One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 148
Job 32
32Job's three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.H7969H582H7673H6030H347H6662H58692Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him.H2734H639H453H1121H1292H940H4940H7410H347H639H2734H6663H5315H4303He was also angry with Job's three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job's arguments.H7969H7453H639H2734H4672H4617H7561H3474Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he.H453H2442H347H1697H2205H31175But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily.H453H7200H4617H6310H7969H582H639H27346Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said, "I am young and you are old, so I held back from telling you what I think.H453H1121H1292H940H6030H559H6810H3117H3453H2119H3372H2331H18437I thought, 'Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.'H559H3117H1696H7230H8141H3045H24518But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent.H403H7307H582H5397H7706H9959Sometimes the elders are not wise. Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.H7227H2449H2205H995H494110So listen to me, and let me tell you what I think.H559H8085H2331H184311"I have waited all this time, listening very carefully to your arguments, listening to you grope for words.H3176H1697H238H8394H2713H440512I have listened, but not one of you has refuted Job or answered his arguments.H995H3198H347H6030H56113And don't tell me, 'He is too wise for us. Only God can convince him.'H559H4672H2451H410H5086H37614If Job had been arguing with me, I would not answer with your kind of logic!H6186H4405H7725H56115You sit there baffled, with nothing more to say.H2865H6030H6275H440516Should I continue to wait, now that you are silent? Must I also remain silent?H3176H1696H5975H603017No, I will say my piece. I will speak my mind.H6030H2506H2331H184318For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on.H4390H4405H7307H990H669319I am like a cask of wine without a vent, like a new wineskin ready to burst!H990H3196H6605H1234H2319H17820I must speak to find relief, so let me give my answers.H1696H7304H6605H8193H603021I won't play favorites or try to flatter anyone.H5375H376H6440H3655H12022For if I tried flattery, my Creator would soon destroy me.H3045H3655H6213H4592H5375
Job 33
33"Listen to my words, Job; pay attention to what I have to say.H199H347H8085H4405H238H16972Now that I have begun to speak, let me continue.H6605H6310H3956H1696H24413I speak with all sincerity; I speak the truth.H561H3476H3820H8193H4448H1847H13054For the Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.H7307H410H6213H5397H7706H24215Answer me, if you can; make your case and take your stand.H3201H7725H6186H6440H33206Look, you and I both belong to God. I, too, was formed from clay.H6310H410H7169H25637So you don't need to be afraid of me. I won't come down hard on you.H367H1204H405H35138"You have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard your very words.H559H241H8085H6963H44059You said, 'I am pure; I am without sin; I am innocent; I have no guilt.H2134H6588H2643H577110God is picking a quarrel with me, and he considers me his enemy.H4672H8569H2803H34111He puts my feet in the stocks and watches my every move.'H7760H7272H5465H8104H73412"But you are wrong, and I will show you why. For God is greater than any human being.H6663H6030H433H7235H58213So why are you bringing a charge against him? Why say he does not respond to people's complaints?H7378H6030H169714For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.H410H1696H259H8147H778915He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.H2472H2384H3915H8639H5307H582H8572H490416He whispers in their ears and terrifies them with warnings.H1540H241H582H2856H456117He makes them turn from doing wrong; he keeps them from pride.H5493H120H4639H3680H1466H139718He protects them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death.H2820H5315H7845H2416H5674H797319"Or God disciplines people with pain on their sickbeds, with ceaseless aching in their bones.H3198H4341H4904H7230H7379H6106H38620They lose their appetite for even the most delicious food.H2416H2092H3899H5315H8378H397821Their flesh wastes away, and their bones stick out.H1320H3615H7210H6106H7200H8192H820522They are at death's door; the angels of death wait for them.H5315H7126H7845H2416H419123But if an angel from heaven appears—a special messenger to intercede for a person and declare that he is upright—H3426H4397H3887H259H505H5046H120H347624he will be gracious and say,'Rescue him from the grave, for I have found a ransom for his life.'H2603H559H6308H3381H7845H4672H372425Then his body will become as healthy as a child's, firm and youthful again.H1320H7375H5290H7725H3117H593426When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing.H6279H433H7521H7200H6440H8643H7725H582H666627He will declare to his friends,'I sinned and twisted the truth, but it was not worth it.H7789H582H559H2398H5753H3477H773728God rescued me from the grave, and now my life is filled with light.'H6299H5315H5674H7845H2416H7200H21629"Yes, God does these things again and again for people.H6466H410H6471H7969H139730He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life.H7725H5315H7845H215H216H241631Mark this well, Job. Listen to me, for I have more to say.H7181H347H8085H2790H169632But if you have anything to say, go ahead. Speak, for I am anxious to see you justified.H3426H4405H7725H1696H2654H666333But if not, then listen to me. Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom!"H8085H2790H502H2451
Job 34
34Then Elihu said.H453H6030H5592"Listen to me, you wise men. Pay attention, you who have knowledge.H8085H4405H2450H238H30453Job said, 'The ear tests the words it hears just as the mouth distinguishes between foods.'H241H974H4405H2441H2938H3984So let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.H977H4941H3045H28965For Job also said, 'I am innocent, but God has taken away my rights.H347H559H6663H410H5493H49416I am innocent, but they call me a liar. My suffering is incurable, though I have not sinned.'H3576H4941H2671H605H65887"Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job, with his thirst for irreverent talk?H1397H347H8354H3933H43258He chooses evil people as companions. He spends his time with wicked men.H732H2274H6466H205H3212H7562H5829He has even said, 'Why waste time trying to please God?'H559H5532H1397H7521H43010"Listen to me, you who have understanding. Everyone knows that God doesn't sin! The Almighty can do no wrong.H8085H582H3824H2486H410H7562H7706H576611He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people as they deserve.H6467H120H7999H376H4672H73412Truly, God will not do wrong. The Almighty will not twist justice.H551H410H7561H7706H5791H494113Did someone else put the world in his care? Who set the whole world in place?H6485H776H7760H839814If God were to take back his spirit and withdraw his breath,H7760H3820H622H7307H539715all life would cease, and humanity would turn again to dust.H1320H1478H3162H120H7725H608316"Now listen to me if you are wise. Pay attention to what I say.H998H8085H238H6963H440517Could God govern if he hated justice? Are you going to condemn the almighty judge?H8130H4941H2280H7561H3524H666218For he says to kings, 'You are wicked,' and to nobles, 'You are unjust.'H559H4428H1100H5081H756319He doesn't care how great a person may be, and he pays no more attention to the rich than to the poor. He made them all.H5375H6440H8269H5234H7771H6440H1800H4639H302720In a moment they die. In the middle of the night they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand.H7281H4191H5971H1607H2676H3915H5674H47H5493H302721"For God watches how people live; he sees everything they do.H5869H1870H376H7200H680622No darkness is thick enough to hide the wicked from his eyes.H2822H6757H6466H205H564123We don't set the time when we will come before God in judgment.H7760H376H1980H4941H41024He brings the mighty to ruin without asking anyone, and he sets up others in their place.H7489H3524H2714H5975H31225He knows what they do, and in the night he overturns and destroys them.H5234H4566H2015H3915H179226He strikes them down because they are wicked, doing it openly for all to see.H5606H8478H7563H4725H720027For they turned away from following him. They have no respect for any of his ways.H5493H310H7919H187028They cause the poor to cry out, catching God's attention. He hears the cries of the needy.H6818H1800H935H8085H6818H604129But if he chooses to remain quiet, who can criticize him? When he hides his face, no one can find him, whether an individual or a nation.H8252H7561H5641H6440H7789H1471H120H316230He prevents the godless from ruling so they cannot be a snare to the people.H120H2611H4427H5971H417031"Why don't people say to God, 'I have sinned, but I will sin no more'?H559H410H5375H225432Or 'I don't know what evil I have done—tell me. If I have done wrong, I will stop at once'?H2372H1107H3384H6466H5766H325433"Must God tailor his justice to your demands? But you have rejected him! The choice is yours, not mine. Go ahead, share your wisdom with us.H7999H3588H3988H977H1696H304534After all, bright people will tell me, and wise people will hear me say,H582H3824H559H2450H1397H808535'Job speaks out of ignorance; his words lack insight.'H347H1696H1847H1697H791936Job, you deserve the maximum penalty for the wicked way you have talked.H15H1H347H974H5331H8666H205H58237For you have added rebellion to your sin; you show no respect, and you speak many angry words against God."H3254H6588H2403H5606H7235H561H410
Psalms 143
143[A psalm of David.] Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous.H4210H1732H8085H8605H3068H238H8469H530H6030H66662Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you.H935H4941H5650H6440H2416H66633My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave.H341H7291H5315H1792H2416H1792H776H3427H4285H5769H41914I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.H7307H5848H3820H8432H80745I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done.H2142H3117H6924H1897H6467H7878H4639H30276I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. InterludeH6566H3027H5315H5889H776H55427Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die.H6030H4118H3068H7307H3615H5641H6440H4911H3381H9538Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.H8085H2617H1242H982H3045H1870H2098H3212H5375H53159Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.H5337H3068H341H368010Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.H3925H6213H7522H430H7307H2896H5148H776H433411For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.H2421H3068H8034H6666H3318H5315H686912In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant.H2617H6789H341H6H6887H5315H5650
Dublin, OH
appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job's arguments.H7969
