Job 37 Be Exalted Oh God!

Daily Bible Study for Tuesday June 21, 2016

By: Hanny Lynn Stearns

Fish – N – Loaves Ministries

Multiplying God’s Word around the Globe!

Chapter Reading for Today: Please read in your Bible before proceeding. Note that most translations are considered paraphrases. The Young’s Literal Translation provides a more accurate translation since he is the one who authored a concordance. Others are helpful for seeing a different perspective, but we cannot always depend on their wording. I hope this is helpful to you. If you are studying in another version, that is fine. I am studying from the KJV, but for the purpose of this study, I will keep it with the New King James Version. One final note: I will put the scripture in italics to differentiate from my own writing. I am adding red to the letters when it is Jesus talking – just like the Bible. Thank you. 

Bible Gateway Verse of the Day

Psalm 91:1

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Psalm 100:4

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

and into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Song:  I Exalt Thee

Be Exalted Oh God!

After a confrontation like this about the power and majesty of God, it would make anybody sit down and shut up – amen?! I mean really! What can we say to this? God is so great and awesome and powerful. And who are we or what can we do compared to Him? Let’s see what He wants to reveal in today’s lesson. Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father;

When we consider the works of Your hands and the way You alone hold everything in this world and life together, it is indeed too awesome to comprehend. You are great and greatly to be praised. Show us how we can respect who You are and all You do more. I ask You to speak to me and through me in this study Lord. May Your word come forth as You use my mind, my heart and my hands to bring out Your will in this, unhindered and unchecked by any outside force or my flesh. Father, this is far too great for any of us to grasp. May Your Holy Spirit give us the wisdom, revelation and personal application we need as we study today – in Jesus name I pray. Amen.

As Elihu continued speaking to Job, he said that considering all God does makes his heart skip a beat. Does that describe you? How often do we as His children sit quietly and look out at the afternoon and evening sky and ponder how great our God is? How many times do we welcome a new sunrise as a precious gift from the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth? When we drive along the road passing the beautiful flowers and trees and hear the sweet sounds of the birds singing every note just right, do we think about the One who helps them all dance together in creation to bring joy to a man’s heart?

How many times have you seen a mother animal feeding her young, or watched as the beasts of the field frolicked and played with joyful excitement at the work of His hands? How many days do we wake up and say thank You Father for all the wonderful things that You are and for giving me my every breath today? In our busy lives, how many times do we sit down and just take a break from it all to rock in the chair with Jesus and consider the greatness of His love and all that it means? Surely these thoughts can overwhelm the human mind if we allowed it to, couldn’t’ it? 

How often have you just missed an accident or avoided a slip and fall and thought, “I know that was You Lord, bearing me up lest I dash my foot against a stone!” When we look at little children running and playing with innocent joy and eager expectation in each and every moment, do we stop our minds long enough to see the glory of God in it? What about when the thunder and lightning are screaming across the sky with earth shaking power? Do we consider the One who can direct its path with the tip of His finger? 

When it is hot and dry and the rain seems to arrive at just the right moment, do we look up and thank Him for making our lives more comfortable by bringing the rain? And what about the gentle warm summer breezes that faithfully show up each year at just the right time to usher in a new season of life and relief from the cold? He who commands the weather about what direction to take also holds our every breath in His mighty nostrils. Who can fathom the wonder and works of His hands?

How often do we little humans made up from a lump of clay look up and just stand in awe of our Father in heaven? Indeed the hand of every man shall know the workings of God. It is He who gives man the ability to create products and make a living from them. It is God who shows the artist exactly how to paint the scenery just right, making every last brushstroke a magnificent work of art. Or what about those giant old buildings in Europe and beyond that have inexplicable layers of artwork chiseled into their ceilings? Who moved their minds and hands to bring such awesome beauty to reality?  It is all God! Strong and mighty – great and powerful.

It is the Lord who assigns the beasts of the field their proper places to lay their heads in slumber. It is the Lord who tells them when their food is ready for the pickin’. In verse 14 Elihu gave Job a word of advice that we would all do well to take…

Job 37:14

“Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wondrous works of God.

Let’s look at some other verses that show us the power, wonder and majesty of God…

1 Chronicles 29:11& 12

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and You are exalted as head over all.

Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.

Psalm 147:5

Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite.

Nahum 1:3

The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked. The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet.

Matthew 24:30

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

What would happen if all of God’s children would take a trip to heaven for a day and look down at the earth from the perspective at the throne? Would we be concerned about all these little matters that seem to consume us day by day? Would we worry and fret like usual in the awesome presence of the Lord? Or would we be so engulfed by His power and love that everything on the earth would just melt away like a long past memory?

When we travel in airplanes we get to see the earth below us from a different perspective, don’t we. As we climb 36,000 feet into the beautiful God designed skies draped with dancing clouds here and there, how small does the world beneath our gaze become? All the houses look like tiny matchboxes and cars look like the size of ants. And then in a few moments, it’s gone – far behind us as we roar through the skies at 500-600 MPH.

Elihu asked Job some seriously unanswerable questions, didn’t he? And I suppose I am led to do the same today saints. Glory to God! Questions like, “Do you know how God does what He does to the clouds, or how He balances them?”  (My paraphrase) Or what about this one? “Were you there with God when He stretched out the skies?” That’s enough to make any man clam up, don’t you think?! LOL! Really saints. Doesn’t it make you and I stop and think about how big God really is? And if He is so big, why do we make the small things of this earth so big when compared to Him they are like the size of an ant or even smaller?

Isn’t the big question in all our lives something like this, “How much do you exalt God in your life?” When we see God who is a consuming fire at the throne in our hearts and minds, what could withstand that heat? That power? That rulership and authority? The answer is simple – nothing! Even atheists know in their minds that there is a Creator. Eternity has been written on their hearts – they cannot deny it and darkness will not cover their stubborn refusals to submit to a higher authority. Let’s look at a picture right now…

Saints, this picture was taken by the Hubble telescope. God said in His word that He would show us signs and wonders in the heavens in these last days…

Acts 2:19

I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath: blood and fire and vapor of smoke.

He is so awesome friends – so big and so awesome. And in all His power He is that much loving, kind, generous, giving, and caring – and, well, I could go on and on. But sadly in our world today it is not God who is being exalted. It is flesh. People have become proud and arrogant. They think they ‘have it all going on’ in their own strength. They think they control the universe in which they exist without ever looking past the end of their noses. 

Many who even believe in God think very little of who He is and what He does for them every day. Even in many churches we see the people being exalted as folks go here and there to see this preacher or worship team or that one. When they can’t see who they want at a given church, they won’t even show up. They are not looking for God – they are seeking flesh.

But what if more people considered the greatness of God in all of existence? What if they really understood that every breath is truly in His hands? What if they knew it was Him keeping our earth at just the right place in orbit and the sun just the right distance from the earth so we wouldn’t all fry like fish on a hot Florida beach in July?

It would be laughable if it weren’t so sad; but people think of themselves more highly than God Himself. And as a result their lives are a mess. It is a known fact that those who love and honor God are satisfied with long life while those who do not have their lives cut short…

Psalm 91:14-16

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

Proverbs 2:22

But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.

So what does it mean to ‘exalt’ God anyway? Let’s look at one of the definitions in the Webster’s Dictionary 1828 Edition…

To elevate in estimation and praise; to magnify; to praise; to extol. He is my father's God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2.

In order for us to approach God at any time, we must humble ourselves while we exalt Him – or lift Him to the highest position. We must respect and honor Him. And when we approach Him like that we are on the right footing. But look at the man who doubts…

James 1:5-8

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Going to God without faith is pointless. We might as well be approaching a brick wall because that is all the further we will get – head on into a wall. God expects to be honored and feared. We must believe that He is…

Hebrews 11:6

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.

Many try to approach God in some sort of prayer every day in total unbelief of who He really is and what He can really do. They are speaking like a wind blowing through a strange town. It is not getting results. God tells us we need to honor Him…

1 Samuel 2:30b

for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.

Who really wants to be “lightly esteemed” by God? Well, the fact is that some just don’t care. In fact that describes the majority on the planet today. They do not love God nor do they believe in Him or what He can do and they do not show respect or honor to Him. Many give more honor to the President of the United States than they do God. For others it is their sports, hobbies, recreational activities, their families, or other forms of addictions and habits that they honor far and above God.

But what happens when they get into trouble? Think about the 9/11 tragedy. Many people were killed leaving countless family members, friends and coworkers reeling in despair. And that two week time period showed a dramatic increase in church attendance across the country. But as time went on many folks just went back to living the way they always had. They just wanted God to step in for the tragedy and they wanted to know why it happened, but they never really wanted to know God’s heart. That is very, very SADD-U-CEE!

To exalt God is to place Him at a level of importance above every single thing, person or situation in our lives. It means to seek Him first and His righteousness.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

It means to love Him with all our hearts…

Mark 12:30

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

He loves us. He wants to help us. Elihu asked Job if he could teach them – that’s laughable. Who can teach us about God but God Himself? And while He is mighty in power and judgment and justice, He will not afflict. He is kind and loving. He is also a jealous God…

Exodus 20:5b

For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God

He desires that we love Him, seek Him and honor Him above all else. And that is doable saints – it really is doable. Many don’t think so but Jesus Himself said this…

Luke 6:40

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

Friends, if Jesus said we can be like Him, then we can. And one only needs to read the book of John as one example to see how much He exalted God. He never gave Himself credit for any miracle He ever did. He exalted God the Father in everything – check it out for yourself. Don’t take my word for it. Read your Bible. What Jesus said we can do we can do or else He never would have said it. So we are not supposed to be exalting our family or friends or anything but Him. We are to exalt God who is worthy to be praised at all times.

This should have us well prepared for tomorrow’s chapter where God will step into the scene and He Himself will be doing the talking to Job – and to us. Stay tuned…you won’t want to miss it.  

Questions:

What were some of the things that Elihu mentioned about God’s power and control?

Who tells the animals where to sleep and the rain when to fall?

In what ways can you personally drink in the majesty and power of God’s handiwork?

When is the last time you took the time to look at what God does in all creation and thank Him?

In what ways do you exalt God in your life? In what ways could you improve?

Psalm 46:10

 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!                         

There are three main points to consider from today’s study…

 God is strong and powerful above all else

God commands the weather, the beasts and the seasons

God desires to be exalted above all else in our lives

 Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for all that You are and all You do each and every day for Your people. You hold our very breath in Your hands. Father, help me to remember that after all You have done, any situation I place in Your hands is no problem for You to handle. Show me how I can exalt You more in my life and bring glory to You like Jesus did. In Jesus name I pray. Amen! 

In what ways are you exalting God in front of others?

And God Said… You fill in the blanks.

    

Psalm 57:5-11

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.

They have prepared a net for my steps;
My soul is bowed down;
They have dug a pit before me;
Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise.
Awake, my glory!
Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing to You among the nations.
For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
And Your truth unto the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
Let Your glory be above all the earth.