Today we pick up in the middle of Elihu‘s speech to Job and his friends, but really today’s post is all about Elihu, from Job 32-37. Elihu is the contrast, the friend that we all wish that we had. He is the guy that tells it like it is, who doesn’t shy away from discomfort, but also isn’t afraid to tell the truth. And so he does here, without hesitation, rebuking Job and Job’s friends Zophar, Bildad, and Eliphaz. He then speaks the truth of the situation to them all.
First, Elihu speaks to Job’s friends, making known the truth of their words towards Job. There was no wisdom to be found among them say he, despite their age and experience. Among their many words to Job, no answer could be found to Job’s cries.
Second, Elihu speaks directly to Job in truth about Job’s situation, one that we all find ourselves in as we discover. Elihu makes it plain to Job that all of humanity is the same before God, we all stand before him as that which is taking from the clay, from the dust of the earth… creatures before our creator. Contending with God as though we know better is not right, Elihu says, and we must be careful in what we say. None of us are blameless before the Almighty and none have knowledge or wisdom above that of God. Indeed God is in control of all things in life and sustains the world from beginning to end. From the dust God formed us. It is He who gives us life. It is He who sustains us. It is He who numbers our days. Nothing happens in this world without the will of God in heaven. Who are we to stand up and say God is wrong and we are right?
The Wrath of Elihu, from the Butts set. Pen and black ink, gray wash, and watercolour, over traces of graphite (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Finally, this is the answer that Elihu gives to both Job and his friends Zophar, Bildad, and Eliphaz: God is Great and Majestic… God is Justice. There is really no better way to say it so I will leave today with excerpts from Elihu’s speech. I think it deserves to be said though, in closing today, that Elihu is different from Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad. He has answered Job and these three friends truthfully. He has rebuked what needs to be rebuked, and has left the rest up to God. Elihu doesn’t give quick answers without thought, but speaks the Truth of God’s Will, and leaves the rest to God.
“Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
Who gave him charge over the earth,
and who laid on him the whole world?
If he should set his heart to it
and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
all flesh would perish together,
and man would return to dust.”
“Remember to extol his work,
of which men have sung.
All mankind has looked on it;
man beholds it from afar.
Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
the number of his years is unsearchable.”
“Do you know how God lays his command upon them
and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
Do you know the balancings of the clouds,
the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
you whose garments are hot
when the earth is still because of the south wind?
Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
hard as a cast metal mirror?”
“And now no one looks on the light
when it is bright in the skies,
when the wind has passed and cleared them.
Out of the north comes golden splendor;
God is clothed with awesome majesty.
The Almighty—we cannot find him;
he is great in power;
justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
Therefore men fear him;
he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”
- Job Chapters 36 and 37 (nystime.wordpress.com)
- Job 35 (onethingonechapter.wordpress.com)
- Job Chapters 32 and 33 (nystime.wordpress.com)
- Job Chapters 34 and 35 (nystime.wordpress.com)
- Job 36 (onethingonechapter.wordpress.com)
- Job 33 (onethingonechapter.wordpress.com)
- Job 33-34 (beliefandpractice.wordpress.com)
- April 27@Job 33-34 (phyllisbenigas.wordpress.com)
- Week 15 – Thursday (canterburydisciplestudy.wordpress.com)
- May 4@Job 35-36 (phyllisbenigas.wordpress.com)
