"THE BOOK OF JOB"Young Elihu Speaks (Job Chapters 32-37)
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION
1) To examine Elihu’s perspective in the debate regarding Job’s
suffering2) To notice how Elihu appears to prepare Job for what the Lord will
have to saySUMMARY
We are now introduced to a new voice in this discussion. Having
remained silent up to this point because of his youth, Elihu now
speaks. Angry with Job justifying himself rather than God, and by the
inability of Job’s friends to provide an answer, Elihu feels compelled
to speak (Job 32:1-33; Job 33:1-7). He takes issue with Job’s
claim of innocence while charging God with counting him as His enemy.
He proposes that God often uses various means to keep man from death
("the Pit"), including chastening with pain. Therefore Job
should be looking at suffering as a disciplinary measure from a loving
God, not as a punitive measure from one’s enemy (Job 33:8-33).The bulk of Elihu’s speech then focuses on the justice of God, which
Elihu feels Job has maligned. Elihu charges Job with adding to his sin
by multiplying words against God without knowledge (Job 34:1-35). He
concludes his speech with an effort to speak on God’s behalf and by
ascribing righteousness to the Almighty. This he does by reviewing
God’s justice and majesty. The former as seen in His dealings with
man, the latter as seen in His dealings in nature. With an admonition
for Job to stand still and consider the wondrous works of God, Elihu
seems to be preparing Job for what is about to follow
(Job 36:1-37; Job 37:1-24).OUTLINE
I. ELIHU EXPRESSES HIS DESIRE TO SPEAK (Job 32:1 to Job 33:7)
A. FOR HE IS ANGRY (Job 32:1-5)
1. When Job’s three friends are silent, Elihu’s wrath is aroused
(Job 32:1-2a)
a. They ceased answering Job because he still considered
himself righteous
b. Elihu, son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram
(cf. Gen 22:20-21), is now ready to speak
2. He is angry at both Job and his three friends (Job 32:2b-5)
a. At Job, because he justified himself rather than God
b. At his friends, because they provided no real answer and
yet condemned Job
c. He had waited to speak because of his youth, but the
silence from the three men made him angryB. FOR WISDOM IS NOT LIMITED TO THE AGED (Job 32:6-14)
1. He held off speaking earlier, because of his youth (Job 32:6-7)
a. The age difference had made him afraid to speak
b. He believed that age should speak, for it should teach
wisdom
2. But aged men are not always wise (Job 32:8-9)
a. The breath of the Almighty (i.e., the Spirit) also gives
man understanding
b. Age alone does not guarantee wisdom and understanding of
justice
3. Therefore he will declare his own opinion (Job 32:10-14)
a. For he has carefully listened to their reasoning
b. Yet they have not convinced Job or answered his wordsC. FOR HE IS COMPELLED (Job 32:15-22)
1. By their silence (Job 32:15-17)
a. They are dismayed, and words escape them
b. He has waited because they did not speak
c. Therefore he will have his say
2. By the spirit within him (Job 32:18-20)
a. His belly is like wine ready to burst the wineskins
b. He must speak to find relief
3. By his desire to be impartial (Job 32:21-22)
a. His prayer is to show partiality to no one
b. He does not know how to flatter, for fear that his Maker
would take him awayD. FOR HE BELIEVES HE CAN HELP JOB (Job 33:1-7)
1. He speaks pure knowledge from an upright heart (Job 33:1-3)
a. He pleads with Job to listen to what he says
b. His words are sincere, and his knowledge is pure
2. He can be as Job’s spokesman before God (Job 33:4-7; cf. Job 13:20-22)
a. He was created by the Spirit of God, let Job see if he can
answer him
b. Job does not need to fear him, for he too has been formed
out of clayII. ELIHU’S RESPONSE TO JOB (Job 33:8 to Job 37:24)
A. GOD IS GRACIOUS (Job 33:8-33)
1. Job, you are wrong in charging God as your enemy (Job 33:8-13)
a. Elihu has heard Job profess his innocence while counting
God as his enemy
b. This is not right, for God is greater than man and not
accountable to man
2. God uses various ways to speak to man (Job 33:14-28)
a. Even though man may not heed what God is saying
b. Such as dreams or visions, to turn man back
c. Such as chastening him with pain
d. Such as special messengers
1) Sent to deliver him from the Pit
2) Sent to restore him back to God
3. God’s purpose is disciplinary, not simply punitive (Job 33:29-33)
a. Done to direct man away from the Pit
b. Done to enlighten man with the light of life
c. Therefore Job should listen to one as Elihu to teach him
wisdomB. GOD IS JUST (Job 34:1 to Job 35:16)
1. Elihu proclaims God’s justice (Job 34:1-37)
a. He calls upon Job and his friends to listen to him
b. He rebukes Job
1) For charging God of taking away his justice
2) For saying that it does not profit man to delight in God
c. He proclaims that God is righteous and just in His dealings
with man
1) Far be it from God to do wickedness or pervert justice
2) In His power God shows no partiality, but repays man
according to his works
d. He charges Job with sinning by how he spoken against God
2. Elihu condemns Job’s reasoning (Job 35:1-16)
a. He reproves Job for thinking righteousness does not profit
one
b. He claims that God is too great to be manipulated by man’s
little deeds
c. He contends that God may not respond to cries for help
because of man’s pride
d. He counsels Job to be patient and wait for God’s justice,
for Job has been speaking prematurely and foolishlyC. GOD IS GREAT (Job 36:1-37:24)
1. Elihu proclaims God’s goodness (Job 36:1-23)
a. Asking Job to bear with him as he ascribes righteousness to
God
b. Claiming that God may use affliction to draw the righteous
to Himself
c. Job needs to take heed, for he has begun to act like the
hypocrites
2. Elihu proclaims God’s majesty (Job 36:24-37:24)
a. God’s greatness is beyond comprehension, as seen in the
rain cycle
b. God’s greatness is seen in the thunder, snow, and rain
c. In view of such greatness, what can man teach God?REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION
1) Why had Job’s three friends stop speaking? (Job 32:1)
– Because Job was righteous in his own eyes2) Who now begins to speak? (Job 32:2)
– Elihu, son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram3) Why was Elihu angry with Job? (Job 32:2)
– Because Job justified himself rather than God4) Why was Elihu angry with Job’s three friends? (Job 32:3)
– Because they had provided no real solution, yet condemned Job5) Why had Elihu held off speaking until now? (Job 32:4)
– Because he was much younger6) According to the outline above, what four reasons are given for why
Elihu now speaks?
– He is angry (Job 32:1-5)
– Wisdom is not limited to the aged (Job 32:6-14)
– He is compelled (32:15-22)
– He believes he can help Job (Job 33:1-7)7) With what statements of Job does Elihu take issue? (Job 33:8-12)
– "I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me."
– "Yet He (God) finds occasion against me, He counts me as His
enemy"8) What examples does Elihu provide of God’s effort to save man from
death? (Job 33:14-30)
– Dreams or visions in the night
– Chastening with pain
– Sending messengers9) How then does Elihu view the reason for Job’s suffering?
– As disciplinary, from a gracious God; not punitive, as from an
enemy10) What two statements of Job does Elihu respond to next? (Job 34:5-9)
– "I am righteous, but God has taken away my justice."
– "It profits a man nothing that he should delight in God."11) What is Elihu’s response? (Job 34:10, Job 32:12)
– "Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to
commit iniquity."
– "Surely God will never do wickedly, nor will the Almighty pervert
justice."12) What does Elihu then go on to describe? (Job 34:16-30)
– The impartial justice of God13) Of what sin does Elihu charge Job? (Job 34:37)
– Rebellion; multiplying his words against God14) How does Elihu answer Job’s complaint that it profits a man nothing
to delight in God? (Job 35:4-7)
– God is not manipulated by man’s actions15) What reason does Elihu give for why God might not answer the cries
of men? (Job 35:12)
– Because of their pride16) Maintaining that God is just, what does Elihu counsel Job? (Job 35:14)
– To wait for Him17) What does Elihu feel that Job has done? (Job 35:16)
– Opened his mouth in vain, multiplying words without knowledge18) At this point, what does Elihu presume to do? (Job 36:2-3)
– To speak on God’s behalf, and to ascribe righteousness to his
Maker19) What does he first proclaim concerning God? (Job 36:5-23)
– God’s goodness and justice, as shown toward the righteous and
wicked20) What does he then proclaim concerning God? (Job 36:24-37:24)
– God’s majesty and greatness, as seen in His dealings with nature21) What does Elihu counsel Job to therefore do? (Job 37:14)
– Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God22) What are Elihu’s closing words? (Job 37:23-24)
– As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power,
in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress
– Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise
of heart
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