Is it wrong for us to say “we are righteous before God”? Why bother pursuing righteousness, if evil people are going to live even better than we do? What’s the point?
As I read this morning I have an image of God in heaven, looking down on the earth watching us scurry around back and forth doing both good and bad things. Elihu says that God is not influenced by what we do, but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t care. When we sin it offends God because He has chosen to connect Himself to us. Our lives are intertwined with the life-giver because He has chosen to make it so. He feels what we feel…unless what we feel is evil, then God feels only sadness for us, because He cannot be evil…or wrong.
If God didn’t care one way or the other about how we live our lives then it might make sense to be ruthless or selfish. But since He does care, and since He has told us that obedience to His laws will be rewarded with heaven, and disobedience will be punished with hell; we should behave accordingly.
But I don’t think that’s the point that Elihu is driving at. He is saying that God is so majestic, so powerful, so beyond knowing or searching out, that we should praise and obey Him regardless of what comes our way. Who are we to question what a being so powerful is doing? What makes us even consider that we would understand even if He told us? Perhaps the best that we can do is to praise Him and hope that He will be benevolent toward us. Fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10 and Psalm 111:10)
Because we have heard so much of God’s love and forgiveness in recent years we don’t think like this anymore. Not many people are saying “The Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him” (Psalm 11:4 and Habakkuk 2:20). In fact I know of a church where that was stenciled on the wall of the sanctuary and they had it removed.
I happen to agree that it’s probably not the best verse to hand in a contemporary sanctuary…I would have removed it as well. But the point is that we don’t focus much on the holiness and purity and power of God much. God is so far beyond us in all ways…His existence is more perfect than our own, His thoughts are purer and deeper, His will is beyond our searching out. His motives are beyond question or understanding. Who are we to demand anything before Him?
At the same time, we know that God has revealed Himself to us as a loving Father, so we have the privilege of coming to Him with every need and concern. If we find ourselves with questions or frustrations we can bring them to God and He will respond as He sees fit. It is wise however to remember that when you are presenting your case, or asking your question that you aren’t just talking to “Dad”, you are also addressing the omnipotent ruler of all creation.
Let your words be few and reverent. Ecc 5:2
Faithfully,
PR