Mighty in Strength and Understanding

As you read through the book of Job and come to chapter 36, we see Elihu speaking about God’s power, His perfect justice, and how He punishes the wicked and works for the good of the oppressed:

“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.
And if they are bound in chains
and caught in the cords of affliction,
then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
He opens their ears to instruction
and commands that they return from iniquity.
If they listen and serve him,
they complete their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasantness. 
(Job 36:5–11 ESV)

Look at what Spurgeon stated about the fact that our Lord is mighty and does not despise any. “If God were little, he might despise the little; if he were weak he would disdain the weak; if he were untrue he would be supercilious to those about him; but, seeing he is none of these, but is God over all blessed for ever, the only wise God, we have to deal with one who, though he be high, hath respect unto the lowly; who, though he humbleth himself even to observe the things which are done in heaven, yet despiseth not the cry of the humble. The magnanimity of God is the reason why he despiseth not any.”

Have you ever felt like there was a time in your life that you were far away from God? Can you remember a time where you felt the spirits nudging to turn away from certain thoughts, or actions?  Elihu speaks about God keeping His eyes upon the righteous and that they would be exalted. Elihu seems to be saying that the things that mark a righteous man's life do not appear to be present in Jobs' life at the moment. These words from Elihu would have us hold onto the fact that our God will call out our iniquity, while at the same time provide a way for those binding chains and cords of affliction to be removed.

I know that there have been times in my life when God has used people to correct or rebuke me. He has also used people to speak life and encouragement into me. I think that’s a simple picture of His goodness. We know that He is a jealous God and longs for every part of our lives to be in step with Him. We have a mandate as believers to live in such a way that it brings glory and honor to His name and His fame. Oftentimes in this journey we hit bumps. We often get bruised, scarred, and feel like we have wandered away.

Thankfully, in the beauty of his grace, He can remove the obstacles. He can heal the wounds. He can and will give us a freedom to walk in the newness of who we are in Him. If we choose to obey His calling and hold fast to the truth, beauty, and goodness that we find in Him, we will find freedom. Make no mistake. There is a call upon our lives to listen and serve Him. In doing so, just like Elihu stated, we can complete our days in pleasantness.

I will leave you with the charge that I referenced earlier: only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. (Philippians 1:27-20)