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Job

CHAPTER 36
1 Elihu also proceeded, and said, 2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf. 3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

ELihu says that he will "speak on God's behalf," or that he will defend God. My friends, God needs no defense! All too often finite men attempt to explain the infinite God. And there are many, like Elihu, today who try to explain God. That, to me, is similar to an ant trying to explain a human.

Now, I agree, that there is need for "apologetics" and "exegesis," which are both interpretive explanations of those things which God has taught. When God has already made the way clear, then we can seek to explain using His teachings. But God needs no defense for His actions in this universe. As Elihu states later, in verse 5, God is "mighty" and is the creator of all. When we don't understand why God is doing something, how shall we explain it?

We need not defend God; we need to TRUST God!

Elihu says he will "fetch" his knowledge from "afar." May I say it is from "afar," all right. It is from WAY OUT THERE!

4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee. 5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. 6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. 7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. 8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; 9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. 10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. 11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. 12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

Elihu, taking it upon himself to speak for God, believes himself to be "perfect in knowledge." He does have some sound reasoning; but he certainly is not complete in knowledge of God.

None of us, no matter how much or how long we grow, as Christians, can become complete or perfect in knowledge of God while we remain on this earth. Paul says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:.." (1Corinthians 13:12). Again, finite man cannot fathom the infinite God!

But there are some things we DO know about God; and that is what He Himself has revealed.

God is "mighty" and able to do all that He so desires (verse 5).

God certainly does not preserve the life of the wicked (verse 6), for the end of the wicked is eternal torment, separated from God. And God certainly will give what is right to the "poor"; but only if they surrender to Him. This perspective, concerning the END of physical life is correct. However, Elihu attempts now to apply that to physical life on this earth. Being "poor" or "rich" is not the determiner of grace from God. Being "saved" is that determiner.

Yes, God establishes governments, and God destroys governments (verses 7-12). God will send messengers to reprove evil leaders. Eventually, ANY wicked government will fall. The Roman government fell. But it lasted FOUR HUNDRED plus years! Why? Because God was using the government to publish the gospel of Jesus Christ over the entire world.

But to say that they (kings and emperors) shall "die by the sword" if they don't obey God is obviously wrong (verse 12). Many an evil leader has died in prosperity.

Be sure that the END, though, shall justify God and condemn those who refuse Him.

13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. 14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean. 15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression. 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. 17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. 18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. 19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. 20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. 21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

Yes, hypocrites (non-believers) do "heap up wrath" from God (verse 13). In the final judgment day, God's wrath shall be full against them, and they will be banished to eternal torment in the "lake that burneth with fire and brimstone" (Revelation 20:10).

But do the hypocrite and the wicked always die young (verse 14)? NO. I have heard my friend Troy Fore say, "All must die. The young do die, and the old must die, unless Jesus returns first."

Elihu is attempting to apply God's FINAL judgment to life on earth in the present day. Who knows the mind of God and how He may use wicked men to bring some to salvation?

ELihu accuses Job of being wicked and hypocritical, and then states this is the reason why he's having all his problems (verse 17). Then he admonishes Job to stop being evil and choose to serve God (verse 21).

Friends, again let me say, "bad things DO happen to good people!" One man cannot say to another that the REASON for his affliction is his own sin. Only God and that man know that. We are "fruit inspectors" not "judges of salvation." If Elihu examined the "fruit" of Job's life, he would have come to the same conclusion as God: that Job was "a perfect and upright man" (Job 1:8). He was that because he daily confessed his sins and begged God's forgiveness (Job 1:5).

22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? 23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity? 24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. 25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. 26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. 27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: 28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. 29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? 30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. 31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. 32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. 33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

Job 37

1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

Here, Elihu uses the nonunderstandable things of earth to explain the fact that God is not understandable.

God will certainly not work "iniquity," (verse 23). So then why do we have clouds, rain, thunder, lightning, tornadoes, and hurricanes, etc.? Though we may, through study of the atmosphere, learn why clouds are formed and drops of rain are formed, WHY?

Again, God has explained. The way is clear. In the beginning, God created the earth with a canopy of water covering the atmosphere (Genesis 1:6-7). As a result there were no clouds, no thunder, no lightning, no rain. And why did God take away that covering of water? Because of man's SIN (Genesis 6:12-13). The purpose of the rain and storms in today's world is to bring man to realize the NEED for God's salvation. And the promise of God's forgiveness is in the "rainbow."
There are also spiritual "storms" in life. And the purpose of them is to bring man to know his weakness, and God's strength. And the promise of God to save man from his weakness is in the CROSS!
Does God work iniquity when He allows the "storms" to come upon mankind? NO! He, by grace, shows the way of salvation!

2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. 5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

We should hear then, through the storms of life, the thunderous voice of God calling us to repentance and salvation.
We cannot understand or "comprehend" (verse 5) God's ways; but we can TRUST Him!

6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. 7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. 8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. 9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. 10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: 12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. 13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. 14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

What God does in the earth is by HIS power. We should very reverently consider the "handiwork" of God, and surrender our every way to His will.

The facts are true, and the satement is also true. But to apply it to Job in this instance is far-fetched. Elihu is saying that bad things happening to a person is a DIRECT result of his sin.

Sometimes that is indeed true. If a man goes and gets drunk, the probability is that he will DIRECTLY suffer a hangover the next day. But every time I awake with a headache, is it the result of SIN? NO!

15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? 16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? 17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind? 18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? 19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. 21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. 23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

What Elihu says is true, "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out:" (verse 23). Man, finite in mind, cannot comprehend or understand the infiniteness of God's glory, power and majesty.

Therefore, Elihu concludes, men should "fear" God; or treat Him with reverential awe.

And then, Elihu's final conclusion actually sums up his own confusion. He says that God does not "respect" (or give attention to) those who are "wise in heart." In other words, if a man considers himself to be wise enough to explain God, then God will not pay him attention.

But Elihu himself has said that he is wise enough to explain and defend God! What a contradiction!

Let me conclude this section of the speeches from Job and his four "friends." When bad things happen to good people it is our duty to love, help and encourage; but, it is NOT our duty to accuse and condemn.

In the next chapter, God will speak personally. I can only imagine the awesome SILENCE of these four "friends" of Job as God begins to speak. Think about that for tomorrow.

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