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Words without Knowledge - Job 38:2
Words without Knowledge - Job 38:2
“Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?" (Job 38:2)
How many conversations have begun "It seems to me that God wouldn't... "? It 'seemed' to the three friends that Job's situation necessarily implied that he was a great sinner. It 'seemed' to Job that God was afflicting him without proper cause. Even Elihu has no real clue when he 'speaks for God'. As they go on and on about what God does or doesn't do, God listens. It is a dangerous thing to speak for God.
"Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar" (Proverbs 30:5–6).
"There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
But, it is protested, we are not like 'them', WE are much more enlightened and intelligent. WE KNOW what God thinks. The simple truth is, we don't, except that we speak as the oracles of God. Paul's long section of 1 Corinthians 1-4 still rings true: For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God" (1 Corinthians 2:11). If we as men do not know each other's thoughts without them being revealed, even more so do we as men NOT know the thoughts of God.
The good news is that God has revealed himself unto us: "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God" (1 Corinthians 2:10). Paul also wrote "that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. By referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit" (Ephesians 3:3–5 ).
Too many people today are too much like Elihu: “I too will answer my share, I also will tell my opinion. “For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me. “Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, Like new wineskins it is about to burst. “Let me speak that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer" (Job 32:17–20).
Many today are just as 'full of words' but such often is just being 'full of self'.
This one thing surely should be learned by reading the book of Job. Religious discussions are often based upon man's wisdom and thus upon ignorance of God's revealed will.
