Bible in one year 8/3/2022 Job Chapter 32- Job’s last reply to his friends By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 8/3/2022  Job Chapter 32- Job’s last reply to his friends

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                                          

Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

 

Chapter 32 Elihu’s first speeches

          Elihu a descendant of Buz, the nephew of Abraham(Gen.22:21), can restrain himself no longer from speaking, apparently having witnessed the entire confrontation between Job and his three friends. He had refrained from speaking because he was younger(v.6). Since the older men had failed to convince Job(v.12), he felt compelled to speak (v.18). Wisdom always comes from God, but not always from older men, Job’s friends, Elihu declares, are obviously not wise, in spite of their age, for they failed to convince Job that his suffering was due to sin.(vv.8-9).

           So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own  eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him. Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused. So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

 “ I am young in years, and you are old; this is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought, ‘ Age should speak; advanced years should teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. It is not only the old who are wise, not only the aged who understand what is right. “Therefore I say: Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know. I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words, I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong; none of you has answered his arguments. Do not say, ‘ We have found wisdom; let God refute him, not man.’ But Job has not marshaled his words against me, and I will not answer him with your argument.” (vv.1-14).

They are dismayed and have no more to say; words have failed them. Must I wait, now that they are silent, now that they stand there with no reply? I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know. For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply. I will show partiality to no one, nor will I flatter any man; for if I were skilled in flattery, my Maker would soon take me away. (vv.15-22).

 

Chapter 33 Elihu’s first speeches

 

 Elihu declares that since he is a man like Job, his presence will not overpower Job with terror (vv.6-7). Elihu represents Job’s position accurately and rebukes him for charging God with hostility toward him.(vv.8-13). God speaks to men through dreams and visions (vv.15-16), through pain (vv.19-22), and through angels(v.23). The man who responds submissively to God’s dealings with him will regain health and joy.

Elihu continued his speeches, “ But now, Job, listen to my words; pay attention to everything I say. I am about to open my mouth; my words are on the tip of my tongue. My words come from an upright heart; my lips sincerely speak what I know. The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Answer me then, if you can; prepare yourself and confront me. I am just like you before God; I too have been taken from clay. No fear of me should alarm you, nor should my hand be heavy upon you.” (vv.1-7).

But you have said in my hearing I heard the very words. I am pure and without sin; I am clean and free from guilt. Yet God has found fault with me; he considers me his enemy. He fastens my feet in shackles; he keeps close watch on all my paths. But I tell you, in this you are not right, for God is greater than man. Why do you complain to him that he answers none of man’s words? For God does speak now one way, now another though man not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds, he may speak in their ears, and terrify them with warnings, to turn man from wrongdoing and keep him from pride, to preserve his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword. Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain with constant distress in his bones, so that his very being finds food repulsive and his soul loathes the choicest meal. His flesh wastes away to nothing, and his bones, once hidden, now stick out. His soul draws near to the pit, and his life to the messengers of death. (vv.8-22).

Yet if there is an angel on his side as a mediator, one out of a thousand, to tell a man what is right for him, to be gracious to him and say, ‘ Spare him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom for him’ then his flesh is renewed like a child’s’ it is restored as in the days of his youth. He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state. Then he comes to men and says, ‘ I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. He redeemed my sould from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.’ (vv.23-28).

God does all these things to a man –twice, even three times—to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him. Pay attention, Job and listen to me; be silent, and I will speak. If you have anything to say, answer me; speak up, for I want you to be cleared. But if not, then listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom. (vv.29-33).

 

Chapter 34 Elihu’s second speech

          Again Elihu accurately represents Job’s contention that God has wronged an innocent man (vv.5-6) and that it is useless for a man to be a friend of God, because the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer(v.9).  The theme of these verses is that God, the ruler of the universe, cannot be unjust.(vv.10-28). Elihu hope that Job’s trials will continue either until he recants or, if he does not recent, until he dies.

          Then Elihu said, “ hear my words, you wise men; listen to me, you men of learning. For the ear tests words as the tongue tastes food. Let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good. Job says, ‘ I am innocent, but God denies me justice. Although I am right, I am considered a liar; although I am guiltless, his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’ What  man is like Job, who drinks scorn like water? He keeps company with evildoers; he associates with wicked men. For he says, ‘ it profits a man nothing when he tries to please God.’ (vv.1-9).

“ So listen to me, you men of understanding. For be it from God to do evil, from the Almighty to do wrong. He repays a man for what he has done; he brings upon him what his conduct deserves. It is unthinkable that God would do wrong, that the Almighty would pervert justice. Who appointed him over the earth? Who put him in charge of the whole world? If it were his intention and he withdrew his spirit and breath, all mankind would perish together and man would return to the dust. If you have understanding, hear this: listen to what I say. Can he who hates justice govern? Can he who hates justice govern? Will you condemn the just and mighty One? Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘ You are wicked,’ who shows no partiality to princes and does not favor the rich over the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? They die in an instant, in the middle of the night; the people are shaken and they pass away; the mighty are removed without human hand. (vv.10-20).

His eyes are on the ways of men; he sees their every step. There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide. God has no need to examine men further, that they should come before him for judgment. Without inquiry he shatters the mighty and set up others in their place. Because he takes note of their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. He punishes them for their wickedness where everyone can see them, because they turned from following him and had no regard for any of his ways. They caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he heard the cry of the needy. But it he remains silent, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, who can see him? Yet he is over man and nation alike, to keep a godless man from ruling, from laying snares for the people. (vv.21-30).

“Suppose a man says to God, ‘ I am guilty but will offend no more. Teach me what I cannot see; If I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’ Should God then reward you on your terms, when you refuse to repent? You must decide ,not I ; so tell me what you know. Men of understanding declare, wise men who hear me say to me, Job speaks without knowledge; his words lack insight.. Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost for answering like a wicked man! To his sin he adds rebellion scornfully he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God.” (vv.31-37).

Bibliography,

 Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV).Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986