Job: faith on trial
#7 Elihu: the folly of ‘defending’ God
Job 32-37
Greg Burke
18/3/2012
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under
heaven: .....a time to be silent and a time to speak” Ecclesiastes 3:1,7.
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak and slow to become angry,” James 1:19.
1. The words of Job are ended
We expect G __ __ we get E __ __ __ __
2. Cycles of speaking and silence
Does Elihu speak for God?
3. Elihu
Motives
A ________________
32:2-3 1
F ________________________
32:18-20 2
“... man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”
James 1:20
Young
arrogant, pompous, self important, pretentious, verbose,
loves the sound of his own voice 33:1-4 3, 33:31-33 4
Promises much
- godly wisdom 32:7-9 5
- presumes to speak for God 35:2-4 6
- prophetic insight 36:2-4 7
Delivers little
- understands Job’s argument not his predicament 33:8-11 8
- “concern” for God’s reputation 34:10-12 9
- sees God as distant and unmoved 35:5-8 10
- old arguments
suffering as punishment (discipline??) for sin 36:8-12 11
Lacks empathy
- demands Job be “tested to the utmost” 34:34-37 12
4. The Lord answered Job ...
The words of Elihu (selections from Job 32-37)
1. Job 32:1-6 “ So these three men stopped answering Job, because he
was righteous in his own eyes. 2 But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the
family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than
God. 3 He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found
no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. 4 Now Elihu had waited
before speaking to Job because they were older than he. 5 But when he
saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused. 6
So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said: “I am young in years, and you are
old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know.”
2. Job 32:18-20 “For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels
me; 19 inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.
20 I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.”
3. Job 33:1-4 “But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to
everything I say. 2 I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip
of my tongue. 3 My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely
speak what I know. 4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the
Almighty gives me life.”
4. Job 33:31-33 “Pay attention, Job, and listen to me; be silent, and I will
speak. 32 If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want you
to be cleared. 33 But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you
wisdom.”
5. Job 32:7-9 “I thought, ‘Age should speak; advanced years should
teach wisdom.’ 8 But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty,
that gives him understanding. 9 It is not only the old who are wise, not only
the aged who understand what is right.”
6. Job 35:2-4 “Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I shall be cleared by
God.’ 3 Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not
sinning?’ 4 “I would like to reply to you and to your friends with you.”
7. Job 36:2-4 “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is
more to be said on God’s behalf. 3 I get my knowledge from afar; I will
ascribe justice to my Maker. 4 Be assured that my words are not false; one
perfect in knowledge is with you.”
8. Job 33:8-11 “But you have said in my hearing--I heard the very
words-- 9 ‘I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt. 10 Yet
God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy. 11 He fastens
my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths.’”
9. Job 34:10-12 “So listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it
from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. 11 He repays a man for
what he has done; he brings upon him what his conduct deserves. 12 It is
unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert
justice.”
10. Job 35:5-8 “ Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so
high above you. 6 If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are
many, what does that do to him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give to
him, or what does he receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness affects
only a man like yourself, and your righteousness only the sons of men.”
11. Job 36:8-12 “But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of
affliction, 9 he tells them what they have done--that they have sinned
arrogantly. 10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to
repent of their evil. 11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest
of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. 12 But if they do
not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.”
12. Job 34:34-37 “But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of
affliction, 9 he tells them what they have done--that they have sinned
arrogantly. 10 He makes them listen to correction and commands them to
repent of their evil. 11 If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest
of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. 12 But if they do
not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge.”