Latest / Faith by annm2705 / 913. Bible Study: Job 32-37 (Elihu responds to Job)

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913. Bible Study: Job 32-37 (Elihu responds to Job) · Faith by annm2705

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We are starting with chapter 32 from the Book of Job and I plan
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to go through chapter 37 because that is all of those chapters
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are Ilya who who is speaking and we'll find out a little bit more
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about him too. So I want to just get that
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complete thought and then go through the study Bibles
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questions and answers for those things.
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And I noticed something that the study Bible brought to light
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about who Ilyihoo was. And then it is actually affirmed
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later. Actually it's stated in the
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first paragraph in chapter 32. But then there's another
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affirmation that I found accidentally just in studying
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something like clicked when I was reading through it.
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And and then I found out, wow, this is related.
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So a little interesting tidbit that will happen about verse 30,
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not verse but chapter 37. So let's first pray, dear Lord,
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please be with us as we read through this.
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Let the Holy Spirit give U.S. Open our eyes and our hearts and
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our ears to what you have to say.
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And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
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Illy, who? So these three men, these are
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Job's three friends, stopped answering Job because he was
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righteous in his own eyes. But Alihu Alihu, son of Barakal,
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the Buzite of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for
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justifying himself rather than God.
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He was also angry with the three friends because they had found
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no way to refute Job and yet had condemned him.
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Now Iluhu wait had waited before speaking to Joe because they
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were older than he, but when he saw that the three men had
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nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.
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Well, there's a clue right there.
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Anger. That's not a good thing when
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anger, but there is a righteous anger too.
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But then again, there's just discernment, like where is this
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coming from? We'll see some things that are
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not reflective of God, godly reflections of his character
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when he comes through this way. Like God is not the spirit
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behind this, although He does say some truths.
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And that's what we have to really have discernment, because
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there are many people today who speak partial truths but not
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full truths. That's why we need to be in the
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Word every single day, reading the Bible every day, because
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people take parts of the Bible and then they don't use it in
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context or they are erroneous and they're not.
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They paraphrase when they're not saying the correct words.
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So it's really important to check everything against the
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actual Bible to see if it's true or not and have discernment
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about these things. And I think there's three
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different things that we need to consider.
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One is our own motivations and our own thoughts and our own
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feelings and make sure that we are not using that or that's not
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overriding what we're reading. The other thing is the spirit of
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the enemy can affect us, can influence us.
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So we have to make sure that and, and it's done so
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deceitfully and manipulatively that we have to.
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Usually when you're deceived or you're being manipulated, you
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don't know it. So I think that also is a good
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reason why we should pause and reflect and pray about some
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things when we're stirred up, especially because it's either
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righteous anger or anger is the foothold of the devil.
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So before you act on anger, make sure you know where it's coming
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from. And anyway, so let's read what
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the study Bible says about who was Illihu, the last of Job's
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challengers to appear. He was the only one with a
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Hebrew name. It means he is my God.
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He was a Buzite, a descendant of Abraham's nephew Booze.
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And you find that in Genesis chapter 22, verses 20 through
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21. What made Alihu angry?
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Really. Who was furious?
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For two reasons. First, Joe claimed that he was
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innocent and that God had no reason for punishing him.
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That claim called God's character into question.
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Second, Job's friends had mishandled the debate and lost
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the argument. Not one of you has proved Job
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wrong. None of you has answered his
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arguments. How old was Elihu compared to
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Job's other friends? He was significantly younger,
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perhaps by several decades. Job's children were all adults
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living in their own homes. From from chapter one, verse 4,
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and Job and his comforters were probably what we would call
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quote senior citizens in light of their accumulated wealth and
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wisdom. Elihu showed his youthful
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impatience, anger, and lack of wisdom and respect by thinking
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he had the right to tell both Job and his comforters that they
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were all wrong. So again, that's kind of like
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pride, thinking more highly than we should of ourselves, you
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know, like he's an example of that.
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So, so Elise, now we'll go back to verse 6.
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So Elihu son of Barakal the Buzite said, I am young in years
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and you are old. That is why I was fearful, not
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daring to tell you what I know. I thought aids should speak,
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advanced years should should teach wisdom.
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But it is the Spirit in a person, the breath of the
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Almighty that gives them understanding.
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And I think that statement is true that it doesn't.
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You know, age doesn't matter in some circumstances because God
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can work through all ages and and it is the Spirit of God.
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Wisdom comes from God. And it doesn't matter what age
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someone is. But also we just need to be
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humble in knowing that, you know, maybe we have it right,
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maybe we don't. And so I think what he said here
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in verse 8 is true. So again, this is a, this is
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also like he'll have some truths in here, but not everything is
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true because it says, but it is the spirit in a person, the
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breath of the Almighty that gives them understanding that is
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true. It comes from God.
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That's how we get it's the Spirit from God that truly gives
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us wisdom and understanding. It is not only the old who are
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wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.
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In fact, there are some people who are older who have no wisdom
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at all despite their years. So that is true also verse 10.
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Therefore, I say, listen to me. I too will tell you what I know.
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I waited while you spoke. I listened to your reasoning
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while you were searching for words.
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I gave you my full attention, but not one of you has proved
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Job wrong. None of you have answered his
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arguments. And then here's what the Study
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Bible says. Does this mean that Job won the
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debate? Eli, who thought Job's three
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friends had failed miserably in refuting Job's argument that he
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was innocent. But Elihu didn't concede that
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Job was innocent, only that Job's friends had failed in
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their strategy and tactics. Going back to verse 13, do not
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say we have found wisdom. Let God, not a man, refute him.
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But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not
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answer him with your arguments. That sounds like a little bit of
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pride there. So the study Bible says, what
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did Elihu say that was different from what the others had said?
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Elihu had a better understanding of God's grace and mercy than
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the other three had. So here, this is where you know
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a young person is proving more wise than the elder ones.
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He believed Job's suffering was an act of discipline intended to
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point him back to righteousness. God does all these things to a
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person to turn them back from the pit, that they that the
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light of life may shine on them. It was good insight, but it
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didn't apply to Job. Job was suffering not for his
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sin, but for his righteousness. So even though he thought he was
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wise, he what he didn't really know.
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He didn't know what was happening in the heavenly
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realms. We do because it's written down
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in the book in chapter 1. So verse 15.
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They are dismayed and have no more to say.
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Words have failed them. But must I wait?
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Now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no
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reply, I too will have my say. I too will tell what I know for
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I am full of words and the Spirit within me compels me.
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This is where I was thinking discernment is needed.
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Is this the is this spirit you know?
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Is it coming from within us? Is it we have to be the one who
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is right? Is it pride?
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Is it the Spirit of God with righteousness that we need to
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correct something that we that supported in the Bible?
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Or is it the spirit of the enemy that seeks to create chaos and
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harm and, you know, seek to what?
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Seek to kill and destroy. So we have to be careful when
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there is this spirit within me, compelling me.
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You know, it sounds like spirit within me may be my my own
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spirit, my own spirit. But is this pride, which it does
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sound like in some cases, in this case here, how was Elihu
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like bottled up wine? Wine is it ferments, gives off
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gases that can burst a container.
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In a similar way, Elihu said that his anger and agitation had
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been bottled up and building inside him.
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His zeal to defend God's character was a pressure that
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had to be relieved by speaking. So maybe this is just Elihu and
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he has good intent, but you know it's not appropriate.
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So inside I am like this is verse 19.
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Inside I am like bottled up wine, like new wine skins ready
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to burst. I must speak and find relief.
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I must open my lips and reply. I will show no partiality, nor
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will I flatter anyone. For if I were skilled in
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flattery, my maker would soon take me away.
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So that ends chapter 32. Now we'll go on to 33 and but
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now Job, listen to my words. Pay attention to everything I
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say. I am about to open my mouth.
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My words are on the tip of my tongue.
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My words come from an upright heart.
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My lips sincerely speak what I know.
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The Spirit of God has made me the breath of the Almighty gives
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me life. Answer me then, if you can stand
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up and argue your case before me.
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I am the same as you in God's sight.
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I too am a piece of clay. No Fear of me should alarm you,
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nor should my hand be heavy on you.
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It is kind of interesting here where Elihu is taking up the
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defense of God, which in a sense that's righteous, but also in a
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sense it's prideful because it's like, is that really your
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position to do that? But that's just my own question.
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So why did Elihu spend so much time defending his right to
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speak? Elihu was the youngest of Job,
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jobs for friends, and it was considered disrespectful for a
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man under 30 to express his opinion in the presence of his
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elders. Even though the three older
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friends had already asserted their seniority, Elihu felt
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compelled to speak because he believed that Job and the others
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were misrepresenting God. So going to verse 8:00 and 9:00.
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But you have said in my hearing, I hear the very words, I am
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pure, I have done no wrong, I am clean and free from sin.
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So was Ilihu right? Was Job justifying himself?
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Though Ilihu did not quote Job word for word, he did accurately
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summarize Job's statement in chapter 13, verses 23 through
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27. However, though Job believed he
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was innocent, he was not claiming to be sinless.
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On several occasions, in fact, Job admitted he was a Sinner.
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Chapter 7, Verse 21. Chapter 13, verse 26.
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Job only wanted his day in court so that he could prove that his
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suffering was unjust. In the end, God stood behind Job
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going to verse 10. Yet God has find got.
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Yet God has found fault with me. He considered so this he's
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restating. This is Elihu restating Job's
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words. Yet God has found fault with me.
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He considers me his enemy. He fastens my feet and shackles
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and keeps close watch on all my paths.
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But I tell you in this you are not right.
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So Elihu is accusing job again. But it's Elihu who is not right.
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And this is just really interesting.
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It's like how a lot of arguments go among people.
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We all think we're right, and we may be or we may not be.
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And it's good to have discussions, but also probably
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not good to be so self-righteous that we think everything that we
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say is right. But he says, but I tell you in
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this you are not right. For God is greater than any
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mortal. Well, that's true.
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Why do you complain to him that he responds to no one's words.
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For God does speak now one way, now another, though no one
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perceives it. So is it wrong to complain to
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God? It's, it says it's OK to, you
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know, just, it's OK to speak to God.
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I mean, that's, that's, that's OK.
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There's an article that I didn't have, I didn't turn to.
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So what good does it do for God to speak if no one recognizes
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when he speaks? Ali, who stated that people may
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not realize when God is speaking to them, but that God can turn
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them from wrongdoing even when his voice is not recognized.
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It is sometimes hard to hear God's voice in the busyness of
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life, but God always hears our concerns even when he seems
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silent or hidden. And that is, you know, true.
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That's supported in the Bible. Now this is interesting because
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this is this is also true in a dream, in a vision of the night
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when deep sleep falls on people as they slumber in their beds.
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He may speak in their ears and terrify them with warnings to
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turn them from wrongdoing and keep them from pride to preserve
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them from the pit their lives from perishing by the sword.
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So how does God warn against doing wrong?
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According to Elihu, God spoke in numerous ways, including in
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dreams and visions to frighten people away from wrongdoing.
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God said Abimelech and Laban such dreams and it says, does
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God still speak in dreams and visions?
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And that's page 1284. I did not turn to that, but I
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think that's a good one to segue to because I want to see what
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the study Bible says. Page 1284.
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So I take a minute here to get to that.
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And 1284. Does God still speak through
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visions and dreams? God used visions and dreams to
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communicate with people throughout the Bible, from
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Abraham in Genesis 15 verse one to John Revelation 1 verses 9
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through 11. But there was no regularity to
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these events. Apparently, God communicated
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through whatever means served His purposes, including visions,
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angels, prophets, the written word, and even a talking animal.
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In Numbers chapter 22, verses 21 through 31.
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God still can't communicate in any way He chooses.
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Some believe He continues to send special revelations,
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especially to those with the gift of prophets prophecy, and
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that these must be interpreted within strict guidelines.
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Acts 2 verse 17 through 18. One Corinthians 14 verses 26
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through 33. Others believe that the need for
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such revelation ceased after the early days of the church when
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every Christian began to be guided personally by the Holy
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Spirit and the written Scriptures in John 1613.
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Evaluating people's claims that they have had dreams or visions
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from God must be done carefully. The Law of Moses demanded the
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death penalty for false interpreters of dreams who tried
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to mislead God's people. Deuteronomy 13, verses one
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through 5. Even Daniel knew his abilities
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were limited. He had to ask God for the
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meaning of Nebuchadnezzar's dream in Daniel chapter 2,
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verses 18 through 19, and needed help to interpret his own
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visions, Chapter 7, verses 15 through 16 and chapter 815
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through 16. So that's what the study Bible
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says. So I will leave that as that.
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How can we be chastened by pain? Pain has a way of focusing our
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attention on God and leading us to examine ourselves, as in
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Job's case. Suffering is not always punitive
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or corrective. Sometimes it is used to
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instruct. It is a It is wrong to call all
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suffering the judgement of God. The Lord's final rebuke of three
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of Job's friends is proof of that.
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See Luke 13 one through 5 for Jesus warning against making
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such facile judgments. So there was that.
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I don't know if this is the the Luke 13.
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It was about the blind man and he had not he, he, he was blind
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not because of his parents sins or any sins.
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I'm going to check and see if that's the referred to verse.
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So Luke 13 verses one through 5. We'll check that out so we can
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see. OK.
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No, it's not about the the blind, about the blind man.
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This is another one, it says in Luke 13.
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Now there were some present at the time who told Jesus about
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the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.
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Jesus answered. Do you think these Galileans
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were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they
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suffered this way? I tell you no.
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But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
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Let's see. Or those 18 who died when the
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tower in Siloam fell on them. Do you think they were more
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guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?
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I tell you no. But unless you repent, you too
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will all perish. So that was the, the verses that
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were referenced. And when I read that it's, it
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just shows us that God does not have partiality to people.
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And, and I would say that what this says, it talks about
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repentance, it says twice it's repetition about repentance.
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It says, you know, no, you're all going to be treated the
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same. But unless you repent, you too
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will perish. He says that twice.
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Unless you repent, you too will perish.
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So I do think that, you know, if we all stay in our sin, then we
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can expect that, and that's what would be justice.
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However, if we repent, God is very merciful and He does relent
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from sending calamity when a person repents.
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And sometimes there's consequences of our sins that
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you know, it just because of what we did, you know, it can't
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be changed. What happens next?
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But then other times, if it's judge, if it's punishment,
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judgement from God, he can and has relented.
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And there's a long history of God agreeing that this is what
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he would do if people would repent, if people turn to him.
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So there is great value in repentance and turning to God
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and you know, starting over again with him and restoring
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that relationship. So I'm going to go back to
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chapter 33, verse 19. This is Elihu talking.
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Or someone may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant
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distress in their bones, so that their body finds food repulsive
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and their soul loathes the choicest meal.
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Their flesh waste away to nothing, and their bones, once
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hidden, now stick out. They draw near the pit and their
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life to the messengers of death. Yet if there is an Angel at
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their side, a messenger, one out of 1000, sent to tell them how
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to be upright, and he is gracious to that person, and
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says to God, spare them from going down to the pit.
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I have found a ransom for them. Let their flesh be renewed like
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a child's. Let them be restored as in the
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days of their youth. Then that person can pray to God
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and find favor with him. They will see God's face and
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shout for joy. He will restore them to full
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well-being. Well, this is a little bit a
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little not a little bit false here and a little scary that
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Elihu is not understanding this. And Elihu shows his youthfulness
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in that maybe he hasn't been deceived yet by something and he
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needs to be cautious with us because an Angel we see
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throughout the Bible, actually throughout history, how angels
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have deceived mankind. There are fallen angels, fallen
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angels who interacted with people, with humanity.
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I believe this is my opinion, that many of the fallen angels,
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the rebellious angels actually appeared to people.
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It says Satan can appear as an Angel of light and all of these,
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like not all, but the visions of or the interactions, encounters
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that people have had, there's so many of them that they think
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it's one thing. They think it's somebody who's
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dead that's appearing to them. But the Bible tells us that
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doesn't happen. So if that happens, then it's
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likely probably a fallen Angel or perhaps a demon is something
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evil because God does not do that.
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God does send angels, and there are good angels and there are
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bad angels, and the good angels are messengers from God, but
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there are rebellious angels who seek to deceive.
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I think that's how other religions started.
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Like people from the early on knew God.
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But then when you get into all these Pagan religions, these
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religions that believe in all these other gods, they, I
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believe it's there's deception that comes from angels.
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In fact, some of the the different religions came about
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through their knowledge from angels.
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And it says in the Bible that if an Angel like Paul says this, he
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says if an Angel or anyone else preaches to you a different
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gospel than what you had heard the good news of salvation
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through Jesus Christ, he says, let them be accursed.
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So this is something evil, deceptive and manipulative.
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And we have religions present today who change Jesus is it
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They change and they're the the way that they change it is
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somebody had an encounter with an Angel and then they believe
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that Angel. Well, that Angel was deception.
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And it's leading people to Jesus is something other than our
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Savior. And Jesus said I am the way, the
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truth and the life and no one comes to the Father except
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through me. So obviously Satan who seeks to
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kill and destroy, is seeking to kill and destroy humanity.
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So he sends his angels and deceives lots of people saying
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that Jesus, oh, he's a prophet, he's a good guy, you know, but
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he's not our savior. Many, many, many, many people
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are under that false assumption. And the earliest writings, way
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before those other theories were were taught, says if anyone
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comes to you and purchase a gospel just different than what
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we have said, let them be accursed.
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So this is something they're going to be like condemned for
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that deceiving probably billions of people in this world.
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And, and we just need to recognize that.
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So whenever there is an encounter with an Angel, even if
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the Angel seems good, that is something that should put us on
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high alert. I've never had an experience
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with an Angel and I'm kind of glad about that.
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But there are people who claim that they have and, and it
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really is important to be discerning about that and to
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pray about that because angels can be deceptive.
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And I think they have for thousands of years and they are,
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they are seeking to destroy humans.
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And so for your own good makes you know if you've had an
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experience, you know anybody who's had an experience with an
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Angel. What the Bible does say is that
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it says that we should treat strangers well and with
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hospitality because in doing so, we may not even know that we
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have interacted with an Angel. So maybe many of us have seen an
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Angel because angels can take on the form of a of a human.
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And we see historically in the Bible that angels visited people
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and they didn't always know that they were angels until, you
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know, it does say that it does tell us in the Bible that they
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were, but they just kind of blended in.
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Like even the angels that came to Sodom and Gomorrah, the
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people, the men out there thought they were regular men,
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but they were angels that were coming with as messengers to
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save Lot and his family. So God doesn't change that stuff
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can still happen today. We may have seen angels and we
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don't know it. It just says it in the Bible.
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And so we probably if God revealed feels that to us
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someday later on, maybe we'll know, but we could have very
28:44
well interacted with angels. But when there's something like
28:48
kind of majestic or larger than life or supernatural that
28:52
interacts with people, which people do claim to have those
28:55
encounters. And I I don't discard what they
28:58
say. It's just that you have to
28:59
really be careful because to make sure is it from the evil 1
29:05
or is it from God? And it certainly doesn't, it
29:08
never contradicts what's in the Bible.
29:10
So that's, that's a good, I guess thing to compare it to if
29:16
there is some sort of experience like that.
29:19
But here Elihu is talking about if there is an Angel at their
29:22
side, a messenger sent to tell them how to be upright and he is
29:27
gracious to that person that says to God, spare them from
29:30
going down to the pit. I have found a ransom for them.
29:33
Angels don't do that. Angels.
29:36
There's nowhere in the history of the Bible, unless he's maybe
29:40
misinterpreting and misunderstanding the part where
29:47
Abraham was going to sacrifice his son Isaac.
29:50
And then there was, it says an Angel appeared and there was
29:54
this Bram that was caught in the bushes that could be used as the
29:58
substitute. So maybe he's taking that again,
30:01
this is interpretation of the Bible and thinking, oh, the
30:05
Angel gave this other sacrifice, so that's why Isaac was spared.
30:09
But when the Angel talks, the Angel, you know, it's messenger.
30:13
When the messenger talks, the the messenger says I am.
30:18
This is what I believe is like what I guess people who study
30:24
the Bible call AI think. They say it's a Christophany
30:27
where this is actually Christ becoming visible in the Old
30:32
Testament because Jesus was present at the creation.
30:36
There's lots of evidence of that throughout the Bible as well.
30:39
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. That's, you know, one of the
30:42
things when you go back to creation, it's Elohim that's
30:45
plural God. And so, and yet God is 1.
30:50
They are one in spirit. So everything that one does,
30:54
it's, you know, it, it, it, they are all In Sync.
30:58
So it's three persons in one God.
31:01
And I know that's a complex thing for any of us on earth to
31:04
understand, but I believe it's the Spirit that unifies them.
31:09
And again, this is very interesting too, because when
31:11
Jesus before he died, he did the Father and said, Father, let
31:16
them be one in spirit as you and I are one in spirit.
31:21
You know that and it's about being in him.
31:25
That's what they they, the words that are used in him.
31:29
And so when we have the Spirit of God residing in us, we have
31:33
that really close communication with God and and we and that's
31:38
eventually when Jesus returns, when people become perfected, we
31:44
will be like *NSYNC God. And and I think that's, you
31:50
know, while we're here on this earth, we've got evil that's
31:53
interfering with some of that. And you know, not in making it
31:59
impossible for us to overcome it everything, but yet at the same
32:04
time, the the Spirit of God gives us that strength and grace
32:08
to overcome and the power to overcome the evil and sin of the
32:15
world. But we will not have it
32:17
perfected until Jesus returns. And then then our bodies will be
32:20
changed into immortal bodies that will live forever will be
32:25
changed. So kind of went off on Tadjit
32:29
there. But let me get back to this this
32:31
first. So the study Bible says, do
32:34
angels defend us before God? It is ironic that the exact
32:39
opposite of Ali whose claim occurred in the prologue.
32:43
There a fallen Angel approached God and accused God's blameless
32:49
servant. Joe would have gladly accepted
32:53
an angelic mediator to present his case before God.
32:56
However, the New Testament tells us there is one God and one
33:01
mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.
33:07
And that's in First Timothy chapter 2 verse 5 S Jesus is our
33:11
mediator and again that's other. That's another way that it
33:15
supports that. I believe the Angel read that
33:18
scripture of that sacrifice and read what the the messenger says
33:23
because that's what, you know, you have to look at what the
33:25
word is. It's a messenger and it was
33:27
interpreted as Angel. But I think it very well is
33:33
Jesus just from the words that are spoken.
33:36
And I'm not alone in that. There's other people that think
33:38
that as well. But so Jesus is the mediator.
33:42
Jesus provided the ram instead of Isaac.
33:46
So and it's also very symbolic of a lot of different things.
33:49
So anyway, let's go back to scripture in chapter 33 and
33:57
let's see where did I end up? I let's say am I trying to find
34:05
OK and I will start at verse 27 and they will go to others and
34:09
say I have sinned, I have perverted what is right, but I
34:12
did not get what I deserved. God has delivered me from going
34:16
down to the pit and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.
34:20
Wasn't Alihu merely echoing the wrong ideas of Job's other
34:25
friends? Like the others, Elihu believed
34:27
that Job was suffering for some wrong he had committed.
34:30
However, Elihu, unlike the others, made concessions for
34:34
God's mercy. If Job would only take
34:37
responsibility for whatever he had, whatever had brought these
34:41
difficulties on him, then he would find grace.
34:45
Contrary to Iliphas, Elihu believed that a supernatural
34:50
mediator could speak on Job's behalf.
34:57
So then God does verse 29. God does all these things to a
35:04
person twice, even three times, to turn them back from the from
35:08
the pit that the light of life may shine on them.
35:12
So that is true if it's applicable.
35:16
But in Job's case, it was not applicable that Job had to turn
35:19
away from something. He was righteous.
35:22
Verse 31. Pay attention Job, and listen to
35:24
me. Be silent and I will speak.
35:26
If you have anything to say, answer me.
35:29
Speak up, for I want to vindicate you.
35:34
So why did Elihu want Job cleared?
35:37
The other three friends seemed interested only in quieting Job
35:41
and defending God's right to punish the wicked.
35:44
Elihu was concerned about justice, not only clearing Job
35:47
but also clearing up the negative view of God that had
35:50
been presented so far. Elihu believed that God is
35:54
gracious and would redeem Job if he repented now.
35:58
That was true, but it just wasn't applicable.
36:05
So it says, if you have anything to say, answer me, speak up for
36:09
I want to vindicate you. But if not, then listen to me,
36:13
be silent and I will teach you wisdom.
36:17
So that's that's kind of very prideful.
36:21
I want to let's see, I'm going to pause there on this page
36:24
because there is a question. How much does the Bible explain
36:28
about the afterlife? There is actually very little
36:31
explanation in the Bible about the afterlife.
36:34
In the Old Testament times, people focused on living good
36:36
lives. A few Old Testament passages
36:39
acknowledged that people lived on in some form after death, but
36:43
there is no clear mention of resurrected life or a fully
36:47
renewed creation with eternal existence.
36:51
It was with Jesus's resurrection and ascension that his followers
36:56
and subsequent theologians began to inquire more deliberate into
37:01
what happens after we die. Jesus resurrection was a key
37:06
theme of the early Christian message.
37:09
It was also a main cause of confusion in the early
37:14
Thessalonians congregation. Their question was, if Jesus
37:18
raised from the dead, why did others still die and what would
37:23
happen to them if they were no longer living when Jesus
37:27
returned from heaven? Pauls answers to the
37:30
Thessalonians question and later his letter to the Corinthian
37:34
church helped shape Christian teaching about the afterlife.
37:38
His letters emphasize that the living Jesus will return to the
37:42
earth one day to punish sin, destroy evil and its effects,
37:47
restore the glory of creation, and raise back to life those who
37:51
trusted in Him during their lives.
37:54
Those who are resurrected to eternal life will be cleansed
37:57
and perfected. They will know an intimacy with
38:00
God that eludes us. Now, these ideas are more fully
38:04
expressed in the final chapters of the Bible, Revelation, 21
38:09
verses one through 7 and 22 verses one through 5 and 12
38:13
through 14. Now, I would say that as we've
38:18
read through the Old Testament, I've seen many things,
38:23
especially in the prophets that talk about the afterlife.
38:28
And so I just think that, but I also think that we needed to
38:34
somewhat know the information from the New Testament to
38:39
understand what was said by the prophets.
38:41
I believe the prophets told everybody about the new life,
38:47
not all of them, but like Isaiah and, and I, I just think that it
38:52
wasn't understood. And I think there were a lot of
38:55
things about restoration that we find throughout the Bible,
38:58
throughout the Old Testament. But without the New Testament,
39:01
we can't understand it, just like we can't understand the New
39:05
Testament without reading the Old Testament.
39:08
And so I think it's the whole Bible incomplete that gives us
39:12
some of the some aspect or some understanding of of what
39:19
happens. OK, chapter 34.
39:24
Then Elihu said, hear my words. You wise men, listen to me, you
39:28
men of learning for the ear test words as the tongue taste food.
39:32
Let us discern for ourselves what is right.
39:36
I think Elihu needed to discern some things too.
39:40
So let us discern for ourselves what is right.
39:42
Let us learn together what is good.
39:44
Job says I am innocent, but God denies me justice although I am
39:49
right, I am considered a liar although I am guiltless.
39:52
His arrow inflicts an incurable wound.
39:55
Is there anyone like Job who drinks scorn like water?
40:00
Why did Alihu say Job drank scorn like water?
40:04
Scorn is open and unqualified contempt for a person or a
40:08
thing. Alihu accused Job of indulging
40:11
in his scorn for God like a parched man in the desert takes
40:15
in water. Alihu continues and says, verse
40:19
8. He keeps company with evil
40:21
doers. He associates with the wicked.
40:25
Why did Alihu accused Job of associating with evil doers?
40:28
Although Alihu was more merciful than the others in his rebuke of
40:32
Job, he held many of the same assumptions.
40:35
Since Job and his bitterness claimed that it was useless to
40:38
attempt to please God, Alihu assumed Job's attitude reflected
40:42
an association with evil men. Because Job had rallied against
40:46
the activities of evil men, it is unlikely he associated with
40:50
such people. Instead, he made sure to quote,
40:54
stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.
40:57
We read that in chapter 21 verse 16.
41:01
So for going back to Elihu statements verse 9, for he says
41:05
there is no profit in trying to please God.
41:08
So listen to me you men of understanding, far be it from
41:12
God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong.
41:15
He repays everyone for what they have done.
41:18
He brings on them what their conduct deserves.
41:22
It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty
41:25
would pervert justice who appointed him over the earth,
41:30
put him in charge of the whole world.
41:32
If it were His attention and he withdrew his spirit and breath,
41:35
all humanity would perish together and mankind would
41:40
return to dust. If you have understanding, hear
41:43
this. Listen to what I say.
41:45
Can someone who hates justice govern?
41:49
Why? And here's the question, why was
41:51
it unthinkable that God would do wrong?
41:54
Elihu argued that God doesn't do wrong because he freely chose to
41:58
govern the world. It wasn't forced on him.
42:01
His love is evident in his giving and sustaining life.
42:05
His love guarantees that he will do right in the ruling world.
42:10
Now going back to verse 17, will you condemn?
42:16
Condemn the just and mighty one? Is it?
42:20
Is he not the one who says to kings you are worthless and to
42:23
nobles you are wicked, who shows no partiality to Princess?
42:28
And he does not favour the rich over the poor, for they are all
42:32
the work of his hands. They die in an instant in the
42:35
middle of the night. The people are shaken when they
42:38
pass away, and they pass away. The mighty are removed without
42:42
human hand. His eyes are on the ways of
42:45
mortals. He sees their every step.
42:48
There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness where evil doers
42:52
can hide. God has no need to examine
42:56
people further that they should come before Him for judgment.
43:01
Well, I paused there with verse 23 and I was like, well, there
43:05
is final judgment, and that's in the Book of Revelation.
43:08
But he wouldn't have had that knowledge.
43:10
But I think that might be an erroneous statement.
43:13
God has no need to examine people further that they should
43:16
come before Him for judgment. God is going to separate good
43:20
and evil, and only those who put their trust in Jesus will be in
43:26
the Kingdom of God who have been born of the Holy Spirit, who
43:29
have received the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who
43:32
changes us and makes it possible.
43:36
It's God all the way who brings us to salvation.
43:40
So how was Elihu's philosophy different from that of Illa,
43:44
Fez, Bildad, and Zophar? Job's three friends had argued
43:48
that life is fair and that Job must have sinned to to have
43:52
suffered so much. Job argued that life is unfair
43:55
in a fallen world and that he didn't do anything to justify
43:59
such terrible suffering as punishment.
44:02
Elihu said that all four four of them were wrong.
44:06
He thought the purpose of suffering is discipline in
44:09
advance. It isn't not necessarily a
44:12
punishment for sins already committed, but it may be a way
44:15
of keeping a person from getting into future sin by keeping that
44:20
person humble. Unlike Job, who Alihu thought
44:23
was far too confident about himself.
44:26
And I think that also applies to Alihu.
44:28
He's probably too confident about himself.
44:31
And I do believe what Alihu said about that was that you know it
44:35
does, you know, sometimes God does humble people and because
44:40
they get too full of themselves and need to remember who God is
44:46
and who they are, and to put to place God in the proper
44:51
priority. So verse 24 says without inquiry
44:55
he shatters the might. This is talking about God
44:57
without inquiry He shatters the mighty and sets up others in
45:00
their place because He takes note of their deeds.
45:03
He overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
45:06
He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can
45:09
see them, because they turn from following Him and had no regard
45:12
for any of His ways. They caused the cry of the poor
45:15
to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy.
45:18
But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
45:22
If He hides His his face, who can see him?
45:24
Yet he is over individual and nation alike to keep godless
45:29
from ruling, from laying snares for people.
45:32
So this is partially true. Yes, God is over individual and
45:36
nation alike. That is true.
45:38
God rules, but he doesn't always keep the godless from ruling.
45:44
Sometimes God lets the godless rule as punishment to those who
45:50
had turned away from him. So, and we find that throughout
45:54
Scripture that God will use like Nebuchadnezzar, he used
45:57
Nebuchadnezzar or Babylonia to punish the the Israelites.
46:05
So are the, I guess the technically speaking is the
46:08
tribe of Judah. So the Assyrians I guess,
46:11
conquered the 10 tribes of Israel and then Babylonia
46:17
conquered Judah. So the question in the study by
46:21
why is God silent and hidden at times?
46:23
The silence of God is a difficult thing for a suffering
46:26
person to endure. Why would God remain hidden when
46:29
his comforting presence is needed most?
46:32
Perhaps because the answer to a person's suffering is so complex
46:36
that the person could not understand it.
46:38
Instead, God silently sustains the person through the pain.
46:42
Or perhaps the answer is so simple that God leads the person
46:46
to discover the answer for himself or herself by remaining
46:49
silent. Why?
46:51
Why do godless rulers govern if God is in deed control?
46:55
Ali, who claimed that God would keep the godless from ruling.
46:59
We know, however, that God does allow some evil people to attain
47:02
positions of authority. Jesus told Pontius Pilate, You
47:06
would have no power over me if it were not given to you from
47:09
above in John chapter 19 verse 11.
47:12
Perhaps God always. Perhaps God allows the godless
47:16
to rule, to test the loyalty of those who claim to follow him.
47:21
But even when the wicked rule, God remains in control.
47:25
And God does use, like I was saying before, God does use evil
47:29
rulers to punish, to turn, to make people's lives difficult,
47:35
so that they turn to him and repent.
47:38
That's what he did, you know, during Jeremiah's time with the
47:41
Babylonians. It was a cause, a call to
47:46
repentance, and it was, you know, punishment for their lack
47:49
of repentance. So was Job rebelling against
47:53
God? No Ali, who in his ignorance was
47:56
looking for some explanation for Job suffering.
47:59
Job was actually rebelling against injustice in his life,
48:03
not against God himself. By demanding his day in court,
48:07
Job was complaining that God was allowing the injustices against
48:10
him to go unanswered. Other biblical figures such as
48:14
Jeremiah and Habakkuk similarly expressed their disappointment
48:19
in God without denying him. All right, verse 31.
48:26
Suppose someone says to God, I am guilty but will offend no
48:30
more. Teach me what I cannot see.
48:33
If I have done wrong, I will not do so again.
48:36
Should God then reward you on your terms when you refuse to
48:40
repent? So here Elihu is actually
48:42
falsely accusing Job that he needs to repent.
48:47
It continues, You must decide, not I.
48:49
So tell me what you know. Men of understanding declare.
48:53
Wise men who hear me say to me. Job speaks without knowledge.
48:58
His words lack insight. Here's another false accusation.
49:03
Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a
49:07
wicked man. Now, this is verse 36 that he
49:10
says that oh, that Job might be tested.
49:13
Well, yeah, Job is being tested, but a leader just doesn't know.
49:17
But it's not for answering like a wicked man.
49:20
It's the opposite reason, because Job was righteous.
49:24
Verse 37 To his sin he adds rebellion.
49:27
Well, that's a lie because Job is not rebelling scornfully.
49:30
He clasps his hands among us and multiplies his words against
49:34
God. So here's a question from the
49:37
study Bible. If we are treated unfairly, is
49:39
God still good because of the intrusion of sin and evil into
49:43
the into our world? It seems to us that life is
49:47
often not fair or just. Events occur that we do not
49:51
cause or desire, and all our best efforts are not able to
49:56
produce perfect results. Yet the Bible consistently
50:00
declares that God is good, fair, and just.
50:05
Sometimes we find this truth difficult to grasp.
50:08
Because of the complexity of this world and its evils, we
50:12
have limited ability to clearly interpret it.
50:15
But once we have spiritual insight about the truth, we can
50:19
conform our behaviors more fully to reflect God's fairness,
50:24
goodness, and righteousness. Even when things happen that
50:27
contradict our expressed efforts and knowledge of God's ultimate
50:31
designs, we can have confidence that God's purposes will
50:36
prevail. He will restore the fortunes of
50:39
earth and humankind to his original desires.
50:43
Both Peter and Paul insisted that when we experience
50:47
unfairness in life, we are gaining insights into what Jesus
50:52
went through. We are also learning how to hope
50:55
for the fullness of God's goodness to renew our world.
51:00
We all, like all humans actually, we all have this same
51:06
hope and desire for the restoration of the world which
51:10
is promised. It is a promise by God that will
51:12
happen and we will eventually come to see that.
51:19
But that is the hope that many have in this world and had in
51:24
the past as well too. So Chapter 35 and I35 and 3637.
51:35
OK, let's keep going here. This is a little bit longer than
51:38
I thought I was going to be. But then Elihu said, do you
51:42
think this is just? You say I am in the right not
51:46
God, yet you ask him what prophet is it to me and what do
51:51
I gain by not sinning? I would like to reply to you and
51:54
your friends with you. Look up at the heavens and see
51:58
gaze at the clouds so high above you.
52:01
If you sin, how does that affect him?
52:04
If your sins are many, what does that do to him?
52:06
If you are righteous, what do you give to him or what does he
52:11
receive from your hand? My initial reaction to that was
52:15
that's false because what we do relates to love and or that we
52:23
don't have love for God because Jesus says and God says it's
52:27
continually like when we keep his commands, it's showing him
52:31
we love him. That's all it's doing is it's
52:33
showing love to God. That's that's it.
52:37
So how does sin affect God? This is what the study Bible
52:40
says. In the Bible, God's relationship
52:42
with people is often described as a marriage.
52:44
When a man or woman sins against God, God is deeply troubled.
52:48
That's back in Genesis chapter 6, verses 5 through 6.
52:52
However, here, however, Elihu was emphasizing the
52:55
transcendence of God's character.
52:57
He said that man's actions do not change God.
53:01
Well, that's that's true. Verse nine people cry out under
53:06
a load of oppression. They plead for relief from the
53:09
arm of the powerful, but no one says, where is God my maker, who
53:13
gives songs in the night, who teaches us more than he teaches
53:18
the beast of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the
53:21
sky? He does not answer when people
53:24
cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked.
53:27
Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea.
53:30
The Almighty pays no attention to it.
53:32
How much less than will He listen when you say that you do
53:37
not see Him, that your case before, that your case is before
53:41
Him, and you must wait for Him, and further, that His anger
53:45
never punishes and he does not take the least notice of
53:48
wickedness. So and further that his anger
53:54
never punishes and he does not take the least notice of
53:56
wickedness. So Job opens his mouth with
53:59
empty talk. Without knowledge.
54:01
He multiplies words. That's the end of chapter 25.
54:05
Two questions and answers for this.
54:07
What kind of prayer was Alihu describing?
54:09
Alihu was claiming that the prayers of the wicked and
54:12
arrogant are not heard by God. This was part of Alihu's
54:15
argument that God did not respond to Job because Job
54:17
refused to admit his guilt. The Bible teaches that God will
54:21
not respond to the prayers of his people if they harbor sin in
54:25
their lives. Isaiah chapter 1 verses 11
54:29
through 15. It also says God hears the
54:32
prayers of the righteous. So that's really important.
54:34
The Bible teaches that God will not respond to the prayers of
54:37
his people if they harbor sin in their lives.
54:41
So just shows how important it is for us to get sin out of our
54:46
lives if we want our prayers to be answered.
54:51
Does God ignore us when we question His ways?
54:54
God ignores people who ask questions in an arrogant and
54:57
insulting manner. Job never sinned against God
55:00
with his words. He complained bitterly, but he
55:02
never blamed God for a situation.
55:05
As can be seen in God's eventual reply to Job.
55:08
God did not withdraw from Job because of his questioning.
55:12
The same was true of the prophets Jeremiah and Habakkuk
55:15
when they complained to God. Now, chapter 36, Elihu
55:19
continued. Boy, he speaks a lot.
55:21
Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is
55:24
more to be said on God's behalf. I get my knowledge from afar.
55:29
I was like, whoa, that's pretty prideful.
55:31
And just, you know, I will ascribe justice to my maker.
55:35
Be assured that my words are not false.
55:37
One who has perfect knowledge is with you.
55:41
I was like, oops, you know, perfect knowledge.
55:43
I would not say humans. There are no humans who have
55:46
perfect knowledge. So why did Elihu speak so
55:50
arrogantly? Perhaps he felt insecure as the
55:52
youngest member of the group and tried to compensate by boasting
55:56
that his insights were supernaturally inspired and that
56:00
what he said was without error. Or perhaps he was speaking
56:03
ironically, mimicking what he thought was Job's arrogant,
56:07
self-righteous attitude. That's a good possibility.
56:11
Here. God is mighty but despises no
56:14
one. He is mighty and firm in His
56:16
purpose. He does not keep the wicked
56:19
alive, but gives afflicted their rights.
56:22
What are the rights of the afflicted?
56:23
Those who are afflicted have a right to justice and
56:26
restitution. They have the right to prove
56:28
that they did not deserve what was done to them.
56:30
One consequence of disobedience is that innocent people suffer.
56:34
Even though the wait for justice might seem unbearable, God one
56:40
day will restore those who have suffered without cause.
56:45
Verse 7. He does not take his eyes off
56:48
the righteous. He enthrones them with kings and
56:51
exalts them forever. That, I think is not always true
56:54
because He doesn't exalt them forever.
56:58
God has time frames and sometimes he puts people in
57:00
place and sometimes he takes them out, including kings.
57:03
So the study Bible says, how are the righteous enthroned?
57:06
This may have been Elihu's poetic way of saying that God
57:10
will one day reward the righteous for their
57:13
faithfulness. In the Book of Revelation, the
57:15
apostle John says that in the age to come, those who trust in
57:18
Christ will reign with Him. Verse 8.
57:22
But if people are bound in chains, held fast by cords of
57:26
affliction, he tells them what they have done.
57:28
That is true, that they have sinned arrogantly.
57:31
He makes them listen to correction and commands them to
57:35
repent of their evil. That is true.
57:39
If they observe and serve Him, they will spend the rest of
57:42
their days in prosperity and their years in contentment.
57:46
I don't know if I'd go so far as saying prosperity but
57:48
restoration. So the study Bible says.
57:53
Didn't Elihu make the same mistake, mistaken assumptions as
57:57
the other friends did? Yes, he assumed that the
58:00
righteous always prosper and the wicked always are punished.
58:04
Ultimately, this is true. On the Day of Judgement, God
58:08
will reward the righteous and punish the wicked in the
58:11
meantime. However, this balance is not
58:14
always achieved. None of the four friends ever
58:16
addressed the suffering of the innocent.
58:21
So verse 12. But if they do not listen, they
58:23
will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.
58:26
The godless in heart harbor resentment.
58:29
Even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.
58:32
They die in their youth among male prostitutes of the shrines.
58:39
What were male prostitutes? The pagans viewed prostitution
58:42
as more than simply sinful pleasure pleasure.
58:46
They believed that prostitutes taking on the role of gods of
58:50
nature could force the gods to do certain things.
58:54
Prostitution became their way of praying for the good harvest.
58:58
Some think male prostitutes were used for religious intercourse
59:01
with women worshippers. Others think male prostitutes
59:05
representing male gods committed homosexual acts.
59:09
This just again shows evil and how evil takes something that
59:13
God intended for populating the earth and, and just his original
59:19
design for a marriage covenant and what he actually explains
59:25
our, I guess, reunion with Christ as the bridegroom and
59:31
believers as the bride that that has maintained throughout
59:36
history this marriage and of course, evil ones distort it.
59:43
And our world is so full of this, like any kind of sex
59:47
outside of marriage between a man and a woman is manipulation
59:54
by the evil one designed to separate us from God.
59:58
And so we really need to think about that because that's what
1:00:01
it does. It's sin.
1:00:02
Sin separates us from God, and sin does become punished.
1:00:08
And eventually, in judgement, it will separate us.
1:00:11
If we don't get out of our sin, we will be separated from God
1:00:15
eternally. And that's why God always wants
1:00:18
us to come to repentance, because most of the world is
1:00:24
that way. I would say the majority.
1:00:27
Maybe I'm inaccurate about that assumption, but at least in the
1:00:31
United States I would say that holds true, and probably in
1:00:34
Europe as well. Anyway, going back to verse 16,
1:00:40
he is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place
1:00:44
free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with
1:00:47
choice food. But now you are laden with the
1:00:50
judgement due to the wicked judgement, and justice has taken
1:00:54
hold of you. Again, this is inaccurate
1:00:56
assumptions. Was Lee who echoing the
1:00:59
accusations of Job's other friends?
1:01:01
Yes, but only in the sense that he thought Job was suffering in
1:01:04
the same way that the wicked people suffer.
1:01:06
Instead of a punishment for sins already committed, he thought
1:01:09
the suffering was a warning to Job to keep him from turning to
1:01:12
evil. Yeah, I don't see anything where
1:01:16
God punishes people in advance to warn them.
1:01:19
I've never seen that in the Bible anywhere.
1:01:22
So verse 18, Be careful that no one entices you by riches.
1:01:26
Do not let a large bribe turn you aside.
1:01:29
Would your wealth, or even all of your mighty efforts sustain
1:01:32
you so that you would not be in distress?
1:01:35
Do not long for the night to drag people away from their
1:01:39
homes. Beware of turning to evil, which
1:01:42
you seem to prefer to affliction.
1:01:45
Whoa. That's a pretty strong statement
1:01:48
there from Alihu verse 22. God is exalted in his power, who
1:01:52
is a teacher like him, who has prescribed his ways for him, or
1:01:55
said to him you have done wrong. Remember to extol his work,
1:01:59
which people have praised in song.
1:02:01
All humanity has seen it. Mortals gaze on it from afar,
1:02:04
afar. How great is God beyond our
1:02:07
understanding? The number of his years is past.
1:02:10
Finding out, He draws up the drops of water which distill as
1:02:15
rain into the streams. The cloud poured down their
1:02:19
moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind.
1:02:22
This is interesting. How much scientific knowledge
1:02:25
did the people of Job's time have about the weather?
1:02:28
Wise people of all ages have used careful observation to
1:02:32
interpret and predict both the seasons and the weather.
1:02:35
In Job's day, virtually everyone was a full or part time farmer.
1:02:40
As such, Job and his friends understood weather cycles,
1:02:44
irrigation, evaporation, rain, snow, dew, wind and temperature
1:02:49
cycles. They had no long range weather
1:02:52
forecast, but they could make short term forecast from the
1:02:56
same visible signs that farmers use around the world today.
1:03:02
Verse 29. Who can understand how he
1:03:04
spreads up the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion, how
1:03:07
he scatters his lightning about him bathing the depths of the
1:03:10
sea? This is the way he governs the
1:03:13
nation's and provides food in abundance.
1:03:15
He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to
1:03:18
strike its mark. His Thunder announces the coming
1:03:20
storm. Even the cattle make known its
1:03:23
approach. Last CHAPTER 37.
1:03:27
At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
1:03:30
Listen. Listen to the roar of His voice,
1:03:32
to the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
1:03:35
He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole heaven and
1:03:38
sends it to the ends of the earth.
1:03:40
After that comes the sound of His roar.
1:03:42
He thunders with His majestic voice.
1:03:44
When His voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
1:03:47
God's voice thunders in marvelous ways.
1:03:50
He does great things beyond our understanding.
1:03:54
Did Thunder and lightning have special significance in Job's
1:03:57
day? Ancient people understood the
1:03:59
awesome power of thunderstorms, and the association of lightning
1:04:03
with the boom of Thunder was an easy connection to make.
1:04:06
They linked God's power over nature, a regular theme in the
1:04:09
book of Job, to God's power in general, and they recognized
1:04:13
that thunderstorms were evidence of God's might.
1:04:16
Job would not have automatically assumed Thunder and lightning
1:04:20
indicated that God was angry, only that he was majestic.
1:04:25
So he says to the snow referring to God fall on earth, and to the
1:04:29
rain shower be a mighty downpour, so that everyone he
1:04:33
has made may know his work. It's true, you know.
1:04:36
If we just observe nature, we can see that God exists.
1:04:41
He stops all people from their labor.
1:04:43
That's probably true too. Why must humans stop laboring to
1:04:46
see God's work? It seems that in every age,
1:04:49
people become so focused on their own plans that they lose
1:04:52
sight of God. Eli Who knew that God's storms
1:04:55
can easily halt people's plans, forcing them to remain inside
1:05:00
for shelter? Busy schedules and hectic
1:05:04
activities allow people little time to give to give to God or
1:05:09
see what he is doing. When bad weather forces the
1:05:12
cancellation of our plans, perhaps God wants us to slow
1:05:16
down a bit so we will notice him.
1:05:18
That's a good thing to think about.
1:05:19
Like when something storms, think about it like maybe God
1:05:22
just wants to talk to me. There could be other things, so
1:05:28
let's see. The animals take cover.
1:05:29
They remain in their dens. The Tempest comes out of its
1:05:32
chamber, The cold from its driving winds, the breath of God
1:05:35
produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
1:05:39
He loads the clouds with moisture.
1:05:40
He scatters his lightning through them at his direction.
1:05:43
They swirl around over the whole face, over the face of the whole
1:05:48
earth to do whatever he commands them.
1:05:50
He brings the clouds to punish people or to water his earth and
1:05:55
show his love. Can How can God use the same
1:05:59
thing for both punishment and reward?
1:06:01
God can use his creation for any purpose.
1:06:04
At times God is neutral in his treatment of people.
1:06:07
Jesus said that God sends rain on the righteous and
1:06:10
unrighteous. At other times God uses nature
1:06:13
to bring judgment. The same rain that waters the
1:06:16
crops can also flood them. However, it is unwise to assume
1:06:21
that all natural disasters are God's judgement.
1:06:24
God may be testing a person's faith, as he did with Job.
1:06:28
Both good and trouble fall within God's provenance, so it
1:06:33
says. Why seek a God who is beyond
1:06:35
understanding? There are many things about God
1:06:37
that we will never comprehend. What does it mean for God to be
1:06:41
self existent, to have no beginning and no end?
1:06:45
Such a mystery is beyond understanding.
1:06:47
But the fact that we can never comprehend God for all that He
1:06:50
is does not mean that we should. We should not pursue A
1:06:54
meaningful relationship with Him.
1:06:56
God has most fully revealed Himself to us in His Son Jesus
1:07:01
Christ. Jesus said anyone who has seen
1:07:04
me has seen the Father in John chapter 14 verse 9.
1:07:08
By pursuing and cultivating a relationship with Jesus Christ,
1:07:11
we come to know God. As Moses said to the people of
1:07:14
Israel, the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the
1:07:18
things revealed belong to us and to our children forever.
1:07:22
Deuteronomy 29, verse 29. So we'll go back to the
1:07:27
Scripture, verse 14 of chapter 37.
1:07:31
Listen to this Job stop and consider God's wonders.
1:07:34
Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning
1:07:39
flesh? Do you know how the clouds hang
1:07:41
poised? Those wonders of Him who has
1:07:44
made, who has perfect knowledge have the explanations of science
1:07:49
diminished God's wonders, scientific discoveries can be
1:07:52
used to either explain, got away, or point out his
1:07:56
purposeful design in the universe.
1:07:59
Elihu questioned Job about his knowledge of the weather in
1:08:02
order to expose his ignorance. Today we have scientific
1:08:05
explanations for many of Elihu's questions, but what we have
1:08:08
discovered only makes us marvel all the more at God and His
1:08:13
creation. Both the answered questions and
1:08:15
the unanswered mysteries of the the universe point to the
1:08:19
presence of a purposeful and intelligent designer.
1:08:25
So verse 17 says, You who swelter in your clothes when the
1:08:29
land lies hushed under the South wind, can you join him in
1:08:33
spreading out the skies hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
1:08:38
Tell us what we should say to Him.
1:08:40
We cannot draw up our case because of the darkness.
1:08:43
Should he be told that I want to speak?
1:08:47
Would anyone asked to be swallowed up?
1:08:49
No one can look at the sun, bright as it as it is in the
1:08:52
skies after the wind has swept them clean out of the north.
1:08:57
He comes in splendor. God is comes in awesome majesty.
1:09:03
The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power.
1:09:07
In His justice and greatness and great righteousness.
1:09:11
He does not oppress. Therefore people Revere Him, for
1:09:15
He does not have regard for all the wise in heart.
1:09:20
That's the end of Elihu speaking in the end of chapter 37.
1:09:24
Now, when I read Out of the North, he comes in golden
1:09:29
splendor. I thought, wow, every time I
1:09:32
thought about out of the north, it was usually like Babylon or
1:09:36
the Assyria or somebody, you know, coming that wasn't God.
1:09:40
And so I decided to look up some of these things.
1:09:44
And specifically this is using the NIV version out of the
1:09:49
north. The first time that those words
1:09:51
together happen is in Job 3722. So in Jeremiah 6 verse one it
1:09:59
says flee for safety. People of Benjamin flee from
1:10:03
Jerusalem, sound the trumpet into KOA, raise the signal over
1:10:07
Beth Hecarim, for disaster looms out of the north, even terrible
1:10:13
destruction. In Jeremiah chapter 51, verse
1:10:17
48, it says then heaven and earth and all that is in them
1:10:21
will shout for joy over Babylon, for out of the north destroyers
1:10:28
will attack her, declares the Lord.
1:10:30
So again, like that's where my mind went like Assyria and
1:10:34
Babylon. Those were always out of the
1:10:36
north and and I was remembering Jesus would come to the Eastgate
1:10:41
in Jerusalem. So it was out of the east that
1:10:43
God would come. And so I wondered, you know, how
1:10:46
did Elihu come up with this, this out of the north like that
1:10:53
God comes from there. And and then I saw Ezekiel
1:10:59
chapter 1, which was which kind of explains it.
1:11:08
I think that was where it was. So let's see, there were many.
1:11:16
OK, So Ezekiel one, this is really interesting.
1:11:21
I think it was, Oh, where did I find that?
1:11:30
I don't know. This is I don't remember where.
1:11:32
Oh, Ezekiel one verse verse 3. OK, that's where it makes sense.
1:11:43
Ezekiel one verse 3, the word of the Lord came to Ezekiel the
1:11:47
priest, the son of Boozy our busey, I don't know by the Kibar
1:11:54
River in the land of the Babylonians.
1:11:56
There the hand of the Lord was on him.
1:11:59
So this is key the son of Boozy in the beginning of this in
1:12:04
chapter what 32 where we started this was saying that Lee who was
1:12:11
a member of that family. So I'm going to go back to that
1:12:14
the explanation of who he was. It says the last of Job's
1:12:18
challengers to appear. He was the only one with the
1:12:21
Hebrew name. It means he is my God.
1:12:23
He was a Buzite, a descendant of Abraham's nephew Booze BUZ in
1:12:30
Genesis 22 verses 20 through 21. And then we see in Ezekiel that
1:12:36
Ezekiel the priest was the son of Buzai by the Kibar river.
1:12:43
So was this the was his relative and that's where he he hears
1:12:49
this because the very next sentence out of Ezekiel says.
1:12:51
I looked and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north on
1:12:56
immense cloud with flashing lightning and and surrounded by
1:13:00
brilliant light. The center of the fire looked
1:13:04
like glowing metal. And in the fire was what looked
1:13:07
like 4 living creatures in appearance.
1:13:09
Their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four
1:13:13
wings. Their legs were straight.
1:13:17
Their feet were like those of a calf and gleamed like burnished
1:13:21
bronze under their wings. On their four sides they had
1:13:24
human hands. All four of them had faces and
1:13:26
wings, and the wings of one touched the wings of another.
1:13:30
Each one went straight ahead. They they did not turn as they
1:13:33
moved. Their faces look like this.
1:13:36
Each of the four had a face of a human being, and on the right
1:13:39
side of each had a face of a lion, and on the left a face of
1:13:42
an ox, and each one had a face of an eagle.
1:13:46
Well, these faces and these beings reflect in the Book of
1:13:50
Revelation the creatures that are surrounding the throne of
1:13:53
God. So this is what Ezekiel's
1:13:55
seeing. Such were their faces.
1:13:57
They each had two wings spreading out upward, each wing
1:14:01
touching that of the creature on the other side, and each had two
1:14:04
wings covering their body. Each one went straight ahead.
1:14:07
Whenever the spirit would go up, they would turn without turning
1:14:10
as they went. The appearance of the living
1:14:12
creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches.
1:14:16
Fire moved back and forth among the creatures.
1:14:19
It was bright and lightning flashed out of it.
1:14:21
The creatures speed back and forth like flashes of lightning.
1:14:25
As I looked at the living creatures, I saw a wheel on the
1:14:27
ground beside each creature with its four faces.
1:14:31
This was the appearance and structure of the wheels.
1:14:34
They sparkled like Topaz and all four looked alike.
1:14:37
Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel as
1:14:41
they moved. They would go in any one of the
1:14:44
four directions the creatures face.
1:14:46
The wheels did not change direction as the creatures went.
1:14:49
Their rims were high and awesome, and all four rims were
1:14:53
full of eyes all around. When the living creatures moved,
1:14:56
the wheels besides them moved. When the when the living
1:14:59
creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose.
1:15:02
Whenever the spirit would go up, they would go up, and the wheels
1:15:05
would rise among them. Because the spirit of the living
1:15:08
creatures was in the wheels, when the creatures moved, they
1:15:12
also when the creatures moved, they also moved.
1:15:15
When the creatures stood still, they also stood still.
1:15:18
And when the creatures rose from the ground, the wheels rose
1:15:21
along with them because the spirit of the living creatures
1:15:24
was in the wheels. Spread out above the heads of
1:15:27
the living creatures was what looked something like a vault,
1:15:31
sparkling like crystal and awesome.
1:15:33
Under the vault, their wings were stretched out, one toward
1:15:38
the other, and each had two wings covering its body.
1:15:42
When the creatures moved, I heard the sounds of the wings,
1:15:44
like the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty,
1:15:49
like the tumult of an army. When they stood still, they
1:15:52
lowered their rings, their wings.
1:15:55
Then there came a voice from above the vault, over their
1:15:59
heads as they stood with lowered wings.
1:16:01
Above the vault, over their heads was what looked like a
1:16:05
throne of lapis lazuli. If you remember in a prior
1:16:08
chapter where I think it was Joe was talking about mining for
1:16:13
precious metals and talked about lapis lazuli, and I was saying,
1:16:18
well, that the throne of lapis lazuli.
1:16:20
And you see that also in the Book of Revelation about the
1:16:23
throne of God. So anyway, and high above on the
1:16:26
throne was a figure like that of a man.
1:16:29
I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like
1:16:34
glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down
1:16:39
he looked like fire and brilliant light surrounded him.
1:16:42
Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so
1:16:47
was the radiance all around him. This was the appearance of the
1:16:52
likeness of the glory of the Lord.
1:16:55
When I saw it, I fell face down and I heard I heard the voice of
1:17:01
one speaking. So this goes on to say this is
1:17:05
what the sovereign Lord. So this was you know, Ezekiel
1:17:09
saw a vision of God's throne and tying it back to the book of Job
1:17:16
that this windstorm came out of the north.
1:17:20
That's how it was described. But in other in other, I looked
1:17:27
up there's from the North to see what came in it.
1:17:32
It talks about disaster, you know, over and over and over
1:17:35
again. There's like 46 different
1:17:37
verses. And because this podcast's
1:17:40
already long, I'm not going to read all of those verses.
1:17:43
But if you search from the North, you will see a lot of
1:17:45
times there is, is something of judgment that seems to be coming
1:17:49
or a nation that is usually not a good thing coming from the
1:17:55
North. And so that's why I was
1:17:57
wondering if that was significant.
1:18:01
And then I also remembered that from the east is where Jesus
1:18:07
would come, but from the east is also, it's kind of a mixture.
1:18:11
If you search that direction in the NIV version, I came up with
1:18:15
17 different exact phrases and I'm not going to read those
1:18:18
again because of timing. But if you want to search that
1:18:21
it it, you know, it just talks about people from the east.
1:18:24
I mean it doesn't really always refer to God coming from the
1:18:28
east. However, in Ezekiel 46 verse
1:18:34
one, it says this is what the sovereign Lord says.
1:18:36
The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the
1:18:43
six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of
1:18:47
the new moon, it is to be opened.
1:18:51
And if you read chapter 46, which I, I won't do again
1:18:58
because of timing, but that's another one, Ezekiel 46 is a
1:19:01
good chapter to read. It talks about the Prince and it
1:19:04
talks about the Lord, and that's the entrance that the Lord comes
1:19:07
in through. And ironically today, well, many
1:19:11
years ago, I forgot which ruler it was.
1:19:14
I think it was a Muslim ruler who sealed up like from the
1:19:18
Ottoman Empire who sealed up the Eastgate in Jerusalem, the east
1:19:26
opening, because they didn't want the Messiah to come through
1:19:29
there. So they're, you know, it does
1:19:31
say that eventually that's when Jesus will come through that
1:19:35
gate in Jerusalem. And and not only that did they
1:19:40
seal it up, but they also put tombs literal like cemetery
1:19:45
right in front of that gate because of Jewish beliefs that
1:19:48
you could not come in contact with a dead person.
1:19:52
So there's all this like prevention in place, which is
1:19:56
not going to hold up in God. I mean, this is so foolish.
1:20:00
But again, just look at what humans have done throughout the
1:20:04
ages to try to get it to where Jesus can't come back because
1:20:08
prophets say this is how he's going to come.
1:20:11
So I, I know I kind of went a little bit off to the side on
1:20:15
this, but it just, I thought, well, Jesus always comes from
1:20:17
the east and, and the north usually disaster and it is
1:20:21
except for Ezekiel. So I'm wondering if this is
1:20:25
because he was a descendant perhaps from the Buzite tribe
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that are grouping of people, whatever they were that he had
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heard about Ezekiel and therefore he was thinking about
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God coming from the north because I wondered why would he
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say come from the north? So anyway, that is that's going
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to conclude. This is a lot longer than I
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thought it was going to be, but this is the end of Elihu's
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statement. And next the Lord will speak in
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chapter 38. So this concludes up through
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chapter 37. If you found it helpful, please
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share it with other people. If you'd like to stay in the
1:21:03
Word, please subscribe. I try to do this every day.
1:21:06
Thank you.