Job 35:8–9: “Your wickedness affects a man such as you [Job], and your righteousness a son of man. Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; they cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.”

December 30th, 2023 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Because Job claimed that he had examined himself and found nothing worthy of such extreme punishment from God, Elihu accused him of being full of pride. And verbally attacked him for it for some time. Job’s friends’ incorrect worldview that a person suffered only because of their sin, made them unable to sympathize or encourage Job. Although sinful actions do reap consequences, we live in a world where both the innocent and the guilty suffer. Elihu went on to say that Job’s wickedness was affecting not only himself but others as well. Elihu was correct, our sins do affect those around us, but so do our righteous acts. People are watching us, and they are influenced by what we say and do.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told the crowd gathered by the Sea of Galilee that believers are the salt of the world (Matt. 5:13). At that time, salt was so valuable it was used as part of the salary for Roman solders. Salt makes food taste better, adding flavor. Without salt, some foods are tasteless and boring. We all need our lives flavored by God’s grace and mercy so that we can be the flavor of Christ in the world around us. Pastor G. Campbell Morgan said, “The world needs salt because it is corrupt and it needs light because it is dark.”

I love the story of the king who called for his 3 daughters and asked each one how much she loved him. Two of them answered that they cared for him more than all the gold and silver in the world, but the youngest said that she loved him like salt. The king wasn’t pleased with her answer, as he considered salt to be of very little value. The cook who overheard the conversation knew that the child’s reply had more significance than the father imagined. She dared not speak to the king, but planned a subtle way to emphasize the true meaning of the young girl’s words. The next morning at breakfast, she withheld the salt from everything she served. The meal was so bland the king didn’t enjoy it at all, and it was in that moment that he realized the full force of his daughter’s remark.

“LORD, help us to maintain actions and words today that encourage people toward You and not away from You.”

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Job 35 KJV

¹ Elihu spake moreover, and said, ² Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s? ³ For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and , What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?  ⁴ I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.  ⁵ Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. ⁶ If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? ⁷ If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? ⁸ Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. ⁹ By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. ¹⁰ But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; ¹¹ Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? ¹² There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. ¹³ Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. ¹⁴ Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. ¹⁵ But now, because it is not so , he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity:   ¹⁶ Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.