God’s Songs in the Night

5 June 2022 PM – Job 32-37 – Job2022 – Scott Childs
Introduction: As you study the book of Job, a question you will inevitably ask is “Who was Elihu?” He was not one of Job’s friends. He was a young man. He seems a bit cocky. Why did God not rebuke him as He did Job’s three friends? His view of suffering is distinct from that of the three friends, and his view of God is higher than theirs. (Zuck, 141) “The three counsellors had claimed that Job was suffering because he was sinning, but Elihu explained that he was sinning because he was suffering! … The triad diagnosis pertained to sinful actions in Job’s past experiences, whereas Elihu’s diagnosis dealt with sinful attitudes in Job’s present life.” (Ibid) Evidently, Elihu spoke truth and prepared Job for the conversation God was about to have with him.
In Job 35:10, we read, “But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night?” Night here pictures the dark, painful, trials and burdens of life. God alone can give songs of joy during the dark of night. Like Job, during trials, we may fail to look for the songs God gives in the night.
Transition: As we consider an overview of Elihu’s words to Job, I want us to see three important truths that will lead us to “God’s songs in the night” when we are afflicted.
  1. God’s direction gives us a song in the night (Job 33)
a.         Before the Bible was complete, God had other ways to direct men.
1)         God used dreams to direct (Job 33:15-18). God used dreams and visions to instruct men. God desired to keep men from pride and to keep him from destruction. When God’s instruction makes a person better, it is a song in the night.
2)         God used pain to get men’s attention (Job 33:19-22). Pain has a way of getting us to think. When enduring pain, we lose our appetite and get thin. Our thoughts turn to eternity because of our illness. If this draws us closer to God, it too becomes a song in the night.
3)         God used angels to give insight (Job 33:23-33). These messengers proclaimed God’s Word. They delivered him and led him to God’s ransom. God’s Word refreshed, motivated prayer, and offered men God’s righteousness (33:26). God used His Word to bring men back to the right path (33:29-30).
b.         We now have the Bible to direct our steps
1)         The psalmist sang, (Psalms 119:105) “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.“
2)         Today, we hold God’s completed Bible in our hands. During the night seasons, when trials, burdens, hardships and sorrows darken our lives, we must turn to God’s Word for “songs in the night” that will give direction and comfort. (Psalms 119:28) “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” (2 Peter 1:19) “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:“
2.        God’s justice gives us a song in the night (Job 34-35)
a.         Job felt like God was unjust toward him
1)         He felt that he was righteous and that God had not judged him justly (34:5-6).
a)         When troubles come our way, we too are tempted to think that God is being unfair.
b)         When tempted to think like that, we must remember that if God gave us what we deserved, we would all be in hell. Even if our trial has nothing to do with our sin, God may be using it to mature us, make us more dependent on Him, and to make us more empathetic toward others. God actually told Paul this was the cause of his trial. (2 Corinthians 12:9) “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.“
2)         Based on his miserable condition, Job questioned whether it was at all profitable to delight himself in God (34:9). Satan puts these lying thoughts into our minds. When such thoughts enter our minds, we must claim the truths of Scripture. (1 Corinthians 15:58) “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4) “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.“
b.         God’s character is always just or right.
1)         God cannot be unjust, for He is God.
a)         He does no wickedness or commit iniquity (34:10).
b)         He justly rewards good and bad (34:11).
c)         He never perverts judgment (34:12).
d)         He is sovereign over all the earth (34:13).
e)         He controls life and death (34:14-15).
2)         He is far above earthly leaders. He is always impartial and just (34:16-20).
3)         His eyes see all things, even in the dark (34:21-22).
4)         He always judges men perfectly, thus needing no judgment in court to establish truth (34:23).
5)         He deals justly with men without additional investigation (34:24-27).
6)         He hears the cry of the afflicted (34:28).
7)         When He is quiet and does not condemn, no one else can overrule (34:29)
8)         When we begin to feel sorry for ourselves, we must reflect on who God really is. Of God, Moses wrote, (Deuteronomy 32:4) “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.“
c.          Our conduct never alters God’s justice (Job 35)
1)         God does not depend on us. His character never changes.
2)         If we sin or live righteously, neither changes the character of God (35:6-7). Our sins may hurt other people and offend God, but they do not change his just character (35:8).
3)         We must simply trust God (35:14).
3.        God’s might gives us a song in the night (Job 36-37)
a.         We must focus on God’s might during trials
1)         He is mighty in strength and wisdom (36:5)
2)         He gives right to the poor (36:6).
3)         He always watches over the righteous (36:7).
a)         He exalts them (36:7).
b)         He ministers to them when they are afflicted (36:8-9).
c)         He admonishes them to return if they go astray (36:10).
4)         God is exalted in his power and is the Teacher whom no one can teach (36:22-23).
5)         God is great, and we know very little about Him, for He is eternal (36:26).
b.         Focus on God’s might over events in nature
1)         He controls nature’s water cycle (36:27-28).
2)         He controls the clouds that block out the sun (36:29-32).
3)         God displays his might in the thunder and lightning (37:1-5).
4)         He governs the snow and rain (37:6)
5)         He seals up or freezes the earth in winter and causes animals to hibernate (37:7-8).
6)         He controls changes in the weather (37:9-12)
7)         We must “stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (37:14).
8)         God’s might and abilities surpass our comprehension. (Job 37:23) “Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.“
Conclusion: Life will have its share of dark nights of affliction; trials, pain and sorrow, but reflecting on God should give us songs in the night. When troubles come, we need to spend more time contemplating God’s direction, God’s justice, and God’s might. These are what will give us songs of praise to God during the dark nights of affliction.
Song: Praise Ye the Lord, the Almighty, 13