(Dear Lord Jesus, guide me and give me insight as I read and study Your word, and let it be the meditation of my heart...)
(Job 32:1-22) Then these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned against Job; his anger burned because he justified himself before God. 3 And his anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer, yet they had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he. 5 But when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men, his anger burned.
6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said,
“I am young in years and you are old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.
7 I thought age should speak,
And increased years should teach wisdom.
8 But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
9 The abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may elders understand justice.
10 So I say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell what I think.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your skillful speech,
While you pondered what to say.
12 I also paid close attention to you;
But indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 So do not say,
‘We have found wisdom:
God will defeat him, not man.’
14 But he has not presented his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your arguments.
15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have failed them.
16 Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
Because they have stopped and no longer answer?
17 I too will give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
20 Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 Let me be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.
6 So Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite spoke out and said,
“I am young in years and you are old;
Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you what I think.
7 I thought age should speak,
And increased years should teach wisdom.
8 But it is a spirit that is in mankind,
And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.
9 The abundant in years may not be wise,
Nor may elders understand justice.
10 So I say, ‘Listen to me,
I too will tell what I think.’
11 “Behold, I waited for your words,
I listened to your skillful speech,
While you pondered what to say.
12 I also paid close attention to you;
But indeed, there was no one who refuted Job,
Not one of you who answered his words.
13 So do not say,
‘We have found wisdom:
God will defeat him, not man.’
14 But he has not presented his words against me,
Nor will I reply to him with your arguments.
15 “They are dismayed, they no longer answer;
Words have failed them.
16 Should I wait, because they are not speaking,
Because they have stopped and no longer answer?
17 I too will give my share of answers;
I also will tell my opinion.
18 For I am full of words;
The spirit within me compels me.
19 Behold, my belly is like unvented wine;
Like new wineskins, it is about to burst.
20 Let me speak so that I may get relief;
Let me open my lips and answer.
21 Let me be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
22 For I do not know how to flatter,
Otherwise my Maker would quickly take me away.
(Job 33:1-33)
“However, please hear my speech, Job, And listen to all my words.
2 Behold now, I open my mouth,
My tongue in my mouth speaks.
3 My words are from the integrity of my heart,
And my lips speak knowledge sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God has made me,
And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Refute me if you can;
Line up against me, take your stand.
6 Behold, I belong to God, like you;
I too have been formed out of the clay.
7 Behold, no fear of me should terrify you,
Nor should my pressure weigh heavily on you.
8 “You have in fact spoken while I listened,
And I heard the sound of your words:
9 ‘I am pure, without wrongdoing;
I am innocent and there is no guilt in me.
10 Behold, He invents criticisms against me;
He counts me as His enemy.
11 He puts my feet in the stocks;
He watches all my paths.’
12 Behold, let me respond to you, you are not right in this,
For God is greater than mankind.
13 “Why do you complain to Him
That He does not give an account of all His doings?
14 Indeed God speaks once,
Or twice, yet no one notices it.
15 In a dream, a vision of the night,
When deep sleep falls on people,
While they slumber in their beds,
16 Then He opens the ears of people,
And horrifies them with warnings,
17 So that He may turn a person away from bad conduct,
And keep a man from pride;
18 He keeps his soul back from the pit,
And his life from perishing by the spear.
19 “A person is also rebuked by pain in his bed,
And with constant complaint in his bones,
20 So that his life loathes bread,
And his soul, food that he should crave.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight,
And his bones, which were not seen, stick out.
22 Then his soul comes near to the pit,
And his life to those who bring death.
23 “If there is an interceding angel for him,
One out of a thousand,
To remind a person of what is right for him,
24 And he is gracious to him, and says,
‘Free him from going down to the pit,
I have found a ransom’;
25 Let his flesh become fresher than in youth,
Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor;
26 Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him,
So that he may see His face with joy,
And He will restore His righteousness to that person.
27 He will sing to people and say,
‘I have sinned and perverted what is right,
And it is not proper for me.
28 He has redeemed my soul from going to the pit,
And my life will see the light.’
29 “Behold, God does all these things for a man two or three times,
30 To bring back his soul from the pit,
So that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, Job, listen to me;
Keep silent, and let me speak.
32 Then if you have anything to say, answer me;
Speak, for I would take pleasure in justifying you.
33 If not, listen to me;
Keep silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
(Job 34:1-37) Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Hear my words, you wise men,
And listen to me, you who understand.
3 For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us understand among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,
But God has taken away my right;
6 Should I lie about my right?
My wound is incurable, though I am without wrongdoing.’
7 What man is like Job,
Who drinks up derision like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of injustice,
And walks with wicked people?
9 For he has said, ‘It is of no use to a man
When he becomes friends with God.’
10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 For He repays a person for his work,
And lets things happen in correspondence to a man’s behavior.
12 God certainly will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him authority over the earth?
And who has placed the whole world on Him?
14 If He were to determine to do so,
If He were to gather His spirit and His breath to Himself,
15 Humanity would perish together,
And mankind would return to dust.
16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17 Shall one who hates justice rule?
And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, ‘You worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘You wicked one’;
19 Who shows no partiality to the prominent,
Nor regards the rich as above the poor,
Since they are all the work of His hands?
20 In a moment they die, and at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And the powerful are taken away without a hand.
21 “For His eyes are upon the ways of a person,
And He sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of injustice can hide themselves.
23 For He does not need to consider a person further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces the mighty without investigation,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their deeds,
And He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them like the wicked
In a public place,
27 Because they turned aside from following Him,
And had no regard for any of His ways,
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And that He would hear the cry of the afflicted—
29 When He keeps quiet, who can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can look at Him,
That is, regarding both nation and a person?—
30 So that godless people would not rule,
Nor be snares for the people.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have endured punishment;
I will not offend anymore;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done wrong,
I will not do it again’?
33 Shall God repay on your terms, because you have rejected His?
For you must choose, and not I;
Therefore declare what you know.
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
And a wise man who hears me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom.
36 Oh that Job were tested to the limit,
Because he answers like sinners.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.’”
And listen to me, you who understand.
3 For the ear tests words
As the palate tastes food.
4 Let us choose for ourselves what is right;
Let us understand among ourselves what is good.
5 For Job has said, ‘I am righteous,
But God has taken away my right;
6 Should I lie about my right?
My wound is incurable, though I am without wrongdoing.’
7 What man is like Job,
Who drinks up derision like water,
8 Who goes in company with the workers of injustice,
And walks with wicked people?
9 For he has said, ‘It is of no use to a man
When he becomes friends with God.’
10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
And from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 For He repays a person for his work,
And lets things happen in correspondence to a man’s behavior.
12 God certainly will not act wickedly,
And the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13 Who gave Him authority over the earth?
And who has placed the whole world on Him?
14 If He were to determine to do so,
If He were to gather His spirit and His breath to Himself,
15 Humanity would perish together,
And mankind would return to dust.
16 “But if you have understanding, hear this;
Listen to the sound of my words.
17 Shall one who hates justice rule?
And will you condemn the righteous mighty One,
18 Who says to a king, ‘You worthless one,’
To nobles, ‘You wicked one’;
19 Who shows no partiality to the prominent,
Nor regards the rich as above the poor,
Since they are all the work of His hands?
20 In a moment they die, and at midnight
People are shaken and pass away,
And the powerful are taken away without a hand.
21 “For His eyes are upon the ways of a person,
And He sees all his steps.
22 There is no darkness or deep shadow
Where the workers of injustice can hide themselves.
23 For He does not need to consider a person further,
That he should go before God in judgment.
24 He breaks in pieces the mighty without investigation,
And sets others in their place.
25 Therefore He knows their deeds,
And He overthrows them in the night,
And they are crushed.
26 He strikes them like the wicked
In a public place,
27 Because they turned aside from following Him,
And had no regard for any of His ways,
28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him,
And that He would hear the cry of the afflicted—
29 When He keeps quiet, who can condemn?
And when He hides His face, who then can look at Him,
That is, regarding both nation and a person?—
30 So that godless people would not rule,
Nor be snares for the people.
31 “For has anyone said to God,
‘I have endured punishment;
I will not offend anymore;
32 Teach me what I do not see;
If I have done wrong,
I will not do it again’?
33 Shall God repay on your terms, because you have rejected His?
For you must choose, and not I;
Therefore declare what you know.
34 Men of understanding will say to me,
And a wise man who hears me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge,
And his words are without wisdom.
36 Oh that Job were tested to the limit,
Because he answers like sinners.
37 For he adds rebellion to his sin;
He claps his hands among us,
And multiplies his words against God.’”
(Job 35:1-16) Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Do you think this is in accordance with justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You?
What benefit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you,
And your friends with you.
5 Look at the heavens and see;
And look at the clouds—they are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you 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 is for a man like yourself,
And your righteousness is for a son of man.
9 “Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 There they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil people.
13 God certainly will not listen to an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say you do not look at Him,
The case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15 And now, because He has not avenged His anger,
Nor has He acknowledged wrongdoing well,
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty words;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
2 “Do you think this is in accordance with justice?
Do you say, ‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For you say, ‘What advantage will it be to You?
What benefit will I have, more than if I had sinned?’
4 I will answer you,
And your friends with you.
5 Look at the heavens and see;
And look at the clouds—they are higher than you.
6 If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against Him?
And if your wrongdoings are many, what do you 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 is for a man like yourself,
And your righteousness is for a son of man.
9 “Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who teaches us more than the animals of the earth
And makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 There they cry out, but He does not answer
Because of the pride of evil people.
13 God certainly will not listen to an empty cry,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 How much less when you say you do not look at Him,
The case is before Him, and you must wait for Him!
15 And now, because He has not avenged His anger,
Nor has He acknowledged wrongdoing well,
16 So Job opens his mouth with empty words;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
(Job 36:1-33) Then Elihu continued and said,
2 “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will bring my knowledge from afar,
And ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty but does not reject anyone;
He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous,
But with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in shackles,
And are caught in the snares of misery,
9 Then He declares to them their work
And their wrongdoings, that they have been arrogant.
10 He opens their ears to instruction,
And commands that they return from injustice.
11 If they listen and serve Him,
They will end their days in prosperity,
And their years in happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword,
And die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart nurture anger;
They do not call for help when He binds them.
14 They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the cult prostitutes.
15 He rescues the afflicted in their misery,
And opens their ears in time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress,
And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And your table was full of rich food.
17 “But you were full of judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware that wrath does not entice you to mockery;
And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help keep you from distress,
Or all the exertions of your strength?
20 Do not long for the night,
When people vanish in their places.
21 Be careful, do not turn to evil,
For you preferred this to misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you are to exalt His work,
Of which people have sung.
25 All people have seen it;
Mankind looks at it from afar.
26 Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him;
The number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For He draws up the drops of water;
They distill rain from its celestial stream,
28 Which clouds pour down;
They drip upon mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
The thundering of His pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by them He judges peoples;
He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the lightning,
And commands it to strike the target.
33 Its thundering voice declares His presence;
The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.
2 “Wait for me a little, and I will show you
That there is still more to be said on God’s behalf.
3 I will bring my knowledge from afar,
And ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 Behold, God is mighty but does not reject anyone;
He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
But gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous,
But with kings on the throne
He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in shackles,
And are caught in the snares of misery,
9 Then He declares to them their work
And their wrongdoings, that they have been arrogant.
10 He opens their ears to instruction,
And commands that they return from injustice.
11 If they listen and serve Him,
They will end their days in prosperity,
And their years in happiness.
12 But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword,
And die without knowledge.
13 But the godless in heart nurture anger;
They do not call for help when He binds them.
14 They die in youth,
And their life perishes among the cult prostitutes.
15 He rescues the afflicted in their misery,
And opens their ears in time of oppression.
16 Then indeed, He induced you away from the mouth of distress,
And instead of it, a broad place with no constraint;
And your table was full of rich food.
17 “But you were full of judgment on the wicked;
Judgment and justice take hold of you.
18 Beware that wrath does not entice you to mockery;
And do not let the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help keep you from distress,
Or all the exertions of your strength?
20 Do not long for the night,
When people vanish in their places.
21 Be careful, do not turn to evil,
For you preferred this to misery.
22 Behold, God is exalted in His power;
Who is a teacher like Him?
23 Who has appointed Him His way,
And who has said, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember that you are to exalt His work,
Of which people have sung.
25 All people have seen it;
Mankind looks at it from afar.
26 Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him;
The number of His years is unsearchable.
27 For He draws up the drops of water;
They distill rain from its celestial stream,
28 Which clouds pour down;
They drip upon mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
The thundering of His pavilion?
30 Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him,
And He covers the depths of the sea.
31 For by them He judges peoples;
He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers His hands with the lightning,
And commands it to strike the target.
33 Its thundering voice declares His presence;
The livestock also, concerning what is coming up.
(Job 37:1-24)
1 “At this also my heart trembles, And leaps from its place.
2 Listen closely to the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
3 Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His lightning travels to the ends of the earth.
4 After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain the lightning when His voice is heard.
5 God thunders wondrously with His voice,
Doing great things which we do not comprehend.
6 For to the snow He says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
And to the downpour and the rain, ‘Be strong.’
7 He seals the hand of every person,
So that all people may know His work.
8 Then the animal goes into its lair
And remains in its den.
9 From the south comes the storm,
And from the north wind the cold.
10 From the breath of God ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
11 He also loads the clouds with moisture;
He disperses the cloud of His lightning.
12 It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That it may do whatever He commands it
On the face of the inhabited earth.
13 Whether for correction, or for His earth,
Or for goodness, He causes it to happen.
14 “Listen to this, Job;
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
15 Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the lightning of His clouds to shine?
16 Do you know about the hovering of the clouds,
The wonders of One who is perfect in knowledge,
17 You whose garments are hot
When the land is still because of the south wind?
18 Can you, with Him, spread out the skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
19 Teach us what we are to say to Him;
We cannot present our case because of darkness.
20 Shall it be told Him that I would speak?
Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
21 “Now people do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
22 From the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
He is exalted in power
And He will not violate justice and abundant righteousness.
24 Therefore people fear Him;
He does not regard any who are wise of heart.”
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
So a new character jumped into the fray. At least he respected his elders and kept quiet and listened until they were all talked out. I too would have been angry with the three friends for condemning a person without cause, but I think I would have not been as angry with Job. Again, not to excuse the behavior, but when you are in misery and pain, it is extra difficult to remain composed.
It is interesting that Elihu's intentions were not to just repeat what the three friends had just said, but he did that anyway. But in verse 32:8, Elihu pointed out that God gives understanding. Not sure of his wording, but as believers, we do have the Holy Spirit within. We have a choice to quench the Holy Spirit, or ask for His guidance and understanding. And then in 32:18, Elihu mentioned that the spirit within compelled him to speak. My only question is - were his words actually from the Holy Spirit - or were they from a demonic spirit?
Since God allowed Satan to set all of this in motion in the first place, Satan might have been still lurking about and making absurd suggestions, as well as twisting God's truths. Satan wants believers to feel guilt and condemnation, in the place of God's inner peace and assurance. Satan wants believers to feel anger and impatience towards others, in the place of God's joy and grace. Satan wants believers to tear down and destroy, in place of God's encouragement and unity.
In 33:6 - Elihu was right in pointing out this truth - that all believers have the Holy Spirit of God within us. We should never assume that we are the only ones listening to God, or that we are the only ones who have all the answers. As believers we should always keep in mind that, although we have eternal security, we will still sin and get things wrong.
Therefore, we must be continually asking the Holy Spirit for understanding as we are consistently study God's words so that we will speak God's truths correctly, as well as know when others are speaking God's truths correctly or not. It's not that we would speak for God, but when we speak God's words correctly from the Bible - these ARE God's words!
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