Who Do You Think You Are? Biblical Instructions for Godly Wisdom
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Biblical Instructions for Godly Wisdom
Today’s message is going to contain a little sarcasm—a lot of scripture
Job 38
Don’t you love it when someone tells you how to do your job?
(illus. Katherine to VBS Volunteer…)
Especially when evident they have little to no clue of what they’re talking about?
But they’re accusing you of doing job wrong.
(illus. Mechanic…)
This is the situation in which we find Job.
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BACKGROUND
By our world’s standards, Job was a man’s man. A men among boys.
Opening verses of Ch.1 describe Job as a man of character.
Man of integrity. Devoted to God and family. Wealthy in all ways imaginable.
However, that world in which Job lived came crashing down before him.
Satan, in an act permitted by God, was personally responsible for the death of Job’s 10 children, all of his farm and land destroyed, his wealth utterly gone.
When Satan attacks, we must remember that God is allowing him to do so. Satan can do nothing without God’s permission.
He also saw to it that Job was covered from head to toe in festering sores.
Job’s wife then comes in and tells him to “Curse God and Die.”
Job finally loses it. Rips his robe, shaves his head and goes into a state of deep mourning and sorrow. Says absolutely nothing for 7 days…
From ch.3-ch.37, Job and friends go back and forth of why Job is having this experience and whether or not he deserves it…
Through many of Job’s discourses, he explains why his life is so horrible and how he doesn’t deserve what is happening to him… Moves into courtroom-style language of bringing charges to God.
Job is the plaintiff, God is the defendant…Job tells God just what he thinks.
During those chapters (ch.3-ch.37), God is silent…Just watching…
Finally, God had enough.
[Job 38:1-3 ESV] [1] Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: [2] "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? [3] Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
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Observation: God is not happy.
Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:
v.1 – Then the LORD answered Job out of the WHIRLWIND…
WHIRLWIND – (or TEMPEST) comes from the idea of a major crushing storm. Same type of storm that threatened to wreck the boat Jonah used to run from God.
Throughout the Old Testament, this was often a used when He was threatening to destroy a nation for their godlessness.
The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.
“For behold, the Lord will come in fire, and his chariots like the whirlwind, to render his anger in fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Now he’s coming at Job…
The next verse paints the picture.. v.2 – “WHO IS THIS…?”
God has heard all of Job’s rambling and accusations of the others toward him. He’s heard enough…
Modern terms: “WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?”
If God came to me in the way he did to Job, I may have an accident.
Job wanted God’s attention, He wasn’t expecting for God to get his in return.
1) GODLY WISDOM IS BRIDLED BY THE PRESENCE OF UNGODLY IGNORANCE
1) GODLY WISDOM IS BRIDLED BY THE PRESENCE OF UNGODLY IGNORANCE
“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
v.2 – Who is this that darkens counsel with words without knowledge
God is asking this because of Job’s attempt in previous chapters to explain away the purpose of his circumstances.
Job had silenced, but had not convinced his friends.
Elihu had silenced Job, but had not brought him to admit his guilt before God.
It pleased the Lord to interject at this moment.
“Who do you think you are, Job, that you would bring confusion around things you have no knowledge about? You’re only making things worse!”
There are things that God allows and does that have no human explanation.
If we try to explain the unexplainable, we only make things more confusing.
Matthew Henry on God’s Wisdom and Purposes
Matthew Henry – “They are a deep which we cannot fathom; we are quite out of our element, out of our aim, when we pretend to account for them. Yet we are too apt to talk of them as if we understood them, with a great deal of niceness and boldness; but, alas! we do but darken them, instead of explaining them. We confound and perplex ourselves and one another when we dispute of the order of God’s decrees, and the designs, and reasons, and methods, of his operations of providence and grace.”
Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
Things will happen in our lives which we won’t understand—why did God allow them?
Answer: FAITH
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
A humble, trusting faith as a child would have in their parent.
Jaxon trusts me that I would never hurt him. If our children can do that, how much more should we have faith in our Father in heaven?
Job wasn’t expressing that kind of faith. He was trying to be a Man’s Man! This was why he got this reply…
Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
Job, you want to act like a man? Stand up, put your big boy pants on and let’s see how much of a man you are.
What we read next should probably humble the most prideful of people
God is about to show Job how much he doesn’t know.
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,
when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb,
when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,
and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors,
and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?
Job 38:4-… (make sure they get the point)
For next 2 chapters, God lays into Job, revealing just a small portion of God’s wisdom it took for creation. God was going to make sure Job got the point as well.
The Lord, in this discourse, humbles Job, and brings him to repent of his passionate expressions concerning God’s providential dealings with him.
God does this, by calling upon Job to compare God’s infinite, eternal being, with his own finite being;
God’s knowledge of all things, with his own ignorance;
God’s almighty power, with his own weakness.
When we misconstrue counsels of God’s wisdom with our folly, is a great provocation to God.
Humble faith and sincere obedience see farthest and best into the will of the Lord.
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2) GODLY WISDOM MAY BEGIN AT THE PERCEPTION OF GOD-LESS IGNORANCE
2) GODLY WISDOM MAY BEGIN AT THE PERCEPTION OF GOD-LESS IGNORANCE
And the Lord said to Job:
“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
I won’t spend much time on this…
Job got the point, he recognized his ignorance.
Even to the point of saying, “Lord, I’m just going to keep my mouth shut. I’ll even put my hand over it to make sure no more ignorance peeps out.”
They didn’t have duct tape in the OT, or else he probably would have referenced that.
When we realize that what we’re saying or what we’re doing is not honoring to God, then Godly wisdom may begin in our lives.
It only begins, though, when we repent, or turn away from the ignorance we once held with such a strong grasp.
God was going to make sure Job saw his own ignorance even after his first reply. In the next two chapters, God again questions Job of ways far beyond Job’s understanding.
OUR WISDOM DOES NOT COME FROM HOW MUCH WE KNOW. IT COMES FROM A REALIZATION OF HOW MUCH WE DON’T KNOW.
Foundational verse from book of Provers… Book of Wisdom
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Spending time with the Lord will humble you, and makes you glad to part with the sins you cling to the most.
We need to be thoroughly convinced and humbled, to prepare us for God’s remarkable deliverances.
After God had shown Job of his ignorance of the works of nature, how unable he was to judge of the methods and designs of Providence, he puts a convincing question to him
“Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Now Job began to melt into godly sorrow: when his friends reasoned with him, he did not yield; but the voice of the Lord is powerful.
When the Spirit of truth comes, He convinces.
Job yields himself to the grace of God.
He owns himself an offender, and has nothing to say to justify himself.
He understands that he has sinned; and therefore he calls himself vile.
Repentance changes our opinion of ourselves.
Job is now convinced of his error.
Those who are truly sensible of their own sinfulness and vileness, dare not justify themselves before a holy and righteous God.
Job perceived that he was a poor, mean, foolish, and sinful creature, who ought not to have uttered one word against God.
One glimpse of God’s holy nature is appalling to the most stubborn rebel.
How, then will the wicked bear the sight of his glory at the day of judgment?
But when we see this glory revealed in Jesus Christ, we shall be humbled without being terrified.
3) GODLY WISDOM BLOOMS FROM THE PRUNING OF GOD-LESS IGNORANCE
3) GODLY WISDOM BLOOMS FROM THE PRUNING OF GOD-LESS IGNORANCE
Job got the picture.
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
“I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you;
therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
This is the response from the heart of a man who has been humbled by God.
A man who realizes that he can do nothing apart from God.
“Who do I think I am?” I am nothing, and you are everything God.
Job was now sensible of his guilt; he would no longer speak in his own excuse; he abhorred himself as a sinner in heart and life, especially for complaining against God, and took shame to himself.
When our understanding is enlightened by the Spirit of grace, our knowledge of Divine things as far exceeds what we had before.
By the teachings of men, God reveals his Son to us; but by the teachings of his Spirit he reveals his Son in us, Ga 1:16, and changes us into the same image, 2Co 3:18.
It is vital for us to be deeply humbled for the sins of which we are convinced.
The Lord will bring those whom he loveth, to adore him in humility; while true grace will always lead them to confess their sins in repentance without self-justifying.
Billy, how do I know what I need to repent from. How do I know what needs to be fixed?
Scripture gives us the answer in Colossians.
IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND PRUNE IT (CUT IT AWAY).
IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM AND PRUNE IT (CUT IT AWAY).
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
CLOTHE YOURSELF IN RIGHTEOUSNESS & WISDOM
CLOTHE YOURSELF IN RIGHTEOUSNESS & WISDOM
Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
(PRAYER)