It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right

Job 32:1-32

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: 

I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments. Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom; let God, not a man, refute him.’ But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not answer him with your arguments.

It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right.

For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply. I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone; for if I were skilled in flattery,  my Maker would soon take me away.

Why?

Elihu kept silent for he is younger than the other three friends. Elihu felt Job was righteous in his own eyes so Elihu was angry that Job and these three friends couldn't say the right words.

How?

The old doesn't mean who are wise, no only the aged understand what is right. But younger isn't wise either.

I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me

Job 31:13-40

If I have denied justice to any of my servants,  whether male or female,  when they had a grievance against me, what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account? Did not he who made me in the womb make them?  Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

“If I have denied the desires of the poor or let the eyes of the widow grow weary, if I have kept my bread to myself, not sharing it with the fatherless— but from my youth I reared them as a father would, and from my birth I guided the widow—

If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security,’ if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage, then these also would be sins to be judged, for I would have been unfaithful to God on high.

If I have rejoiced at my enemy’s misfortune or gloated over the trouble that came to him—
30 I have not allowed my mouth to sin by invoking a curse against their life—

Oh, that I had someone to hear me! I sign now my defense—let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser put his indictment in writing.

if my land cries out against me and all its furrows are wet with tears, if I have devoured its yield without payment or broken the spirit of its tenants, then let briers come up instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley.”

Why?

Job described what he had done and what he obeyed the word of the Lord to love others. Do his best to serve others and supply needed persons.

Job is not only pure in his behavior but also in his heart, trust in the Lord instead of gold or great wealth.

Job hoped the Lord answer him, and let his accuser put his indictment in writing. For Job cannot remember what he has to do but did not do it.

How?

May the Lord Almighty keep my heart and my way walking on the way of the Lord!

what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account?

Job 31:1-15

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman. For what is our lot from God above, our heritage from the Almighty on high? Is it not ruin for the wicked,  disaster for those who do wrong? Does he not see my ways and count my every step?

If I have walked with falsehood or my foot has hurried after deceit— let God weigh me in honest scales and he will know that I am blameless. if my steps have turned from the path, if my heart has been led by my eyes, or if my hands have been defiled,

If my heart has been enticed by a woman, or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door, then may my wife grind another man’s grain, and may other men sleep with her. For that would have been wicked, a sin to be judged. It is a fire that burns to Destruction; it would have uprooted my harvest.

If I have denied justice to any of my servants, whether male or female, when they had a grievance against me, what will I do when God confronts me? What will I answer when called to account? Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?

Why?

Job describes his own behavior if judged by the Lord, Job has confidence his heart is pure and did not turn away from the way of the Lord. May the Lord judge him.

Job complained that his friend looked at him as a sinner so he suffered such a disaster.

How?

Suffering, disaster, and troubles might come from nature's power, Satan, or the Lord's testing. But we know that when we call on the Lord, God will save us when I know I can't face it.

Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness

 Job 30:16-31 

And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me. Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest. In his great power God becomes like clothing to me; he binds me like the neck of my garment. He throws me into the mud, and I am reduced to dust and ashes.

Surely no one lays a hand on a broken man when he cries for help in his distress. Have I not wept for those in trouble? Has not my soul grieved for the poor? Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.

Why?
Under distress or under the testament of the Lord is hard, but only the Lord can save us.

Yet Job hoped for good, evil came, when he looked for light, then came darkness

How?

Our life is full of blessings and full of distress. God is my portion.

They detest me and keep their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face

Job 30:1-15

But now they mock me,   men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs. ...A base and nameless brood, they were driven out of the land. 

And now those young men mock me in song; I have become a byword among them. They detest me and keep their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face.

They break up my road; they succeed in destroying me. ‘No one can help him,’ they say. They advance as through a gaping breach; amid the ruins they come rolling in. Terrors overwhelm me; my dignity is driven away as by the wind, my safety vanishes like a cloud.

Why?

Job lost not only the health but also the dignity. Even the detestable men or weak people in society mocked Job.

The job was under physical and spiritual attack by surrounding people.

How?

Our situation sometimes are like Job we might feel helpless. But the Lord is my help and my rock. 

The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding

 Job 27,28,29

As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made my life bitter, as long as I have life within me,  the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not say anything wicked, and my tongue will not utter lies. I will never admit you are in the right;  till I die, I will not deny my integrity. I will maintain my innocence and never let go of it;  my conscience will not reproach me as long as I live.

But where can wisdom be found?  Where does understanding dwell? No mortal comprehends its worth;  it cannot be found in the land of the living. The deep says, “It is not in me”; the sea says, “It is not with me.” It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed out in silver.

Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds in the sky.

And he said to the human race, “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

How I long for the months gone by, for the days when God watched over me, when his lamp shone on my head  and by his light I walked through darkness! Oh, for the days when I was in my prime,  when God’s intimate friendship blessed my house, when the Almighty was still with me  and my children were around me, when my path was drenched with cream and the rock poured out for me streams of olive oil.

Why?

God is in everything and every space. So Job said where can wisdom be found?

Job knew the Lord was his king who controlled everything and his life. Job knew fear of the Lord is wisdom and to shun evil is understanding.

How?

Keep fearing the Lord and shun evil in my daily life.

Who then can understand the thunder of his power?

 Job 25:1-26:14

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied: How then can a mortal be righteous before God? How can one born of woman be pure? If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less a mortal, who is but a maggot— a human being, who is only a worm!”

Then Job replied: How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the arm that is feeble! What advice you have offered to one without wisdom! And what great insight you have displayed! Who has helped you utter these words? And whose spirit spoke from your mouth?

By his power he churned up the sea; by his wisdom he cut Rahab to pieces. By his breath the skies became fair; his hand pierced the gliding serpent. And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?”

Why?

Job's friends pointed no one is righteous, but all are sinners.

Job mentioned that his friends did not help or give advice to needy people or powerless men, They could do nothing to those in trouble.

So as the Lord Almighty, God's power beyond our imagination, who can understand the thunder of his power, his wisdom, and his breath.

How?

Many things are happening in this world, that we do not know why? but we know all of these are under the hands of the Lord. God's love and faithfulness endure forever.

But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life.

Job 24:1-25

Why does the Almighty not set times for judgment? Why must those who know him look in vain for such days? 

“Yet they are foam on the surface of the water;  their portion of the land is cursed, so that no one goes to the vineyards.

They prey on the barren and childless woman, and to the widow, they show no kindness. But God drags away the mighty by his power; though they become established, they have no assurance of life. He may let them rest in a feeling of security, but his eyes are on their ways. For a little while they are exalted, and then they are gone;  they are brought low and gathered up like all others; they are cut off like heads of grain. “If this is not so, who can prove me false and reduce my words to nothing?”

Why?

Job who mentioned are true and all human situations are correct, No one knows why or can say a reason about it.

There are so many injustices and unfair events in our society. We can say nothing. But in the end, God will judge them in his time and his way.

How?

God is good, his grace and love and salvation endure forever, even if I can't see it now, I trust it and do my best to honor the Lord.

treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread

Job 23:1-17

Then Job replied: Even today my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy in spite of my groaning. If only I knew where to find him; if only I could go to his dwelling! I would state my case before him and fill my mouth with arguments. I would find out what he would answer me,  and consider what he would say to me.

But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

God has made my heart faint; the Almighty has terrified me. Yet I am not silenced by the darkness, by the thick darkness that covers my face.

Why?

Job explained his pain and had no way to explain it, but Job had faith in meeting the Lord, and Job knew the Lord knew he was to obey God's word. Even treasured his words more than his daily bread.

Job has faith to meet the Lord, and the Lord will answer him in the time of the Lord.

We might have some suffering and pain in our environment, but all of these our Lord knows it. All of these are good to us, in order make us as gold.

How?

May my way and my everyday couple be walking with the Lord and honor the Holy Name of the Lord. So I should humble myself and obey the word of the Lord as my daily bread.

Can a man be of benefit to God?

 Job 22:1-30

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: “Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise person benefit him? What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless? “Is it for your piety that he rebukes you and brings charges against you? Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?

“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart.

Why?

Job's friend Eliphaz the Temanite still insisted Job had sinned against the Lord so the calamity came upon Job. They claimed because Job did wickedness was great that these troubles came upon him and his family.

Yes, our righteousness and our good behavior can not benefit God. But God's way beyond our way, God's plan we don't know or meditate on.

How?

Do our best to honor the Lord and accept all training and testing on us. everything that happens to us is good to us.

Two different life styles, who can teach knowledge to God

Job 21:1-34

Then Job replied: “Listen carefully to my words; let this be the consolation you give me. Bear with me while I speak, and after I have spoken, mock on. Is my complaint directed to a human being? Why should I not be impatient? Look at me and be appalled; clap your hand over your mouth. When I think about this, I am terrified; trembling seizes my body.

Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? They see their children established around them, their offspring before their eyes. Their homes are safe and free from fear; the rod of God is not on them.

They spend their years in prosperity and go down to the grave in peace. Yet they say to God, ‘Leave us alone! We have no desire to know your ways. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve him? What would we gain by praying to him?’ But their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stand aloof from the plans of the wicked.

It is said, ‘God stores up the punishment of the wicked for their children.’   Let him repay the wicked, so that they themselves will experience it! Let their own eyes see their destruction;  let them drink the cup of the wrath of the Almighty. For what do they care about the families they leave behind when their allotted months come to an end?

Can anyone teach knowledge to God, since he judges even the highest? One person dies in full vigor, completely secure and at ease, well nourished in body, bones rich with marrow. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good. Side by side they lie in the dust, and worms cover them both.

The soil in the valley is sweet to them; everyone follows after them, and a countless throng goes before them.

Why?

No one can teach knowledge to God, we don't know why there are unfair and injustice things happen in this world. It doesn't mean every evildoer has a bad life or been punished when he is living.

To be a human being what we can do is trust in the Lord and do our best to obey the word of the Lord. Our eyes should look to eternal life instead of the short life in this world.

How?

Trust in the Lord, my way, my life, and my living style are decided by the Lord. What I can do is obey the words of the Lord. God is my master and I am His servant.

Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.

Job 20:1-29

Then Zophar the Naamathite replied: My troubled thoughts prompt me to answer because I am greatly disturbed. I hear a rebuke that dishonors me, and my understanding inspires me to reply.

Though evil is sweet in his mouth and he hides it under his tongue, though he cannot bear to let it go and lets it linger in his mouth, yet his food will turn sour in his stomach; it will become the venom of serpents within him. He will spit out the riches he swallowed; God will make his stomach vomit them up. He will suck the poison of serpents; the fangs of an adder will kill him. He will not enjoy the streams, the rivers flowing with honey and cream. What he toiled for he must give back uneaten; he will not enjoy the profit from his trading. For he has oppressed the poor and left them destitute; he has seized houses he did not build.

A flood will carry off his house, rushing waters on the day of God’s wrath. Such is the fate God allots the wicked, the heritage appointed for them by God.”

Why?

How?

I know that my redeeme lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth

Job 19:1-29 

Then Job replied: How long will you torment me and crush me with words? Ten times now you have reproached me;  shamelessly you attack me. If it is true that I have gone astray,  my error remains my concern alone. If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me, then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me.

“Though I cry, ‘Violence!’ I get no response; though I call for help, there is no justice. He has blocked my way so I cannot pass; he has shrouded my paths in darkness. 

“He has alienated my family from me; my acquaintances are completely estranged from me. My relatives have gone away; my closest friends have forgotten me. My guests and my female servants count me a foreigner; they look on me as on a stranger. I summon my servant, but he does not answer, though I beg him with my own mouth. My breath is offensive to my wife; I am loathsome to my own family. Even the little boys scorn me; when I appear, they ridicule me. All my intimate friends detest me; those I love have turned against me. I am nothing but skin and bones; I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth.

I know that my redeeme lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet] in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes—I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

“If you say, ‘How we will hound him, since the root of the trouble lies in him', you should fear the sword yourselves; for wrath will bring punishment by the sword, and then you will know that there is judgment.

Why?

Job complained that his friend had attacked him and had made judgments about him. Even those came, Job left skin and bone only, he knew that my redeemer lives and that in the end, he will stand on the earth. This is Job's faith in the Lord.

Job under very poor and has nothing in his life, even his wife, family, friends and servants do not care for him. To a man, Job was under fresh and spiritual alone.

How?

Who can take pity and love the needy men? How can I miss the love before the needy person?

You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger, is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?

 Job 18:01-21 

Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:

“When will you end these speeches?  Be sensible, and then we can talk. Why are we regarded as cattle and considered stupid in your sight? You who tear yourself to pieces in your anger,  is the earth to be abandoned for your sake?  Or must the rocks be moved from their place?

The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out; the flame of his fire stops burning.

Fire resides in his tent; burning sulfur is scattered over his dwelling. His roots dry up below and his branches wither above. The memory of him perishes from the earth; he has no name in the land. He is driven from light into the realm of darkness and is banished from the world. He has no offspring or descendants among his people, no survivor where once he lived. People of the west are appalled at his fate; those of the east are seized with horror. Surely such is the dwelling of an evil man; such is the place of one who does not know God.”

Why?

Bildad replied according to the history or common rules in this world it is acceptable to most people, But it is not the rule of the Lord. God still gives chance to the evildoers the opportunity to repent and survive.

Who can image the path and mind of the Lord? No one can make it.

How?

Every misery or trouble is good to every son of the Lord. 

on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend

 Job 15,16

Then Eliphaz the Temanite replied: Would a wise person answer with empty notions or fill their belly with the hot east wind? Would they argue with useless words, with speeches that have no value? But you even undermine piety and hinder devotion to God.

What are mortals, that they could be pure, or those born of woman, that they could be righteous?

All his days the wicked man suffers torment, the ruthless man through all the years stored up for him.

chap 16

Then Job replied: I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! Will your long-winded speeches never end? What ails you that you keep on arguing? I also could speak like you, if you were in my place; I could make fine speeches against you and shake my head at you. But my mouth would encourage you; comfort from my lips would bring you relief. Yet if I speak, my pain is not relieved; and if I refrain, it does not go away.

yet my hands have been free of violence and my prayer is pure. “Earth, do not cover my blood; may my cry never be laid to rest! Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.

Only a few years will pass before I take the path of no return.

Why?

The job was pain and suffering criticized by his friends. 

Yes, all of us have a short life in this world and will pass before I take the path of no return.

We can say nothing about our suffering, someone meets good things, and someone meets troubles. who knows. Our sovereign Lord has his plans. A little life no right to argue with the creator.

How?

Honor the Lord and with humble altitude is our living perspective in this world.

But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and is no more

Job 14:1-21

Mortals, born of woman,   are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away;  like fleeting shadows, they do not endure. Do you fix your eye on them? Will you bring them before you for judgment? Who can bring what is pure from the impure?  No one! A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed. So look away from him and let him alone, till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.

At least there is hope for a tree: If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots will not fail.

But a man dies and is laid low; he breathes his last and is no more.

If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set me a time and then remember me! If someone dies, will they live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. You will call and I will answer you;  you will long for the creature your hands have made.

But as a mountain erodes and crumbles and as a rock is moved from its place, as water wears away stones and torrents wash away the soil, so you destroy a person’s hope. You overpower them once for all, and they are gone;  you change their countenance and send them away. If their children are honored, they do not know it; if their offspring are brought low, they do not see it. They feel but the pain of their own bodies and mourn only for themselves.”

Why?

Yes, human beings are small and useless in this world, our lives like dust fly away by wind and disappear. We cannot even compare with a tree, and our life after born is of few days and full of trouble.

No one can see this world after passes away. our life is full of trouble then pass away in very few days.

So Job hopes to hide him in the grave until God's anger passes away. Job hopes the Lord remembers him.

How?

Our life is short and full of trouble, I am blessed for I know the Lord when I am alive. I have eternal life with the Lord, through Jesus Christ.