Job's Heart Condition

[DesiredHaven]

These are pretty cool check this out

Job 2:3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, ( Prov 11:3, Job 2:9) although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause. (Job 9:17 also)

Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

There shows the temptation (which is) to curse God in Jobs flesh

So Satan struck him with boils

Job 2:8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal ; and he sat down among the ashes.

Being tempted to utter Satan's desire (towards him) through his own wife here too

Job 2:9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? (& Prov 11:3) curse God, and die. (Job 2:4)

Job 2:10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?

That always reminded me of this

2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

2Ti 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Satan... and the touching of his flesh and bone (along with the temptation) in respects to the cusring God

Touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.

Now Jobs wife (who is also his flesh and bone also) provoking Job to Satans expressed desire through his wife

Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

The Integrity of the upright

Prov 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of the transgressors shall destroy them.

Job 2:3... Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity .

Job 27:5 God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me.

Which would make sense...

Prov 11:3 The integrity ofthe upright shall guide them

Satan touched his own flesh and bone (his own physical body) but Satans expressed temptation through doing this would come through the voice of his wife (who is his own flesh and bone, Gen 2:23). She expresses impatience with his retaining his intergrity and she provokes him to curse God and die in Job 2:9 (which is actually Satan's desire for Job to do as he previosuly expressed to the LORD in Job 2:4). So in one sense its as if he is even speaking through his flesh and bone (hsi own wife) as if through the same permission to touch his flesh and bone (which really isnt his own body alone, but his own wife) Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. Somewhat like going through the woman in the garden (who was being decieved by the serpent ). Adam was chastised for hearkening unto the voice of his wife (his own flesh and bone), whereas Job is correcting his wife (speaking foolishly) in meekness according to 2 Ti 2:25-26 as she is actually doing the devil's bidding (towards her own husband). It just seems to mesh.

 

[SaintJoeNow]

God Himself called Job righteous and blameless.
I wouldn't argue with that One.

Job fulfilled the trials, by being blameless during the first, and by not cursing God in the second. The devil lost both bets.
However, Job did end up making a legal case against God for mistreatment, and fell into "rebellion" during the last trial. Up until that section, he had been blameless.
Notice in the end, that Job repented, and submitted to God, but never took back his legal case. He certainly expects vindication on Judgement Day, through his Redeemer.

Job completely renounced his whole legal case as self-justification. Elihu saw right through Job's whole argument, and also saw through Job's friends faulty arguements as condemning Job for no solid reason (Job 32:2,3) Job's argument was summed up by Elihu in 33:9 as "I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me", and in verse 12 said "Behold, in this thou art not just". Job's whole argument was self-justification, Elihu rebuked him, and the LORD backed up that rebuke with stronger argument against Job asking "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowlege?" Job completely renounced his legal argument when he took side with God agaisnt himself in 42:6 saying "I abhor myself, and repent in dustcloth and ashes". Job completely dropped his legal argument in which he had been trying to prove he didn't deserve the troubles and trials that fell on him. Job's 3 friends did not drop their legal arguments agaisnt Job, and in verse 42:7-8 God made them go to Job as their priest, but only after Job had answered God correctly in siding agaisnt his own self-justifying legal arguemt which was agaisnt God.

 

[Sophia]

Job completely renounced his whole legal case as self-justification. Elihu saw right through Job's whole argument, and also saw through Job's friends faulty arguements as condemning Job for no solid reason (Job 32:2,3) Job's argument was summed up by Elihu in 33:9 as "I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me", and in verse 12 said "Behold, in this thou art not just". Job's whole argument was self-justification, Elihu rebuked him, and the LORD backed up that rebuke with stronger argument against Job asking "Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowlege?" Job completely renounced his legal argument when he took side with God agaisnt himself in 42:6 saying "I abhor myself, and repent in dustcloth and ashes". Job completely dropped his legal argument in which he had been trying to prove he didn't deserve the troubles and trials that fell on him. Job's 3 friends did not drop their legal arguments agaisnt Job, and in verse 42:7-8 God made them go to Job as their priest, but only after Job had answered God correctly in siding agaisnt his own self-justifying legal arguemt which was agaisnt God.

No.
Elihu did not counter the legal statement,
but instead countered Job's position of being righteous, as Job had committed the sin of rebellion in 3 of his statements.
Job did more than just form a legal case. He went a step further,
past just challenging God to defend Himself,
and to the point of becoming an accuser.
His legal statement was not an accusation, but was a defense of himself being undeserving of the suffering, and a call for God to explain the reason, and vindicate him.
Job turns from this, and begins to accuse God of being unjust.

So far, it seems like some here are taking the side of the 3 "friends" of Job.

 

[DesiredHaven]

So far, it seems like some here are taking the side of the 3 "friends" of Job.

You wrote the same thought that come to me.

 

[VioletReigns]

I know you well enough to have expected that response and there's certainly some validity to it. Here's the thing, though...

We need to read the entire book of Job to understand what actually transpired in relation to Job. Again, Job did lament that there was no "daysman" or mediator between both him and God who could lay his hand upon both of them in judgment and Elihu did eventually appear on the scene and declare that he was there according to Job's wish in God's stead or in God's place. Beyond this, we also need to consider that after Job had spoken, after Job's three friends had spoken and after Elihu had spoken, the LORD Himself spoke and He rebuked Job and his three friends, but He never rebuked Elihu. In fact, what Elihu spoke in relation to Job and what the LORD spoke in relation to Job are in perfect harmony with each other and they both addressed the issue of PRIDE with Job. Should we not consider the same? Anyhow, just because somebody fears the Lord and I certainly don't say that lightly or casually in that I fully believe that we should fear the Lord and I do myself, this does not mean that PRIDE never becomes an issue with said person. Just the other day, on another thread, I posted the following:

http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/108227-pride.html#post1907054

I'm fully convinced that PRIDE is at the root of all sin and Job definitely sinned, didn't he? If not, then why did the LORD rebuke him and why did he abhor himself in sackcloth and ashes and repent before the LORD?

Anyhow, it might be best to actually go over some of the things which both Elihu and the LORD Himself said to Job in order to see if PRIDE was the issue or not.

Excellent, Brother JesusistheChrist! Amen to this and to the piece you linked regarding PRIDE. I totally agree that pride is at the root of sin. But pride by its very nature keeps us from seeing it in ourselves until God's Light shines on us and exposes it.

Job was determined to get an answer from God. He said, "God might kill me, but I will still trust in Him. I will surely defend my ways to His face. Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless person would dare come before him!" That sounds about as obstinate as when Jacob wrestled the angel of God and ended up with a dislocated leg. And yet, didn't God answer Job? Job trusted God would answer him, and God did.

God said Job was perfect to Him. Which reminds me of how King David exclaimed that he knew he was in good standing with God for the simple fact that the Lord answered his prayers. Because as David said, "If I had hidden sin in my heart, the Lord would not hear me." I believe it was like that with Job. He did not hide anything from God. And though confounded and in great despair, Job said he was going to get an answer from God even if He killed him.

If you ask me, Job's heart condition was in right standing with God. Though Job was sifted as wheat and crushed like grapes in a winepress, he didn't hide from God. He was so dependent upon God he knew he had no other resource, even if God took his life. I think what the Lord is showing us in the Book of Job is that we are perfect in His sight because we are His own. And that because we are His, we are BEING perfected more and more into His image. A paradox.

If God is telling us that Job was perfect in His sight, Job was perfect in God's sight. If God is telling us that Job needed to be perfected, Job needed to be perfected. Both are true statements. What was Job's heart condition? PERFECT, because God said so.

 

[JesusistheChrist]

So far, it seems like some here are taking the side of the 3 "friends" of Job.

Actually, so far it seems like some here are taking the side of Satan by portraying God as being unjust...and I cannot say that I'm surprised.

The more comments that I read on this forum (not just this thread) in general, the more I grieve for the overall lack of understanding amongst professing Christians.

 

[Sophia]

Actually, so far it seems like some here are taking the side of Satan by portraying God as being unjust...and I cannot say that I'm surprised.

The more comments that I read on this forum (not just this thread) in general, the more I grieve for the overall lack of understanding amongst professing Christians.

God's justice was fulfilled by Him vindicating Job at the end of the story. I think some of the moral of the story is that God's Justice is not as simple as man's version of justice.

Job did not know Satan's bet with God, and deserved the vindication he received.
We know this because God saw Job as deserving it, and granted the vindication to him.

 

[DesiredHaven]

I made it to Satans list again?

 

[Sophia]

God's Justice is "end game" focused. Why else would the Psalmist also question God on this topic?
Psalm 82
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

 

[Kaycie]

All sin and fall short of the glory of God. Even so, there are righteous and unrighteous. The evidence of the content of his character under pressure speaks for itself that he was a very righteous man, as innocent as a human can be. I do not believe his sins brought on the test that he underwent, but his righteousness- proving to satan that his love for God was genuine.

 

[JesusistheChrist]

No.
Elihu did not counter the legal statement,
but instead countered Job's position of being righteous, as Job had committed the sin of rebellion in 3 of his statements.
Job did more than just form a legal case. He went a step further,
past just challenging God to defend Himself,
and to the point of becoming an accuser.
His legal statement was not an accusation, but was a defense of himself being undeserving of the suffering, and a call for God to explain the reason, and vindicate him.
Job turns from this, and begins to accuse God of being unjust.

So far, it seems like some here are taking the side of the 3 "friends" of Job.

You'd be well advised to reread the account. Job didn't just "commit the sin of rebellion in three of his statements", but HE ADDED REBELLION UNTO HIS SIN:

Job chapter 34

[35] Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
[36] My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
[37] For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Go and find what "sin" Job ADDED HIS REBELLION UNTO and you'll understood the book.

I'm leaving for work...

 

[DesiredHaven]

This is what James wants us to behold

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

James 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

He keeps it simple for us.

 

[Marian29]

Do you think Job, for the most part, was an innocent man in need of vindication, or do you think he was a sinner in need of God's forgiveness?

God knew that Job's faith was not based on things he had. Job as a man, knew very well who God is. Even after Job suffer so much and show your confusion about the role of God, he continued respecting the Lord. He apologized for having questioned the Sovereign (Job 42: 1-6).

 

[oyster67]

God knew that Job's faith was not based on things he had. Job as a man, knew very well who God is. Even after Job suffer so much and show your confusion about the role of God, he continued respecting the Lord. He apologized for having questioned the Sovereign (Job 42: 1-6).

So he was wise enough to know he had something to apologize for. Amen.

 

[Marian29]

So he was wise enough to know he had something to apologize for. Amen.

He considered himself fair. He did not recognize any sin that would bring upon him the wrath of God. He felt the confidence to speak to God: "How many faults and sins? Notify me my transgression and my sin "(Job 13:23). It is difficult for anyone to perform with such confidence before the Holy God. Today, we can have confidence before the throne of God only because of the intervention of Jesus, our High Priest and perfect and effective sacrifice (Hebrews 4: 14-16; 10: 19-22).

 

[SaintJoeNow]

No.


So far, it seems like some here are taking the side of the 3 "friends" of Job.

You are taking the side of Job before Job repented when Job said things like in 10:15 " I am full of confusion" and in verse 18 "Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!" questioning why God had brought him out of his mother's womb. Job did not curse God as Satan predicted he would, but with that statement he came close. Job had no legal argument, he was trying to make a legal argument as a defense agaisnt His friend's accusations of sin, and in so doing he was accusing God of trying him without cause. God did not owe Job an explanation of his cause for allowing Job to be tried. Job's whole argument as accusatory against God because Job did not understand why he was being tried. Job's friends were wrong in assuming God was punishing Job for sin, but Job was wrong in justifying himself to say he did not deserve the punishment he was getting. Job was confused, and he darkened counsel by words without knowlege, and for this God rebuked him. Job completely dropped his legal argument he was trying to use as defense agaisnt his friends' accusations.


In 31: 35, Job ended his argument starting by complaining that nobody was listening to him, and stating "my desire is, the the Almighty would answer me...." Again, Job was talking like God owed him and explanation. God does not owe us any explanation of any trials we may go through. We deserve to be burning in Hell. If we are not burning in Hell, we should be thankful always no matter how bad things may seem. Job was confused because he was trying to make an argument defending himself from his friends when he should have been saying he deserves whatever trials fall on him. He could have said that without agreeing with his friend's argument, but he was so concerned about disagreeing with his friends that he forgot to agree with God's right to do whatever He pleases without explaining Himself to sinful men. Job's whole legal argument was justifying himself rather than God, Elihu saw straight through it, and it kindled a fire of wrath in his bones which compelled him to rebuke Job.....and then God stepped in agreeing with Elihu and Job finally saw himself as he really was, abhorable as we all are, and he abhored himself as we should all abhor ourselves and repented in dustcloth and ashes.

We all deserve to burn in Hell, and whatever suffering we may go through God owes us no explanation because as long as we are not burning in Hell, it's less than we deserve.

 

[Sophia]

You are taking the side of Job before Job repented when Job said things like in 10:15 " I am full of confusion" and in verse 18 "Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!" questioning why God had brought him out of his mother's womb. Job did not curse God as Satan predicted he would, but with that statement he came close. Job had no legal argument, he was trying to make a legal argument as a defense agaisnt His friend's accusations of sin, and in so doing he was accusing God of trying him without cause. God did not owe Job an explanation of his cause for allowing Job to be tried. Job's whole argument as accusatory against God because Job did not understand why he was being tried. Job's friends were wrong in assuming God was punishing Job for sin, but Job was wrong in justifying himself to say he did not deserve the punishment he was getting. Job was confused, and he darkened counsel by words without knowlege, and for this God rebuked him. Job completely dropped his legal argument he was trying to use as defense agaisnt his friends' accusations.


In 31: 35, Job ended his argument starting by complaining that nobody was listening to him, and stating "my desire is, the the Almighty would answer me...." Again, Job was talking like God owed him and explanation. God does not owe us any explanation of any trials we may go through. We deserve to be burning in Hell. If we are not burning in Hell, we should be thankful always no matter how bad things may seem. Job was confused because he was trying to make an argument defending himself from his friends when he should have been saying he deserves whatever trials fall on him. He could have said that without agreeing with his friend's argument, but he was so concerned about disagreeing with his friends that he forgot to agree with God's right to do whatever He pleases without explaining Himself to sinful men. Job's whole legal argument was justifying himself rather than God, Elihu saw straight through it, and it kindled a fire of wrath in his bones which compelled him to rebuke Job.....and then God stepped in agreeing with Elihu and Job finally saw himself as he really was, abhorable as we all are, and he abhored himself as we should all abhor ourselves and repented in dustcloth and ashes.

We all deserve to burn in Hell, and whatever suffering we may go through God owes us no explanation because as long as we are not burning in Hell, it's less than we deserve.

Job was not considered a sinner before God.
He was one of the Redeemed, and God viewed Job as righteous, in the same way, and by the same means, that He views those in Christ as righteous.
Sinners deserve hell.
The righteous deserve vindication for their suffering,
just as the beheaded saints below the throne call cry out for it, and the blood of Abel cried out for it.

God will give an explanation, but not until we have gained our inheritance and place in Glory. One day, this body is gone, and a new one will replace it. On that Day, the mystery of suffering will be made known, and we will be compensated. On that Day He will wipe the tear from the eye, and suffering and death shall be no more.
Until that day, we stand in awe of His wonders, and mindful of the words "who are you, o man, to talk back to God?"

Notice that God never rebuked Job for "speaking wrongly of Him", as He did to the three friends. But He did display His power to Job, because even though Job was right, he said it with a wrong attitude before the Almighty God.

 

[Sophia]

God is just,
but He also can withhold His Justice.
He saves His Justice for the Last Day, even while remaining a Just God.
God withheld justice from Job for a time: allowing Satan to do Job many injustices.
God also withholds justice from sinners for a time.
But God's Justice will be satisfied in the End.

 

[JesusistheChrist]

Job was not considered a sinner before God.
He was one of the Redeemed, and God viewed Job as righteous, in the same way, and by the same means, that He views those in Christ as righteous.
Sinners deserve hell.
The righteous deserve vindication for their suffering,
just as the beheaded saints below the throne call cry out for it, and the blood of Abel cried out for it.

God will give an explanation, but not until we have gained our inheritance and place in Glory. One day, this body is gone, and a new one will replace it. On that Day, the mystery of suffering will be made known, and we will be compensated. On that Day He will wipe the tear from the eye, and suffering and death shall be no more.
Until that day, we stand in awe of His wonders, and mindful of the words "who are you, o man, to talk back to God?"

Notice that God never rebuked Job for "speaking wrongly of Him", as He did to the three friends. But He did display His power to Job, because even though Job was right, he said it with a wrong attitude before the Almighty God.

What Bible are you reading? The LORD rebuked Job, Job abhorred himself and repented in dust and ashes, but, according to you, "HE WASN'T CONSIDERED A SINNER BEFORE GOD"? Give it a rest before you commit MORE (IOW, you're already guilty of it) of Job's sin yourself. Again, here is Elihu's correct assessment of the situation concerning Job:

Job chapter 36

[17] But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
[18] Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

What is it about Job "fulfilling the judgment of THE WICKED" that you don't understand?

What is it about "judgment and JUSTICE taking hold on thee" that you don't understand?

What is it about "WRATH" that you don't understand?

What is it about "BEWARE lest He take you away with His stroke" that you don't understand?

What is it about "a great ransom cannot deliver you" if Job didn't repent that you don't understand?

You're "darkening the counsel of God" as much as Job did and setting yourself up for the same exact type of situation if you don't repent yourself...and you're not the only one on this thread doing the same.

Also, stop twisting the actual meaning of the LORD's words to Job to try to make them say "notice that God never rebuked Job for 'speaking wrongly of Him'". Here's what the LORD actually said:

Job chapter 42

[1] Then Job answered the LORD, and said,
[2] I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee.
[3] Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
[4] Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.
[5] I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
[6] Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
[7] And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

"The thing that is right" which Job spoke before the LORD had EVERYTHING to do with his admission that he had "uttered that which he understood not" and his accompanying "abhorring himself and repenting in dust and ashes" and NOTHING AT ALL to do with his unjustifiable rant against God which you call his "legal case". He had no "legal case" and if he didn't repent, then he was in danger of UNRANSOMABLE WRATH. Take heed not to come to such a place yourself.

 

[JesusistheChrist]

If you ask me, Job's heart condition was in right standing with God.

Hi, Violet.

What if we, you and I, ask Elihu, the one who said that he was there according to Job's wish for a "daysman" or mediator between him and God who could lay his hand upon both of them (Job and God) or who was there in God's stead, about "Job's heart condition", okay?

Job chapter 36

[1] Elihu also proceeded, and said,
[2] Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.
[3] I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
[4] For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
[5] Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.
[6] He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
[7] He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.
[8] And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
[9] Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
[10] He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
[11] If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
[12] But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
[13] But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
[14] They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
[15] He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
[16] Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
[17] But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
[18] Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

Elihu told Job that he was "a hypocrite in heart" in that he "cried not when God bound him" and he warned Job of "unransomable wrath" if Job didn't repent. Oh, Job "cried" plenty during his ordeal, but not in the manner in which Elihu was actually describing:

Job chapter 34

[31] Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
[32] That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
[33] Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
[34] Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
[35] Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
[36] My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
[37] For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

When God chastises us AS HE DID WITH JOB (contrary to popular opinion), He fully expects us to "cry" unto Him and to ask Him to "teach us that which we see not" about ourselves that we might repent or that we might "not offend any more". Is THIS what Job did? Let's not kid ourselves. Far from doing THIS sort of "crying", Job went on a rant where he repeatedly justified himself while simultaneously condemning God. In doing so, Job "ADDED rebellion unto his sin". What "sin" did he "ADD rebellion unto"? He "ADDED rebellion unto his sin" of PRIDE! Elihu ended his words against Job by saying this about "Job's heart condition":

Job chapter 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.
[24] Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Again, Job was "wise of heart" and this is talking about PRIDE or about Job thinking himself to be wiser than God as he had been ranting and raving about. Immediately after Elihu said this about "Job's heart condition", the LORD Himself began to speak and to rebuke Job and ultimately his three friends as well, BUT THE LORD NEVER REBUKED ELIHU BECAUSE WHAT ELIHU SPOKE IN RELATION TO "JOB'S HEART CONDITION", WHICH IS THE TITLE OF THIS THREAD, WAS TRUE.

As I recently told somebody on this forum privately, if I make it into God's kingdom one day myself, then a proper understanding of what transpired with Job will be one of the primary reasons for the same. IOW, I fear God plenty myself, but I've been in situation after situation after situation over the years where God has brought crushing chastisement upon me that I might cry unto him in repentance myself. Do you think that the temptation to justify myself was never present during said times? Do you think that the temptation to "curse God and die" was never present during said times? I'll tell you plainly that such temptations were always present, BUT IT WAS MY UNDERSTANDING OF JOB'S ORDEAL WHICH LED ME TO REPENTANCE EVERY SINGLE TIME AND ULTIMATELY INTO A DEEPER WALK WITH THE LORD.

Hebrews chapter 12

[1] Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
[2] Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
[4] Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
[5] And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
[6] For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
[7] If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
[8] But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
[9] Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
[10] For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.
[11] Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
[12] Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
[13] And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

When God chastises us, He does so that we might "make straight paths for our feet, LEST THAT WHICH IS LAME BE TURNED OUT OF THE WAY". IOW, if we don't repent at times of chastisement, then we're BASTARDS and we will BE TURNED OUT OF THE WAY. God's purpose in chastisement is that "we might be partakers of His holiness". Anyhow, far from seeking to have "that which was lame" healed in him, Job took the route of "the hypocrite at heart" and/or the "wise of heart" in that he sought to justify himself instead of God. God only knows how many professing Christians I've personally met or encountered over the years who are just like Job in this fearfully wrong regard.