September 9, 2023

Job 22: 2, 3 “Can a man be of benefit to God? Can even a wise man benefit him? What pleasure would it give the Almighty if you were righteous? What would he gain if your ways were blameless?” (NIV)

The New Testament makes clear that God takes pleasure in us: we are “peculiar treasures,” a “pleasing aroma,” “gifts that he delights in.”*

Job's friend, Eliphaz, wants to know: is man worth anything to God? It’s an interesting question. Even if we were wise or righteous or blameless, what good are we to the Almighty? We know that God loves us but maybe he has to. Perhaps he can’t not love us. 

I don’t know the answer to Eliphaz’s question. Maybe we are no benefit to God. But we know that he delights in us because the Bible tells us that he does. We find that he delights in: 

· those who fear him (Psalm 147: 11) 

· those whose ways are blameless (Proverbs 11: 20) 

· men who are truthful (Proverbs 12: 22) 

We also find accounts of God’s unconditional delight. In II Samuel 22: 20 and Psalm 18: 19, David proclaims that the Lord rescued him - for no reason other than that he delighted in him. God also delights in his people – for no particular reason (Psalm 149: 4; Isaiah 5: 7; Isaiah 42: 1; Isaiah 65: 19) other than that he chooses to. We also find that there are benefits for us when we delight in the Lord (Psalm 37: 4). 

So, in answer to Eliphaz’s question, I would have to say, “I don’t know.” But if I had to choose, I believe I would rather be a delight than a benefit. God doesn’t love us for what’s in it for him. Ours is not a typical give-and-take relationship because God does all the giving and we do all the taking. Well . . . he delights in us, so what else can he do?

God alone knows what pleases God.*