How should Job 35:15 influence our attitude towards God's perceived silence? Setting the Scene in Job 35 • Elihu is responding to Job’s frustration that God seems distant. • Job has cried, argued, and waited, yet heaven appears quiet (Job 30:20; 31:35). • Elihu rebukes the idea that God’s silence means indifference: “and further, that His anger never punishes and He does not take note of folly!” (Job 35:15). What Verse 15 Actually Says • God is not ignoring sin; He is withholding immediate judgment. • Divine restraint is mercy, not apathy (2 Peter 3:9). • Silence is not approval—every folly is still under His watchful eye (Psalm 94:9). Why We Misread God’s Quiet Moments • We equate delay with disinterest. • We confuse our timetable with God’s perfect schedule (Ecclesiastes 3:11). • We forget how often Scripture records long pauses before God answers (Genesis 16:16 → 17:1; John 11:6). Correcting Our Attitude toward Perceived Silence 1. Choose reverence over resentment – Remember “The LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him” (Habakkuk 2:20). 2. Anchor in His unchanging character – “He is the Rock, His work is perfect” (Deuteronomy 32:4). 3. Interpret delay as opportunity – For repentance (Romans 2:4). – For growth in endurance (James 1:2-4). 4. Keep speaking truth to the heart – “Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage” (Psalm 27:14). Supporting Scriptures on Divine Silence • Psalm 13:1 – David’s lament shows honest emotion, yet ends in trust. • Isaiah 30:15 – “In quietness and trust is your strength.” • Lamentations 3:25-27 – The Lord is good to those who wait for Him. • Micah 7:7 – “I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation.” Living the Lesson Today • Silence is God’s sovereign choice, never His absence. • A still heaven presses us to deeper faith, careful self-examination, and steadfast hope. • Job 35:15 calls us to drop accusations, stand in awe, and trust that the Judge who sees all folly will speak—and act—at the right time. |
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