The Deep End

The Good Old Days

In Job Chapter 29 Job began to reminisce about the good old days.

As I was in the days of my youth, when the secret of God was upon my tabernacle;

Job 29:4

My grandfather, whose family went through a very tough time during the Great Depression, used to say the only thing good about the “good ol’ days” is that they’re gone, but Job’s prime was indeed good, so in Chapter 29 he looked back. In Chapter 30 he looked around.

But now they that are younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.

Job 30:1

They were children of fools, yea, children of base men: they were viler than the earth. And now am I their song, yea, I am their byword. They abhor me, they flee far from me, and spare not to spit in my face.

Job 30:8-10

You will sometimes hear people, going through a difficult stage in life or a season of calamitous events, say, “Just call me Job,” but looking at what Job actually went through can be encouraging to us.

After looking back and looking around, in Chapter 31 he looked ahead. Job truly believed that he would stand before God one day – and he was ready for it.

Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity.

Job 31:6

I wonder how many of us, in times of trouble, are ready to confidently give an account to God, or to stand before Him, prepared to answer for what we’ve done.

Now another character comes on the scene in the Book of Job – somebody who had been standing around listening to all the debates, and all Job’s vows, and his questioning God, and all the arguments of Job’s three “friends.” His name was Elihu, and he started to speak up in Chapter 32. You’ve probably heard the joke about the shortest man in the Bible being Bildad the Shuhite (“shoe-height”), but we have to wonder if, when Elihu spoke up, people said “Eli-who?” Everybody knew Job. They knew Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. But Elihu had to explain who he was.

Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.

Job 32:2-5

Elihu was also mad at Job, but he was mad at Job’s three friends, too. In fact, he was just plain mad about the whole thing. He had waited, he had listened, he knew their arguments, and he believed he was speaking for God. This is a dangerous thing. He said some good things, but he misquoted a lot of what Job had said. He didn’t try to prove that Job was a sinner, but he did try to show that Job’s view of God was wrong. He brought up two good points. One was that God doesn’t always send suffering to punish us for sin, but sometimes to KEEP us FROM sinning.

He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword. He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:

Job 33:18-19 

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

II Corinthians 12:7

Elihu’s second point was that God sometimes sends suffering to make us better persons.

 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

Job 36:7-10

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

Hebrews 12:6

One of the toughest things to do as a parent is to let a child cause harm to himself to teach him a lesson. A child’s father can warn a child playing near a pond, and keep warning him not to get too close, but, if he keeps getting closer, ignoring the warnings, a fall into the water might scare him enough to make him more cautious, attentive, and obedient in the future. Of course, if it turns out there is a venomous snake in the pond, the father will jump in right away, willing to give up his own life to save the child. We might compare this to God’s use of the Old Testament prophets and their warnings, followed by Jesus and the Atonement. Jesus was the ransom for our sins.

This is what Elihu wanted Job to consider about his suffering. What if God is warning you for your own good? Or what if God is making you even stronger? We have to consider these possibilities when we suffer.

Thank You, Lord, that we don’t have to show off or make a show of doing what’s “right” in order to please You. You see everything we do, and reward us accordingly. Thank You that You have given us opportunities to be faithful in that which is least. Please help us to be faithful in that which is much. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.