100. Thou Magnify His Work

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Hymns: RHC 113 It Is Glory Just to Walk with Him; 43 God is Still on the Throne; 46 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God; 87 I Know Whom I Have Believed

Job 36:22-33

22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? 23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. 25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. 

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 

30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. 32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. 33 The noise thereof showeth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

Thou Magnify His Work

OUTLINE

  • His Power (v22-24)
  • His Greatness (v25-29)
  • His Judgment (v30-33)

INTRODUCTION

How great is God to you? As a believer in Jesus Christ, we carry the testimony of Christ wherever we go. It is our great God that blesses our lives. As we are keenly aware of God’s presence with us, His power and purpose for our lives, walking with God is indeed a most glorious life. 

As we examine the lives of God’s people in the Bible, we are exhorted to behold our God, hold Him with great awe and regard Him with utmost reverence and worship.

This was Elihu’s exhortation to Job, the sufferer. It is quite a contradictory state for one to praise God in the midst of pain and the contortions of life. Yet, this is possible. The peace and joy of the believer is God’s gift to life with Him, even in the midst of suffering in our distorted and fallen world, God is very much on the throne, looking to the needs and welfare and well-being of His people.

When God called the Apostle Paul to faith, He told Ananias to go, receive and baptized him. Recall, he was blinded by the bright light from heaven. Ananias was tasked to restore his sight and commissioned him for the gospel work. Notice his calling involves persecution and suffering.

Acts 9:15-16 (KJV) But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

Yet, he testified at the end of his life the grace of God with him and Timothy his disciple to persevere after him – 2 Timothy 3:10-14 (KJV) But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;

We are the most glorious of God’s creation, the redeemed in Christ. It is the purpose of God that believers enjoy that life with God. The life of Job presents for us that reality. The exhortations of Elihu to Job spurs the redeemed man to live on that higher ground of life with God.

  • His Power (v22-24)

22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? 23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. 25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. 

By a command, Job is exhorted to “remember”, how precious he is in the sight of God. It has always been the purpose of God to bless His people. He does them good. By His infinite wisdom, He wields His power for our good. This is a simple truth we saw in the Garden of Eden, in the paradise God placed Adam and Eve.

Isn’t it the case for Job too? God blessed the work of his hands. God Himself commended Job’s piety. And that piety was to be ascertained and confirmed through heaven and earth. God allowed Job to be tried.

Job 1:6-12 (KJV) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath isin thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.

That trial was prolonged. The slow grind took its toil upon the strength of His servant, engulfed with pain and persecution, he contorted. Elihu was sent to help him regain strength and vitality by pointing him back to focus upon God. 

Elihu said to Job that God does all things well – 23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? To “enjoin” is to “to reckon, to visit, to attend, to muster”, it means “to make a search”. The greatness of His power – God is infinite, eternal and unchanging in His power.

Isaiah 40:28-31 “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

He that waits upon God is he that tarries with God in prayer. Prayer is power. It is the unleashing of God’s power. 

When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane to submit to the will of God by going to the cross, Luke 22:42-43 “Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.”

The word “wait” “kavah” describes the action of tarrying with God in prayer, to be still before Him, “to wait, look for, hope, expect” help from God. He certainly has the power to help. The same form of the word is used in Psalm 37:9 “For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.”

The word “strength” “כֹּחַ ” is translated elsewhere as the power of God, this is the communicable attribute of God imparted by God to men. 

The eagle symbolizes the speed and power of both God’s deliverance and God’s destruction. Speaking of how he delivered Israel from Egypt, the Lord says, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.” (Exodus 19:4) 

Isaiah 40:31 is the famous passage relating the renewing strength God gives to His followers, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).” [Dictionary of Biblical Imagery]

This is the comfort of the saints that God will surely vindicate – to not take matters in our own hands to do evil but to return evil with good, when all else fails to wait upon God for deliverance. He is omnipotent. He is faithful to deliver. 

The word “wait” is in the Hebrew perfect tense to describe the action of “waiting” upon God in prayer. When we do so, He will not fail to give “strength” or “power” to His fainting people. Jesus taught this same truth to persist in prayer in moments of discouragement, disappointment and despair, Luke 18:1, “…that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” The parable of the importunate widow provides the promise that surely God will help.

There is a renewal of strength in God. No matter how weary your trial has brought you, there is a refreshing that God Himself can give to you so that you will yet triumph in Him. By His power, He chastens His own (Job 5:17). He has power to mete out true justice (Job 8:3). God is infinite in His power (Job 11:7). He punishes the wicked – none can escape (Job 27:13). He gives spiritual life to man (Job 33:4). 

This has been the conflict of the ages, the wearing down of the saints, yet God is not mocked, He defends His own. This we see through Scriptures even to the very end of time. 

Rev 16:7 “And I heard another out of the altar say, Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.”

The Lord God Almighty uses His power to mete out true and righteous judgment. He does so exercising fairness and integrity. He is the Creator. He has made man in His image to reflect His glory. Men usurped God’s glory. They persecuted those who honour Him – “For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy.” (Revelation 16:6). This is a description of praise and worship for the saints who flinched not in giving all glory to their God. He has all power to vindicate their allegiance.

This is described in Ephesians 6:12, “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” that our Lord Himself will vindicate.

God cannot do wrong, there is no iniquity in Him. We can trust Him to defend us is Eiihu’s exhortation to Job. Do not give up and be drawn away from Him rather be drawn closer to Him. This was the purpose of Elihu’s appearance before God Himself will speak to uphold His servant.

Job is exhorted to uphold his testimony of God’s grace sustaining him in his trials – 24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. 25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. 

Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let your praise come even from the most far off places because you have trusted the Lord. 

The Apostle Paul exhorted the Thesslonian Christians to continue to abound in the Lord in their work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.

1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 (KJV) For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

The enemy will seek to derail us but we shall not be derailed, rather steadfastly standing firm in the Lord.

  • God Is Great (v25-29)

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 

The psalmist affirms well the words of Elihu – Psalm 147:5 (KJV) Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

AW Pink said well. “God not only knows whatever has happened in the past in every part of His vast domains, and He is not only thoroughly acquainted with everything that is now transpiring throughout the entire universe, but He is also perfectly cognizant with every event, from the least to the greatest, that ever will happen in the ages to come. God’s knowledge of the future is complete as is His knowledge of the past and the present, and that because the future depends entirely upon Himself. Were it in anywise possible for something to occur apart from either the direct agency or permission of God, then that something would be independent of Him, and He would at once cease to be Supreme.”

Canst thou by searching find out God? (Job 11:7a) – What is God? A Being self-existent, eternal, infinite, immense, without bounds, incomprehensible either by mind, or time, or space. Who then can find this Being out? Who can fathom his depths, ascend to his heights, extend to his breadths, and comprehend the infinitude of his perfections? (Adam Clarke)

Apostle Paul observed the depth of the richness of God’s wisdom.

Romans 11:33-36 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

He is before time and after time. He transcends time. He is the Creator of time – 26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

The entire water cycle is His marvellous creation – 27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29 Also can anyunderstand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

Elihu takes as his introductory example the wonderful process of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation. This process is both beyond normal human comprehension (or it was then) and yet is also clearly beneficial to human beings. These waters “drop on mankind abundantly” (v28). The process is at the same time mysterious and yet intelligible—mysterious in its means, but intelligible in its result.

Elihu comes back to the greatness of God (“Behold, God is exalted in his power,” v. 22a) but focuses in particular on how the power of God is used to instruct and teach people (v. 22b: Who is a teacher like him?). God is the ultimate instructor who works powerfully and graciously in people to bring them by grace to glory. He is teaching him that only the cosmic power of the Sovereign God can bring cosmic justice to fruition. Job has suffered, and is suffering, terribly; but no matter how terribly he has suffered, to respond with arrogant protest toward God is wrong and dangerous, and he must repent. [Christopher Ash]

  • His Judgment (v30-33)

30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. 32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. 33 The noise thereof showeth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

Elihu then moves, very naturally, from the quiet processes of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation to the more dramatic and violent occurrence of a fierce thunderstorm. When the clouds gather, as it were with God riding them like a chariot (v. 29), we are to picture God zapping the earth and the sea with fierce shafts of lightning so bright that they expose even the “roots” or depths of the sea (v. 30), symbolizing the most remote and dangerous corners of creation. It is an amazing picture, continued in verses 32, 33. [Christohper Ash]

Indeed, when God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai, it was amidst thunder and lightning. The people were commanded to wash themselves.

Exodus 20:1-21 (KJV) And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

CONCLUSION

May God’s people trust Him fully, knowing that He will hold us by His grace however the trial He brings us through. Amen.