Good afternoon, everyone!
Today I read Job 35-37.
In today's reading, Elihu takes it upon himself to reproach Job, and to presumptuously speak for God.
He begins:
Job 35:2 - "Do you think this is according to justice? Do you say, My righteousness is more than God's?"
Job 35:13 - "Surely God will not listen to an empty cry, nor will the Almighty regard it."
Job never said that he was more righteous than God. He merely protested his innocence, and wished to understand why God allowed these things to happen to him.
Elihu continues:
Job 36:2 - "Wait for me a little, and I will show you that there is yet more to be said on God's behalf."
Uh oh. Elihu is presuming to speak for God. To reproach Job in His name. He is presuming Job's guilt, because he cannot, in his limited understanding, believe that Job has done nothing wrong.
But he is passing his own judgment on Job, without truly knowing anything of God's character.
First and foremost: God's mercy.
Secondly: God doesn't need any help from us.
Job's friends would have done much better to keep their mouths shut.
I hope you'll join me tomorrow when I read Job 38-39. In tomorrow's reading, God will speak to Job. And that will be interesting.
By the way, I'll also be posting a book recommendation of a study of the book of Job. I hope you find it as interesting as I did.
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