Be very careful of men who speak for God

 Job 36:1 - 4

 

“And Elihu continued and said: “Bear with me a little, and I will show you, for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.  I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.   For truly my words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.”  

 

After reading this, I read it once more, and then I read it to my wife and ask her if someone tells you they are perfect in knowledge, what would you do?  Jan said, run and run fast.  The young man was putting himself in perfect knowledge and only one person has that ability; God only.

 

Job 36:5 – 7

 

“Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any; he is mighty in strength of understanding.  He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their right.   He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne  he sets them forever, and they are exalted.”

 

As I’ve stated often, I’m not educated, got out of college, but no degree.  I still struggle with the meaning of words, such as despise and hate.  Do they mean the same or it seems that hate might be the stronger of the two words?  So, for me and not my learned reader, let’s explore the two words, first despises: detest, “hate, loathe,                        abhor, execrate, regard with contempt, feel contempt for, shrink

from, be repelled by.”   Is there any reason to explore hate, I think not, but does God hate or despise anything, Elihu tells us He does not.  Proverbs 6:16-19, gives a much different story, and many other places in the Scriptures do also.  “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren”.

 

As we are told by Paul the Bereans searched the Scriptures to make sure that what Paul was teaching was from God, you will find that account in Acts17:10 – 11.  It’s my take that Elihu had some very good teaching at some point and became so wise in his own eyes that he stepped over the line and that is a very dangerous man.

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice