Elihu Claims to Speak For God
May 29, 2021
Commentary
Job had been wanting a man to represent him before God. This young man, Elihu, is willing to do just that. He wants to enlighten Job with his great wisdom (vv. 1-2). He says he is going to speak by the Spirit of God (vv. 3-4). Peter in his epistle wrote, “If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God….” (I Peter 4:11). Any ministry is powerless, valueless, and fruitless unless a man is speaking in the Spirit of God. Other men haven’t been able to answer Job, and now Elihu is going to give it a try. He says, “I’m made of the same clay you are made of” (vv. 5-6). He has been listening to all the preceding conversation, and heard that Job considered himself innocent and found fault with God (vv. 7-9). He says God is greater than man and not responsible to man (vv. 10-12). In fact, He doesn’t have to report to anyone (v. 13). (Since we have the complete Bible we don’t need to trust any dream we have had (vv. 14-15.)
Elihu was sure he was right, and challenged Job to refute him (vv. 1-8). Elihu recognized the truth that God was the only source of real wisdom, but he did not use God’s wisdom to help Job. He had not learned that Job needed understanding and love instead of accusations and arguments. Like the three friends, Elihu had a great many facts in his mind but very little truth in his heart. He quoted Job’s own words (vv. 9-11) and explained that God owed him no explanation of what He was doing (vv. 12-13). Job’s greatest test was not the pain, but that he did not know why he was suffering. Elihu claimed to have the answer for Job’s big question: “Why doesn’t God tell me what is happening?” Elihu told Job that God was trying to answer him, but he was not listening. God may speak in dreams (vv. 14-18), in trials (vv. 19-30), and through people (vv. 31-33). God had used all three in Job’s life and he had rejected them. Is it any wonder that Job was miserable?
Application
I should never be content just to know about wisdom, but must make it a part of my life pursuit. That only comes from a close relationship with the Lord, and an understanding of His Word.
Job 33:1– 33 (NET)
1 “But now, O Job, listen to my words, and hear everything I have to say.
2 See now, I have opened my mouth; my tongue in my mouth has spoken.
3 My words come from the uprightness of my heart, and my lips will utter knowledge sincerely.
4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
5 Reply to me, if you can; set your arguments in order before me and take your stand.
6 Look, I am just like you in relation to God; I too have been molded from clay.
7 Therefore no fear of me should terrify you, nor should my pressure be heavy on you.
8 “Indeed, you have said in my hearing (I heard the sound of the words!):
9 ‘I am pure, without transgression; I am clean and have no iniquity.
10 Yet God finds occasions with me; he regards me as his enemy.
11 He puts my feet in shackles; he watches closely all my paths.’
12 Now in this, you are not right—I answer you, for God is greater than a human being.
13 Why do you contend against him, that he does not answer all a person’s words?
14 “For God speaks, the first time in one way, the second time in another, though a person does not perceive it.
15 In a dream, a night vision, when deep sleep falls on people as they sleep in their beds.
16 Then he gives a revelation to people, and terrifies them with warnings,
17 to turn a person from his sin, and to cover a person’s pride.
18 He spares a person’s life from corruption, his very life from crossing over the river.
19 Or a person is chastened by pain on his bed, and with the continual strife of his bones,
20 so that his life loathes food, and his soul rejects appetizing fare.
21 His flesh wastes away from sight, and his bones, which were not seen, are easily visible.
22 He draws near to the place of corruption, and his life to the messengers of death.
23 If there is an angel beside him, one mediator out of a thousand, to tell a person what constitutes his uprightness;
24 and if God is gracious to him and says, ‘Spare him from going down to the place of corruption, I have found a ransom for him,’
25 then his flesh is restored like a youth’s; he returns to the days of his youthful vigor.
26 He entreats God, and God delights in him, he sees God’s face with rejoicing, and God restores to him his righteousness.
27 That person sings to others, saying: ‘I have sinned and falsified what is right, but I was not punished according to what I deserved.
28 He redeemed my life from going down to the place of corruption, and my life sees the light!’
29 “Indeed, God does all these things, twice, three times, in his dealings with a person,
30 to turn back his life from the place of corruption, that he may be enlightened with the light of life.
31 Pay attention, Job—listen to me; be silent, and I will speak.
32 If you have any words, reply to me; speak, for I want to justify you.
33 If not, you listen to me; be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”
Illustration: Dean Given a Choice of Wealth Wisdom or Beauty
An angel appears at a faculty meeting and tells the dean that in return for his unselfish and exemplary behavior the Lord will reward him with his choice of infinite wealth, wisdom or beauty. Without hesitating, the dean selects infinite wisdom. “Done!” says the angel, and disappears in a cloud of smoke and a bolt of lightning. Now, all heads turn toward the dean, who sits surrounded by a faint halo of light. At length, one of his colleagues whispers, “Say something.” The dean looks at them and says, “I should have taken the money." (Simon & Schuster, quoted in Reader’s Digest).