Stop Complaining, Start Worshiping!
Job 36-37
April 3, 2016
Psalms 95:1-7 “O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.”
Psalms 2:11 “Worship the LORD with reverence And rejoice with trembling.”
Psalms 29:2 “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name; Worship the LORD in holy array.”
Psalms 99:5 “Exalt the LORD our God And worship at His footstool; Holy is He.”
Obviously that is the tip of the ice burg
When it comes to verses regarding worship of God.
• We are called to be people of worship.
• We are commanded to be people who praise God.
• We are commanded to be people who give thanks to God continually.
And perhaps this is the biggest issue regarding complaining.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO WORSHIP
AND COMPLAIN AT THE SAME TIME.
And more than anything else, this is the issue that Elihu has with Job.
Tonight we bring Elihu’s sermon to an end.
I don’t know if Elihu is actually finished,
But in chapter 38, God will cut him off and take over.
We’ve been following along as Elihu
Corrected Job’s pity-party over and over again.
You’ll remember the first three points of the sermon:
1) Stop Complaining, God is Great!
Elihu recounted how Job had complained that
God wouldn’t speak regarding his suffering.
Elihu says that God has been speaking to Job.
• Through terrifying dreams
• Through intense pain
Both of these were serving the greater purpose crushing Job’s pride
And molding him into the man he must become.
God does great and unsearchable things;
Things that we may not always comprehend.
So stop complaining, God is great!
2) Stop Complaining, God is Just!
If you’ll remember Elihu was talking about whether or not
God showed partiality.
Job seemed to think that God was treating him unfairly.
Elihu responded that God never does this.
In fact God has an impeccable track record of impartiality.
Elihu then told Job that complaining like this
Actually made him sound like one of the wicked people
Who do nothing but complain about God.
Elihu told him to stop complaining, because God is just.
3) Stop Complaining, God is Righteous!
That is to say “God is perfectly moral”
Job felt like God had benefited from his obedience,
And so he should benefit from God’s blessing.
The fact that God had not repaid good for good
Made Job feel like God had “wronged” him.
Elihu pointed out the flaw in this thinking as well.
Your sin doesn’t hurt God and your righteousness doesn’t benefit Him.
Therefore God owes you nothing.
You on the other hand owe Him everything.
Stop complaining, God is righteous.
And now we come to the end of the sermon in which Elihu tells Job to:
STOP COMPLAINING; START WORSHIPING!
There are three main points to help us work through this final leg of the sermon.
#1 ELIHU ASCRIBES GREATNESS TO GOD
Job 36:1-16
Again Elihu begins here by explaining his zeal.
(1-4) “Then Elihu continued and said, “Wait for me a little, and I will show you That there is yet more to be said in God’s behalf. “I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. “For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.”
I really don’t read that as an arrogant statement.
More so as Elihu saying, “I know the truth, and the truth is GOD IS RIGHTEOUS”
And even though we have covered it a couple of times now,
It is such a good reminder to keep putting back in our brains.
So much of the time when we talk to people our primary concern is
What people think of us.
We don’t want them to be mad at us…
We don’t want them to think wrongly of us…
When our chief concern should be what to people think about God.
Elihu has absolutely sacrificed his own standing
In order to rise in defense of God.
• There is every possibility that these older friends of Job won’t appreciate this
young man interjecting like this…
• There is every possibility that Job won’t appreciate the stern rebukes he’s
received from Elihu…
But Elihu isn’t concerned about what this is going to do to his reputation,
He is only concerned about God’s reputation.
When you speak to people don’t lose sight of
The One person who deserves to be pleased and praised,
And that is always God.
So you see Elihu here is rising in defense of God.
And here he is defending this premise:
THAT GOD IS FOR THE RIGHTEOUS
This has also been part of Job’s complaint.
(we’ve actually seen it several times over)
• Job claims righteousness
• Therefore Job believes his suffering is undeserved
• And Job believes his obedience has been underappreciated
In short, it has been implied that God is not for the righteous.
Now, we know that is not true.
Romans 8:28-31 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?”
God is FOR the righteous.
That is very clear.
Job is questioning that, Elihu is here to remind him.
And we notice what Elihu has to say about God:
(5-7) “Behold, God is mighty but does not despise any; He is mighty in strength of understanding.”
Elihu says that God’s might is expressed in His great level of intellect.
“He is mighty in strength of understanding”
That is to say that God fathoms things that you don’t.
What He does or what He allows may seem strange to you, but it isn’t to God.
Then Elihu gives a couple of instances that have caused men to be confused.
• The preservation of the wicked
• And the affliction of the righteous.
(6-7) “He does not keep the wicked alive, but gives justice to the afflicted. He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; but with kings on the throne he has seated them forever, and they are exalted.”
This is again one of those difficult statements from Elihu.
• It almost sounds like that same prosperity theology that the three friends of Job were spouting.
• It sounds like Elihu is saying that the wicked won’t live long and the righteous will be exalted.
Job has refuted that whole heartedly
And we know that Job was correct in this.
So what gives?
What Elihu is saying is simple to see:
GOD’S CONCERN IS FOR THE RIGHTEOUS, NOT THE WICKED.
He is not saying that the wicked won’t live a long time,
He’s just saying their long life is not an indication of God’s favor.
Furthermore even in their affliction
God does not take His eyes off the righteous
And His plan is to exalt them.
That is Elihu’s point.
GOD IS NOT FOR THE WICKED, GOD IS FOR THE RIGHTEOUS.
And just because the wicked may live long
Or the righteous may experience affliction;
That does not mean God has changed His mind regarding them.
Let me give you an example that fits Elihu’s point:
Matthew 13:24-30 “Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. “But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also. “The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ “And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ “But he said, ‘No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. ‘Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘”
There you have both negative realities present.
• You have the righteous afflicted by the presence of tares
• You have the wicked enduring a long time
But Jesus makes it clear that
Neither is because God is favoring the wicked or forgetting the righteous.
The preservation of the wicked is attributed to God’s favor on the righteous.
They only remain because God is not willing to harm the righteous
When He destroys them.
THAT IS ELIHU’S POINT.
SOME WOULD THEN ASK:
Why let the righteous be afflicted at all?
I mean, it makes sense to us, that if you are “FOR” someone
You would never let them suffer.
You already know the answer to this.
It is what we recently studied on a Sunday morning in Hebrews;
It is called DISCIPLINE
Hebrews 12:7 “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?”
Hebrews 12:11 “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
This is Elihu’s point as well.
(8-12) “And if they are bound in fetters, And are caught in the cords of affliction, Then He declares to them their work And their transgressions, that they have magnified themselves. “He opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they return from evil. “If they hear and serve Him, They will end their days in prosperity And their years in pleasures. “But if they do not hear, they shall perish by the sword And they will die without knowledge.”
Elihu doesn’t deny that God sometimes brings affliction
Into the lives of the righteous.
But the point is that God does so in order to purify them.
He does so to turn them from their sin.
Elihu’s point as God just doing what is necessary
To purify the righteous even further.
FURTHERMORE, according to Elihu, the righteous will understand that this is God’s purpose and submit to it, whereas the wicked will not.
(13-14) “But the godless in heart lay up anger; They do not cry for help when He binds them. “They die in youth, And their life perishes among the cult prostitutes.”
When affliction comes
It is the righteous who
• Understand God’s good purposes in it,
• Submit to God’s correction,
• And find His will.
But it is the wicked who
• Just grow angry and bitter,
• Turn from God
• And end up in a life of idolatry.
Elihu wants Job to know that God is working for Job’s good.
(15-16) “He delivers the afflicted in their affliction, And opens their ear in time of oppression. “Then indeed, He enticed you from the mouth of distress, Instead of it, a broad place with no constraint; And that which was set on your table was full of fatness.”
This is the greatness of God.
• God does not reject the righteous
• God does not favor the wicked
And even if it appears that way sometimes,
It is only because God’s intellect is far superior to yours.
So the simple point here is: STOP COMPLAINING
You might even add: GOD IS FOR YOU
WHAT A GREAT REMINDER!
If all God ever does for us is for our good, what could we possibly find to complain about to Him?
And that helps us understand why God was so angry at those Israelites,
Who did nothing but grumble ever since God delivered them from Egypt.
• Could they not see that God was for them?
• Could they not see that everything God was doing was for their good?
• Could they not see God only wanted good for them?
So why would they complain at Him at every turn?
STOP COMPLAINING
So Elihu ascribes greatness to God.
#2 ELIHU ADMONISHES JOB
Job 36:17-23
Here comes the detailed rebuke,
And if you’ll notice it can easily be broken down to 4 warnings.
Elihu starts out by acknowledging that Job has had it rough.
(17) “But you were full of judgment on the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you.”
That is a tricky verse, I think the NIV will help you understand the point.
“But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you.”
Elihu is acknowledging that Job is walking through a great deal of pain.
But in that pain comes a very sincere warning.
4 of them
1) DON’T LET YOUR PAIN TURN YOU AGAINST GOD
(18a) “Beware that wrath does not turn you to scoffing;”
It happens sometimes doesn’t it?
Our lives get difficult, our pain is intense,
And we are very tempted to turn on God.
Incidentally, the tempter will help you here.
• Remember Jesus, 40 days without food in the wilderness?
• Remember Satan’s temptation?
Matthew 4:3 “And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”
That was Satan’s way of accusing God of being a lousy provider.
“You wouldn’t think God’s own Son should have to do without, what’s God’s problem?
If I were you, I’d just take matters into my own hands.”
Jesus saw through the temptation, and so should you.
Don’t let this moment of discipline cause you to turn on God
And move you “to scoffing”
That’s what Jesus told John the Baptist when he asked, “Are you the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”
After working miracles Jesus said:
Matthew 11:6 “And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”
The writer of Hebrews told us that in our pain:
Hebrews 12:5 “and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,
NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM;”
Don’t faint. Don’t turn on God here.
2) DON’T SELL OUT FOR WHAT CAN’T HELP
(18b-19) “And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside. Will your riches keep you from distress, or all the forces of your strength?”
There Elihu pictures a “bribe” or a “ransom”
That would temp Job to turn away from God.
It is that “easy way out” mentality.
It would be to sell God out for earthly relief.
Incidentally, Satan did this to Jesus as well.
Matthew 4:8-9 “Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.”
That was Satan’s offer for Jesus to get to be King of the World
Without having to endure the cross.
That sounds like a better plan, especially to someone staring at a cross.
But Jesus didn’t sell God for a bribe.
Elihu gives the same advice to Job.
Don’t sell out, especially when what you would gain won’t actually help.
Your “riches” can’t “keep you from distress”
So why sell God out to obtain them?
Don’t let your pain turn you against God Don’t sell out for what can’t help
3) DON’T WISH FOR DEATH INSTEAD OF FACING THE ISSUE
(20) “Do not long for the night, when people vanish in their place.”
Of course you remember that Job did this.
He actually cursed the day of his birth.
Elihu here tells him that he should not have done that.
After all, God is at work in Job for Job’s good.
Why would Job wish to escape that process?
I can see where death may look like the better option,
But only when we prefer comfort to holiness.
Elihu advises Job to desire sanctification more than comfort,
And not to desire an early departure just to avoid what God is doing in his life.
4) DON’T TURN TO EVIL
(21) “Be careful, do not turn to evil, for you have preferred this to affliction.”
It is the temptation to want relief bad enough
To actually turn to what is evil in order to gain it.
I’ve often pondered the hardship of those living in the African bush where medical treatment is scarce.
The hardship of seeing a child grow sick and the only option to be the witch doctor. It would be very tempting to turn to that which is evil in order to gain relief to affliction.
Elihu tells Job not to do that.
Now, I don’t wish to downplay
The enormity of the pain that people walk through.
I don’t wish to make light of their circumstances
But in the middle of your pain; in the middle of your trial,
I do think it is highly valuable to listen to Elihu’s admonition.
Do not let your hardship:
• Turn you against God
• Cause you to sell out the truth
• Cause you to quit seeking God’s plan for your life (i.e. just seek death)
• Cause you to turn to evil for a solution
That is a good warning.
BECAUSE GOD KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING
(22-23) “Behold, God is exalted in His power; Who is a teacher like Him? “Who has appointed Him His way, And who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?”
God is a great teacher, He knows what He is doing,
Just submit yourself to learning His lesson.
Elihu ascribes greatness to God
Elihu admonishes Job
#3 ELIHU ADVISES JOB
Job 36:24 – 37:24
Now there is a good piece of advice.
(24-26) “Remember that you should exalt His work, Of which men have sung. “All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar. “Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; The number of His years is unsearchable.”
Instead of complaining about God, you should be exalting Him.
Instead of grumbling to God, you should be praising Him.
God deserves worship.
• He deserves all the songs that “men have sung” to Him.
• He is transcendent
• He is incredible
• He is awesome
And here is the simple truth:
YOUR PAIN DOESN’T CHANGE THAT
See, we ascribe compliments and praise based on people’s performance and actions and behavior.
• If your child does well, you praise them, if they do wrong, you correct them.
• If your friend does well, you praise them, if they do wrong, you get on
Facebook and tell everybody about it.
But God’s praise is not linked to His performance.
God’s praise is linked to His being.
Beyond that, all God ever does is good,
So He even deserves praise for that.
God deserves praise.
And Elihu reminds Job of that.
And to help Job see it, Elihu begins to give Job some examples.
NOW, THIS IS WHERE THE SERMON OF ELIHU
BEGINS TO TAKE A VERY DRAMATIC TURN.
I want you to see what is coming.
In a couple of chapters God is going to speak.
Job 38:1 “Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said…”
• God didn’t speak from a sunny cloudless sky.
• God is going to speak out of a “whirlwind”
• God is going to speak out of a storm.
What does that have to do with Elihu?
Well, notice that while Elihu is still speaking the storm begins to arrive.
Follow along with me as the storm builds.
(Verses 27-28) – it begins to sprinkle
(Verse 29) – the storm clouds begin to roll in and it starts to get dark
(Verse 30) – The lightning strikes in the distance
And Elihu reminds that things like this storm
Are all part of God’s great work for humanity.
(31-32) “For by these He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance. “He covers His hands with the lightning, And commands it to strike the mark.”
God is sending a storm.
(Verse 33) it thunders and the cattle begin to prepare for a storm.
At this point, it become evident that Elihu realizes what is happening.
God is showing up in the storm and Elihu responds:
(37:1) “At this also my heart trembles, and leaps from its place.”
Elihu gets it and he wants Job to get it.
(33:1-8) He equates the thunder with the voice of God.
(33:9-13) He reminds that God does whatever He desires for whatever purpose.
And Elihu closes with a strong admonition for Job to
Pay attention and humble himself before God.
(33:14-24)
You get the idea.
Elihu is telling Job that he has no business comparing himself to God,
Complaining to God, questioning God, or anything like that.
He should be worshiping God with every fiber of his being.
The point is simple.
STOP COMPLAINING, START WORSHIPING!
Well, that’s the end of Elihu’s message.
• Stop Complaining, God is great
• Stop Complaining, God is just
• Stop Complaining, God is righteous
• Stop Complaining, Start worshiping
And regardless of what we walk through, that is good counsel.
Regardless of who we talk to, that is good counsel.
God certainly deserves it.
And it is the most beneficial place for us to be as well.
Psalms 95 “O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God And a great King above all gods, In whose hand are the depths of the earth, The peaks of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for it was He who made it, And His hands formed the dry land. Come, let us worship and bow down, Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you would hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, As in the day of Massah in the wilderness, “When your fathers tested Me, They tried Me, though they had seen My work. “For forty years I loathed that generation, And said they are a people who err in their heart, And they do not know My ways. “Therefore I swore in My anger, Truly they shall not enter into My rest.”
That Psalm reminds us that God deserves worshipers, not grumblers.
