13th December 2025

13th December 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 38v1-3)


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


Job had longed for an opportunity to speak directly to God and as soon as Elihu sat down, the Lord's voice began to thunder (38v1). Although Job's wish was about to be fulfilled it would not be a conversation between equals. Throughout the Old Testament the Lord's appearance would often cause the world to tremble - the earth rocks in response to God's anger (Psalm 18v7), His voice comes with fire (Psalm 50v3), He is in the midst of wind, cloud and fire (Ezekiel 1v4), His way is in whirlwind and storm (Nahum 1v3) and He marches forth in the whirlwinds of the south (Zechariah 9v14). When the Lord appears, creation responds.


From a whirlwind the Lord asked Job "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" (38v2) Ouch! In simple terms, Job was speaking without knowing what he was talking about. I think it's important to note that the Lord's goal wasn't to destroy Job or to belittle Him. God was not filled with arrogance when He replied to Job. In fact, the mere act of Almighty God willingly lowering Himself to speak with one of His creatures was a sure sign of extraordinary grace. The Lord's purpose was to see Job restored and brought back from His arrogant assertions that God was silent, disinterested and unjust.


But the speaking of "words without knowledge" is a common human failing. How often have you spoken words about someone without being able to support them? How often have you climbed unto your soapbox and made a speech that later turned out to be built on sand? More importantly, how often have you spoken about the Lord without knowing or understanding the full picture?


Job would quickly discover that whilst he thought he knew it all, he actually knew so very little. God was much greater than Job could ever possibly imagine and He wasn't speaking from a place of limitation. The Lord knows all things and He has spoken to us by His Son Jesus - perhaps we need to learn the often forgotten practice of listening before speaking. As Solomon once wrote "Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord" (Proverbs 22v17-19).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q44 What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, that because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.
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