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CHAPTER 34 (ESV)
21 “For his eyes are on the ways of a man,
and he sees all his steps.
22 There is no gloom or deep darkness
where evildoers may hide themselves.
23 For God has no need to consider a man further,
that he should go before God in judgment.
24 He shatters the mighty without investigation
and sets others in their place.
25 Thus, knowing their works,
he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26 He strikes them for their wickedness
in a place for all to see,
27 because they turned aside from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways,
28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
and he heard the cry of the afflicted—
29 When he is quiet, who can condemn?
When he hides his face, who can behold him,
whether it be a nation or a man?—
30 that a godless man should not reign,
that he should not ensnare the people.
REFLECTION:
This chapter is Elihu’s second speech attempting to answer Job’s second confusion: Why is it me? Why find someone who is upright, fears God, and stays away from evil, as the subject of suffering? Although Elihu didn’t know what was going on in heaven, he knew by his own wisdom that Job’s suffering was a trial, but Elihu thought that Job’s performance was not good enough to pass the trial. Therefore, he advised Job to humble himself before God, and persist until the end; to cleanse himself of all the things that are not pleasing to God, so that the fire of trials could refine him. Although Elihu’s speech sounded reasonable, he had no pity. If God only judges people, there is no need to waste time on fallen people. As long as He is willing, all those who reject God in the world will perish immediately. But God did not do this, because He was not only a righteous and holy God, but also a God of mercy and love. He even gave up the life of His only begotten Son to redeem sinners. When we face the suffering of others, what we should do is not to rely on the so-called eloquence to analyze the reasons behind the suffering, even if such analysis sounds reasonable; but weep with those who weep with a kind heart, and try to comfort the suffering people with practical actions.
PRAYER:
Stay with God for a little longer. Continue to converse with God and listen to what he wants to tell you. As you listen to God, write down a few thoughts, questions, words, names, drawings, or anything that comes to your mind into your devotional journal.
HYMN:
As Long As You Are Glorified – m.youtube.com/watch?v=SZHfv2ivUrM
