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Job

CHAPTER 32
1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said, 2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge. 3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. 4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. 5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. 6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. 7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? 8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. 9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God. 10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Elihu must have drawn a deep breath, for now he begins to speak again. Now he begins to go back over Job's speeches and use some of the things Job has said.

In verse 5, ELihu says that Job stated he was righteous and that God had taken away his "judgment." Job did say that he believed he would be justified before God. And that was while these friends were accusing him of unconfessed sins. (see Job 13:18)

Elihu says that Job has stated there is no profit in serving God (verse 9). Well, let me point out two things here: 1) as far as earthly profit, God never promised one; 2) the real profit in serving God is spiritual in value.

Now let's look at what Job actually said and see what he meant. In Job 21:15, Job did ask the question: "What is the Almighty that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?" But Elihu takes that statement and uses it out of context. Job was speaking (Job 21:7-26) of the "wicked," those who do not serve God. And his question was as if it were coming from their mouths.

Elihu evidently wasn't listening too closely or he would have noticed that. Perhaps the reason Elihu wasn't listening too closely was because he was angry about Job contending that a man can be justified with God by grace. You see, Elihu was listening through his pre-conceived prejudice.

I brought out that point to say this: we Christians should be careful how we listen to others.
ELihu is right in one respect: "God will NOT do wickedly..." (verse 12). God is JUST and the JUSTIFIER of sinners.

13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? 14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; 15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust. 16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words. 17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? 18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly? 19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

God is in control of all the universe. No one GAVE Him that right, He MADE that right (verse 13).

Since man is flesh and bone and condemned to death by his own sin, how can he say that God is not RIGHTEOUS (verses 14-17) in all His treatment of us?

The subjects have no right to tell the KING that he is unjust in His treatment of them (verses 18-19). We are God's creation and He can do as He sees fit with us.

If ELihu really believed this, why does he think God is always going to let man prosper on earth? Certainly we don't deserve that by our works.

20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. 21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. 22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. 23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. 24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. 25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. 26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others; 27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: 28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.

God will bring man into judgment for his sins (verse 23). God is watching all the things mankind does (verse 21), and He will ultimately condemn those who do not surrender to Him.

ELihu, and Job's other friends, seems to think that God's judgment of mankind is on earth. Job has already questioned this by saying if that is so, why do the wicked exist on the earth?

The truth is, there ARE wicked people on the earth and they do seem to prosper. But one day, God will call for the accounting of their lives.

29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: 30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

When God makes a thing to be as it is, no man can change it (verse 29). God has certainly said that the wicked shall not prosper eternally. But God has not said they shall not live and be prosperous on this earth.

God has said let the tares grow WITH the wheat, and at the final judgment day, HE will separate them!

31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: 32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. 33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. 34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me. 35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. 36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. 37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

This ole boy, ELihu, just cannot let go of the "works-salvation," and "prosperity gospel" idea. He does make a few good statements though. One of them being in verse 31. Man SHOULD repent from sin, and begin to serve God. That is man's only hope!

But then Elihu accuses Job of being ignorant (verse 35). That is so childish. In other words, like an elementary shool child, Elihu is saying, "If you don't see it my way, you MUST be DUMB!"

Some people are so entrapped by their own pre-conceived prejudicicial thoughts that they WILL NOT look at the truth when it is as plain as the nose on their face. Elihu, and Job's other three "friends," contend that God does not let the wicked prosper on the earth. Could they not see the truth that there were wicked men who didn't believe God all around them?

CHAPTER 35

1 Elihu spake moreover, and said, 2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? 3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

Job had stated (in true context) that it is fruitless for the wicked to try and cleanse himself from sin. A man cannot cleanse sin. Only God can do that.

Elihu again takes Job's statement out of context in which they were presented (see Job 9:25-32). Since Elihu believes in a "works-salvation," and a "prosperity gospel," he confuses repentance with cleansing. Friends, we DO NEED to repent of our sins; but, only GOD can make us CLEAN! NONE of our works will present us any cleaner before God!

To repent from sinfulness and beg God's forgiveness is to receive the love and forgiveness of God. Upon confession of sin and repentance toward God, we also receive power from God to live holier lives. But the Bible is very plain to say that "ALL" have sinned and come short of the perfection of God (Romans 3:23). That means that saved people are sinners too! They surely shouldn't sin as MUCH as lost people; but the fact is clear that they are STILL sinners.

Perhaps Elihu also belongs to the school that says "saved people don't sin."

4 I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. 5 Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. 6 If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7 If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 8 Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. 9 By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty.

Man's sin doesn't change God. It neither brings harm to Him, nor could it help Him. But sin does hurt others around us.

10 But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; 11 Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 12 There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13 Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. 14 Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. 15 But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: 16 Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge.

ALong with a "works-salvation," and a "prosperity-gospel," comes a belief that unanswered prayer is due to a lack of faith. That is what Elihu is saying here. He even says that the reason God won't hear Job is because of Job's sin (verse 13).

Friends, sometimes God doesn't seem to answer prayer, but He IS answering. God answers according to His will over ALL and not necessarily according to what WE see as right. God did not immediately answer Job concerning WHY these afflictions were given to him. But God WILL answer him.

God answers prayer - always. Sometimes it doesn't SEEM like we're hearing God answer them, but He IS.

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