Ecclesiastes is presented with the perspective under the sun. God, the Holy Spirit, I believe, gave him those words as he's emphasizing all the stuff that he tried. None of it was fulfilling. All of it was vanity. And I really believe that Ecclesiastes was written in such a way so that we don't have to try those things. Solomon already tried everything. He tried everything he could imagine. And it was all vanity of vanities, he says. All is vanity, says the preacher. We don't have to try those things. We're going to find they're all vain at the end of it all. So why try it? It all happens the same for everybody. You know, it says Proverbs 22 verse 17. Now notice what he says, you know, of course he's writing Proverbs primarily, I believe to Rehoboam, his son, because how many times in Proverbs it says, my son, my son, my son. Verse 17, bow down thine ear and hear the words of the wise and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. Is that opinionated? Again, I want you to think about this. If God is giving us the words, if our words are based on God's words, I want you to understand there's nothing wrong with presenting knowledge in this way. who it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, they shall withal be fitted in thy lips, that thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things and counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?" Then also notice in the Luke chapter one, This passage came to my mind as I was reading that passage. I want you to understand the importance of making sure our words are honoring and pleasing to God. And then I want you to understand that if that's the case, if the Holy Spirit is leading us to speak these things, then I want you to understand there's nothing wrong with sharing the truth and using Elihu's word, sharing his opinion. Notice we have Luke chapter 1 verse 1, "...for as much as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us." So notice he's writing this on the basis of doctrinal convictions about Jesus Christ, "...even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word." It seemed good to me also having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first to write unto thee in order most excellent Theophilus. So as he's presenting this, notice he says, I've had perfect understanding and I'm trying to write in order. And he says that thou mightest know the certainty of those things wherein thou hast been instructed. So as you go back to Job chapter 32, Notice again, he says he's speaking with the uprightness of his heart. His lips are uttering knowledge clearly. And here's why I say that he's relying upon the Holy Spirit of God. It says in verse four, the Spirit of God hath made me and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Now, in the context of him saying this, that he's speaking uprightness of heart, so he has a right heart. So we need to be careful we're speaking from a right heart. That's why sometimes when we speak in anger, we aren't going to have a right heart. So we make sure we have the right heart there, speaking clearly, as he says. But notice the basis of this is the Spirit of God that had made him. And notice, the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. I believe that he's emphasizing here that he's dependent upon the Spirit of God. If we are dependent upon the Spirit of God to speak, then I believe we can very clearly speak boldly, and of course the Bible speaks in the New Testament of the filling of the Holy Spirit of God and speaking boldly in that. Of course, we understand that the Spirit of God speaks through God's Word today, not through visions and all that. We're going to see that here in a moment. So we see here the Spirit of God had made him, the breath of the Almighty had given him life. And again, I believe he's emphasizing that he's dependent upon the Spirit of God to speak here to Job. If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. Notice there's a couple of times we're going to see in this chapter that he actually gives Job an opportunity to answer. Now, in essence, his friends also did that, but that was after they had accused him and made assumptions and all that. You've got wickedness in your life, Job. You need to repent and get right with God. You have great wickedness in your life. You need to get all these things right. Well, after they accused him, what's he supposed to say? I mean, no. I mean, he tried to defend himself. He tried to say he didn't have wickedness to repent of. But he says, notice Elihu says, if thou can't answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up. So he's given Job his first opportunity to answer as he's speaking to him. Verse six, behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead. I also am formed out of the clay. Now, I want you to notice back in chapter 31, verse 35. So is that arrogance on the part of Elihu? Or is he answering Job and he's responding for Job? Notice it says here in verse 35, Oh, that one would hear me. This is Job speaking just before Elihu begins to speak. 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 and so on. Literally, Job says, I wanna have a hearing, I wanna speak to God. So Elihu says, notice again, in the context of the Spirit of God, he says, verse six, behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead. This was something that Job had wished for, but then notice he clarifies it, I also am formed out of the clay. Isaiah 49, verses nine and 10 says this. Woe unto him that striveth with his maker. Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. That's very interesting. So we're nothing more than a piece of pottery, clay, or whatever. Isaiah says, let the potsherds of the earth strive with the potsherds of, or let the potsherd, I should say, strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, what makest thou? or thy work he hath no hands? Woe unto him that saith unto his father, what begettest thou? Or to the woman, what hast thou brought forth? Basically that passage and related to this also in Job here, how are we, who are we to question God what he does in our lives? As Job was dealing with all these things, he was demanding a hearing of God. And what I think is very interesting is after Job's three friends are finished and they are reproved for what they said, again, God himself did that, Elihu then speaks up and then it prepares the way for God to deal with Job. in chapters 38 through 41. So he says here again in verse 6, Behold, I am according to thy wish in God's stead. He says, I also am formed out of the clay. So I don't believe there's pride there in that statement, saying that I'm in God's stead here, as we understand that he's emphasizing, I'm just a piece of clay just like you. So he's not saying, you know, I'm above you, Job, you need to listen to me because I have all wisdom. Verse 7, "'Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.'" He was not oppressing Job. In fact, as we think about what Job said of his three friends, "'Miserable comforters are ye.'" I don't believe, because we don't ever see Job ever saying, yeah, you're just like my friends. No, he doesn't say anything like that. So as we think about this, he says, 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. Now, I want you to notice here, he's emphasizing in verses nine through 11, a summary of what he heard Job say. So he says here, first of all, he's summarizing what Job says, but in verse nine, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me. And I'm going to emphasize this again as far as this statement here. This is a summary of what Job started saying in his self-righteousness and his defense. I want you to think about what he emphasizes. He became self-righteous in the midst of his trials as he was trying to answer his friends' accusations and assumptions. There was a self-righteousness that was introduced into his heart. I really believe, of course, when you think about Ezekiel 14, there's three men who were singled out as the most righteous of their day. You have Job included on the list, Daniel's on the list, and Noah. So when we think about Job being singled out as being the most righteous man in his day, But it's very interesting, he developed this self-righteousness, though, in his defense. Verse 10 is another statement. Again, verses 9 through 11 is a summary of what Elihu is saying. This is what I heard you say, Job. Verse 10, behold, he findeth occasion against me. He counteth me for his enemy. Notice we have chapter 10. Chapter 10. Chapter 10, verses 1 through 10. All right, so the Bible says that when we are friends of the world, then we are the enemy of God. So notice what Job is saying, though. God considers me to be his enemy, but he's basically trying to say, I don't know why God thinks I'm his enemy. He says here in verse one, chapter 10, my soul is weary of my life. I will leave my complaint upon myself. I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. Notice where's the joy, where's the acceptance and so on of chapters one and two. Again, we see the spirit started changing as he was going through his trial. I will say unto God, do not condemn me, show me wherefore thou contendest with me. Notice he's asking God, show me, why are you contending with me? Again, this enemy relationship as he's seeing it. Is it good for thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked? Hast thou eyes of flesh, or seest thou as man seeth? Are thy days as the days of man? Are thy years as man's days? That thou inquirest after mine iniquity and searchest after my sin? Again, Job is thinking, I think I'm right with God. I don't understand what's going on. Thou knowest that I am not wicked, and there is none that can deliver out of thine hand. Thine hands have made me and fashioned me together round about, yet thou dost destroy me. Remember I beseech thee that thou hast made me as the clay, and wilt thou bring me into dust again? Hast thou not poured me out as milk and curdled me like cheese?" Also notice chapter 19, verse 11. Again, he saying that God looked at him as an enemy, and he's trying to figure out why. Why am I God's enemy? Here's a very clear statement. Again, this is what Elihu is summarizing in those verses. Verse 11 of chapter 19, he hath also kindled his wrath against me, and he counteth me unto him as one of his enemies. Now, let me ask you, if you really thought that you were living rightly, You thought your relationship was right with God, and all of a sudden, you are just dealing with trial after trial after trial, and it's not going away, and then you have three friends turn on you, and they're constantly miserable comforters, and they're trying to figure out what wickedness you have in your life so that you can get it right and all that. When you think about that, when you're going through a trial like that, after time, you start thinking, God, what's wrong? Why won't this be resolved? Why doesn't this get better? Notice verse 11, he puteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths. Now I want you to notice again what Elihu is doing here. He is summarizing what Job has said in all the chapters before. And what I think is very interesting is in basic forms what Elihu summarizes in those three verses, God says the same thing to Job in chapters 38 through 41. Think about this. In fact, when you think about, as God begins to speak to Job, he says, where were you when I created everything? Where were you? Do you have strength like God? I mean, do you have an arm of strength, power like God? Who are you? Basically, that's what God is asking Job when we get to the end of Elihu's speeches here. Verse 12, behold, in this thou art not just. I try to pay attention to every word. I don't always catch all these. But you notice he clarifies something. Elihu is not saying, oh yeah, you've obviously got all kinds of wickedness in your life. That's not what he's saying. He says, in this thou art not just. I want you to consider what Elihu is emphasizing here. that Job had developed a self-justification. And essentially, as we see what else he's going to say here in this verse, he actually is trying to justify himself before a holy God. And I believe what Elihu is emphasizing here is that Job has lost sight of God being just. Now, when he says, behold, in this thou art not just, I believe he's emphasizing that he's unjust in this situation, but not all situations. So I believe it's very interesting, Eli, who clarifies that. Behold, in this thou art not just. And then he says, I will answer thee. And this is what, I believe this is the emphasis of all that he's making here in this answer for Job. I will answer thee that God is greater than man. I believe that's one of the basic themes of what Elihu is emphasizing in his speech, his answering of Job. Now, when we think about this in relation to Job, where do we see in the Bible that God ever gives him an explanation as to what happened? Now, I still ask the question, when was chapters 1 and 2 revealed? When did Job learn about the discussion and the accusations of the devil in heaven? Of course, again, the devil is the accuser of the brethren. He's the accuser of the saints. Now, when you think about that, somewhere along the way, obviously, God revealed that because that's not something mankind understands unless God shows what takes place. I believe that that was revealed to Job because we needed this preserved for us so that we understand what happens when the devil's in heaven accusing the brethren. Now, what I want you to notice here is that God does not give Job an explanation or an apology. Where in the Bible does it ever say that God says, wow, Job, when I told Satan he could go after you, I didn't realize it was gonna get this bad. In fact, I want you to notice chapter one. No, chapter 2, I mean. Chapter 2, verse 3. Again, we saw this at the beginning of this study. Job 2, verse 3. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and astereth evil? He avoids evil. And still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movest me against him, to destroy him without cause. Notice the Lord said he was the one responsible. He was the one who had to give the devil permission to do all this. So as you go back to chapter 33 again, he says, God is greater than man. God is above mankind. And when Joe began to demand from God, I want you to consider that's when God steps in after Elihu, God steps in and says, where were you when I created everything? Who are you to make demands of me? Verse 13, why dost thou strive against him? So if God is greater than man, he's asking Job, why are you striving against him? For he giveth not account of any of his matters. Again, no explanation, no apology. God does not offer, God is not required to give any of that to us. And someday I believe we will understand it all better by and by when we understand on the other side of eternity. That's why I believe we need to trust God who is greater than man, even when we don't understand. And what I think is interesting as an example of this, King Nebuchadnezzar. King Nebuchadnezzar, of course, in pride said, you know, this is not this Babylon that I built for my majesty. Well, he had to be taken to the pasture for seven years. And when you think about this, King Nebuchadnezzar had to come to realize that God is greater than man. God sets up one, he puts another down. He is sovereign. How can we question what God does in our lives? Verse 14, for God speaketh once, yea, twice, yet man perceiveth it not. It's an interesting statement in Psalm 62, verse 11, says, God has spoken once, twice have I heard this, that power belongeth unto God. God speaketh once and twice, notice yet man perceiveth it not. Why don't we perceive more of what God says? Of course, an unsaved person, 1 Corinthians 2.14, the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. Also, when you think about Hebrews has a couple things as well. Remember in Hebrews 4, verses one and two. There's hearing, but was not mixed with faith in them that heard. And so they heard the message, but they did not mix the word of God with faith. And there's a third thing also in chapter five of Hebrews where it says that sometimes people become dull of hearing. Why do we become dull of hearing? I already know that passage. I already know what the Bible says there. Well, I've been studying my Bible for, not this Bible, but the Bible for, Decades now, and I'm still finding things. Oh, there's a word there I never paid attention to. Like it was mentioned, so the parable of the 10 pounds, we always hear about 10 pounds. How many times do we stop and think about that there were 10 servants with those 10 pounds? We focus on the 10 pounds, but we don't realize everyone got the equal amount. Those types of things, words here and there. I just came across a study on temperance related to the root word temper. The word temper is found tempering something. All of those types of things. Those are little things that you can find as you constantly study and so on. If we're not careful though, we will become dull of hearing. Also 2 Peter 3 says that some are willingly ignorant. They have a will. They refused to understand what God has said. He says, "...in a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men and slumberings upon the bed." Obviously, in the Old Testament, they did not have the completed Word of God, and so God would often speak in dreams and visions. We don't need dreams and visions because we have God's completed message. But notice this, then God, He opened up the ears of men and sealed up their instruction. So people don't get it. He speaks once, twice. We don't perceive it. But God continues to give the message. God in His grace and mercy continues to give the message. Then He opened up the ears of men and sealed up their instruction. So somebody who's been hearing the gospel for years and somebody has been praying for them and praying for them and praying for them and finally, Whether it's a circumstance that brings to the point where they have to realize they need God or what, but God will open the heart and so on. Again, He opens the ears of men and sealeth their instruction that He, God, may withdraw man from his purpose and hide pride from man. Here's some examples of this. First of all, I think of Abimelech. Remember when Bimelech took, or his servants, you know, gave basically Sarah to Bimelech? Remember what God did on both of those occasions in the book of Genesis? Remember God gave a vision and a dream to Bimelech? You touch that woman, you're a dead man. Well, Lord, I mean, he said she was his sister. I did this innocently. He says, I know you did, but here's why I'm giving you this dream, because I want you to give him his wife back, and you don't touch her or him. Yes, Lord. Remember, the next morning, I just read this, next morning, he tells the services, and they're in fear. It's like, oh, the Lord is defending Abraham. Then I also think of Laban. Remember when Jacob took off with his two wives, all his family and everything, they took off. And remember Laban finds out, and he's hotly pursuing after Jacob and the entire group. And of course, Laban's thinking, hey, wait a minute, I was kind of hoping to get all those animals back eventually, you know, because he was kind of a deceptive, crooked father-in-law. But here's what happens, remember? The night before, God says, you know, don't say anything good or bad to him. You touch him, you're in trouble with me. I want you to consider how often God will use something in our lives. He will use something in the word of God. Oh, Lord, I need to stop doing that. Again, you notice he keep, in verse 18 then he says, he keepeth back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. It's interesting as far as the New Testament, James 5, verses 19 and 20 says, Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth and one convert him, let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins. When we're talking about the pit here, I believe we're going to see in this passage, it's about basically a premature death because of somebody going the wrong path and having sin in their life that God judges. Also related to this is 1 John 5, verses 16 and 17, "'If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.'" There is a sin unto death. How many times do we think about that in the New Testament? If there's a presumptuous, willful sin, God will judge. God will deal with that. There is a sin unto death. I do not say that he should pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not unto death. Notice again, he says in verse 18, he keepeth back his soul from the pit and his life from perishing by the sword. God is one trying to intervene in this. And again, He will emphasize these things in a person's life. And even as we saw again at the end of verse 17, God tries to hide pride from men. He's trying to deal with somebody's pride. Verse 19, He is chastened also with pain upon His bed and the multitude of His bones with strong pain. I do not believe the Bible says that all pain is punishment for sin. It is indirectly, it's all a part of the curse of sin. That's why pain here, but I believe what he's emphasizing here in the context is that God sometimes uses pain to get our attention. Think about that. In fact, David in Psalm 51 verse eight says, make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Let me ask you, where in the Bible does it say that David actually had broken bones literally? It's not there. You know, in his sin, against Uriah and Bathsheba, he didn't have broken bones, but there was such a, an oppression on him physically because of his sin. So I want you to notice here, God will use pain in many cases to get our attention so that his life abhorred bread and his soul dainty meat. That's how, how it affects a person. And when we, um, This passage came to my mind also, Psalm 107, verses 17 through 19. Fools, because of their transgression and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat, and they draw near unto the gates of death. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses. Again, that's Psalm 107, verses 17 through 19. I want you to think about what that's emphasizing. When we're going through a difficulty, physically and spiritually and all that, In many cases, some, it's too extreme, probably some, they'll eat and eat and eat to escape, but what this is emphasizing is notice life is abhorred. Notice life abhors bread and its soul dainty meat. His flesh is consumed away that it cannot be seen. Notice the weight loss from not eating in this context. And his bones that were not seen stick out. Now obviously he's speaking of something related to a physical ailment here. And I believe in the context he's talking about somebody looking older than their years because of the consequences of sin. You think about the consequences that sin does bring, disease, sometimes premature death. Verse 19 talks about pain. So when we think about the physical trials of this, notice with me as far as this death, James chapter 1. Again, I think it's interesting to see the correlations here with New Testament teaching as well. And I'll remind you that the Bible says, this very popular verse in Romans Road, for the wages of sin is what? death. I want to remind you that Romans 6 23 is actually in the context, not of salvation, but of sanctification. What I believe is emphasized is that, that, um, The wages of sin is still death, even as believers. So if we persist to live in sin, then we will deal with those things, and there's all kinds of different deaths, not just physical death. It says here in verse 13, James 1, let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God, for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. So often we blame others, and, you know, God, why did you even allow this? But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his, notice, own lust. Satan's not even mentioned here. Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin. And sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth, what? that the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Do not err, my beloved brethren." So again, we see the emphasis here of the consequence of this. Of course, sin always will lead to death, but sometimes there's a consequence of that. Notice Proverbs 1 also. Proverbs 1. Proverbs 1, verse 24. Of course, this is wisdom speaking in this context. Proverbs 1.24, because I have called and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded. So people are refusing to listen to words of wisdom, but ye have said it not all my counsel and with none of my reproof. I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh. So again, this is the consequences that come from not choosing ways of wisdom. When your fear cometh as desolation and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind. Reap to the wind, or sow to the wind, I should say, reap the whirlwind, remember? When distress and anguish cometh upon you, then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer. They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. for that they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from fear of evil." As you go back to Job 33, notice again he emphasizes the consequences, the physical consequences, of sin. Yea, his soul, verse 22, draweth near unto the grave. This is why I say the pit refers to the grave here. The grave, death, and notice his life to the destroyers. If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, notice how rare this is, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness. I believe, notice, showing unto man God's uprightness. I believe that's what the emphasis is there in verse 23. Again, we're talking about man, his uprightness, so obviously it's a reference to God's righteousness, uprightness. Then, notice, he, God, is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit. I have found a ransom. Again, you think about the ransom there, where there's one God and one mediator between God and man, the man, Christ Jesus. God the Son gave his own life and shed his blood as a ransom for many. But notice that in that context, he says, if there's a messenger, an interpreter, one who's interpreting what God has said. Notice, to show unto man God's uprightness. Then God is gracious unto him and saith, deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. Notice there's an answer to this judgment. He has responded, and I believe there's even a repentance as we'll see here. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's. He shall return to the days of his youth. I believe this is emphasizing a restoration. health and so on he shall pray unto God and he will be favorable unto him and he shall see his face with joy for he will render unto man his uprightness again I believe this is emphasis on imputed righteousness I don't believe we have enough righteousness in ourselves you know obviously Isaiah 64 6 says all our righteousness is our filthy rags I want you to consider what we're emphasizing here, that we need God's imputed righteousness in salvation. It says, He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not. I want you to notice that statement there, I have sinned. I believe there's two ways of saying that. Obviously, if we confess our sins and forsake it, even as we see, but there's also a false repentance in that as well. Two examples I'll remind you of. First of all, Pharaoh. Remember when the plagues were coming? I mean, he was dealing with plague after plague after plague, and finally it got the best of Pharaoh at one point. It was not the last plague, even. And he says, I have sinned this time. I didn't sin before, but I have sinned this time. That's a false repentance, a false confession. It was just because of the consequences. But also think of King Saul. Remember when Samuel confronted him? When you were little in your own eyes, God chose you to be king. But now you're big in your eyes, and guess what? You made a mess of things. You're in trouble with God. God is going to take the kingdom from you. And I remind you what King Saul said, I have sinned. Well, yeah, but he continued hunting down David and all that. So when we think about this statement, I have sinned, I believe we need to see a spirit of 1 John 1, 9 if we confess our sins. I remind you what it means to confess. It means to see it as God sees it. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. Notice again this sparing of life because of God's judgment. Let me read for you, for the sake of time here, Isaiah 55, verses 6 and following here. Seek ye the Lord while he may be found. Call ye upon him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way. Again, if the wicked are not going to forsake their way, then guess what? There's not going to be a remedy in this whole situation. And the unrighteous man is thoughts. And let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth. It shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." Now, I want you to think about there's two emphases of that. God's Word is not only just for blessing. God's Word is also for chastening and judgment and so on, depending on the individual situation. Notice God wants to deliver them from an early grave. Verse 29, lo all these things worketh God oftentimes with man. How often God puts up with us, how often God endures our stubbornness and our slowness to get things right. Verse 30. To bring back his soul from the pit." Again, grave, verse 22. The pit, verse 30. To be enlightened with the light of the living. Notice again, he's emphasizing these statements over and over again here. Then in verse 28, his life shall see the light. When we understand the fact that God is light, according to 1 John 1, God wants to show us the light of his word. Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me, hold thy peace, and I will speak. If thou hast anything to say, answer me." Again, he's giving Job an opportunity to speak. What I think is very interesting is Job apparently does not feel he should speak up. It'd be nice to totally know all that goes on here in this interaction, but you notice Job does not speak up. It makes me wonder if Job realizes that Elihu has truth that he's presenting here. He does not speak up in his defense or anything like that. Speak. for I desire to justify thee. I believe this is a different spirit, because I remind you back in chapter 32, in verse 3, also against his three friends was Eli whose wrath kindled because they had found no answer and yet had condemned Job. So they didn't find a reason or an answer for the wickedness that they were accusing, assuming Job had, but yet they still condemned him. Well, how do you win with that situation? We can't figure out what wickedness you have in your life, but they still condemn you anyway. Lai, who has a different spirit in relation to this, notice he says, I desire to justify thee. If not, hearken unto me. Hold thy peace. and I shall teach thee wisdom." Now, I do not believe, again, that this is not arrogance. He says, if not hearken unto me, hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom. Again, I believe the key to this chapter is verses 4 and verse 12. The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. He's dependent upon the Spirit of God. And again, in verse 12, the end of the verse, he says, I will answer thee that God is greater than man. And again, I believe he's emphasizing this as far as Job, now as he's speaking the truth and teaching wisdom here. So this is a confidence that he has the truth of God. And I really believe, as we understand the context of the flow of Job, I really believe now that this is actually preparation of Job to receive God's words, God's confrontation in chapters 38 to 41. As we close, notice with me James chapter five. James 5, as we think about, again, what James emphasizes regarding Job, James 5, verses 10 and 11. Well, let's look at the context here because it talks about patiently enduring. Verse 7, be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient, establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned." Notice God's the one who's going to condemn. Behold, the judge standeth before the door. Now verses 10 and 11. The prophets, so first of all he gives the example of the prophets here who have spoken in the name of the Lord for an example of suffering, affliction, and of patience. Behold, we count them happy which endure. You have heard of the patience of Job and have seen the end of the Lord, chapter 42 of Job, that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy. And I'll remind you what one of the conditions that actually God gave to Job, he says, you He had to forgive, obviously he had to forgive and pray, you know, be able to pray for his friends. Because remember, God sends Elihu, or not Elihu, but Eliphaz and his two friends. So let me ask you, would the captivity, as the Bible calls it, of Job have been reversed? You have assumed and you have accused, I'm not going to pray for you. The Bible says very clearly that all the circumstances were reversed when it says, when he prayed for his friends. So if Job had not forgiven, guess what? We wouldn't have the ending of Job 42. We wouldn't have that mention in James 5, as we understand the end of the Lord, that he's very pitiful. Lord, I pray that you'd help us to learn the lessons These words of wisdom from Elihu, Lord, the emphasis was on Thee. Lord, Thou art greater than man. I pray that You'd help us to understand that. When we go through trials, I pray that You'd help us to not doubt, not question Thee. Help us to trust Thee, Lord. Help us to trust Thee, I pray in Jesus' name, amen.