The first day of Lent, commonly
called
Ash Wednesday.
The Collect.
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LMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost
forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and
contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our
wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and
forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
¶ This Collect is to be said every day in Lent, after the Collect appointed for the day, until Palm Sunday.
Job 34
King
James Version (KJV)
34 Furthermore
Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, O ye
wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth
words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose to us
judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job hath said, I
am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6 Should I lie against
my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.
7 What man is like Job,
who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 Which goeth in company
with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath said, It
profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.
10 Therefore
hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do
wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 For
the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find
according to his ways.
12 Yea,
surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.
13 Who
hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?
14 If
he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All
flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
16 If
now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Shall
even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
18 Is
it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
19 How
much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the
rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
20 In
a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass
away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.
21 For
his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.
22 There
is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide
themselves.
23 For
he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment
with God.
24 He
shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
25 Therefore
he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are
destroyed.
26 He
striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because
they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:
28 So
that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of
the afflicted.
29 When
he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face,
who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man
only:
30 That
the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
31 Surely
it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend
any more:
32 That
which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
33 Should
it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or
whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Let
men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 Job
hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 My
desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked
men.
37 For
he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and
multiplieth his words against God.
The present discourse of Elihu takes a decided turn from defense of Job to his
guilt under the protocols of law and obedience there under. It may seem
like a betrayal for Elihu to turn from a defense to a prosecution, but we shall
see, I believe, that Elihu's prosecution will result in an acquittal of Job at
the bar of mercy and grace. But before mercy and grace may be extended from
those Everlasting Arms, we each must confess up to being guilty as charged. It
is my opinion that the approach of Elihu centers on this principle. The same
old struggle continues today between man's own "presumed"
righteousness and His utter depravity before God. If Job was as righteous as he
considered himself to be, there would have been no reason for his redemption by
Christ. But the blood of Christ was not shed in vain – either for Job, or for
you and me! Do you recall the admonition of Elihu in yesterday's devotion in
which Elihu stated For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth
it not. (Job 33:14) The great objective of God in allowing our trials
and tribulations is not to punish, but to convict us. He desires to save our
souls, but He cannot receive a soul whose heart is convinced of
self-righteousness. He will speak in low and whispering tones to convince us at
first. If we remain steadfast in our self-righteousness, He will send manifold
means of conviction, many of which may be quite painful, until we ARE convinced
of our lack of righteousness and of our great need for a Savior in the Person
of His only Begotten Son. To claim that we are already righteous and need no
Savior is to offend God the Father under the most calamitous terms.
It would be such an easier and less shameful experience if we would simply
judge ourselves rather than having our convicting sins brought out in public
forum, but God may find it necessary to speak TWICE if we hear not His soft
voice the first time. Any who have had a caring mother in childhood will
remember that mother's voice was always less harsh on the first reprimand than
the second.
Elihu will first, verses 5-9, prefers charges against Job for demeaning the
justice of God almighty: 5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and
God hath taken away my judgment. 6 Should I lie against my right? my wound
is incurable without transgression. 7 What man is like Job, who drinketh
up scorning like water? 8 Which goeth in company with the workers of
iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. 9 For he hath said, It profiteth a
man nothing that he should delight himself with God. It appears very
unseemly to me for any man to defame the justice, or any other virtue of God,
in any way. Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd
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? (Isaiah
45:9)
Elihu, with immediate dispatch, proceeds to utter vindication for the pure
character and justice of the omnipotent God in verses 10-30. God "rewardeth
every man according to his work." So states Elihu in his case
against the claims of Job. 11. For the work of a man shall
he render unto him. In words of power Elihu charges that our lives are
sustained moment by moment by the sustaining Hand of God. If He recalls our
breath which He has given, and our spirits, we shall return to the dust of the
ground (not ashes). 14. If he set his heart upon man, if he gather
unto himself his spirit and his breath; 15.All flesh shall perish together, and
man shall turn again unto dust. Has Job offended the dignity of God?
Yes, even if in his ignorant ramblings! 18. Is it fit to say to a
king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? 19. How much less
to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more
than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
Elihu continues to say that God is not only all powerful, but all knowing as
well. Those who oppose Him or offend His dignity shall perish without a hand
being raised against them, and He knows all things about the heart. 20.In
a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass
away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. 21. For his eyes
are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 22. There is no
darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide
themselves.
God's judgment, unlike man's, cannot be perverted for it is always RIGHT
judgment. . 23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he
should enter into judgment with God. 24 He shall break in pieces mighty
men without number, and set others in their stead. 25 Therefore he knoweth
their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; 27 Because
they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: 28 So
that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of
the afflicted. 29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and
when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a
nation, or against a man only: 30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the
people be ensnared. Man must humble himself unto God
Rather than making puny excuses and feeble arguments, it is best to admit to
our deserving of God's chastisement: 31 Surely it is meet to be said
unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: True
repentance carries with it the resolve to never repeat the offence.
Where and how shall we learn the right way and the way that is Holy? Have we
not prayed with a believing heart? Have we not read the Words and Counsel of
the Lord? Have we not sought Him out in quiet fields and in the crevice of the
Rock? If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all
men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6. But let him
ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed (James 1:5-6) 32 That which
I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. 33. Should
it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or
whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. If
we ask aright, and in true faith and repentance, God will restore any loss
though we deserve loss.
34. Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto
me. 35. Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers
for wicked men. 37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his
hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God. Elihu
is not being ungenerous here – he speaks the truth for the benefit of Job's
soul. Have we failed to speak so forthrightly to a close friend whose soul is in
danger because he is oblivious to some great and damning sin? If necessary for
Job to be reconciled in righteous truth, Elihu would desire that his trials
last until the end that he may at last be redeemed in soul if not body.
Friend, have you given thought to the great difference in the judgment of God
and our futile attempts to judge rightly? One characteristic of God's judgment
disqualifies us from all personal judgment (except by the Word of God). What is
that characteristic? God does not judge us until we close our eyes in death. He
is patient and long-suffering. He withholds a final condemnation until there is
no hope or spark of life remaining. However, man judges by the spur of
the moment and is unable to judge a man in death for that man is beyond the
reach of the living. I hope, while the spark of life remains, that we shall do
all in our power to comfort and convince others of the redeeming grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ this St. Valentine's Day.
