104. The Wise of Heart

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Hymns: RHC 93 To God Be the Glory, 105 I Will Praise Him!, 122 Glory to His Name

Job 37:21-24

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. 23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he isexcellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

The Wise of Heart

OUTLINE

  • Acknowledges the God of Glory (v21-22)
  • Acknowledges His Infinite Perfections (v23)
  • Humbles Himself to Fear God (v24)

INTRODUCTION

The realm of life with God is spiritually understood and manifest itself in the believer’s experiencing His grace to take hold of the reality of God in one’s life. Amidst a dismal world filled with sin, sorrow and death, there is a beautiful transcendent realm of life with God on this earth.

The Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:5-7 (KJV) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

We were much blessed in our worship for Easter Sunrise Service. There is a reality for the people of God why the empty tomb is so glorious? The late Adrian Rogers observed well, “Because it signifies more than just the fact that God raise Jesus from the dead. He raised you, to, to walk “in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). I have come out of the grave. I have ascended. You have, too, if you are saved. Where is Christ today? Seated in the heavenlies. Where are you seated? In the same place. You don’t have to die to go to heaven. In Christ, you are seated in the heavenlies right now. We encourage our brothers and sisters by telling them to keep looking up, when we should be saying, “Keep looking down!” You’re already seated in the heavenlies, so you can look down on your problems. You, dear friends, have a brand new life. Take a moment to ask God you a brand new life and thank God for the one He has already given you.”

Indeed, God has not only “raised us up together” with Christ, but He also has “made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” As far as we are concerned, those who are saved and regenerated by the Holy Spirit of God are seated with Christ at the right hand of the Father. Now, we are seated. But according to God’s plan and according to God’s way of looking at things, we are also seated with Christ at the Father’s right hand. This is our positional seating. We have to understand that. Also, He has seated us in heavenly places where the Lord Jesus Christ is with God the Father in Glory. One day we who are saved are going to be in the heavenlty places physically with our new resurrected and glorified bodies. God has a plan “in the ages to come” for saved people. The Lord is going to put us on display as those whom He has redeemed from the dirt and dust of sin. God is rich in “His grace”. Nor is He impoverished in “kindness.” [DA Waite]

Having understood the reality of our exalted life with God through Christ, let us be encouraged to keep faith and be strengthened in Him through the afflictions of life.

Elihu sought to lead Job to see the glory of God before God Himself will present Himself to Job in Job 38-42:6 in two discourses (Job 38, Job 39-40:6).

  • Acknowledges the God of Glory (v21-22)

21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.

He observes that God who has said that he will dwell in the thick darkness and make that his pavilion (2 Chronicles 6:1; Psalm 18:11) is in that awful chariot advancing towards them, as if He were preparing His throne for judgment, surrounded with clouds and darkness (Psalm 97:2, 9). [Matthew Henry]

2 Chronicles 6:1 (KJV) Then said Solomon, The LORD hath said that he would dwell in the thick darkness.

Psalm 18:11 (KJV) He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.

Psalm 97:2 (KJV) Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

Psalm 97:9 (KJV) For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

Solomon and the people of Israel beheld the glorious presence of God at the inauguration of the first temple. 

The children of Israel saw the glory of God by a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud for 40 years in the wilderness.

Exodus 40:38 (KJV) For the cloud of the LORD was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

The disciples feared as they entered into a cloud (Luke 9:34) at the transfiguration of Christ – Luke 9:34-35 (KJV) While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud. And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

Job 37:19-20 (KJV) 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.

He saw the cloud, with a whirlwind in the bosom of it, coming out of the south; but now it hung so thick, so black, over their heads, that they could none of them see the bright light which just before was in the clouds. The light of the sun was now eclipsed. This reminded him of the darkness by reason of which he could not speak (v19), and made him afraid to go on (v20). Yet he looks to the north, and sees it clear that way, which gives him hope that the clouds are not gathering for a deluge; they are covered, but not surrounded, with them. He expects that the wind will pass (so it may be read) and cleanse them, such a wind as passed over the earth to clear it from the waters of Noah’s flood (Genesis 8:1), in token of the return of God’s favour; and then fair weather will come out of the north (v22) and all will be well. God will not always frown, nor contend for ever. 

He hastens to conclude, now that God is about to speak; and therefore, delivers much in a few words, as the sum of all that he had been discoursing of, which, if duly considered, would not only clench the nail he had been driving, but make way for what God would say. He observes, that with God is terrible majesty. He is a God of glory and such transcendent perfection as cannot but strike an awe upon all his attendants and a terror upon all his adversaries. [Matthew Henry]

  • Acknowledges His Infinite Perfections (v23)

23 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.

With God is terrible praise (so some), for he is fearful in praises (Exodus 15:11). That when we speak touching the Almighty we must own that we cannot find him out; our finite understandings cannot comprehend his infinite perfections (v23).

Can we put the sea into an egg-shell? We cannot trace the steps He takes in His providence. His way is in the sea. That he is excellent in power. It is the excellency of His power that He can do whatever He pleases in heaven and earth. The universal extent and irresistible force of his power are the excellency of it; no creature has an arm like him, so long, so strong. 

That He is not less excellent in wisdom and righteousness, in judgment and plenty of justice, else there would be little excellency in His power. We may be sure that He who can do every thing will do every thing for the best, for He is infinitely wise, and will not in any thing do wrong, for He is infinitely just. 

When He executes judgment upon sinners, yet there is plenty of justice in the execution, and he inflicts not more than they deserve. 

That he will not afflict, that is, that He will not afflict willingly; it is no pleasure to Him to grieve the children of men, much less His own children. He never afflicts but when there is cause and when there is need, and He does not overburden us with affliction, but considers our frame. [Matthew Henry]

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Some read it thus: “The Almighty, whom we cannot find out, is great in power, but he will not afflict in judgment, and with him is plenty of justice, nor is He extreme to mark what we do amiss.” 

  • Humbles Himself to Fear God (v24)

24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

He values not the censures of those who are wise in their own conceit: He respecteth them not (v24). He will not alter His counsels to oblige them, nor can those that prescribe to Him prevail with Him to do as they would have Him do. He regards the prayer of the humble, but not the policies of the crafty. [Matthew Henry]

James 4:10 (KJV) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

No, the foolishness of God is wiser than men (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21). 

1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:21 (KJV) For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

From all this it is easy to infer that, since God is great, He is greatly to be feared; nay, because He is gracious and will not afflict, men do therefore fear him, for there is forgiveness with him, that he may be feared (Psalm 130).

Psalm 130:1-8 (KJV) A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

It is the duty and interest of all men to fear God. Men shall fear him (so some); sooner or later they shall fear him. Those that will not fear the Lord and his goodness shall for ever tremble under the pourings out of the vials of his wrath. [Matthew Henry]

CONCLUSION

May the right understanding of our gracious, almighty God bring comfort to our hearts. Amen.