Job 22: 15 – 30
The Wonderful Counselor
15 Will you keep to the old way which wicked men have trod, 16 who were cut down before their time, whose foundations were swept away by a flood? 17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?’ 18 Yet He filled their houses with good things; but the counsel of the wicked is far from me. 19 “The righteous see it and are glad, and the innocent laugh at them: 20 ‘Surely our adversaries are cut down, and the fire consumes their remnant.’ 21 “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. 22 Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart. 23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; You will remove iniquity far from your tents. 24 Then you will lay your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. 25 Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver; 26 For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. 27 You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. 28 You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. 29 When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person. 30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”
Why is it that we always focus on other people sins and not so much our own? In the Gospel of John chapter 24 we see this fact brought out. Picture yourself back in the time when our Lord Jesus walked amongst us. As a follower of Jesus the Messiah you have had the benefit and joy of seeing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ alive after having sacrificed His life on the cross. Now the good question I know we all would ask ourselves is what I do now that He has returned to Heaven. It would have been nice if our Lord spoke to us or gave us a note saying here is what I have in store for you but He did not do this. So what do you do now? I think most people would just go back to their old ways. Most likely they would go back to their old jobs. This is what most, if not all of the Lord’s disciples did. Since they were fishermen this is what they turned back to. Our Lord Jesus however had other plans for them as we read in the Gospel of John chapter 21.
1 After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: 2 Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9 Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11 Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. 13 Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14 This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.
Our Lord Jesus had given to Peter his life’s course and how it would end. He said in a few words that Peter would be a leader of the other disciples and that it would come with great responsibilities. He was to feed the Lord’s people with the word of God. At the end of his ministry of service to the Lord he would be arrested and sentenced to death. He would receive the same judgment – death on a cross. Historical writers tell us that Peter asked his executioners if he could be crucified upside down because he was not worthy to die the same way as our Lord did.
I am sure you noted that after hearing this from the Lord he was interested in what the Lord would do to someone else. He was referring to John. Please notice our Lord’s response to Peter’s question. Our Lord Jesus told Peter, ‘You worry about yourself. Do not worry what course I have for John.’
Someone might ask, ‘Well I surely worry about my love ones. Is this also wrong?’ My answer is ‘no’ it isn’t. Your concern is for your loved ones eternal destiny. You want and hope they will recognize the Lord Jesus for Who He really Is- The Son of God Who poured out His Precious Blood and died on the cross and rose again for our forgiveness. You want them to be with you for eternity. How the Lord works out to get them to believe in Him is in His hands.
15 Will you keep to the old way which wicked men have trod 16 who were cut down before their time, whose foundations were swept away by a flood?
We have witnessed how Eliphaz had endeavored to convict Job by listing what he believed was Job’s sins. Now he tries to awaken Job to examine his misery as being brought on by his sin. He does so by comparing his case with that of the evil men who lived in the past. He is going to say to Job ‘you think your condition is bad now, if you do not repent, it will be far worse as befell on those evil people of old. Their judgment was dealt with by God by destroying them in the flood. Afterwards other evil people in Sodom and Gomorrah perished when fire and brimstone fell from Heaven.
There is a truth here that we should also consider least we go the same way as they did. From the Bible we learn that one day these evil people thought they were on top of the world and in an instance they were swept away like a flood and their time on earth was ended.
Our Precious Holy Master Jesus expanded on this truth when He taught this and recorded by Matthew in chapter 7 of his Gospel. 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
As you know our bodies are referred to as a house. He Is the ‘Rock’ that we need to build our lives upon. If we do not heed this warning then the outcome will not be too pleasant. It will end in destruction.
17 They said to God, ‘Depart from us! What can the Almighty do to them?’
The bible says that the fear of God is the beginning of knowledge. Now that our Precious Holy God has opened our eyes to know and understand Who He Is, it is almost unbelievable the attitude of people in their opinion of the existence of a Holy Creator and Ruler. They refuse to be swayed in their beliefs. They basically take a position of insulting our Precious and Magnificent Loving God. They say, ‘If God is real I dare Him to do something to me.’
Here is a question asked by a skeptic. ‘I am very spiritual but do not believe the Bible is the Word of God. The Bible is the word of man. How are we supposed to believe what is written? It is a ridiculous idea that we believe everything that man said was the Word of God. You were probably raised in the Christian faith and are repeating what has been drummed into your head since the day you were born, fearing wavering from what you have been told. Have you studied all religions (outside of Christianity, I mean) and then made an educated decision on what you believe? And still even if you had, which I highly doubt, you are going to believe everything that is written down by man as to be the word of God? I think this is insulting to God. Maybe He doesn’t approve of the Bible and what it says. How do we know? “
How would you respond? How about this for an answer?
At times I wonder if people when making such accusations realize that they do the same exact actions they are criticizing. With this question I would like to put forth that a lot of assumptions are being made without proof as most people who do not want to do the research on religions and just think they have an idea of gods made up by their own mind. To research all religions in depth in a lifetime would be difficult, especially if you include all the sects within a religion. In Christianity there is an estimated 3,000 divisions, of which there is only one true Christian religion, whose start is mentioned in Acts chapter 2 of the Bible. There is only one faith, one body (church), and one God. This truth is quoted from the book of Ephesians chapter 4, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
Many Christian denominations no longer follow the Bible or never did in the first place. For the most part of their organizations in our present existence, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Pentecostals, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, etc. follow creeds and beliefs of men not found in God’s Word; the Bible itself is foreign to them. Most religions claim to have some spiritual understanding, but they are unable to prove their point. Most religions claim something with no proof in history, science, or prophecy to back up their claims. But God’s Word itself has been proven throughout the ages through archeological digs, prophecy coming true, science that supports its claims, etc. These evidences point to the God, who is mentioned in the Bible, as being behind the writings. Even the Apostle Paul states that the creation itself is a witness that there is a God. In the book of Romans chapter 1 it says, “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools”. You might say that is pretty strong language. Well yes it is because that is exactly how the bible spells it out as described in the book of Psalms 14, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” they are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good.”
God wants us to find him. His creation testifies to us that He is real, and I am happy since as you stated you believe in God, I imagine you admit to a higher power creating the world. In the book of Hebrews chapter 11 we read in verse 6 this, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He Is, and that He Is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” God tells us if we diligently seek Him He will reward us. He will let Himself be known and will help us find the truth because God wishes no one to perish. Before I comment further I would like you to pick up this challenge. Try reading the bible from cover to cover and pray and ask God Almighty to reveal Himself to you. After you have done this I would like you again to contact to me and let me know that you still maintain your same thoughts.
I was not raised in a Christian home. In college I did take classes on the religions of the world. I am that type of guy that likes facts not feelings. I searched all these issues out, and found the Bible to be sound in every area. It actually made me realize how awesome God Is -- how He Is Perfect and Good. He doesn’t make mistakes and that He cared enough about you and me to let us learn about Him and love Him, just as He loved us.
I desired to know if there was any historical evidence to could show me that the Bible is of God. The Bible not only claims to be God’s word but every historical fact that can be found out about it through digs and manuscripts (writings) has all proven God’s word to be true. For example the disciple Luke who is credited in writing the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts names 32 countries, 54 cities, 9 islands, hundreds of details in the book of Acts, without a single error. His listing of historical facts is unsurpassed in respect of its trustworthiness.”
Another area of interest in Christianity is its ‘prophecies.’ "Prophecy affords a powerful base of evidence that corroborates the Scriptures’ claim of divine origin. Scholars suggest that there are about 1,000 prophecies altogether in the Bible — some 800 in the Old Testament, and about 200 in the New Testament. Consider the following broad categories of prophetic data.
There are prophecies that are categorized as ‘National Prophecies’ that detail, centuries in advance, the fortunes and fates of nations. When the Babylonian empire was at its zenith, with utterly no military and political weakness apparent, Daniel foretold its demise, along with the subsequent rise of the Medo-Persians, Greeks, and Romans (see Daniel 2, 7). No one could have dreamed that these international events would occur. And yet they did, as every student of history knows. The prophecies are so astounding that radical critics have felt compelled to re-date the book of Daniel (placing it in the second century B.C.), so as to suggest “history” instead of “prophecy.”
Some Old Testament prophecies deal specifically with individual persons. The role of Josiah (cf. I Kings 13, II Kings 23) was prophesied three centuries before the king’s birth. The mission of Cyrus, King of Persia (to deliver Judah from Babylonian Captivity), also was described 150 years before the illustrious ruler came to the throne (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-7).
The Old Testament contains more than 300 prophecies that focus upon the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. He was to be the woman’s seed (Genesis 3:15), from the lineage of Abraham (Genesis 22:17-18), born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), to the virgin (Isaiah 7:14), etc. An excellent Mathematician by the name of Peter Stoner estimated that the odds of one person accidentally fulfilling just eight of the many Old Testament prophecies regarding the Messiah is on the order of 1 in 1017 — a figure far beyond circumstantial possibility.”
I find that God’s Word is never wrong. God doesn’t ask people to believe with blind faith. He gives evidence in His word and throughout all creation. He spoke to mankind in the past and delivered His message with evidence that it was from Him. I am a lousy mechanic. If I wind up with problems I take it back to the dealer. These individuals have an interest in repairing vehicles and have the knowledge to fix my car. I watch them look at the mechanics book that deals with my type of car to get more information. In a way this is what our Great God has done. He did not leave us here on earth not knowing what to do. He has also given us a repair manual – The Bible. Please make it your desire to find out exactly what He has said.
18 Yet He filled their houses with good things; but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
Many times we are dumbfounded to see how much evil people seem so blessed by God while we who are His children are having hard times. It doesn’t make any sense. The solution to this problem lies in our thinking. In truth our Holy Master has been kind to us. Sure we see evil people who seem to be on top of the world and this is okay. For us, we need to stop and understand that this place is not our home. We are only passing through. Our Great God Is A Living and Good God. To keep our minds on the right track we need to take heed to His Word. In the book of 2 Samuel chapter 22 we see just a small example of how Wonderful El Shaddai [Almighty God] Is to us, “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He Is a shield to all who trust in Him.”
19 “The righteous see it and are glad, and the innocent laugh at them
We are made righteous because of our Holy Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore we shall see the wicked destroyed, that is, observe it, and take notice of it; and we shall be glad, not because we see other humans getting their just rewards, but to see our Great and Holy God glorified, the word of God fulfilled, the power of oppressors broken, and thereby the oppressed relieved—to see sin shamed, atheists and God haters confounded, and fair warning given to all others to turn from their wicked ways. In the book of Hosea chapter 14 verse 9 we learn, “Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but transgressors stumble in them.”
20 ‘Surely our adversaries are cut down, and the fire consumes their remnant.’
He is a truth that will come true. Ultimately the wicked will be dealt with. The fiery wrath of the Lord in His timing will deal with them when their wickedness in full. As a result even their offspring because of their sin will also perish. We see this described in Psalm 9 verse 5, “You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. “
I have worked for some pretty mean individuals. Over my life time I have been severely insulted, berated, and picked on. Some of these verbal attacks I guess I deserved. Many I did not deserve. Have you ever experienced when a boss has ripped you from head to toe for no good reason, comes back to you later and instead of apologizing just acts lighthearted with you? As the Bible says, it is strange thing that out of the same mouth and almost in the same breath, both sweet waters and bitter should proceed, This type of hypocrisy is not well received by you but as the underling you just smile and continue on. In a similar way for the rest of this chapter Eliphaz tries to explain to Job the happiness he will get if he does repent.
21 “Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace; Thereby good will come to you. 22 Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart.
It is the duty and interest of every human being to acquaint himself with God. We must get the knowledge of Him, fix our affections on Him, join ourselves to him in the covenant of friendship He established by His Sacrifice on the cross, and then set up, and keep up, a constant communication with Him in the ways He has appointed. However, all this advice was built upon a false supposition that Job was a wicked man and now a stranger and enemy to God.
We need to examine ourselves before we give out any advice. The book of 2 Timothy chapter 3 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,” The problem you face however is to have the wisdom to know which way you should utilize God’s Holy Word.
23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; You will remove iniquity far from your tents. 24 Then you will lay your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks. 25 Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver; 26 For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. 27 You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. 28 You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways. 29 When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person. 30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”
The book of Hebrews chapter 4 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.’
So, if someone has come to you for advice you know without a doubt that the Word of God is the answer to help the person. You get someone who has confessed that they cannot think of anything they have done as sin. Will you just ignore their words and just believe that they have sinned and are not telling you the whole story. To do this is not right. Look at the advice again Eliphaz is giving to Job and turn it around and make it beneficial. Let’s do it together.
Counselor Eliphaz – “23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up; You will remove iniquity far from your tents.”
Doctor Saint = I know and you know that God Is Good in how He thinks about you. Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11 our Holy Father says this about you, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
I like what it says in Proverbs 16 verse 3, “Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts will be established. When we do not know what is going on we need to just sit and meditate on His word and He will speak to you relative to all that is going on in your life.
Counselor Eliphaz – ‘24 Then you will lay your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks.’ 25 Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver;
Doctor Saint – You know they say money can cure all kinds of trouble. But in all truth when you are hurting they do not mean a thing. God Is The Wonderful Counselor. He is quite aware of all that you are struggling with and gives comfort to you through this storm. He says in the 119 Psalm verse 72, “The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver. This is what we all need.
Counselor Eliphaz - 26 For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. 27 You will make your prayer to Him, He will hear you, and you will pay your vows. 28 You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; So light will shine on your ways.
Doctor Saint – My two favorite scripture are Psalm 37 verse 4 that says, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.’ Also, the words of the Lord’s favorite earthly king David who said this in Psalm 118 verse 5, “I called on the LORD in distress; The LORD answered me and set me in a broad place.’ These are promises the Lord made to you and me His child. Here is where freedom and the solution to all things.
Counselor Eliphaz - 29 When they cast you down, and you say, ‘Exaltation will come!’ Then He will save the humble person. 30 He will even deliver one who is not innocent; Yes, he will be delivered by the purity of your hands.”
Doctor Saint – Again I think of David. He was a guy who loved the Lord since his youth. He made mistakes and sinned just like you and me. Interestingly he did not have any counselors to go to for advice. In a way this was a great advantage because the only one he knew to turn to was The Lord Most High. So after seeking the Lord and gaining control of his thoughts he reveals to us a way out of despair. Psalm 42 verse 5 is, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of His countenance. And David sets his heart and mind that it is our Holy Lord and no other Who will deliver us from all problems so he will wait upon Him. Psalm 39 verse 7 teaches “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You.”
