 Let's begin our study here in Job chapter 34. I'll begin by reading verses 1 through 4 and we'll get into our study. Job chapter 34 beginning at verse 1, reading to verse 4. Allie, you further answered and said here my words you wise men give ear to me you who have knowledge for the ear tests words as a pellet taste food. Let us choose justice for ourselves. Let us know among ourselves what is good. So what we have here and let me remind you of a few things as we enter into this week's study of Job. Let me remind you that a young man by the name of Allie who has been silently listening to Job as he has been speaking to three friends has finally gotten to the point where he can no longer contain himself. And so what he's doing now and as we've seen is he's beginning to give his opinion as to why Job is suffering. When we looked at chapter 32 and verses 2 and 3 those verses gave us two reasons why he could no longer hold back from speaking. One is because he believed that Job justified himself rather than God and two because his three friends could not convince Job of Job's guilt. And so he began. He began to speak and he began by saying wisdom doesn't necessarily result from age. In other words just because you men are older doesn't mean you have spoken from wisdom. And so after he made that point he launched into his rebuke of both Job and his friend. So Allie he was speaking to them all and he had rebuked his friends. Job's friends remember Alaphaz, Bildad and Zophar. He had rebuked them because he was frustrated that none of them had convinced Job of his error. And he made it clear that that is what had provoked him to speak. He had said in chapter 32 verses 16 and 17, must I wait now that they are silent now that they stand there with no reply? I too will have my say. I too will tell what I know. And so he's jumped in because he's become frustrated. Job seems to be self righteous. His friends can't convince him. So it's up to him now to speak. And so what did he do? Well, we saw this. He launched into a rebuke. He insisted that Job was speaking rather he insisted that he himself was speaking with honesty, sincerity and uprightness of heart. That's how he began in verse three. He had said in Job 33, my words come from my upright heart, my lips utter pure or sincere knowledge. So Alliehu, Alliehu believed that Job was presenting himself as more righteous than God and that Job felt that he had been unfairly treated and had gotten close to accusing God of sin. So Alliehu felt that Job had crossed the line and was in sin because he thought that Job had done that in Job 33 12 and 13. Look in this you are not righteous. I'll answer you for God is greater than man. Why do you contend with him? For he does not give an accounting of any of his words. Job, why are you arguing with God? Do you think you're better than he? Do you think you're equal to him? And so he went on to speak and he said, Listen, God has ways that he speaks to man. We saw this last time in chapter 33 in verses 14 through 18. He said that man receives from God by God's inward voice that God can use dreams in verses 19 through 22. He said that God speaks loudly by using pain when he chastises people. And then he also said in verses 23 through 26 that God speaks by living messengers. And he began to point to a need of a mediator. So what he was doing is he was reminding him that God does speak, but he is also saying, Job, you need to repent. And so as we look at these verses here in chapter 34 and prayerfully chapter 35, he continues his speech. So it says in verse one of chapter 34 that all of you further answered and said, Hear my words, you wise men, give ear to me, you have knowledge for the ear test words as appellate taste food. Let us choose justice for ourselves. Let us know among ourselves what is good. Now, he speaks of them in this way. He speaks in verse two, you wise men. He also says in verse 10, you men of understanding. Well, he's calling them wise and understanding, but rebuking them at the same time. It's become quiet, apparently, and Elehu believes that he's driven Job to silence through his reasoning. And so what he wants is he wants justice and judgment to be pronounced. And that's why he begins in verses two and three and says, Hear my words, wise men, give ear to me, you who have knowledge. In other words, listen to what I have to say, because what I have to say is very, very important. He says in verse three, the ear test words as the palate taste food. People listen to what is said in order to judge between what is wise or what is foolish. It's it's like the way we use taste to distinguish between what is good food and what is bad food. So in normal life, our experiences that we have are used to make the best decisions. But in the spiritual life, God's word in his spirit results in spiritual wisdom. And that's one of the most important reasons that we take time to read our Bibles. The study of God's word equips us with wisdom as well as discernment. I really believe and I'll take a moment just to say this. I really believe that that the neglect of reading and studying the word of God is really showing itself in the church today. There are many, many who have been Christians for years, and yet have still not grown in their maturity. If you go to an associate to a junior college in two years, you can get an associates degree, right? If you go to a regular four year college in four years, you can get a bachelor's degree. If you move on to get an advanced degree, a master's degree, depending on what you're studying, it takes at least another two years, sometimes three, right? Get your master's and then beyond that. If you want to go on to get a PhD, PSD or whatever you might want to get, you can get a degree three to five years after that, you can spend years and years and years to gather degrees. And, you know, within six years or so, you can be referred to as a master. Well, when you think about it, there are not a lot of six year old Christians today who would be qualified to be masters at the word of God. Why is that? It's because we neglect it. It's because when I went to college, when we go to college, we spend our time reading books and writing papers and listening to lectures and then taking tests and all. And then we achieve a certain goal and they hand you a diploma. And you feel that you have, you have legitimately performed a task that has gotten a reward. But in the spiritual life, a lot of people have been Christians, not just four years or six years, 10 years, you know, ask yourself, how long have you been a believer and just insert that knowledge? I've been a Christian 50 years. So you think about it's a long time to be a Christian. Am I a master? And that's something that I challenged myself with. Do I know the word of God? Have I mastered certain elements of it? You know, and many believers really haven't. They've neglected God's word. They've been Christians for years, but don't understand. There's an interesting portion of scripture in the book of Hebrews. Let me read it to you. It's found in Hebrews chapter five, verses 12 to 14. It reads there. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food. Anyone who lives on milk being still an infant is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. We had four children. And we have a number of grandchildren now. And we've seen our children. And now our grandchildren as they're growing from the milk stage to the meat stage, and all. And when they were teeny, you know, a year old, even less, you know, even if you gave them, if you gave them any meat at all, it had to be chopped up really good. You didn't want to choke them. They would choke on the meat. So what was good for a baby was milk. But at a certain point, as they exercise the things that God has given to them, they begin to develop maturity. And so the writer of Hebrews is simply saying to the Hebrew Christians, by now you ought to be masters. By now you ought to know God's word, you ought to be partaking in what is called the meat of the word. But he says, unfortunately, you've remained infantile in your, in your spiritual growth. One of the things that we know about babies, Marie and I having those four, and seeing the little ones to this day, they'll, they'll put pretty much anything in their mouth. Babies, well, we have my son, Joseph, and his wife, Karina, sold their house and, you know, moved in with us as they said, well, we'd be buying a house. And, and, and we said, well, of course, you can live with us. And, and only they've been with us for a few months now. And so my two year old granddaughter, my olive is, you know, she's taken over, she's taken over the house. I mean, that's just the way it is. But the thing is, is that I will notice that sometimes she will bend down and find something on the rug, and it looks pretty good to her. And she eats it. She'll eat it. Babies put things in their mouths that they really ought not to do. And so that's what babies do. But you know, even, even Christians, when they're still immature, will watch something on TV or hear something on the radio or have a friend at work tell them stuff that is in scriptural sound. And I've had babies who have basically, because they do, they lash out sometimes. I have a year old baby, my, my Elena, and she's my son, David's baby. And, and there have been times and she she's only 13 months old. But if she gets frustrated with me, she's, I know she's left handed, because she pops me with her left hand. Boom, you know, and she's seen grandma do that. Babies, babies respond quickly. And, and sometimes when, when a baby in the Lord is, is, is corrected, they lash out too. And so what's going to help you? What's going to help us read the word, be in the word of God. And if you want to know the meaning of a passage, then determine that you'll obey what you understand. And as you move on in life, you'll see that God begins to reveal himself to you, and you begin to mature. And so we need to spend time reading the word. Why? Because in the spiritual life, maturity comes through hearing God's word, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. You're grown, you grow in that fashion. And so immature believers can be seduced by false teachers. And that's why they need to be diligent to present themselves approved to God. Like Paul said in 2 Timothy 2 15, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. And so he says the ear test words as a palate taste food verse four. Let us choose justice for ourselves. Let us know among ourselves what is good. Let us discern what is right. Let us discern what is good. Let us seek truth and let us seek justice. Now I want you to know something. Notice again in verse four how he says, let us choose justice for ourselves. Let us know among ourselves what is good. He has just as a young man inserted himself into equality with the elders. That's a bit of a little bit arrogant for this young man. This man has included himself in the circle of elders. He wasn't welcomed in. He included himself. Somebody said this and I like this quote. Pride loves to climb up, not as a kiss to see Christ, but to be seen by others. And that's true. Pride likes to elevate. Not so that you draw closer to the Lord, but so that somewhere below you might look up to you. And that's basically what this young man is doing. He's climbing up to be seen. He says in verse five, for Job has said, I'm righteous, but God has taken away my justice. Should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable. Though I am without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water, who goes in company with the workers of iniquity and walks with wicked men. For he has said it profits a man, nothing that he should delight in God. That's not true. Job has not said that. But what he's doing is he setting forth a case against him. You say you see in in verse five, notice how he says, Job has said, I am righteous. In other words, I have right on my side. Well, in chapter 33 verse nine, Alliehu had said that Job had said, I am pure without transgression. I'm innocent. There's no iniquity in me. So Alliehu has misunderstood Job. Job is basically maintaining his integrity, but he was not claiming to be sinless. In Job 917, he breaks me with the tempest. He multiplies my wounds without cause, he said. In Job 107, you know that I am not wicked. There's none who can deliver out of your hand. In Job 1617, no violence is in my hands. My prayer is pure. He had simply said to the Lord and seeing of the Lord, I don't see the reason why I'm being chastened in this way. He wasn't claiming to be perfectly righteous. He wasn't claiming to be perfect. He's simply saying that he doesn't understand what is taking place. He says in verse five, God has taken away my justice. In chapter 27 verse two, Job had said, as God lives, who has taken away my justice. In other words, he's saying that God is withheld from him the justice and judgment that he desired. Verse six, should I lie concerning my right? My wound is incurable though I am without transgression. He's saying very clearly my wound is incurable. Job is saying, although I'm right, I'm considered a liar. I have not opposed the will of God and I can't confess to what I haven't done. When he says my wound, that word wound is interesting. One of the commentators that I use pointed out that the word wound literally is saying my arrow. My arrow is incurable. In other words, I've been injured. I've been injured without reason. Now remember in chapter seven verse 20, he had said to the Lord, why have you set me as your target? So he's saying I'm going through this pain and I feel that it's unfair. And he's saying, although I'm right, I've been considered a liar. I haven't opposed the will of God. I can't confess to what I haven't done. My wound is incurable. I've been injured but that without reason. In verses seven through nine when he says what man is like Job who drinks scorn like what? He's saying Job is using sarcasm because Job he's saying is filled with bitterness. The bitterness is what is flowing out of him. In verse eight, it says who goes in company with workers of iniquity. In other words, the reason Job that is, Job is using sarcasm and is mocking is because he has ungodly counselors. That's something to think about too by the way. In the New Testament, in 1 Corinthians 1533, this is an important scripture to know. Paul said this. He said, be not deceived. Bad company ruins good morals. And what he is saying here is he is saying the reason Job is sarcastic and is mocking in the way he does is because he has bad company and this bad company has influenced him in this way. He's receiving ungodly counsel. In verse nine, for he has said it profits a man nothing that he should delight in God. Job had never said that. He did say, I feel overwhelmed by God. In Job nine, 17 and 18, he would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason. He would not let me regain my breath but would overwhelm me with misery. I feel that I've been overwhelmed by God but he's never said that it doesn't profit a man to delight in God. He's never said that. And so he's giving actually false accusations against Job. So it goes on in verse 10, therefore listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness and from the Almighty to commit iniquity. For he repays man according to his work and makes man to find a reward according to his way. Surely God will never do wickedly nor will the Almighty pervert justice. Who gave him charge over the earth or who appointed him over the whole world? If he should set his heart on it, if he should gather to himself his spirit and his breath, all flesh would perish together and man would return to dust. So Ali, he was speaking to Job's friends but there are others who are standing around that he'd that are more or less listening to what he's saying. And so he says it, well what he's saying is true in verse 10, far be it from God to do wickedness. In the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy 32 verse 4, it says he is a rock, his work is perfect for all his ways are judgment, a God of truth without iniquity just and right is he. And so what he's saying here is right, far be it from God to do wickedness. So Job, the afflictions that you have endured have actually been for your benefit. God wouldn't hurt you in order to harm you, God uses these things to help you. Now in saying this there is truth, Job 5.18 when Alaphaz is speaking it says, for he bruises but he binds up, he wounds but his hands make whole. I'll look at that a little further when we get into the next chapter. But he's saying God hasn't hurt you to harm you. In verses 11 and 12 he repays man according to his work. Your suffering is not undeserved. Now this is a strong statement. He is simply saying you're reaping what you've sown. You see in Job chapter 4 verse 8, Alaphaz had said, even as I've seen those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. So he's saying what you're getting you have done something to deserve. Now that's where he's wrong. He's saying you're reaping what you sowed. If you were not evil you wouldn't be suffering. Notice verse 12 says surely God will never do wickedly nor will the almighty pervert justice. If you were truly righteous, well even if you suffered now in the next life you'll receive a proper reward. So don't be concerned about that. In verses 13 through 15 it says, who gave him charge over the earth, who appointed him over the whole world. God is absolutely sovereign. He didn't receive authority from a higher source. God is completely fair. He owes no favors to anyone. In verses 14 and 15 if he should set his heart on it, if he should gather to himself his spirit and his breath all flesh would perish together. God is absolutely, absolutely the sovereign and he sustains the entire universe. If you take notes you might want to note this Colossians chapter 1 verses 16 and 17. God sustains the entire universe. In Colossians 1, 16 and 17 for by him all things were created. Things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. He's saying everything is held together by the Lord but if he desired he could destroy it all immediately. In verse 16 if you have understanding hear this, listen to the sound of my words. Should one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is most just? As a man with wisdom and deep understanding he's saying, listen to what I have to say. Notice verse 17, should one who hates justice govern? I'll be good. The question really relates to to God and the way God governs. And he's simply saying if God is unrighteous how could he be a just judge? Because a righteous judge will always judge righteously but an unjust judge can often judge in an unjust fashion. So should one who hates justice govern? Should somebody govern who doesn't value justice in righteousness? And so in effect he's saying you can't say that God is unrighteous because if he were he wouldn't be just and so that's the angle he's taking right now. So he says in verse 18 is it fitting to say to a king you are worthless and to nobles you are wicked? Okay. It is not proper to call an earthly king or someone who is what is called a noble. It is not proper to call him worthless. Even if he is worthless. You might find this interesting. The word worthless there literally says a son of Belial. A son of Belial. The word Belial is a word that is used to speak of Satan and the word worthless is Belial. And so to say even if this person is a son of Belial even if this person is a demon you know inspired by and lives for you don't you don't dare to say those things about him. Now he's actually using his history his context and he's making it clear that those who rule should have respect if not for themselves for the office that they hold. So it's not proper for us to speak down concerning them. But in context he is actually speaking to Job because he thinks that Job has accused the Lord of being unjust. And he's saying listen it's not proper or even prudent to call even an earthly ruler worthless. It seems to me Job that that's what you're saying concerning God. Now again Job was not saying that but he continues in verse 19 and he says yet he's not partial to princes nor does he regard the rich more than the poor for they are all the work of his hand in a moment they die in the middle of the night. The people are shaken and pass away. The mighty are taken away without a hand. He's saying God is impartial and as an impartial judge he doesn't favor anybody. In Deuteronomy 10 verse 17 it says the Lord your God is the God of gods the Lord of lords the great the mighty the awesome God who does not show partiality nor take a bribe. In Romans 2 verse 11 the same thought there is no respect of persons with God. And so he's saying all people alike are treated fairly by God. And here's something interesting the poor do not receive better treatment than the rich. Why is that? Because justice is blind and justice is to be impartial. In Leviticus 19 if you take notes you might want to know Leviticus 19 15 you shall do no unrighteousness in judgment you shall not respect the person of the poor nor honor the person of the mighty but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. True justice really is blind that's why the the statue of Lady justice with the scales is blindfolded because justice is supposed to be blind. It's supposed to be impartially meted out not because I feel sorry for this person or I like this person. Justice should be equal and so I'm not to take into consideration that person or that person I love this person can't stand that person so I judge for this person or the Bible says no justice is to be equal and so God in his justice is also impartial. He says in verse 20 in a moment they die in the middle of the night the people are shaken pass away the mighty are taken away without a hand the hour of death is not hastened for the poor nor is it delayed for the rich because both of them die. Verse 21 for his eyes are on the ways of man and he sees all his steps there is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves for he need not further consider a man that he should go before God in judgment he's fair he's fair because he is all knowing notice how he said his eyes are on the ways of man and he sees all his steps he sees everything nothing is hidden even the things that they think are hidden even the things that they do in darkness many people prefer the darkness when they sin we know that go to a party when you're in the world and walk into one of the rooms where some of the kids went in turn the light on and see how liked you are after doing that I've done it before as a kid when I used to go to parties and things you walk into the room the room's dark you open up the the light open the door turn on the light now the kids turn the light off why is that why is that because what they were doing they wanted to do in the dark and a lot of crimes are committed in the dark why is that because the darkness covers it up so we think that if nobody sees us that we get away with it and and this is simply not true in Psalm 90 verse 8 you have set our iniquities before you our secret sins in the light of your presence there are sins that are open that people can see but there are sins that are hidden that no one sees and we think that nobody can see but the scripture says no God sees everything even those things you think you've hidden in Hebrews 4 13 nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account so next time you think you're getting away with something you look to the left you look to the right you look down you better look up because he's still watching you as you do that remember that time when Moses was there in Egypt as a young man and the Bible speaks concerning Moses the Bible tells us that he was learned in all the wisdom and knowledge of the of the Egyptians and when you read the scriptures concerning this man Moses and and all Moses is one of the heroic figures of all time the deliverer of Israel and used by God to to bring the children of Israel out of the slavery of Egypt and and the scriptures tell us that Moses knew that he had been called by God to deliver the children of Israel and when you begin to look at the story of how this all took place when he was 40 how that he had seen an Egyptian task master who was abusing one of his his relatives according to the flesh a fellow Israelite the Bible says that Moses looked at the left and looked to the right and then he promptly killed this Egyptian task master now let me say something very briefly to illustrate why we don't just read through the Bible and not meditate the task masters in Egypt when you see the word task master the task master in Egypt was the baddest amongst the baddest of the bad in Egypt they they were the MMA fighters of their day if you will they were they were bad bad dudes that's why they would be feared and obeyed the Egyptian task master was powerful well trained and so the Jewish slaves would not rebel against him knowing that this one task master could take out several of them if they caused a problem so know that when you read the scripture next time when it says Moses looked to the left in the right and killed promptly killed the task master what does that tell me about Moses that tells me he's bad so when you yeah because he didn't he he was just seeing who's gonna who's gonna see me kill this guy nobody okay it's over why do I know that well he was learning it and all the wisdom and knowledge of the Egyptians well he was being raised to be the son of as the son of Pharaoh he could have taken the position of Pharaoh over that nation what does that mean that means that everything that the Egyptians had to offer to make him a warrior prince he knew and at the age of 40 this man would be equivalent to the bad one of the baddest men that you'll ever see that's what he was he he he knew that he was called to deliver the children of Israel he knew that so when he sees this taking place I'm supposed to deliver him might as well start now the bible says he kills him and buries him covers it up right Moses looked to the left the scripture says he looked to the right but commentators like to point out but he didn't look up because he's being watched and that's when he ended up 40 years in the wilderness learning what he's supposed to be you know you're to be the deliverer but you're not going to deliver with the arm of flesh I will deliver my people you will represent me and that's how it works it's not your physical abilities it's God's supernatural gifting and you need to understand that he was saying to Moses and that's a lesson we need to understand too there's nothing I do that God doesn't see so I should be aware of the fact that I am watched that God is watching he loves me that is true but God is watching and we need to be aware of those things nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight well in verse 23 he continues he need not further consider a man that he should go before God in judgment in other words when it says he need not further consider a man he doesn't review the case a second time in order to make sure he gave a fair judgment the first time he doesn't have to do that he already knows all the facts in verse 24 he breaks in pieces mighty men without inquiry and sets others in their place therefore he knows their works he knows their works meaning he knows their evil works he overthrows them in the night he does it quickly without warning and they're crushed he strikes them as wicked men in the open side of others because they turned back from him and would not consider any of his ways and so he sovereignly decides who's going to rule he removes one and he places another there it says in verse 27 they turned back from him now this is interesting now speak about this and share a little bit about this in more detail when it says because they turned back from him and would not consider any of his ways in the very early history of man the awareness of God was much more abundant than it is in these latter days in the earlier days being closer to the original creation in the history of man being newer than it is now there was more of an awareness of God at that time Paul spoke of that when he was writing to the Romans in chapter 2 in verse 14 he said indeed when Gentiles who do not have the law do by nature things required by the law they are a law for themselves even though they don't have it he's saying that even within them intrinsically within man you know that there are things that are right and you know that there are things that are wrong those things come back from our history in how things were originally created and all and that was part of the culture and so he's referring to the reality of that that man knows there's right man knows that they're wrong but Aliou says that they have turned back from him in other words that means they wouldn't listen to him instead of progressing and walking towards the Lord he said they're moving away from him and the further they drift the less they desire and the less they and the less they listen to what he has to say the further you get away from God the less interested you are in the things of God in verse 28 is that for me that's oh don't worry about it I'll talk to him it's okay no problem at all I see you getting embarrassed there can somebody put a camera on this man I came to church tonight don't hurt me okay I'm with you verse 28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him for he hears the cry of the afflicted we might want to mark that down he hears the cry of the afflicted God loves you Aliou regards a wicked man as an oppressor that he causes pain to those who are needy but when the needy are in pain God pays attention to their cry Psalm 12 verse 5 says the Lord replies I have seen violence done to the helpless and I have heard the groans of the poor now I will rise up to rescue them as they have longed for me to do in verse 29 when he gives quietness who then can make trouble and when he hides his face who then can see him whether it is against the nation or man alone that the hypocrite should not reign lest the people be ensnared if the peace experience that one has experiences from God who can disturb God given peace that's important to realize verse 29 again you might want to remember this when he gives quietness who then can make trouble listen when your mind is stayed on the Lord there's a peace that you have that passes all understanding there are times that people may not understand why you're not overreacting or reacting in the way that they think you ought to something has happened how come you're so at peace how come you're so calm how come you're not freaking out why aren't you bad things are going on around you it would be understandable if you began to be upset and worried and concerned well when God gives you peace who can disturb it if God before us who can be against us if the word of God is true then why should I call God a liar if God said I'll keep you in perfect peace if your mind has stayed on me then I'm going to keep my mind stayed on you it's not that I ignore is that I understand who's greater than the storm I may be in a storm but I know who is the God of the storm and so because I know that again that doesn't mean that I don't have my times if it sounds that way please forgive me doesn't mean that I'm always walking total peace you know how can I am married but you know I'm in peace I'm at peace God keeps you strong doesn't he have you discovered that he does and a lot of people freak out over things and the believer doesn't they think there's something wrong with us they think how come you don't care why aren't you afraid why aren't you because my mind has stayed on him I'm not being presumptuous I'm trusting him I do what is wise and I'm not going to test him but I'm walking with him I'm obeying him he's taking care of me so when he gives quietness who who can make trouble that's a great scripture I love that scripture it's a good one see the Lord does that work in us he gives us that so if the peace experiences from God who can disturb the peace given from him if God decides to hide himself again who can who can discover him if God should hide himself well the hypocrite will be displaced and the people will be freed and verse 31 for has anyone said to God I have born chastening I will offend no more teach me what I do not see if I have done iniquity I'll do no more should he repay it according to your terms just because you disavow it he must choose and not I therefore speak what you know and so Job is as good as you are in the end you're a sinner and the pain you're enduring reveals that you're like all of us you need help but in verse 33 when he says should you repay it according to your terms just because you disavow it have you been put into place of God and can you set the standard for him and just because you say you haven't sinned that doesn't mean you're guiltless and he said finally verse 33 therefore speak what you know if this is what you think then argue your point clarify your opinion men of understanding verse 34 say to me wise men who listen to me Job speaks without knowledge his words are without wisdom oh that Job tried to the utmost because his answers are like those of wicked men for he adds rebellion to his sin claps his hand among us hands among us and multiplies his words against God as a prosecuting attorney he's drawing to his conclusion and he's basically simply saying that the wise men will agree with me when I say Job deserves what he's got he even deserves more and if he's arguing about being innocent he's only showing himself to be more guilty and we'll move on into verse 1 of chapter 35 reading to verse 3 moreover Allie you answered and said do you think this is right do you say my righteousness is more than God's for you say what advantage will it be to you what profit shall I have more than if I had sinned so again he's placing words in Job's mouth he says in verses 2 and 3 do you say my righteousness is more than God's Job had never claimed to be more righteous than God he did say that he was being treated unfairly and what he clearly had said is it's the unbelievers who see no profit in serving God Job didn't say there was no no profit in it he said unbelievers see no profit in serving him remember in chapter 21 verse 15 who is the Almighty that we should serve him what would we gain by praying to him that was in the mouth of unbelievers it's the unbelievers who refuse to worship God because to them worship has no value in Psalm 10 verse 4 in his pride the wicked doesn't seek him in all his thoughts there's no room for God see there are a lot of people even in our day who will say what's the point why should I follow God what do I have to gain by doing that what value is there what profit is there if I pray what profit is there if I yield to him and they don't believe that they need to do that because they don't see it as actually being valuable to them so he goes on in verse 4 and he says I will answer you and your companions with you look to the heavens and see behold the clouds they're higher than you if you sin what do you accomplish against him or if your transgressions are multiplied what do you do to him if you're righteous what do you give him or what does he receive from your hand your wickedness affects a man such as you and your righteousness a son of man and so he's beginning to deal with the reasonings of of aliphazzo far and bill dad and he's speaking concerning the heavens notice in verse 5 when he says look to the heavens behold the clouds are higher than you as a man you're lower than the material sky in heavens and the God who created them is far above you so you can't affect him in any way he says in verse 6 he goes if you sin what do you accomplish against him or if your transgressions are multiplied what do you do to him our sins don't injure him and our sins don't diminish his power in verse 7 if you're righteous what do you give to him in other words your righteousness doesn't enhance him either in psalm 16 verse 2 it's a beautiful psalm where it says I said to the Lord you are my Lord apart from you I have no good thing in verse 7 what does he receive from you your hand since all things already belong to him like it says in psalm 24 verse 1 the earth is the Lord's everything in it the world and all who live in it in other words we can only give him what he has already given to us it actually only always belongs first to him he says your wickedness in verse 8 affects a man such as you well you can't affect God you can only affect man our sins can harm us but our sins don't harm God in verse 9 he says because of the multitude of oppressions because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out they cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty those who are injured by the rich and mighty cry out in pain because of oppression they cry out in sorrow they cry out in pain but often don't cry out to God for help and this verse here that I'm going to look at right now I might come back to it next week as and give you a few more thoughts but this verse if you underscore scripture to me it's one of one of the verses that God gave to me a long time ago and I'll share just a couple thoughts as we look at it notice verse 10 no one says where is God my maker who gives songs in the night what a poetic way of putting it no one says where is God my maker who gives songs in the night night in scripture very often speaks of something obviously that is dark but it can also speak of sorrow at seasons of the soul sometimes when there's pain they can be called times of the night in my life I have suffered through times of darkness of the night all you who is saying that God can give joy and bring comfort even in your darkest hours God can inspire songs of praise from us even in our darkest times and God can turn our times of mourning into songs of joy I think of Paul and Silas this incarcerated in a jail cell in the city of Philippi they were on an evangelistic mission and they had come to this city Philippi and as they were there a demonized girl had been following around and had actually become promoting them these you know these are the men from God and all and and the Bible tells us that Paul got very frustrated with this this young girl and finally turned around and said in the name of Jesus Christ come out of her and delivered her from her her demon possession well she was a slave and she was owned by certain masters who had made their living off of her because she had a spirit that was used for prediction and prophesying and so the people around there in Philippi knew of this young woman would come to her would ask her to give a prophetic word for them and she would give words and they would pay the masters and now it's over now their means of financial security have been lost to them because Paul had kicked the demon out of this young woman and they did not like it and so what they did is they took him and they dragged Paul in and they took Silas and they brought him before the judge before the magistrate and they began to charge them and they said these these men are teaching customs that break our laws and and after they did that they were unjustly beaten the Bible tells us that they were beaten with rods and that many stripes were laid upon them and then they imprisoned them so when you think about the beaten with rods that's something we don't I don't understand perhaps some in this room may I I don't understand it it's it's like a whip and and to be beaten with that rod it is it would tear your flesh it was a horrible horrible painful way to be beaten and that's what happened to them and their backs were bloody wounds then they took them and they they put them in stocks and they had them in the most uncomfortable position as they're in there and and what's interesting as they're waiting in this cell the Bible tells us this in Acts 16 25 it says now toward midnight Paul and Silas praying were singing praises to God and the prisoners were listening to them I've been reading this this my Bible for 50 years and I still remember the first time I read Acts chapter 16 in verse 25 I still remember thinking how was that possible to be beaten unjustly imprisoned and beaten to be put in stocks and then all of a sudden out of nowhere guys verse 25 in Acts 16 and they were singing praises to God in midnight where is he who gives songs in the night where is he where are our eyes what are we looking at what are we looking at either I can look at the pain or I can receive the promise either I can either I can meditate on what is hurting or I look beyond what is hurting the affliction and I know that and this may sound this probably does sound simplistic but it's true either I can concentrate on what is hurting me or I can ask God to teach me through that pain a lesson that will help me understand and become a better Christian I remember an old illustration of a of a man who had been placed in a a jail cell and he had been chained to it and and at first he was trying to pull off the wall he was and then he couldn't he couldn't and and the writer said and then this man contorted his body as much as he could and he kissed the chains and I didn't understand first time I read that I was a young believer I didn't understand that kiss the chains why would you do that well the illustration was intended to communicate to us that he accepted where he was because he knew that this is a place God was going to meet him in a special way and I have to tell you there are things you've gone through and I've gone through that had I written out the script for my life would not have included those things would not have included those things that would not have included those pains it would not have included those tears it would not have included that sorrow it would not have included the disappointment it would not have included everything that I went through but now I look back and I say those are places where God met me in a very special way that I I would not have experienced no I'm not saying go out and beat yourself with a board and meet God I'm not saying that what I'm saying is sometimes people don't ask where is God who gives songs in the night where is God who can teach me to dance in the dark where is he because we get focused on our pain and we forget that there is one who understands who doesn't leave us who doesn't forsake us who understands he has a bottle that keeps my tears in he hasn't forgotten and so in this the statement is this is a statement that has spoken to my heart for many years no one says where is God my maker who gives songs in the night that that that has spoken to me for the longest time because God is the one who shows up in our darkest moments we can look up with tears but we can see God and the morning of our heart can become songs of joy in verse 11 who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth makes us wiser than the birds of heaven there they cry out but he doesn't answer because of the pride of evil men surely God will not listen to empty talk nor will the Almighty regard it although you say you do not see him yet justice is before him and you must wait for him and now because he has not punished in his anger nor taken much notice of folly therefore Job opens his mouth in vain he multiplies words without knowledge so in verse 11 he reminds us that we are more precious to him than the beasts of the field and the birds of the air something that Jesus taught us in Matthew chapter 6 when he had said look at the birds of the air they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns yet your heavenly Father feeds them and are you not of more value than they he says in verses 12 through 14 there they cry out but he doesn't answer because of the pride of evil men they cry out and don't receive answers because and their sin their filled with pride like it says in Isaiah 59 and 1 and 2 surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save nor is there too dull to hear but your iniquities have separated you from your God your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear so they don't cry out for the help that comes from God alone because they don't trust him and have no faith in him and so finally in verses 15 and 16 because he hasn't punished his anger hasn't been revealed he's simply saying this he's saying Job to be honest with you you haven't suffered enough you haven't learned these basic things that I've just revealed because if you had learned these things you wouldn't be saying the things that you've been saying so this young man has taken it upon himself to correct a man God spoke of and said he is the most righteous man on the face of the earth there are things that he said that are very true and timely but he's misjudging and judging Job or something Job didn't do and we'll see that as we continue on in this book and Father you are our maker and you are the one who gives gives to us songs in the night Lord I ask that we would just even now just cast our burdens on you some have brought them here some are watching online and they're carrying a pain that only you can understand and so even before we close we would lift those things to you and we would pray Father for your help let us not be prideful let us not try and deliver ourselves let us trust you to be the one who delivers and we lift these things to you you know our hearts and you know the things that we need that only you can supply and so we lift these things to you and we ask that you would meet us and even as our eyes are closed our heads are bowed there may be some right now who need to get right with the Lord and before I close whether you're online or whether you're in this room before I close I'd like to give a word of prayer on your behalf and so if you need prayer to get right with him right now if you need need him to be with you in a special way whatever which raise hand let me pray for you before I close Father you see these hands you know exactly what is going on in each person who's raising their hand right now you know what's the need Lord thank you that you're aware we simply would come to you now and ask that you would have your way that you would do your work in them Lord our hearts are open to you we ask that you would just right now just move within and have your way in us we trust you we're looking to you and we ask that you would just be with us now Lord and we give you praise for these things and thanks Lord and we bless you thank you you can put your hands down and Jesus please keep moving in us in your name amen