<
Book of Psalm 85
12/02/2024
(可拉后裔的诗,交与伶长。)
1 耶和华啊,你已经向你的地施恩,救回被掳的雅各。
2 你赦免了你百姓的罪孽,遮盖了他们一切的过犯。(细拉)
3 你收转了所发的忿怒,和你猛烈的怒气。
4 拯救我们的神啊,求你使我们回转,叫你的恼恨向我们止息。
5 你要向我们发怒到永远吗?你要将你的怒气延留到万代吗?
6 你不再将我们救活,使你的百姓靠你欢喜吗?
7 耶和华啊,求你使我们得见你的慈爱,又将你的救恩赐给我们。
8 我要听神耶和华所说的话。因为他必应许将平安赐给他的百姓,他的圣民。他们却不可再转去妄行。
9 他的救恩,诚然与敬畏他的人相近,叫荣耀住在我们的地上。
10 慈爱和诚实,彼此相遇。公义和平安,彼此相亲。
11 诚实从地而生,公义从天而现。
12 耶和华必将好处赐给我们。我们的地,也要多出土产。
13 公义要行在他面前,叫他的脚踪,成为可走的路。
<
Book of Psalm 84
11/02/2024
(可拉后裔的诗,交与伶长。用迦特乐器。)
1 万军之耶和华啊,你的居所何等可爱。
2 我羡慕渴想耶和华的院宇。我的心肠,我的肉体,向永生神呼吁(或作欢呼)。
3 万军之耶和华我的王,我的神啊,在你祭坛那里,麻雀为自己找着房屋。燕子为自己找着抱雏之窝。
4 如此住在你殿中的,便为有福。他们仍要赞美你。(细拉)
5 靠你有力量心中想往锡安大道的,这人便为有福。
6 他们经过流泪谷,叫这谷变为泉源之地。并有秋雨之福,盖满了全谷。
7 他们行走,力上加力,各人到锡安朝见神。
8 耶和华万军之神啊,求你听我的祷告。雅各的神啊,求你留心听。(细拉)
9 神啊,你是我们的盾牌。求你垂顾观看你受膏者的面。
10 在你的院宇住一日,胜似在别处住千日。宁可在我神殿中看门,不愿住在恶人的帐棚里。
11 因为耶和华神是日头,是盾牌,要赐下恩惠和荣耀。他未尝留下一样好处,不给那些行动正直的人。
12 万军之耶和华啊,倚靠你的人,便为有福。
<
Book of Psalm 83
10/02/2024
(亚萨的诗。)
1 神啊,求你不要静默。神啊,求你不要闭口,也不要不作声。
2 因为你的仇敌喧嚷。恨你的抬起头来。
3 他们同谋奸诈,要害你的百姓,彼此商议,要害你所隐藏的人。
4 他们说,来吧,我们将他们剪灭,使他们不再成国。使以色列的名,不再被人记念。
5 他们同心商议,彼此结盟,要抵挡你。
6 就是住帐棚的以东人,和以实玛利人。摩押和夏甲人。
7 迦巴勒,亚扪,和亚玛力,非利士,并推罗的居民。
8 亚述也与他们连合。他们作罗得子孙的帮手。(细拉)
9 求你待他们如待米甸,如在基顺河待西西拉和耶宾一样。
10 他们在隐多珥灭亡,成了地上的粪土。
11 求你叫他们的首领,像俄立和西伊伯,叫他们的王子,都像西巴和撒慕拿。
12 他们说,我们要得神的住处,作为自己的产业。
13 我的神啊,求你叫他们像旋风的尘土,像风前的碎秸。
14 火怎样焚烧树林,火焰怎样烧着山岭。
15 求你也照样用狂风追赶他们,用暴雨恐吓他们。
16 愿你使他们满面羞耻,好叫他们寻求你耶和华的名。
17 愿他们永远羞愧惊惶。愿他们惭愧灭亡。
18 使他们知道惟独你名为耶和华的,是全地以上的至高者。
<
Book of Psalm 82
09/02/2024
(亚萨的诗。)
1 神站在有权力者的会中。在诸神中行审判。
2 说,你们审判不秉公义,徇恶人的情面,要到几时呢?(细拉)
3 你们当为贫寒的人和孤儿伸冤。当为困苦和穷乏的人施行公义。
4 当保护贫寒和穷乏的人,救他们脱离恶人的手。
5 你们仍不知道,也不明白,在黑暗中走来走去。地的根基都摇动了。
6 我曾说,你们是神,都是至高者的儿子。
7 然而你们要死,与世人一样。要仆倒,像王子中的一位。
8 神啊,求你起来,审判世界。因为你要得万邦为业。
约伯记［第39-40章］
Book of Job 39-40
【更加谦卑敬畏神】
07/02/2024
一、从动物生态看神智慧（39章）
神继续从动物的生态让约伯思考祂创造的细腻和智慧。祂治理的范围和创造的奥秘，都是超过约伯所能够想象的。
1.野山羊与母鹿（39:1-4）
神以野山羊和母鹿向约伯提问，“约伯，野山羊和母鹿什么时候怀孕、怀胎到生产的时间多长，什么时候生产？它们在没有任何人类帮助的情况下能够轻松生产。幼崽出生后，在无人保护的情况下，能快速成长，学会自保生存，这一切的一切，约伯，你想是怎么一回事？”
约伯完全没有办法回答。因为这些都是野生动物。他们能够出生、长大、一代一代的生生不息，都是因为神在照管和护理，不是人的作为。
2.野驴与野牛（39:5-12）
野驴跟人所养、运载货物的驴是不一样的。野驴自由不受人的拘束，神亲自驯养它。v9提到的野牛，大多数学者认为这种野牛很可能是17世纪以后已经灭绝的原牛（Aurochs）。神虽赐给野牛巨大的力量，却没有让它像家牛一样为人服务。不管是野驴，还是野牛，它们在神旨意中的地位和价值，并不是以它们是否为人们服务来衡量的。只有神是它们的主人，是神决定他们的价值。
神不是以我们的Doing来衡量我们的价值。神要我们自由的活出祂所创造的我们的being。
3.鸵鸟（39:13-18）
在人看来，鸵鸟极笨，遇到敌人会把头往沙堆里埋。不但如此，它似乎也很无情。不会保护幼鸟，把生出来的蛋留在地上，被踹碎或遭野兽践踏，都不在意。
鸵鸟为什么会这样呢？难道是神在创造上出了差错？v17因为神使他没有智慧，没有给它护蛋的能力，也未将悟性赐给他。但，鸵鸟所领受的恩典却是够用的。它看起来虽然是呆头呆脑的，但神却使它有飞快奔跑速度。
神以鸵鸟让约伯思考在经历苦难中，神在他身上有够用的恩典。神也同样的以鸵鸟对我们说，每当我们觉得神把我们的门给关了，恰好是为我们开另一扇更大、更蒙福的门。所以，我们不要像鸵鸟那样，把头往沙堆里埋，自欺欺人的以为逃避就是最好的方法。
4.马（39:19-25）
神用了非常生动的描述来形容是祂给了马力量和战斗的勇猛。马不但力大，而且不怕刀剑。一旦被激动，就会不顾一切地冲锋陷阵。知道只有一条出路，就是尽自己的职责，带着主人奔向胜利。
5.鹰（39:26-30）
神在鹰雀的脑袋里建造了一种 ，比现代飞机上最复杂的导航仪器还要准确的方向感和时间感。老鹰的眼睛有超过人5倍的视觉准确度，在几千米的高空高速飞行时，也能准确无误地辨别地上的猎物。神如何使用兀鹰来清理腐尸，维持自然生态的平衡，这一切都是神智慧的创造，不是人所能及的。
求神开启我们属灵眼睛，有老鹰一样的视觉，看透仇敌的作为。像兀鹰一样，在这腐败，悖谬的世代，成为清理腐尸，带给人盼望的器皿。
二、被神光照当谦卑自省（40章）
1.约伯还不够谦卑（40:1-5）
听完了神述说对每一样祂所造的都有祂的旨意和奥秘后，约伯其实只能承认：我是卑贱的！只好用手捂口，无言以对。约伯不再争辩，只是因为被神的威荣所慑服，他还是不明白神让他经历苦难的旨意是什么？
神不要我们倚靠肉体强装属灵、故作刚强、盲目地信靠祂。神要我们明白祂为什么这样作，真认识祂所做的都是为我们好、是爱我们，没有疑惑的相信祂，建立更深的关系。
2.神光照要更谦卑（40:6-24）
神认为约伯既然自义的认为神统治世界和判断上不公平，那末，他可尝试自己来做神，以能力去除掉一切的恶人。显然约伯知道自己无法叫行恶的人不作恶。
神接着神以力大无穷，刀枪不入的河马（一种不知名的巨兽，有学者认为是恐龙）问约伯，如果这河马有警觉，你有办法拿住它、把它关起来、刺穿它的鼻子吗？
总结：
每当我们面对苦难、感到失落时，记得观看神手所造的，跟它说：“神正在照顾你，祂也必看顾我。” 也不是拼命的想知道苦难的原因，而是得着亲眼看见神、更谦卑的敬畏神的生命！
Job 39-40 With greater humility and fear God
GK611 Morning Devotion
7 Feb 2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Deborah Tan
1. God’s Wisdom from the Ecology of Animals (Chapter 39)
God continues to make Job think about the delicacy and wisdom of His creation from the ecology of the animals. He governs, governs to a greater extent and creates mysteries than Job could have imagined.
(1) The wild goat and the deer (39:1-4)
God asked Job with the wild goat and the doe, “Job, when do the wild goat and the doe conceive, how long do they carry their babies to term, and when do they give birth? They are able to give birth easily without any human help. After the fawns are born, unprotected, they are able to grow quickly and learn to survive on their own, what do you think is going on with all of this, Job?”
Job had no answer at all. Because these were wild animals. They were able to be born, grow up, and live from generation to generation, all because God was tending and caring for them, not the work of man.
(2) Wild donkey and wild ox (39:5-12)
The wild donkey is not the same as the donkey that man raises and carries his goods. The wild ass is free from man’s constraints, and God himself tames it. v9 The wild oxen mentioned in v9, which most scholars believe are probably the Aurochs, which became extinct after the 17th century, are not the same as the wild oxen. Although God gave the wild ox great strength, he did not make it serve man like the domestic ox. Whether it is a wild donkey or a wild ox, their status and value in God’s will is not measured by whether they serve people or not. God alone is their master, and it is God who determines their value.
God is not measuring our worth by our DOING. God wants us to be free to live out the BEING He created us to be.
(3) The Ostrich (39:13-18)
To man, the ostrich appears to be extremely stupid and will bury its head in the sand when it encounters an enemy. Not only that, but it also seems to be ruthless. It will not protect its young, and it does not care if the eggs it lays are left on the ground to be kicked or trampled by wild animals.
Why is the ostrich like this? Could it be that God made a mistake in creation?v17 Because God deprived her of wisdom,
And did not endow her with understanding. But, the grace that the ostrich received was sufficient. Though it appears to be dull, God has made it to run with flying speed.
God used the ostrich to make Job think that God had sufficient grace in him in the midst of his suffering. In the same way, God uses the ostrich to say to us that whenever we feel that God has shut the door on us, it happens to be opening another door for us that is bigger and more blessed. So let us not be like the ostrich, burying our heads in the sand and deceiving ourselves into thinking that escape is the best way.
(4) The Horse (39:19-25)
God used a very vivid description of the fact that it was He who gave the horse strength and valor in battle. Not only is the horse powerful, but it is not afraid of the sword. Once agitated, it will charge into battle regardless. Knowing that there is only one way out, it is to do its duty and run to victory with its master.
(5) The Eagle (39:26-30)
God has built into the head of the eagle a sense of direction and time more accurate than the most sophisticated navigational instruments on modern airplanes. The eagle’s eyes have more than five times the visual accuracy of a man’s, and it can accurately identify prey on the ground while flying at high speeds at altitudes of several thousand meters. How God uses the vulture to clean up rotting corpse and maintain the balance of the natural ecology is all a creation of God’s wisdom and beyond the reach of man.
Pray for God to open our spiritual eyes to have eagle-like vision to see through the works of the enemy. Like the vulture, be a vessel of hope to clean up the rotting carcasses in this corrupt and perverse generation.
2. Being enlightened by God When Humble and Self-examining (Chapter 40)
(1) Job is not humble enough (40:1-5)
After listening to God’s statement that He has His will and mystery for each and every thing He has made, Job could actually only admit: I am lowly! He could only cover his mouth with his hand and was speechless. Job stopped arguing simply because he was intimidated by God’s awesome glory, and he still did not understand what God’s will was in letting him go through suffering?
God does not want us to rely on the flesh to pretend to be spiritual, to pretend to be strong, and to trust Him blindly. God wants us to understand why He does what He does, to truly recognise that He does what He does for our good and loves us, to trust Him without doubt, and to build a deeper relationship.
(2) God enlightened him to be more humble (40:6-24)
God thought that since Job was self-righteous in thinking that God ruled the world and was unfair in judgment, he could try to be God himself and get rid of all the wicked with power. Obviously Job knew that he could not tell the evil doers to stop doing evil.
God then God asked Job with a hippopotamus (an unknown beast that some scholars believe to be a dinosaur) of great strength and invulnerability, if this hippopotamus is alert, do you have a way to hold it, shut it up, and pierce its nose?
Conclusion:
Whenever we face suffering and feel lost, remember to watch what God’s hands have made and say to it, “God is taking care of you, and He will watch over me.” And instead of desperately trying to figure out the cause of the suffering, gain a life of seeing God with your own eyes and fearing Him more humbly!
约伯记［第37-38章］
Book of Job 37-38
【神在旋风中回答约伯】
06/02/2024
一、以利户最后的劝勉（伯37章）
1.从大自然看神的奇妙（V1-20）
以利户借着大自然的雷电、风雨、云彩，赞叹神的威严可畏，满有恩慈的奇妙作为，指出神是主宰一切的！
以利户希望约伯能放弃为自己的无罪申辩，全然的顺服在神的威严之下。
2. 风吹云开见神的全能（V21-24）
最后以利户劝勉约伯，现在有云遮蔽，但风吹过就天发晴，就得见全能神的威严，能力和公义，所以人要敬畏祂。以利户提醒约伯要敬畏神，因为神的公义不容置疑，神的主权不容挑剔！神当受敬拜而非评论，神当受尊崇而非质问！
小结：
我们不要自以为心中有智慧，不要以为自己了解神的一切作为，特别是当我们面临苦难的时候，都是神为了让我们做好准备，有一天和祂见面。因为我们相信：论到全能者，我们不能测度；他大有能力，有公平和大义，必不苦待人。
二、神以反问回答约伯（伯38章）
1.神立大地时你在哪里？（V1-15）
神终于在强大的旋风中回答约伯，但神是以反问的方式回答约伯的问题。首先神让约伯思考大地的奥秘，让他意识到对掌管宇宙的神了解非常少，并最终承认不能与神争辩！
神对约伯的问题，也是在对我们说祂是完美的创造者，不会忽略我们的事，人只要顺服就能蒙福！
2.死荫的门你曾见过吗？（V16-21）
神问约伯是否去过深渊和海底的广大区域；如果约伯曾走到那里，他就该看过死亡之门。神这个问题应该深深震撼了约伯，因为他之前想要去阴间，借着死亡摆脱痛苦。但是神在这里提醒约伯，他并不知道阴间的广大，不明白那里是有去无回的。
这个问题也是让我们认真思考我们的未来，跨越死亡的门之后究竟去哪里，在于我们此生所信的到底是什么。
3.谁能倾倒天上的瓶？（V22-38）
神又借着一系列问题，向约伯指明祂是如何奇妙的供应水分，唯独祂有智慧降下雨水，以维持受造之物的生命，使庄稼可以收成。
4.谁为动物预备食物？（V39-41）
神继续向约伯发这个问题，要让他认识到，如果神对动物都有慈爱的看顾，祂就不会忽视约伯的困境，而会以祂认为最恰当的方式帮助约伯。
乌鸦之雏哀告神，神也为它们预备食物，更何况是我们呢？
总结：
神在旋风中回答约伯，是要让约伯、也是要让我们明白，祂是掌管一切的神！当我们在风暴苦难之中，能够凭信心把一切都交托给神，神必会按着祂的旨意，看顾保守我们。
Job 37-38 God answers Job in the whirlwind
GK611 Morning Devotion
06 Feb 2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Daniel Kew
1. Elihu’s final exhortation (Job Chapter 37)
(1) See the wonder of God from nature (V1-20)
Elihu used the nature of thunder, lightning, wind, rain, and clouds to praise God’s majesty and awesomeness, and His wonderful deeds full of kindness, pointing out that God is sovereign over everything! Elihu hoped that Job would give up defending his innocence and fully submit to the majesty of God.
(2) The wind blows, and the clouds open to see the almighty power of God (V21-24)
Finally, Elihu advised Job that clouds are covering the sky now, but when the wind blows and the sky clears, the majesty, power and righteousness of Almighty God can be seen, so people must fear Him. Elihu reminded Job to fear God because God’s justice cannot be questioned, and God’s sovereignty cannot be criticised! God should be worshipped, not criticised, God should be honoured, and not to be questioned!
Summary：
We should not think that we have wisdom in our hearts, and do not think that we understand all God’s actions, especially when we face hardships. They are all God’s way of preparing us to meet Him one day. Because we believe that we cannot fathom the Almighty; He is powerful, just and righteous, and He will not treat anyone harshly.
2. God answered Job with a rhetorical question (Job Chapter 38)
(1) Where were you when God established the earth? (V1-15)
God finally answered Job in the powerful whirlwind but rhetorically answered Job’s question. First, God asked Job to think about the mysteries of the earth, making him realise how little he knew about the God who controls the universe, and finally admitted that he could not argue with God!
God’s question to Job is also telling us that He is the perfect Creator and will not ignore our affairs. As long as people obey, they will be blessed!
(2) Have you ever seen the doors of the shadow of death? (V16-21)
God asked Job if he had been to the abyss and the vast area under the sea; if Job had been there, he would have seen the door of death. This question about God must have deeply shocked Job because he had previously wanted to go to Hades and die to escape his pain. But God reminds Job here that he does not know the vastness of Hades and that there is no return from there.
This question also makes us think seriously about our future. Where we will go after crossing the door of death depends on what we believe in this life.
(3) Who can pour out the bottles of heaven? (V22-38)
Through a series of questions, God pointed out to Job how He miraculously supplies water. Only He has the wisdom to send rain to maintain the life of creation so that crops can be harvested.
(4) Who prepares food for the animals? (V39-41)
God continued to ask Job this question to make him realise that if God had loving care for animals, He would not ignore Job’s plight, but would help Job in the way He thought was most appropriate.
The young ravens cry out to God, and God also provides food for them. Let alone us?
Conclusion：
God answered Job in the whirlwind to let Job and we understand that He is the God in charge of everything! When we can trust everything to God during storms and sufferings, God will surely take care of and protect us according to His will!
<
Book of Psalm 81
05/02/2024
(亚萨的诗,交与伶长。用迦特乐器。)
1 你们当向神我们的力量大声欢呼,向雅各的神发声欢乐,
2 唱起诗歌,打手鼓,弹美琴与瑟。
3 当在月朔,并月望,我们过节的日期,吹角。
4 因这是为以色列定的律例,是雅各神的典章。
5 他去攻击埃及地的时候,在约瑟中间立此为证。我在那里听见我所不明白的言语。
6 神说,我使你的肩得脱重担,你的手放下筐子。
7 你在急难中呼求,我就搭救你。我在雷的隐密处应允你,在米利巴水那里试验你。(细拉)
8 我的民哪,你当听。我要劝戒你。以色列啊,甚愿你肯听从我。
9 在你当中不可有别的神。外邦的神,你也不可下拜。
10 我是耶和华你的神,曾把你从埃及地领上来。你要大大张口,我就给你充满。
11 无奈我的民不听我的声音。以色列全不理我。
12 我便任凭他们心里刚硬,随自己的计谋而行。
13 甚愿我的民肯听从我,以色列肯行我的道。
14 我便速速治服他们的仇敌,反手攻击他们的敌人。
15 恨耶和华的人必来投降,但他的百姓,必永久长存。
16 他也必拿上好的麦子给他们吃。又拿从磐石出的蜂蜜,叫他们饱足。
<
Book of Psalm 80
04/02/2024
(亚萨的诗,交与伶长,调用为证的百合花。)
1 领约瑟如领羊群之以色列的牧者阿,求你留心听。坐在二基路伯上的阿,求你发出光来。
2 在以法莲便雅悯玛拿西前面施展你的大能,来救我们。
3 神阿,求你使我们回转(回转或作复兴),使你的脸发光,我们便要得救。
4 耶和华万军之神阿,你向你百姓的祷告发怒,要到几时呢?
5 你以眼泪当食物给他们吃,又多量出眼泪给他们喝。
6 你使邻邦因我们分争。我们的仇敌彼此戏笑。
7 万军之神阿,求你使我们回转,使你的脸发光,我们便要得救。
8 你从埃及挪出一棵葡萄树,赶出外邦人,把这树栽上。
9 你在这树根前预备了地方,他就深深扎根,爬满了地。
10 他的影子遮满了山,枝子好像佳美的香柏树。
11 他发出枝子,长到大海,发出蔓子,延到大河。
12 你为何拆毁这树的篱笆,任凭一切过路的人摘取。
13 林中出来的野猪,把他糟踏,野地的走兽,拿他当食物。
14 万军之神阿,求你回转,从天上垂看,眷顾这葡萄树,
15 保护你右手所栽的,和你为自己所坚固的枝子。
16 这树已经被火焚烧被刀砍伐,他们因你脸上的怒容就灭亡了。
17 愿你的手扶持你右边的人,就是你为自己所坚固的人子。
18 这样,我们便不退后离开你。求你救活我们,我们就要求告你的名。
19 耶和华万军之神阿,求你使我们回转,使你的脸发光,我们便要得救。
<
Book of Psalm 79
03/02/2024
(亚萨的诗。)
1 神阿,外邦人进入你的产业,污秽你的圣殿,使耶路撒冷变成荒堆。
2 把你仆人的尸首,交与天空的飞鸟为食,把你圣民的肉,交与地上的野兽。
3 在耶路撒冷周围流他们的血如水,无人葬埋。
4 我们成为邻国的羞辱,成为我们四围人的嗤笑讥刺。
5 耶和华阿,这到几时呢?你要动怒到永远吗?你的愤恨要如火焚烧吗?
6 愿你将你的忿怒倒在那不认识你的外邦,和那不求告你名的国度。
7 因为他们吞了雅各,把他的住处变为荒场。
8 求你不要记念我们先祖的罪孽,向我们追讨。愿你的慈悲快迎着我们。因为我们落到极卑微的地步。
9 拯救我们的神阿,求你因你名的荣耀,帮助我们,为你名的缘故,搭救我们,赦免我们的罪。
10 为何容外邦人说,他们的神在哪里呢?愿你使外邦人知道你在我们眼前,伸你仆人流血的冤。
11 愿被囚之人的叹息,达到你面前。愿你按你的大能力,存留那些将要死的人。
12 主阿,愿你将我们邻邦所羞辱你的羞辱,加七倍归到他们身上。
13 这样,你的民,你草场的羊,要称谢你,直到永远。要述说赞美你的话,直到万代。
约伯记［第35-36章］
Book of Job 35-36
【以人为小，以神为大】
02/02/2024
引言：家规与国法
一、人虽小：却把话说大！（伯 35）
1. 以利户的回应（下）（V1-8）
这是以利户回应约伯在申述之前的宣誓的下半段。他不断引申，把约伯说恶人的言论放在约伯身上，来针对攻击约伯。他强调人犯罪或公义的后果不能影响神、只能影响人。
2. 指控约伯虚妄 （V9-16）
以利户指控约伯的呼求是虚妄的，因为他说约伯是恶人的呼求。他指约伯是受神的惩罚才呼求神，他提到没有人会受惩罚时说神在哪里，因为纵然在苦难中，神使人夜间歌唱，就是说神是有安慰的，是不会不理会人的，所以这些哀求是骄傲的呼求。甚至接下来还提说，神虽然未降罚，但神仍会继续降罚。
小结：
以利户不知道天上所发生的事情，他只用自己对神认识、四个老人家的对话、约伯的反应和神没有回应来控告约伯的自义。这仿佛就像以利户拿了神的属性来制造了一套自己在地上的家规来指控约伯是一位恶人。
人的渺小不能理解神的意思，但唯一确定的是神的公义全能是要来爱人、保护人、拯救人，这是神本身的良善，神并不是控诉者。求主帮助我们，让我们有智慧分辨，并在困局中仍不离弃神，继续跟随祂到底。
二、神为大：人更显渺小！ （伯36）
以利户似乎对神非常认识，在这里他说出了神的三个大。
1. 神有大能 （V1-16）
以利户提到说，神的大能不是只在能力，也在智慧上。无论是对付恶人，保护义人，这一切都是出于神的大能。神有大能、不鄙视人、智慧甚广、为困苦人伸冤，他补充神看顾义人，不保护恶人。他高举神来贬低及攻击约伯。
2. 神高大的能力 （V17-23）
以利户提及神有高大的能力，是指神的力量是非常坚固，强大，无人像神一样如此有大能有大力。他指约伯是满口批评是恶人，因为神满有智慧大能，祂没有让约伯离开苦难，就结论说神是责备约伯的。
3. 神为大 （V24-33）
以利户描述神所行的为大，是世界最大的。他高举神的大能来欺压约伯，认为约伯是妄想与神对话，说自己有义、没有犯罪、是被神冤枉，因为以利户觉得这根本不合理。
以利户对神的认识甚强，但他却用错地方，因为他用神的伟大来证明人的罪恶。这是对我们的提醒，我们不需要用自己的知识和经验去证明什么，因为圣灵会亲自动工。
以利户形容神的大能在原文中是渐进式的，第5节是 Strong（强大），第22节是 Power （高大势力），和第24节是 Magnify Increase（成长壮大，最广大，最高的）。
总结：人的有限总是限制了神的无限
在服事安慰人的时候我们要特别留心。在一切事情上祈求和顺着圣灵及神的带领。我们不需要为神打抱不平，而用许多神的大能来诋毁对方，因为这或许成为了负面的元素，好想成为了魔鬼的帮助。
要安静，知道祂是神。求神帮助我们，指引我们在对的时候说合宜的话。
Job 35-36 Man as insignificant, God as great
GK611 Morning Devotion
2 Feb 2024
The Morning Devotion Speaker: Co-worker Asher Chang
Introduction: Household Rules and the Law of the nations
1. The Charge of Elihu (the Man) (Job 35)
(1) Elihu’s Response (below) (V1-8)
This is the second half of Elihu’s response to Job’s oath before his representation. He continually draws out and puts Job’s remarks as wicked on Job to target the attack on Job. He emphasises that the consequences of man’s sin or righteousness cannot affect God, only man.
(2) Accusing Job of Vainness (V9-16)
Elihu accuses Job’s cry of being vain because he says that Job is the cry of the wicked. He accuses Job of calling on God because he is being punished by God, and he mentions that no one would say where God is when they are being punished, because even in the midst of affliction God causes people to sing at night, which means that God is comforting and will not ignore people, so these laments are the cries of the proud. It is even mentioned that although God has still not sent down punishment and that God will continue to do so.
Summary:
Elihu did not know what was happening in heaven, and he only used his knowledge of God, the conversation of the four old men, Job’s response and God’s lack of response to charge Job with self-righteousness. It was as if Elihu had taken God’s attributes to create his own set of earthly house rules to charge Job with being a wicked man.
The insignificance of man cannot understand God, but the only certainty is that God’s righteous omnipotence is to love, protect, and save people, which is God’s own goodness, and God is not the accuser. Pray that we will have the wisdom to discern and not forsake God in the midst of our predicament and continue to follow Him to the end.
2. The greatness of God (Job 36)
Elihu seems to know God very well, and here he names three greatnesses of God.
(1) God is Mighty(V1-16)
Elihu mentions that God’s greatness is not only in power, but also in wisdom. Whether it is dealing with the wicked or protecting the righteous, it is all due to the power of God. God is mighty, does not despise man, is wise in a wide range of ways, and does justice for the needy, and he adds that God looks after the righteous and does not protect the wicked. He exalted God to belittle and attack Job.
(2) God’s Exalted Power (V17-23)
Elihu’s reference to God’s great power refers to the fact that God’s strength is very strong and mighty, and that no one is as mighty and powerful as God. He pointed out that Job was full of criticism and was an evil man, because God is full of wisdom and power, and He did not let Job out of his affliction, so he concluded that God was rebuking Job.
(3) God is Greatest (V24-33)
Elihu describes what God has done as great, the greatest in the world. He exalted the power of God to oppress Job, believing that Job was presuming to talk to God, saying that he was righteous, had not sinned, and had been wronged by God, for Elihu felt that this was not reasonable at all.
Elihu had a strong knowledge of God, but he used it in the wrong place because he used God’s greatness to justify man’s sin. This is a reminder to us that we don’t need to use our own knowledge and experience to prove anything, for the Holy Spirit Himself will move.
Elihu describes the power of God as progressive in the original text, Verse 5 is Strong, verse 22 is Power, and verse 24 is Magnify Increase.
Conclusion: Man’s limitation always limits God’s unlimitedness!
We need to be especially attentive when ministering comfort to people. Pray and submit to the Holy Spirit and God’s leading in all things. We don’t need to fight for God and denigrate the other person with much of God’s power, as this perhaps becomes a negative element, well wanting to be a help to the devil.
Be quiet and know that He is God. Ask God to help us and guide us to say the right things at the right time.