Bible in one year 8/4/2022 Job Chapter 35-37 Elihu's last speech to Job By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Bible in one year 8/4/2022  Job Chapter 35-37 Elihu's last speech to Job

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                                          

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

 

Chapter 35  Elihu’s third speech

            Elihu states Job’s complaint that godliness avails a man nothing.(vv.1-4). Elihu declares that God is too lofty to be affected either by godliness or ungodliness, which only affect other people (vv.5-8). Elihu states his belief that unanswered prayer-even that of a righteous man is due to lack of faith(v.10) and to the emptiness of the prayer (v.13; James4:3).

            He said, “ Do you think this is just? You say, ‘ I will be cleared by God.’ Yet you ask him, ‘ What profit is it to me. And what do I gain by not sinning? “ I would like to reply to you and to our friends with you. Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you. If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him? If you are ighteous, what do you give to him, or what does that do to him? Your wickedness affects noly a man like yourself, and your righteousness only the sons of men. (vv.1-8).

            “ Men cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. But no one says, ‘ Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air? He does not answer when men cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked. Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it. How much less, then, will he listen when you say that you do not see him, that your case is before him and you must wait for him, and further, that his anger never punishes and he does not take the least notice of wickedness. So Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words.”(vv.9-16).

 

Chapter 36 Elihu’s fourth speech

 Elihu extols the greatness and providence of God, urging Job to recognize God’s purpose in his sufferings and to join with others in exalting Him. Verse 18 b means, “ Don’t let the greatness of your afflictions keep you from accepting them. Submit to whatever God requires.” In verse 21 Elihu accuses Job of rebelling, rather than submitting to his affliction in meekness. Elihu pointed out the phenomena of nature witness to the greatness of God: (1) the rain cycle of evaporation and precipitation(36:27-28); (2) thunderstorms (36:29-37:4); (3) snow and ice (37:5-10); and (4) the clouds (37:11-13). The sea. May refer to the masses of thunder clouds in the heavens, which enshroud God, or it may refer to the sea on earth, which is drawn up into the clouds by evaporation. Elihu continued,

“ Bear with me a little longer and I will show you that there is more to be said in God’s be half. I get my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe justice to my Maker. Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.  God is mighty, but does not despise men, he is mighty, and firm in his purpose. (vv.1-5).

He does not keep the wicked alive but gives the afflicted their rights. He does not take his eyes off the righteous; he enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever. But if men are bound in chains, held fast by cords of affliction, he tells them what they have done that they have sinned arrogantly. He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. But if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge. The godless in heart harbor resentment; even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help. (vv.6-13).

They die in their youth, among male prostitutes of the shrines. But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food. But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked; judgment and justice have taken hold of you. Be careful that no one entices you by riches; do not let a large bride turn you aside. Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts sustain you so you would not be in distress? (vv.14-19).

Do not long for the night, to drag people away from their homes. Beware of turning to evil, which you seem to prefer to affliction. God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him? Who has prescribed his ways for him, or said to him, ‘ you have done wrong?’ Remember to extol his work, which men have praised in song. All mankind has seen it; men gaze on it from afar. How great is God beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. (vv.20-26).

He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? See how he scatters his lighting about him, bathing the depths of the sea. This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach. (vv.27-33).

 

Chapter 37  Elihu’s final speech

            Elihu appeals to Job to consider reverently the wonders of God’s creation and to turn from his rebellious ways.

            Elihu continued, “ At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.(vv.1-5).

  He says to the snow, ‘ Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour,’ So that all men he has made may know his work, he stops every man from his labor. The animals take cover; they remain in their dens. The tempest comes out from his labor, the cold from the driving winds. The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them. At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them. He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water his earth and show his love. (vv.6-13).

Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders. Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash? Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge? You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind, can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze? Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness. Should he be told that I want to speak? Would any man ask to be swallowed up? Now one one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean. Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty. The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress. Therefore, men revere him, for does he not have regard for all the  wise in heart? (vv.14-24).

Bibliography,

 

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