Nuggets of Truth from the Book of Job

I am once again going through Tyndale House’s published Chronological One Year Bible (see link to the right) and just spent a couple of weeks reading though the struggles of Job’s experience.  Although this story can seem a bit depressing and repetitive at times, it is still God’s Word.  I came across a few nuggets of truth buried in the text that literally jumped off the page at me this past week.  I was encouraged through the words of one of Job’s “friends”.  God stated that his friends were misguided in most of what they told him, but in the midst of his poor advice Elihu made a few statements that resonated with truth.

First, in Job 32:8-9 Elihu states, “…it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.”  This reminded me that although many who are older carry with them great wisdom, it is God’s very spirit in all of us who enables us to comprehend His greatness, His nature, and His heart.

Second, I have often been laughingly accused of being a bit long-winded when I am teaching the Scriptures and I now found someone else who identifies with what I feel inside!  In Job 32:18-22 Elihu continues by saying, “For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply; I will show partiality to no one, nor will I flatter any man; for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away.”  I LOVE these words!  They describe the very heartbeat inside of me to inspire people with the Words of God and yet refrain from pulling punches.  Although I must always speak the truth in love and with humility, I must speak the truth.

Lastly, I was encouraged that God ALWAYS speaks.  We may not hear Him…but He speaks daily.  Job 33:14 says, “For God does speak–now one way, now another–though man may not perceive it.”  This ought to be an encouragement to us all.  Even though Elihu was misguided in his understanding of why God would allow catastrophic circumstances to occur in Job’s life, and although Elihu may have given Job some poor advice on the whole, Elihu still spoke some truth in the midst of his ramblings.

God speaks every day…what are you hearing? what are you studying? what are you saying?

~ by jpatters13 on January 19, 2009.