Job 32:1-5 Job's friends cease from speaking because Job is still considering himself righteous. He is not admitting to any secret or protracted sin in his life. Elihu...the youngest of the four comforters and one who has not spoken before can't keep from speaking now. He is angry at the other three because they did not provide Job with a real answer and yet condemned him. He is angry at Job because Job was justifying himself rather than God.
Job 32:6-22 Elihu says that he has held off from speaking because of his youth. Now, however, he can't hold back. If he does not speak, he will burst. Elihu also implies that he will be speaking God's words. This will be confirmed later on. I am seeing a big red flag here...how about you? Since the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God, Elihu would be better off if he kept quiet. Elihu thinks he knows something. We all have to be so careful here. So many of us are quick to judge situations and circumstances we see in the lives of others without knowing all the facts...without having walked a mile in their shoes. We speak without a heart of love for the person we are trying to help. Arrogance and pride are so easy for me to see in others...so much harder to see it in myself. Praying that God will show me because I do not want to be an Elihu!! Ever! Praying that I will also pray more and speak less!
Job 33:1-7 These words of Elihu are so filled with Elihu that I must put them here. No words of explanation are needed. His own words testify to his pride and arrogance.
1 “But please, Job, hear my speech,
And listen to all my words.
2 Now, I open my mouth;
My tongue speaks in my mouth.
My tongue speaks in my mouth.
3 My words come from my upright heart;
My lips utter pure knowledge.
My lips utter pure knowledge.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 If you can answer me,
Set your words in order before me;
Take your stand.
Set your words in order before me;
Take your stand.
7 Surely no fear of me will terrify you,
Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
Nor will my hand be heavy on you.
Job 33:8-33 Elihu responds to Job's claims of innocence and also to his claim that God was his enemy. The two did not add up. God is gracious. He is not your enemy, Job, says Elihu.
Job had also complained that God did not speak to him. Elihu responds by saying God speaks to us in various ways (dreams, visions, special messengers) and that God does not need to defend his actions before man. Elihu claims to be God's messenger to show Job that God is not whimsical. He does what He does because He wants to direct Job away from the pit and restore him back to Himself. Elihu is implying that Job was not hearing from God because Job was not listening. Job should listen to one as Elihu to teach him wisdom. God was using Elihu to get Job back on a godly path! Truly I feel for Job here.
Job 34:1-35:16 Elihu proclaims God's justice. He is angry at Job because Job has said that God had taken away his justice and that it does not profit a man to delight in God. Elihu says that God is not manipulated by man's actions and does not do wickedly nor does he pervert justice. God also does not show partiality. Elihu says that Job is sinning by how he is speaking about God. He counsels Job to wait on God and to be patient....
Job 36:1-37:24 Here is where Elihu very clearly claims to be speaking for God.
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
Elihu then goes on to speak of God's goodness, greatness and majesty in His dealings with man be they righteous or wicked and in his dealings with nature. His advice to Job is to stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. In view of such greatness what can man teach God.
Applications for us...
If you can get beyond Elihu's arrogance in Chapter 33 (a big IF) he does say some pretty insightful stuff.
Here are some verses that spoke to my heart.
Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
“If there is a messenger for him,
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘ Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found a ransom’;
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.
Jesus paid the ransom...He can give us new life and render to man His righteousness. WOW! WOW! WOW! Jesus is the gracious One. He is our Deliverer.
Job 33:27-28 I see Jesus also in these verses...the gospel is evident. Read them and see once again for yourself.
27 Then he looks at men and says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it did not profit me.’
28 He will redeem his[b] soul from going down to the Pit,
And his[c] life shall see the light.
Man must first admit that he has sinned and God will redeem him and his life shall see the light! Can I hear another WOW!!
Chapter 34 again shows us Elihu's arrogance. We also see that he does not speak accurately in regard to what Job has spoken. In this he bears false witness against Job. The application for us in this is to listen carefully and speak only truth.
This verse spoke to my heart:
“For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
Our God is the One who sees. We see through the mirror darkly. We do not know anywhere near what God knows about our circumstances. Neither do we know His purposes. Ask God to show you those things that are not right in your life...that are not pleasing to Him. Trust Him and wait on Him in whatever situation you are in...He is the God that performs all things well.
Should He repay it according to your terms, (vs 33)
Do you really want God to do things the way you want Him to? God is my Father...I am but a child...not knowing as Solomon said how to go in or go out.
Thus ends 32-37...on to 38-42. Some of my favorite chapters.
Job had also complained that God did not speak to him. Elihu responds by saying God speaks to us in various ways (dreams, visions, special messengers) and that God does not need to defend his actions before man. Elihu claims to be God's messenger to show Job that God is not whimsical. He does what He does because He wants to direct Job away from the pit and restore him back to Himself. Elihu is implying that Job was not hearing from God because Job was not listening. Job should listen to one as Elihu to teach him wisdom. God was using Elihu to get Job back on a godly path! Truly I feel for Job here.
Job 34:1-35:16 Elihu proclaims God's justice. He is angry at Job because Job has said that God had taken away his justice and that it does not profit a man to delight in God. Elihu says that God is not manipulated by man's actions and does not do wickedly nor does he pervert justice. God also does not show partiality. Elihu says that Job is sinning by how he is speaking about God. He counsels Job to wait on God and to be patient....
Job 36:1-37:24 Here is where Elihu very clearly claims to be speaking for God.
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you
That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf.
3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar;
I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
Elihu then goes on to speak of God's goodness, greatness and majesty in His dealings with man be they righteous or wicked and in his dealings with nature. His advice to Job is to stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. In view of such greatness what can man teach God.
Applications for us...
If you can get beyond Elihu's arrogance in Chapter 33 (a big IF) he does say some pretty insightful stuff.
Here are some verses that spoke to my heart.
Why do you contend with Him? For He does not give an accounting of any of His words.
Why do we contend with God? The Lord is sovereign. He can do what He wishes...He is God. That sounds pretty frightening but not if we remember that God sent His Son to die for us when we were still His enemy. He has proven His great love for us. Rest in His love...allow Him to complete the good work He began in you.
33:14-18 God does speak to us in various ways to keep us from our own purposes. This is ALWAYS a blessing.
33:19-22 God also speak to us through trials. Pain has a purpose. In these verses Elihu tells Job that his suffering is not punishment but to keep him from going in a direction that is harmful.
Job 33:23-26 I see Jesus in these verses. Read them for yourself and see what I mean.
A mediator, one among a thousand,
To show man His uprightness,
24 Then He is gracious to him, and says,
‘ Deliver him from going down to the Pit;
I have found a ransom’;
25 His flesh shall be young like a child’s,
He shall return to the days of his youth.
26 He shall pray to God, and He will delight in him,
He shall see His face with joy,
For He restores to man His righteousness.
Jesus paid the ransom...He can give us new life and render to man His righteousness. WOW! WOW! WOW! Jesus is the gracious One. He is our Deliverer.
Job 33:27-28 I see Jesus also in these verses...the gospel is evident. Read them and see once again for yourself.
27 Then he looks at men and says,
‘I have sinned, and perverted what was right,
And it did not profit me.’
28 He will redeem his[b] soul from going down to the Pit,
And his[c] life shall see the light.
Man must first admit that he has sinned and God will redeem him and his life shall see the light! Can I hear another WOW!!
Chapter 34 again shows us Elihu's arrogance. We also see that he does not speak accurately in regard to what Job has spoken. In this he bears false witness against Job. The application for us in this is to listen carefully and speak only truth.
This verse spoke to my heart:
“For has anyone said to God,
‘I have borne chastening;
I will offend no more;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done iniquity, I will do no more’?
Our God is the One who sees. We see through the mirror darkly. We do not know anywhere near what God knows about our circumstances. Neither do we know His purposes. Ask God to show you those things that are not right in your life...that are not pleasing to Him. Trust Him and wait on Him in whatever situation you are in...He is the God that performs all things well.
Should He repay it according to your terms, (vs 33)
Do you really want God to do things the way you want Him to? God is my Father...I am but a child...not knowing as Solomon said how to go in or go out.
Thus ends 32-37...on to 38-42. Some of my favorite chapters.
