October 24, 2021
Sermon Series: Going Through Adversity
Book of Job
Sermon # 10
GOD WILL ALWAYS DO RIGHT!
Job 34:21-37
QUOTE
“An unjust God would be as unthinkable as a square circle or a round triangle.”
Warren Wiersbe
Introduction: Are You a Big-Godder?
A former student of Robert Dick Wilson, one of the great professors at Princeton Theological Seminary, was invited to preach in Miller Chapel, twelve years after he had graduated. Dr. Wilson came in and sat down near the front. At the close of the meeting, the old professor came up to his former student, cocked his head to one side in his characteristic way, extended his hand, and said, “If you come back again, I will not come to hear you preach. I only come once. I am glad that you are a big-Godder. When my boys come back, I come to see if they are big-Godders or little-Godders, and then I know what their ministry will be.”
His former student asked him to explain. The old professor replied, “Well, some people have a little God, and they are always in trouble with Him. He can’t do any miracles. He can’t take care of the inspiration and transmission of the Scripture to us. He doesn’t intervene on behalf of his people. They have a little God, and I call them little-Godders.
Then there are those who have a great God. He speaks, and it is done. He commands, and it stands fast. He knows how to show himself strong on behalf of those who fear Him. You have a great God, and he will bless your ministry.” He paused a moment, and smiled, and said, “God bless you,” and turned and walked out.
Elihu was a big-Godder. He was one who had a high, spiritual view of God, a knowledge of God that towered over man. Consequently, when he gave counsel to Job, he spoke from the same divine perspective. While Job’s suffering may have been greater than Job was, yet in Elihu’s estimation God was greater than human suffering. As a result, Elihu sought to put everything in right perspective.
GOD WILL ALWAYS DO RIGHT!
I.
GOD DISCERNS ALL MEN
v. 21-23
A. God exposes all evildoers
B. God sees all a person does
C. God sees every place the wicked try to hide
D. God has no need to examine people to judge them: He know they are guilty
II.
GOD DEALS WITH ALL MEN
v. 24-30
A. God topples rulers & governments & replaces them
1. Because of their evil deeds
2. Because they deserve to be crushed
B. God punishes the wicked
1. Because they turn away from Him
2. Because they reject His ways
3. Because they oppress the poor
C. God hears the cry of the needy
1. God may seem to be silent for a while
2. God is waiting & watching over both people & nations
a. To keep the godless from ruling indefinitely
b. To deliver the people
In verses 21-30, Elihu is responding to Job’s complaint in chapter 24 that God disregards wicked people and allows them to prosper. Therefore, he says God sees all their steps or everything they do (34:21).
God can do no wrong. He impartially judges every person according to his or her deeds. God punishes the wicked while hearing the cries of the oppressed and delivering them by His mercy. Therefore, all believers should take this truth to heart and be greatly encouraged. Even in our darkest days, our most severe suffering, God is looking after us. He may seem silent, a long way off, or unconcerned, and we may not fully understand His allowing us to suffer. Nevertheless, God is always listening to our cries for help. And at exactly the right moment, He will act and work all things out for our good, and for the good of all His dear believers.
III.
GOD DETERMINES ALL JUDGMENTS
v. 31-37
A. Elihu appeals to Job: Job needed to confess & repent of his sinful rebellion.
B. Elihu declares God is not answerable to any human, including Job.
For Job to demand an answer only adds rebellion to his sin.
C. “Rebellion” or “transgression” literally means a going away from, departure, or defiance. Rebellion is a willful act against God’s sovereign authority and a refusal to acknowledge his right to rule the live of His people. Rebellion is not against other people whom a person may hurt by his sins, but it is always, ultimately, a treasonous act against God (1 Sam. 12:13; Ps. 51:4).
D. Job added rebellion against God with his prideful attitude of self-vindication.
Elihu closed his speech by making a shocking statement: he declared that Job deserved more punishment than what he had gone through and was now suffering because of his sinful rebellion and refusal to repent. Elihu could not believe that Job would dare speak to God in such a way. For that reason, he added rebellion and blasphemy to Job’s other sins due to his supposed arrogance.
· Expected God to answer his defiant demands
· Foolishly refused to repent
· Refuse to listen to the counsel of his three and treating their advice with contempt
· Spoken without knowledge or wisdom
Responsive Reading: Job 34:21-37
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