Teachings from Job 37
“As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him;
He is excellent in power,
In judgment and abundant justice;
He does not oppress.
Therefore men fear Him;
He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart” (Job 37:23-24).
Elihu draws his discourse to a close with this profound statement about the power, majesty, and fairness of God who exceeds all others in every aspect. And mankind can certainly not “find Him out”—that is, find any flaw in His moral perfection nor in His unflawed judgment.
Whatever his suffering, Job must know that God does not oppress, meaning He does not afflict. After all, it was Satan, not God, who afflicted Job. God allowed it, but He did not do it.
Because of God’s supreme power, all people are to reverence, respect, and fear Him. And even a person who feels himself to be smarter than everyone else should fear and respect God since His wisdom is superior and He has ultimate power.
Elihu has proclaimed the power and perfection of God to Job to counter the negative ideas with which his friends have tried to influence him. Job’s friends have wanted him to blame God for what has happened to him. Elihu says they are wrong.
From Elihu’s discourse comes profound teaching about God. We, too, like Job must not be discouraged by life and its problems; and when we do suffer, we must know that God is not the source of our problems.
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