The three friends were amazed by Job challenging God and expected fire from heaven, but only Elihu responds, with a very long speach on the character of God.
Job 32:2-6
Tells us about this man and why he now speaks.
Elihu’s speach is very long, six chapters in our Bible. His speach basically explains the character of God and how this is applied to the situation of Job. Elihu feels that Job has not honoured God by his behaviour and the friends of Job, though they were much more senior to him, had not answered or responded to Job’s protest against the actions of God, he felt that they were very lacking in their religious understanding.
- Elihu’s starts by apology for his youth but then claiming that God was speaking through him,
Job 32:8.
- Elihu must have listened to all the speeches as he quotes from them, claiming his right to speak at this time. He claims four reason for speaking:-
1) Job 32:1-3,5.
He was angry at Job for making himself right before God, his friends were unable to stop Job making this claim and had given up, verse 15.
2) Job 32:8-10.
He claimed he had a spiritual guide, God had revealed the truth to him, he did not need wisdom, which comes with age. So you had better listen to me.
3) Job 32:14, 21-22.
Elihu claims that he does not have sides, but this cannot be true as he is so angry.
4) Job 32:16-20.
He was full of words, Note that God did not refer to Elihu when He finally appears.
- God is Gracious. br>
Job 33:1ff
- Elihu now introduces another reason for suffering, he suggests that God may allow pain and suffering to prevent sin, compare 2 Cor 12:7-10, this is evidence of the grace of God.
- Elihu tells Job that his words were sincere and came from the Spirit of God, he was also made of clay like Job so do not be afraid of him or his words,stop me to ask a question, Job never appears to ask a question, does it unfortunately mean that he does not pause to take a breath in his "speach."
- Elihu speach starts.
- He starts by stating that Job had claimed to be sinless, this is wrong, Job did not make this claim, it was Zophar who said that Job was making himself sinless, not Job, Job 11:4.
Job did say:-
1) He did not lie, Job 6:30.
2) He was not wicked.Job 10:7
3) Just and upright, Job 12:4
4) Obeyed God, Job 23:11,12.
5) Not perfect, Job 9:20,21.
Job was only claiming to be blameless for the situation, from the beginning Elihu was in error.
- Elihu said that Job claimed that God was unjust, this was true as Job often asked why God had not put him on trial. Elihu was very concerned what Job had said about God not what Job said about himself.
- Elihu describes three ways that God may communicate with man. ,
- Visions and dreams, verses 15-18.
- Pain and suffering, verses 19-22.
- Through an angel, verses 23-33.
- Elihu refers to "the pit" a number of times, God does all He can do to stop Mankind from ending in the pit of death,
2 Peter 3:9
- Visions and Dreams.
Job 33:15-18.
- During the times of the Bible, God would often communicate by the use of dreams and visions,
Job 7:13,14;
Job 4:12-21.
Though some people today claim to have received visions it is the normal for God to communicate through His Word by the action of the Holy Spirit. Any vision claiming to have come from God must also agree with His Word.
Hebrews 1:1,2
- Pain and Suffering.
Job 33:19-22.
- Hebrews 12:1-13.
Elihu tells us of a sick man, who is not eating, but Elihu tells us that he is suffering because God wants to stop him sinning.
It is wrong to say that all illness or suffering comes from God because often we are personally the reason for the situation, how we live, behave, abuse our body. Neither can we say that all suffering is the result of our sin, though God may use it to prevent a specific sin or behaviour, see Paul’s pride,
2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
Elihu was expecting Job to submit to God, accepting the situation he was in.
- The angelic messenger.
Job 33:22-33.
- The story of Job starts in heaven, angels are mentioned,
Then in Job 4:18
and Job 5:1
By Eliphaz. Then finally by Elihu in,
Job 38:7.
- The sinner has been warned in dreams and suffering, now the time on earth approaches, verse 22, "the destroyers," then a special messenger appears to plead his situation with God and recommend what the sinner should do. The words from Elihu seems to be talking about a mediator, "the ransom paid," is this angel that Elihu is describing really Jesus the Mediator,
1 Timothy 2:5;
Mark 10:45,
The person that Job has been seeking.
- Job 33:25-28.
Elihu tells Job that if he humbled himself before God the relationship will be restored, like a "new birth," yet he will not let Job speak. In fact Job was waiting for a response from God so was keeping quite.
- Elihu Defends God. Job 34-37
- Elihu keeps telling Job to "listen to me," he seems to becoming proud of his words,
Read and consider 1 Corinthians 8:1.
Note his comment in Job 34:2,
He called his audience "wise men" which makes him "wiser" if they are listening to his words.
- God is unjust.
Job 34:5-6, 10-37.
- Elihu supplies three proofs that God is just :-
1) Job 34 10-15,
God cannot be God if He is unjust. God cannot do wrong, verse 10, or ignore justice.
2) Job 34:16-20,
If God was unjust then there would be no just government or leadership on the earth,
See Genesis 9:1-7;
Rom 13:1-7. God is in control of the world, if mankind is just then God must be just .
3) Job 34:21-30,
To be unjust then God cannot see all that happens in the world, God is omniscient, sees and knows all things.
What could Job tell God in a court case if He knows all? As God knows all information He can make a perfect judgement.
God does not have any control on our lives as we all have been given a free will on how to live our lives, so Elihu ends with an appeal to Job, "confess your sin," verses 31-33 "ask God to teach you."
- Elihu pauses to let Job respond, but Job remains silent.
- Is there profit in obeying God?
Job 34:7-9
Job 35:1-16.
- Elihu tries to use the words of Job but "what I have gained by obeying God?"
Job 9:29-31;
Job 21:15
This is not a correct quotation because Job has never bargained with God for his rewards.
- Job 35:5-7,
Elihu tells the people to consider how their sins or good acts will have any affect on heaven and the acts of God.
- Job 35:8-16,
Our behaviour may affect people around us, but will have no affect on God, though God is concerned by our acts, good or bad,
Genesis 6:6,
His character cannot be changed, He is perfect and holy.
Mankind ignores, forgets God until it becomes necessary, unlike nature which trusts God for everything. Because of the lack of sincerity God ignores the prayers and requests from people, Elihu says that this explains why Job has not been answered.
- Note: that God may not sort out problems for some reason but can give relieve by giving "songs in the night," verse 10, anyone "can sing in the day" but the "night" needs something extra, God will provide at this time.
Compare Acts 16:25, Paul in prison.
- Job 35:1;4-16.
Job wants to see and meet God but Elihu said that God can see Job and that is more important, Job must wait and trust.
- God is great and mighty. Job 35 to 37.
- Elihu highlights the greatness, purpose and power of God,
Job 35:1-25;
Job 36:26 to Job 37:13.
- The relationship of man and God.
Job 36:1-25.
- It appears that the people listening to Elihu may be tiring of his voice, verse 2, "bear with me a little." Verse 3 shows a little pride, either he is boasting of his knowledge or he is claiming it is from heaven, verse 4 does not suggest humility.
- God may be all powerful but He still has concern for His creation. Elihu claims that He punishes the wicked and help the "poor" righteous.
- Job throughout has felt ignored by God, but God knew all events and was watching His people, verse 7,
1 Peter 3 :12.
God will set them free but may punish if they disobey, verses 9-12, especially those who are hypocrites, verse 13, but those who turn to Him will find God responds, verse 15.
Verse 14: is referring to those who live a prostitute life,
Deuteronomy 23:17,
The wicked die young and in shame.
- Verses 16-25: Elihu tries to warn Job, he thinks that Job is trying to find a short cut to get out of the situation, to perhaps "buy his way out," however, money cannot buy righteousness.
Another danger could be that Job would commit suicide, verse 20. Job often spoke of a wish to die,
For example Job 31:1-9.
Job had great faith and so would not carry out that action, he trusted in God even for his time of death.
Finally Elihu felt that Job would give up, become bitter towards God, and turn to a life of wrong, verse 21.
- The Power of God in nature.
- The last part of Elihu’s speech looks at the works of God in nature, especially His control through the seasons of the year.
- The Autumn:
Job 36:27 to 37:5.
Elihu describes a storm, which comes after the heat of summer, with the clouds and lightning, the thunder and lightning being weapons of God. The storm showed Elihu’s the power and goodness of God by providing the nations food.
- The Winter:
Job 37:6-10.
Work is stopped, animals hibernate, God controls the cold.
- The Spring.
Job 37:11-13.
The wind blows away the clouds and cold weather, each controlled by God, the rain being His gift to grow the crops.
- The Summer:
Job 37:14-18.
The sun heats the ground, the wind from the desert,and the people feel the heat and rest from work.
- Elihu asks Job, "can you understand or control these? If you do not understand the things of nature then how can you stand against God, challenging Him in a court? You cannot look at the sun, how can you face God?"
- Elihu’s final words point out that God knows what He is doing and does not afflict men for no reason, we know that He is great and so should have great respect and reverence for Him, "Therefore fear Him," verse 24. Job had already made that conclusion,
Job 28:24-28.
|
