"Only Life Changes"

“God Speaks Now To Job”
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, And brake up for it my decreed place, and set bars and doors, And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed? Hast thou commanded the morning since thy days; and caused the dayspring to know his place; That it might take hold of the ends of the earth, that the wicked might be shaken out of it? It is turned as clay to the seal; and they stand as a garment. And from the wicked their light is withholden, and the high arm shall be broken. Hast thou entered into the springs of the sea? or hast thou walked in the search of the depth? Have the gates of death been opened unto thee? or hast thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all. Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof? Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great? Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail, Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war? By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth? Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder; To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man; To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth? Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it? The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth? Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are? Who hath put wisdom in the inward parts? or who hath given understanding to the heart? Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, When the dust groweth into hardness, and the clods cleave fast together? Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.

“Elihu Says God Is Back Of The Storm”
At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

“Elihu Speaks of God’s Dealings With Men”
Elihu also proceeded, and said, Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

“Elihu Sharply Reproves Job”
Elihu spake moreover, and said, Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s? For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

Who had Job’s attack come from?

What did Elihu tell them to look to heaven to see?
How do men and animals differ?
Surely God will not hear __, neither will the Almighty regard it.

“Elihu Vindicates God’s Justice”
¶ Moreover Elihu answered and said,
¶ Hear my words, ye wise men;
¶ And give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
¶ For the ear trieth words,
¶ As the palate tasteth food.
¶ Let us choose for us that which is right:
¶ Let us know among ourselves what is good.
¶ For Job hath said, I am righteous,
¶ And God hath taken away my right:
¶ Notwithstanding my right I am accounted a liar;
¶ My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.
¶ What man is like Job,
¶ Who drinketh up scoffing like water,
¶ Who goeth in company with the workers of iniquity,
¶ And walketh with wicked men?
¶ For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing
¶ That he should delight himself with God.
¶ Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding:
¶ Far be it from God, that he should do wickedness,
¶ And from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
¶ For the work of a man will he render unto him,
¶ And cause every man to find according to his ways.
¶ Yea, of a surety, God will not do wickedly,
¶ Neither will the Almighty pervert justice.
¶ Who gave him a charge over the earth?
¶ Or who hath disposed the whole world?
¶ If he set his heart upon himself,
¶ If he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
¶ All flesh shall perish together,
¶ And man shall turn again unto dust.
¶ If now thou hast understanding, hear this:
¶ Hearken to the voice of my words.
¶ Shall even one that hateth justice govern?
¶ And wilt thou condemn him that is righteous and mighty?—
¶ Him that saith to a king, Thou art vile,
¶ Or to nobles, Ye are wicked;
¶ That respecteth not the persons of princes,
¶ Nor regardeth the rich more than the poor;
¶ For they all are the work of his hands.
¶ In a moment they die, even at midnight;
¶ The people are shaken and pass away,
¶ And the mighty are taken away without hand.
¶ For his eyes are upon the ways of a man,
¶ And he seeth all his goings.
¶ There is no darkness, nor thick gloom,
¶ Where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
¶ For he needeth not further to consider a man,
¶ That he should go before God in judgment.
¶ He breaketh in pieces mighty men in ways past finding out,
¶ And setteth others in their stead.
¶ Therefore he taketh knowledge of their works;
¶ And he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
¶ He striketh them as wicked men
¶ In the open sight of others;
¶ Because they turned aside from following him,
¶ And would not have regard in any of his ways:
¶ So that they caused the cry of the poor to come unto him,
¶ And he heard the cry of the afflicted.
¶ When he giveth quietness, who then can condemn?
¶ And when he hideth his face, who then can behold him?
¶ Alike whether it be done unto a nation, or unto a man:
¶ That the godless man reign not,
¶ That there be none to ensnare the people.
¶ For hath any said unto God,
¶ I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
¶ That which I see not teach thou me:
¶ If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more?
¶ Shall his recompense be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it?
¶ For thou must choose, and not I:
¶ Therefore speak what thou knowest.
¶ Men of understanding will say unto me,
¶ Yea, every wise man that heareth me:
¶ Job speaketh without knowledge,
¶ And his words are without wisdom.
¶ Would that Job were tried unto the end,
¶ Because of his answering like wicked men.
¶ For he addeth rebellion unto his sin;
¶ He clappeth his hands among us,
¶ And multiplieth his words against God.

If he gather unto himself his spirit and his__________ ;

For his are upon the ways of a man,
Shall his __ be as thou wilt, that thou refusest it?
And multiplieth his words ________God.

“Elihu Claims To Speak For God”
¶ Howbeit, Job, I pray thee, hear my speech,
¶ And hearken to all my words.
¶ Behold now, I have opened my mouth;
¶ My tongue hath spoken in my mouth.
¶ My words shall utter the uprightness of my heart;
¶ And that which my lips know they shall speak sincerely.
¶ The Spirit of God hath made me,
¶ And the breath of the Almighty giveth me life.
¶ If thou canst, answer thou me;
¶ Set thy words in order before me, stand forth.
¶ Behold, I am toward God even as thou art:
¶ I also am formed out of the clay.
¶ Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid,
¶ Neither shall my pressure be heavy upon thee.
¶ Surely thou hast spoken in my hearing,
¶ And I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,
¶ I am clean, without transgression;
¶ I am innocent, neither is there iniquity in me:
¶ Behold, he findeth occasions against me,
¶ He counteth me for his enemy;
¶ He putteth my feet in the stocks,
¶ He marketh all my paths.
¶ Behold, I will answer thee, in this thou art not just;
¶ For God is greater than man.
¶ Why dost thou strive against him,
¶ For that he giveth not account of any of his matters?
¶ For God speaketh once,
¶ Yea twice, though man regardeth it not.
¶ In a dream, in a vision of the night,
¶ When deep sleep falleth upon men,
¶ In slumberings upon the bed;
¶ Then he openeth the ears of men,
¶ And sealeth their instruction,
¶ That he may withdraw man from his purpose,
¶ And hide pride from man;
¶ He keepeth back his soul from the pit,
¶ And his life from perishing by the sword.
¶ He is chastened also with pain upon his bed,
¶ And with continual strife in his bones;
¶ So that his life abhorreth bread,
¶ And his soul dainty food.
¶ His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen;
¶ And his bones that were not seen stick out.
¶ Yea, his soul draweth near unto the pit,
¶ And his life to the destroyers.
¶ If there be with him an angel,
¶ An interpreter, one among a thousand,
¶ To show unto man what is right for him;
¶ Then God is gracious unto him, and saith,
¶ Deliver him from going down to the pit,
¶ I have found a ransom.
¶ His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s;
¶ He returneth to the days of his youth.
¶ He prayeth unto God, and he is favorable unto him,
¶ So that he seeth his face with joy:
¶ And he restoreth unto man his righteousness.
¶ He singeth before men, and saith,
¶ I have sinned, and perverted that which was right,
¶ And it profited me not:
¶ He hath redeemed my soul from going into the pit,
¶ And my life shall behold the light.
¶ Lo, all these things doth God work,
¶ Twice, yea thrice, with a man,
¶ To bring back his soul from the pit,
¶ That he may be enlightened with the light of the living.
¶ Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me:
¶ Hold thy peace, and I will speak.
¶ If thou hast anything to say, answer me:
¶ Speak, for I desire to justify thee.
¶ If not, hearken thou unto me:
¶ Hold thy peace, and I will teach thee wisdom.

For God is ___________than man.
He hath __ my soul from going into the pit,
That he may be __________with the light of the living.

If thou hast anything to say, _______:

“Elihu in Anger Rebukes Job”
¶ So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
Now Elihu had waited to speak unto Job, because they were elder than he.
And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was kindled.
¶ And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said,
¶ I am young, and ye are very old;
¶ Wherefore I held back, and durst not show you mine opinion.
¶ I said, Days should speak,
¶ And multitude of years should teach wisdom.
¶ But there is a spirit in man,
¶ And the breath of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
¶ It is not the great that are wise,
¶ Nor the aged that understand justice.
¶ Therefore I said, Hearken to me;
¶ I also will show mine opinion.
¶ Behold, I waited for your words,
¶ I listened for your reasonings,
¶ Whilst ye searched out what to say.
¶ Yea, I attended unto you,
¶ And, behold, there was none that convinced Job,
¶ Or that answered his words, among you.
¶ Beware lest ye say, We have found wisdom;
¶ God may vanquish him, not man:
¶ For he hath not directed his words against me;
¶ Neither will I answer him with your speeches.
¶ They are amazed, they answer no more:
¶ They have not a word to say.
¶ And shall I wait, because they speak not,
¶ Because they stand still, and answer no more?
¶ I also will answer my part,
¶ I also will show mine opinion.
¶ For I am full of words;
¶ The spirit within me constraineth me.
¶ Behold, my breast is as wine which hath no vent;
¶ Like new wine-skins it is ready to burst.
¶ I will speak, that I may be refreshed;
¶ I will open my lips and answer.
¶ Let me not, I pray you, respect any man’s person;
¶ Neither will I give flattering titles unto any man.
¶ For I know not to give flattering titles;
¶ Else would my Maker soon take me away.

Breath of the Almighty giveth them _____.

The spirit within me_______me.

Who is full of words?

“Job Asserts His Integrity”

¶ I made a covenant with mine eyes;
¶ How then should I look upon a virgin?
¶ For what is the portion from God above,
¶ And the heritage from the Almighty on high?
¶ Is it not calamity to the unrighteous,
¶ And disaster to the workers of iniquity?
¶ Doth not he see my ways,
¶ And number all my steps?
¶ If I have walked with falsehood,
¶ And my foot hath hasted to deceit
¶ (Let me be weighed in an even balance,
¶ That God may know mine integrity);
¶ If my step hath turned out of the way,
¶ And my heart walked after mine eyes,
¶ And if any spot hath cleaved to my hands:
¶ Then let me sow, and let another eat;
¶ Yea, let the produce of my field be rooted out.
¶ If my heart hath been enticed unto a woman,
¶ And I have laid wait at my neighbor’s door;
¶ Then let my wife grind unto another,
¶ And let others bow down upon her.
¶ For that were a heinous crime;
¶ Yea, it were an iniquity to be punished by the judges:
¶ For it is a fire that consumeth unto Destruction,
¶ And would root out all mine increase.
¶ If I have despised the cause of my man-servant or of my maid-servant,
¶ When they contended with me;
¶ What then shall I do when God riseth up?
¶ And when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?
¶ Did not he that made me in the womb make him?
¶ And did not one fashion us in the womb?
¶ If I have withheld the poor from their desire,
¶ Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
¶ Or have eaten my morsel alone,
¶ And the fatherless hath not eaten thereof
¶ (Nay, from my youth he grew up with me as with a father,
¶ And her have I guided from my mother’s womb);
¶ If I have seen any perish for want of clothing,
¶ Or that the needy had no covering;
¶ If his loins have not blessed me,
¶ And if he hath not been warmed with the fleece of my sheep;
¶ If I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless,
¶ Because I saw my help in the gate:
¶ Then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder-blade,
¶ And mine arm be broken from the bone.
¶ For calamity from God is a terror to me,
¶ And by reason of his majesty I can do nothing.
¶ If I have made gold my hope,
¶ And have said to the fine gold, Thou art my confidence;
¶ If I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,
¶ And because my hand had gotten much;
¶ If I have beheld the sun when it shined,
¶ Or the moon walking in brightness,
¶ And my heart hath been secretly enticed,
¶ And my mouth hath kissed my hand:
¶ This also were an iniquity to be punished by the judges;
¶ For I should have denied the God that is above.
¶ If I have rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me,
¶ Or lifted up myself when evil found him
¶ (Yea, I have not suffered my mouth to sin
¶ By asking his life with a curse);
¶ If the men of my tent have not said,
¶ Who can find one that hath not been filled with his meat?
¶ (The sojourner hath not lodged in the street;
¶ But I have opened my doors to the traveller);
¶ If like Adam I have covered my transgressions,
¶ By hiding mine iniquity in my bosom,
¶ Because I feared the great multitude,
¶ And the contempt of families terrified me,
¶ So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door—
¶ Oh that I had one to hear me!
¶ (Lo, here is my signature, let the Almighty answer me)
¶ And that I had the indictment which mine adversary hath written!
¶ Surely I would carry it upon my shoulder;
¶ I would bind it unto me as a crown:
¶ I would declare unto him the number of my steps;
¶ As a prince would I go near unto him.
¶ If my land crieth out against me,
¶ And the furrows thereof weep together;
¶ If I have eaten the fruits thereof without money,
¶ Or have caused the owners thereof to lose their life:
¶ Let thistles grow instead of wheat,
¶ And cockle instead of barley.
¶ The words of Job are ended.

I made a covenant with mine ________.
Job’s only fear was of___________ .
Job had been ___ to the LORD.
Why did Job want his adversary to write down his complaints?
Who had Job given an accounting to of himself?

“Job’s Present State Is Humiliating”
“But now those who are younger than I mock me, Whose fathers I refused to put with the dogs of my flock. Indeed, what good was the strength of their hands to me? Vigor had perished from them. From poverty and famine they are gaunt, They who gnaw at the dry ground by night in waste and desolation, Who pluck saltweed by the bushes, And whose food is the root of the broom shrub. They are driven from the community; They shout against them as against a thief, So that they live on the slopes of ravines, In holes in the ground and among the rocks. Among the bushes they cry out; Under the weeds they are gathered together. Worthless fellows, even those without a name, They were cast out from the land. “And now I have become their taunt, And I have become a byword to them. They loathe me and stand aloof from me, And they do not refrain from spitting in my face. Because He has undone my bowstring and afflicted me, They have cast off the bridle before me. On the right hand their mob arises; They push aside my feet and pile up their ways of destruction against me. They break up my path, They promote my destruction; No one restrains them. As through a wide gap they come, Amid the storm they roll on. Sudden terrors are turned upon me. They chase away my dignity like the wind, And my prosperity has passed away like a cloud. “And now my soul is poured out within me; Days of misery have seized me. At night it pierces my bones within me, And my gnawing pains do not rest. By a great force my garment is distorted; It ties me up like the collar of my coat. He has thrown me into the mire, And I have become like dust and ashes. I cry out to You for help, but You do not answer me; I stand up, and You turn Your attention against me. You have become cruel to me; With the strength of Your hand You persecute me. You lift me up to the wind and make me ride it; And You dissolve me in a storm. For I know that You will bring me to death, And to the house of meeting for all living. “Yet does one in a heap of ruins not reach out with his hand, Or in his disaster does he not cry out for help? Have I not wept for the one whose life is hard? Was my soul not grieved for the needy? When I expected good, evil came; When I waited for light, darkness came. I am seething within and cannot rest; Days of misery confront me. I go about mourning without comfort; I stand up in the assembly and cry out for help. I have become a brother to jackals, And a companion of ostriches. My skin turns black on me, And my bones burn with fever. Therefore my harp is turned to mourning, And my flute to the sound of those who weep.

“Job’s Past Was Glorious”
Job again took up his discourse and said, “Oh that I were as in months gone by, As in the days when God watched over me; When His lamp shone over my head, And by His light I walked through darkness; Just as I was in the days of my youth, When the protection of God was over my tent; When the Almighty was still with me, And my children were around me; When my steps were bathed in cream, And the rock poured out streams of oil for me! When I went out to the gate of the city, When I took my seat in the public square, The young men saw me and hid themselves, And the old men arose and stood. The leaders stopped talking. And put their hands on their mouths; The voices of the prominent people were hushed, And their tongues stuck to their palates. For when an ear heard, it called me blessed, And when an eye saw, it testified in support of me, Because I saved the poor who cried for help, And the orphan who had no helper. The blessing of the one who was about to perish came upon me, And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a headband. I was eyes to those who were blind, And feet to those who could not walk. I was a father to the poor, And I investigated the case which I did not know. I broke the jaws of the wicked. And rescued the prey from his teeth. Then I thought, ‘I will die with my family, And I will multiply my days as the sand. My root is spread out to the waters, And dew lies on my branch all night. My glory is ever new with me, And my bow is renewed in my hand.’ “To me they listened and waited, And they kept silent for my advice. After my words they did not speak again, And my speech dropped on them. They waited for me as for the rain, And opened their mouths as for the late rain. I smiled at them when they did not believe, And they did not look at my kindness ungraciously. I chose a way for them and sat as chief, And lived as a king among the troops, As one who comforted the mourners.