Stand Still - Job 37:14-20

Job 37:14–20 KJV (WS)

14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? 16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? 17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind? 18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? 19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.

Introduction

We know the story of Job.

We know about his friends.

Elihu challenges Job.

Job had expressed a desire to present his case before God.

Elihu does not present perfect counsel to Job.

No one but God can present perfect counsel.

Elihu does get closer than any of Job’s other friends.

He is verbose.

He has a seeming lack of humility.

But he said some things that Job needed to hear.

In this passage, Elihu offers counsel that seems to reflect what Job will hear from God himself.

In order for Job to receive this counsel, there are two things that he must do.

Stand still.

Consider.

It is important for us to learn how to both of these things.

If you stand still without considering, you’re just resting.

This is the eastern philosophy of dealing with issues, we call it meditation.

You stand still and try to empty your mind.

You will not find this in the Bible.

The Bible encourages us to meditate by filling our minds with things that are pure, true, lovely, etc……

If you consider without standing still, you’re just giving in to nervous energy.

This is the western style of dealing with problems.

We run around with our minds constantly racing.

This is just as foreign to the Bible as emptying our mind.

The Bible tells supports a joint effort of stillness and consideration.

What are we to consider, though.

It matters what you are considering.

I might think through all the possible outcomes for my situation.

You may be like Job thinking through all the reasons why these things should not be happening to you.

Elihu challenges Job’s thinking.

Job has started to think about himself and his own righteousness.

Elihu challenges him to think about the wondrous works of God.

What follows is a catalog of natural phenomena that characterize our world.

All of which occur without our input, understanding, or control.

All of these things are the fruit of God’s hands.

Consider the wondrous works of God in nature.

Look at the clouds.

Do you know when God arranged them?

That word disposed means to arrange, command, or charge.

Job, do you know when God gave the clouds their orders?

The clouds move over the earth collecting and releasing moisture in the ultra important water cycle.

Clouds signal storms.

Clouds are watched intently as the hurricane moves toward rain.

Clouds are welcomed when the sun beats down on the earth.

God designed and arranged the clouds.

Do you know when He caused the light of his cloud to shine?

This is most likely a reference to lightning.

Job, do you know when God designed lightning?

I’ve never been afraid of lightning.

We used to stand by the window and watch the lightning.

I’ve seen some pretty incredible lightning storms in my time.

How can you not stop and be impressed by the power of a lightning storm?

54,000 degrees.

30,000 times faster than a bullet.

1 billion volts of electricity.

God designed it.

Do you know how God balances the clouds in the sky?

There are no visible supports holding the clouds above the earth.

Clouds do have weight.

Actually all air has weight and density.

That’s the secret for why clouds appear to float on nothing.

In reality they are floating on top of the heavier air below them.

It may seem like it, but clouds are actually very heavy.

A 1 cubic kilometer cloud could weigh as much as 1.1 million pounds.

The clouds of the sky demonstrate the wondrous works of God.

They demonstrate his perfect knowledge.

In Job’s day, the science of clouds were unknown to them, maybe.

Even today there is a big difference between our ability to understand what God has designed and his ability to design it.

Think now about God’s power in summer.

Elihu asks Job to think about the effects that the siroccos have on the region.

The siroccos is a weather pattern in the Mediterranean region where the heat and dust from the Sahara moves northward for a season.

It basically turns the area into an air fryer.

The siroccos can bring stifling stillness or it can take the dust of the Sahara and beat against everything with hurricane force winds.

This weather pattern has been active since Job’s time, and continues to blow today.

#climatechange

One author from the early 1900’s traveled to the Middle East and wrote about the sirocco’s.

We can testify that the garments are not only warm, but hot. This sensation of dry, hot clothes is only experienced during the siroccos; and on such a day, one understands the things mentioned by the prophet (Elihu) about quieting the earth. There is no living thing making noise. The birds hide. The flocks and herds take shelter in caves. The laborers retire from their fields. No one has energy to make a noise.

God is able to quiet the land using this weather pattern.

He can change plans, he can put a stop to work, he can make everyone stand still with just the weather.

In the times of quiet, man begins to look around.

He notices the vastness of the sky.

From zenith to horizon.

If we stop to look, we will be astonished at the big sky above us.

We are reminded of our smallness when we considered the scale of God’s creation.

We can’t even see all of the sky…

He notices the firmness of the sky.

This is a tough thing for me to describe.

One author said this is a reference to the ancient view of the firmament.

A solid shell around the earth that protects it.

We know now that there is a protective sphere around the earth.

Earth’s atmosphere protects us from os many of space’s dangers.

To think that God created our planet with this life-protecting sphere around us, is incredible.

In the siroccos season, the sky looks like a bronze mirror.

Man has nothing to do with any of these features.

He wasn’t there when God made it.

He has no control over what happens.

Elihu is trying to get Job to consider the wonders of nature so that he’ll realize how little he knows about God and his working.

Elihu get’s to the toe stepping part of his message.

Job needs to teach them how to speak to God.

Job had expressed a desire to plead his case with God.

Elihu looks at the world and the wondrous/powerful works of God.

He doesn’t understand how anyone can say anything to God.

But, you know, maybe Job has the answer.

Elihu sarcastically asks Job to teach them his secret for being able to speak in such a way to God.

No human can arrange an argument against God.

God disposed the clouds.

He balanced them.

He spread out the sky.

God’s arrangement of nature is clear.

How could a human arrange an effective argument against God?

We are at an insurmountable disadvantage.

He knows more than us.

God knows more about our past.

He knows more about our future.

He knows more about who we are and what’s best for us than we know.

How many times have you thought that you knew what was best for you and your family only to find out later that it wasn’t the best?

Elihu is under the impression that nothing he would have to say would even be worth God’s time.

What do I have to say to God?

Am I going to teach him something that he didn’t know.

Am I going to have an idea that he didn’t think of?

Am I going to reveal something that he was unaware of?

Elihu knew that this was impossible, so he deemed it innapropriate for man to address God.

If a man really does stand in court against God, surely he will be swallowed up.

This is a funny thing here.

I think this is where we should wrap up the message.

Stand still.

Consider.

Think of creation and it’s wonder and power.

Think of clouds and storms and heat.

Think of the vastness of space.

Think of the depths of the sea.

Think of the variety of life that God has designed.

The seas are filled with creatures.

The skies are filled with birds.

The land is full.

What place do any of us have in speaking to God?

What value could our words have to a God with such deep knowledge and immense power?

Will you teach God?

Will you fill him in on something he didn’t realize?

I believe what Elihu says at the end is what should happen.

We should be swallowed up by such a God.

But, here’s the thing, I went and spoke to Him this morning.

We should not be able approach him with boldness.

And yet, he invites us to come.

So what’s the rub?

What’s the problem.

It’s the posture in which we come.

When we consider the power and knowledge of God, it should warn us not to come to Him as challengers.

Instead, we come to him in our need.

Are you a person in need today?

Have the events of your life left you with a bitter taste in your mouth?

Do you feel like has in some way given you the short end of the stick?

None of us would dare compare ourselves to Job, but we would be lying if we didn’t think it sometimes.

Maybe you have even thought about whether or not God has been fair to you.

Before you allow bitterness or hostility to affect your perception of God, you need to stand still and consider.

Could it be possible that God is working something bigger than what you can see?

Could it be that God knows more about what’s best for you than you do?

Instead of challenging God’s justice and love for us, maybe we could trust He knows better than we do?

Maybe instead of arguing against Him in court…

We should come to him for help in our time of need.

What am I asking you to do this morning?

Trust God.

Trust his power.

Trust his knowledge.

Trust his arrangement of your life.

If you struggle, ask him for help.