For today, One Year Bible Online links here.
The way to avoid discord is to get rid of those who mock others. A wise leader seeks out those who surround themselves with honest people and speak graciously. Those who acquire knowledge before reaching a conclusion or making a plan will find that God guides their path, but those who act treacherously will find their plans constantly thwarted.
We have heard what God did in the past. He granted victory to those who faithfully served Him. It was not their might, skill, or knowledge which led them to victory. It was God who destroyed their enemies, causing them to make mistakes and miscalculate at key junctures. In the same way, we will not be victorious because of our abilities. I know that my skills will not get me through. I will rely on God to bring about success. I know that if I do His will, I cannot fail.
As we preach the Gospel, let us not use tricks or deception. Let us plainly state what it is we have to say. If anything about the Gospel is misunderstood, let it be because those listening took it out of context or chose to misinterpret our words, not because we attempted to slip something past those listening without them noticing. There is no need for us to keep parts of the Gospel a secret from those who do not choose to accept it. As I read this, I think of those groups and organizations which keep some of their teachings secrets for only those initiated into the group to know. That is not the way in which the followers of Jesus are to act.
The followers of Jesus speak the Gospel message as a lamp in the darkness, visible to all who look. We speak the message from God as frail, imperfect people. The success of the Gospel message is not because of the strength and power of those who preach it. Any power which we have comes from God Himself, not from our feeble selves.
Job’s other three friends argued that Job was being punished because he was a sinner. Elihu takes a different tack. He does not attempt to identify Job as a sinner. Rather he argues that God is wise and just. Elihu condemns Job, and anyone else who does the same, for claiming that God is causing him to suffer unjustly. Elihu was angry because Job had said that it was a waste of time to try to please God. Instead, we should confess to God our sins, if we know them, and promise to turn from them. If we do not know what we have done that is wrong, let us beg God to show us so that we can turn from those sins as well. God watches how people live, nothing is hidden from Him. God knows what evil people commit and hears the cries of the needy. He will bring justice on those who do wrong. Who are we to judge when God does not deliver the judgement we think others deserve?
Elihu points out that, no matter what Job had done before, he sinned by speaking angry words about God and failing to respect the Almighty. The question is not “What is in it for me?” The question is, “What is the right thing to do?” I do not strive to do the right thing because I will be rewarded for doing so. I strive to do the right thing because it is the right thing…or at least, that is how I believe that I should act. We cannot tell God how to act and have no right to tell Him that He has done wrong. We cannot possibly understand the reasons God does what He does. So, let us praise Him for His mighty acts, recognizing that He will do what is right, even when we do not understand.