A Framework for Faith/Spiritual Disciplines

The King who rules over cold and heat,/my true King who watches over me...

  - Anonymous, Saltair na Rann (Irish, 9th-10th century)

"Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God."

  - Job 37.14

I've been meditating the past several days on the character of Elihu in the book of Job. Most commentators I have consulted dismiss him as a fairly insignificant character with nothing much to add to the primary message of the book.

But it seems strange that an insignificant character would be given a place in the final act of this drama of such considerable length, and addressing all the players on the stage.

My developing sense is that Elihu is something of a Christ figure. He advocates for the honor and greatness of God. He convicts Job's friends of their heartlessness, and Job of his hubris. And he joins his own words with the "voice" of creation to bear witness to the majesty and mystery of God. His words provide an excellent run-up to God's confrontation with Job in chapters 38-41.

Elihu insists that Job could have saved himself a lot of fretting and fuming if he'd only taken the time to stop and consider the character of God as revealed in the works of His hands. The many daily details of the creation speak of God's beauty, goodness, wisdom, power, and faithfulness. His steadfast love fills all the earth, and, if we could but see and experience it as God intends, we would find the strength to be able to bear up under even the most trying circumstances.

But we, like Job, are not willing to stop and consider the wondrous works of God. The anonymous author of the Saltair felt the heat and cold on his skin, and he took these as tokens of the constant presence and unfailing faithfulness of God. The God Who warmed him when he was cold and cooled him when he was warm would never fail to care for him, no matter how great his need.

We look to Jesus for salvation, sanctification, and the promise of eternal life. We want everything Jesus has to give us, so that we can know the fullness of God and enjoy all the blessedness of our relationship with Him.

And yet Jesus, echoing Elihu, tells us to "consider the lilies." What are we missing - of God's greatness, goodness, wisdom, and might  - that Jesus and Elihu want us to know?

Today at The Fellowship of Ailbe

The Pastors' Fellowship - Pastors, this month we'll be discussing "The Pastor's Self-watch." Seating is free, but limited. Sign up today.

Free Download - This month's free download, "Windows on Truth," offers additional advice on how to improve your vision of and relationship with God.

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T. M. Moore, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.