Message: Elihu's Arrogance (v.1-15) and God's Power and Majesty (v. 16-33)
Time: The time of Job is unclear and commonly debated. Often the language of the book can give clues. It seems to be that Job had a lifespan of close to 200 years as Job 42:16 says he lived 140 years after the events in the book.
What the Lord is Saying:
Overview - this is an wonderful chapter and yet an intense one. To me it has 3 sections:
1. Elihu misunderstands God's ways in man (v.1-15)
2. Do not live as the wicked live (v. 16-21)
3. God is to be highly exalted (v. 22-26)
4. The mighty works of God (v. 27-33)
Elihu on the Scene
So, far, according to the commentators, each party (Eliphaz, Bildad, Zophar) has given 3 speeches and this has been the chosen allotment for number of speeches, although Zophar failed to reply. Here Elihu wants to say some more words after he came on the scene in chapter 32. Elihu is said to be a younger contemporary of Job and his 3 friends.
My struggle
I must say, I struggle with these passages in Job. They are some of the oldest written texts in the Bible, though that doesn't mean the time in which they occur is the oldest. I end up having to look at different commentators about these verses and yet they often do not agree with one another. Sometimes I struggle with the Bible and what I am to glean from some of the writings. All of these writers were men, like myself, though they lived in a different time and their words are regarded as more divine, I suppose, than mine. My tendency is to analyze and pick apart each word that is said. But maybe I need to get in the habit of a quicker reading of each passage. I continue to follow the TableTalk devotional, though I am now about 1 year behind. It does keep me accountable to a plan, as Tracey mentioned to me when I told him about it a couple of weeks ago. Maybe I need to be quicker about my reads.
Understanding this passage
Elihu begins with the idea of imploring the group to listen (v. 2). He mentions that these words may be different than what has been said before (v. 3a), but his goal is that they exemplify or speak to or represent or ascribe the righteousness of God (v. 3b). He begins with the idea that his words will show the mighty works of God. Elihu believes that his words are right and that he is speaking soundly; he has confidence in his speech (v. 4).
Elihu makes the statement that God is mighty and therefore God does not modify any class of people, is wholly independent and impartial in all his dealings. He says God is mighty but does not despise (v. 5).
For the moment, I am switching over to the Message paraphrase and look at Eugene Peterson's perspective on this passage. And what I see is a man that is comparing the wicked and righteous. Tabletalk believes that Elihu in verse 5-12 is saying the same thing that the other 3 friends have said and that is suffering is the result of a specific sin. I'm not sure if the Message is saying the same thing. The Message starts off with the idea that God doesn't bully innocent people or the idea that God doesn't allow bad things to happen to innocent people, but he does thwart the actions of the wicked.
Job's friends and now Elihu have all done something similar in their words to Job. I wonder, are they not simply trying to bring comfort to Job. It almost seems like that is what they are trying to do. They know and have seen that Job has lived his life in a way that honors God. And now that they see something bad happen to their friend, they seem to now think that Job must have done something bad. Maybe the idea is that in their eyes they struggle believing that a God would bring calamity to Job when Job hadn't done anything really bad.
I think the argument the Tabletalk authors are making is that suffering is not always the result of a specific sin. This past Sunday in church we looked at Proverbs 3:11-12 which says, "My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His reproof, for whom the Lord loves He reproves, even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights." I think he is putting forth idea that God disciplines us often or corrects us or allows suffering to occur because it is needed in our life. That seems clear, but the idea that God would allow suffering just because is a tough one to accept.
I guess what is hard then about that situation is to see the suffering of a child. I don't see anything wrong in what that child has done and so is it possible that suffering is the result of the bad choices in his parents? I think that is possible. But, what about my friend Bobby and the cancer he had in his body or even Tammy (Mike's wife) and the breast cancer she had which ended up costing her life. I don't know if in those situations we can connect dots to say those people's suffering were due to a need for correction. But, rather it seems that suffering occurs because we simply live in this fallen world.
Side note -- 2 planes
You know, sometimes it feels like there are 2 separate planes of life that are being recorded in the Bible. One there is this plane that puts forth God is great and mighty. His actions are based upon who he is and what he wants. God wills what He wills. To man he brings upon circumstances that are challenging or welcome. The way he acts is based upon on him and his nature and the outcomes he desires. Things happen often that we don't understand. And through those situations it is not for us to question God. But we are to trust Him. We are to trust our creator.
But then there sits another plane. This is where men and women live. This plane resides with the Law of God, His commandments, our actions, our choices and within that plane we do see rewards from doing good and being obedient to God's commandments. We also see losses when we don't do things the way God has commanded.
Our lives are then lived and we wonder how these planes intersect. On one hand, when things happen that we just don't understand, we need to trust God. I think it's okay to ask the question whether or not the outcome is the result of obeying or disobeying God's commands. There may be a change in man that is needed. But, we are never to say to God that he has made a mistake.
Concluding thoughts on verses 1-15
Going back to verses 1-15 I see here that Elihu, in his observations, sometimes does get it right. God does tell us when we've done something wrong and tells us we need to repent. But, God doesn't promise that all will be free of problems if we just always do what God commands. Yes, we want to live in that manner because we know it is the best way to live. But, living that way doesn't mean it frees us from problems.
Overall, Elihu gets it wrong. He paints a picture that is incorrect. In verse 15, NASB says, "“He delivers the afflicted in their affliction, and opens their ear in time of oppression." In the Message, it says, "But those who learn from their suffering, God delivers from their suffering." No. This isn't right. It doesn't work out cleanly or matter of fact. Joni has learned a lot from her suffering. She still suffers. Her response to it has changed, though.
As I move on in my look at this passage, Elihu continues to offer explanations to Job. His desire is to make him feel better. But, it's possible his words are offered too quickly. As a person in consoling others, we still need to think before we speak. While Elihu's heart is in the right place, I'm not sure that his words are.
Do not live as the wicked live
Here I am going to switch to the King James Version in verse 16, "Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness." Elihu mentions to Job that he could have moved from a place of being "strait" to a broad place if he head just had the right response to the calamity he was having. Once again, Elihu doesn't get it right. He has half-truths. The strait way is narrow and hard to get along where the braod table is fat and has no obstructions.
In verse 17, he says, "But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee." Albert Barnes commentary puts forth the idea that what occurred here is Elihu saying that Job was living in a manner where his response was that of a wicked person that thinks they are wicked. The wicked knows that their behavior should have bad outcomes and Elihu asserts Job is living in this way.
Then in verse 18 and 19 is the idea that if wicked is your outcome, don't think that riches can get you out of that outcome. Job had been a rich man, but riches doesn't mean that we escape God's wrath. This is an important lesson because although sometimes the riches we receive is a result of hard work, people with more are often viewed differently in society and greater than the person with less. People with money often think they can get away with things that people without money can't. But, not in God's eyes. I must be careful to not view people the way the world views them.
In verse 20, he states, "Do not long for the night." Night is an emblem of death and here Elihu says to Job, do not long for death thinking that by death coming Job will be able to escape God's wrath. Elihu continues with the idea that Job is living as a wicked person and in this pursuit thinks he can escape God.
Verse 21 is almost like a proverb that Elihu states to Job, "Be careful, do not turn to evil." As people, there is a danger we have of thinking we can reason through the divine administration. It is one thing to ponder what God may be teaching me concerning a trial, but it is quite another to ask why God did what he did. Under the umbrella statement of "God is love" we end up with the feeling that God is not doing acts of love when calamity come our way. Elihu's warning is a good one: be careful that you do not become an advocacy of iniquity and evil.
He then continues this thought in the verse by saying, "for you have preferred this to affliction." The problem with pain and the problem with suffering is it is hard to go through. People don't like it and so they will often seek other outcomes, sinful outcomes, outcomes of rejecting God rather than living with divine will. Albert Barnes has a statement here that is appropriate:
People often prefer iniquity to affliction. They will commit crime rather than suffer the evils of poverty; they will be guilty of fraud and forgery to avoid apprehended want. They will be dishonest to their creditors rather than submit to the disgrace of bankruptcy. They will take advantage of the widow and the fatherless rather than suffer themselves.I think that is an interesting statement. We are impatient. Sometimes I see this more clearly in the raising of a child. When life gets difficult for my kids they often choose the easy road but in the process they are not submitting to wise counsel. Even at work, I see this in myself. Rather than accept the authority of my boss, I turn to sin and gossip about him.
God is to be highly exalted
Verse 22 and 23, "Behold, God is exalted in His power; who is a teacher like Him?" Elihu now turns to the focus being on God and that Job (we) is to be submissive to Him. Can a person submit to authority and question authority at the same time? I think not. “Who has appointed Him His way, and who has said, ‘You have done wrong'? God is supreme and independent; no one has advised him, and no one has a right to counsel him. No one has a right to say to God, "You have done wrong." It is to be regarded as an indisputable point that God is always right, and that however dark his dealings with people may seem, the “reason” why they are mysterious “never is, that God is wrong.”
I think this is something that has changed over the years. I believe the Jews have continued to hold this high level of esteem for God, and reverence, and respect. But, often we as Christians do not take on the same level of respect, but instead can at times mirror the world which has so little respect for God. God is to be highly exalted and praised. This also means that God is never to be questioned. Verse 24, "“Remember that you should exalt His work, of which men have sung."
Verse 25: “All men have seen it; Man beholds from afar." Man can see God's handiwork in the creation. His majesty is seen in the sun and stars, the sky, the clouds, the storms, the lighting and the rain. We have immense distances of space that we are just now beginning to behold and yet they have always been there. We can see God from afar.
Verse 26: “Behold, God is exalted, and we do not know Him; The number of His years is unsearchable. Why can't we just accept this? Why can't we just accept the fact that God and his way are not know completely? I think there is a real danger in this as it is so easy to get our eyes off of God and instead on what we can understand.
The mighty works of God
The rest of the chapter goes on further to paint this picture of all that God is and does.
-- Rain and dew
27 "For He draws up the drops of water, they distill rain from the mist, 28 which the clouds pour down, they drip upon man abundantly. Elihu first looks at the rain and the amazement of the clouds holding onto water and then water not descending like a torrent but instead in drops upon the earth or even in a morning dew. Yes, science can offer the explanation to further clarify this phenomenon and that is fine, but the motion is from the handiwork of God. Science describes what God has ordained. In this is the wisdom and power of God. Knowledge of these events and how they occur only further expands and confirms the mighty works of God.
-- The Clouds
29a “Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds - the clouds roll in and roll out. Here in New Mexico it amazes me the pictures that result from a sunset in which the sun as it descends shines forth through the clouds and their setting in the sky is a sight to behold. The clouds roll into the sky and then spread out in a myriad of beautiful ways.
-- The Thunder
29b “the thundering of His pavilion? The crash of thunder is one of the great illustrations of the dwelling place of God and his power upon the earth.
-- Lightning
30a “Behold, He spreads His lightning about Him, - he flashes light over the land and earth; this image is beautiful and graphic; it is impressive.
-- Covers the sea with floods
30b “Band He covers the depths of the sea. - he not only covers what we see above, but he tends to what is below and not easily seen. He is Lord over all.
All of this speaks to the wonders of God and the power he has. We often say that no one has seen God and yet we can see him clearly in each other, in the creation, and the displays that he puts forth in nature and weather. At various times the falling of rain is one of the sweetest provisions from God as it causes vegetation to grow and provides us with the nourishment that we need. It is a huge blessing. Yet, there are hurricanes and tsunami's and tornadoes that express a judgment that befalls man as well. There is blessing, but there is also punishment or discipline.
31 “For by these He judges peoples; He gives food in abundance. 32 “He covers His hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark. 33 “Its noise declares His presence; the cattle also, concerning what is coming up.
Promise: This passage has several themes. In these verses Elihu comes to Job and asserts an idea that is improper. As he shows later in his description of the majesty of God we see that God often acts in ways through what we see in nature according to his divine appointment. There isn't always this clear cause and effect that he alludes to with Job where good decisions always merit good results and improper decisions always merit improper results. God shows us continually that he is in control. This can be a hard message to understand and accept but that is the promise illustrated through this passage.
