JOB 35 Elihu s Third Discourse He Exposes Job s Problem: the Spiritual Pride of Self-Righteousness

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1 Introduction: JOB 35 Elihu s Third Discourse He Exposes Job s Problem: the Spiritual Pride of Self-Righteousness In this chapter Elihu, the fourth, and youngest, friend of Job gives his third discourse and presents evidence that Job has a prideful attitude. Although Elihu is the youngest of all the friends of Job, his words ring truest and God does not rebuke him in the end {see Job 42:7-9}. Note that although he gives rebuttals to both Job s and the other friends statements neither Job nor his three friends reply to any of Elihu s discourses. Again, as in his first and second discourses, Elihu quotes Job to establish the fact that he s not making up false or straw man arguments against Job. He cites one claim of innocence and one complaint against God s (apparent) injustice. Elihu announces Job s problem: his self-righteous attitude! {v.12}. Elihu s indictment of Job s prideful attitude is summarized by his statement; Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain; he multiplies words without knowledge {v.16}. In this chapter Elihu emphasizes that the wisdom and power of God are superior to Job s [and ours]. In this chapter Elihu also exposes Job s problem: SPIRITUAL PRIDE which won t allow him to see that just because God doesn t always punish wickedness, or reward righteousness, in this life doesn t mean that God is indifferent or capricious towards sin. This is, that God is unfair or unjust. Elihu will have one more, a fourth and final, discourse which is recorded in Job vv. 1-3 ELIHU S INDICTMENT OF JOB S ATTITUDE [1 Moreover Elihu answered and said: 2 Do you think this is right? Do you say, My righteousness is more than God's? 3 For you say, What advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned? ] [Moreover Elihu answered and said:] The Hebrew word rendered answered indicates the commencement of a new discourse. Moreover indicates that Elihu will continue to elaborate his controversy with Job and his three friends. In other words, he has more to say on the subject of Job s claims and complaints. [Do you think this is right?] After having called Job to listen attentively with his heart {Job 34:10, 16}, Elihu is going to directly ask him if he thinks certain things that follow are right. He wants Job to reconsider if some of the things he s said are really true. As in his first and second discourses, Elihu now quotes statements that Job has previously spoken and they come back to haunt him. This time he alludes to several statements regarding Job s claims of innocence and quotes one of Job s complaints of injustice. Refer to Table 35-1 below. Table Statements of Job Quoted by Elihu in His Third Discourse. Job s Claims of Innocence References [*Refer to notes] Job s Complaints of Injustice References What profit is it to me that I have not sinned [repeated] Job 21:15 Although Elihu doesn t directly quote one of Job s claims of innocence, he does summarize such an attitude by making one statement... 1

2 [Do you say, My righteousness is more than God's? ] Job had nowhere said these exact words, but Elihu is distilling several declarations that Job had made into one claim of innocence statement. Evidently, this is what Elihu believes Job thinks about himself. This one statement summarizes what Job HAS said in so many words, which are: For He crushes me with a tempest and multiplies my wounds without cause. Job 9:17 Although You know that I am not wicked and there is no one who can deliver from Your hand? 'Your hands have made me and fashioned me, an intricate unity; yet You would destroy me. Job 10:7-8 See now, I have prepared my case, I know that I shall be vindicated. Job 13:18 Although no violence is in my hands and my prayer is pure. O earth, do not cover my blood and let my cry have no resting place! Surely even now my witness is in heaven and my evidence is on high. Job 16:17-19 Know then that God has wronged me and has surrounded me with His net. Job 19:6 There the upright could reason with Him and I would be delivered forever from my Judge. Job 23:7 And finally, the most condemning statements of all. As God lives, who has taken away my justice and the Almighty, who has made my soul bitter, as long as my breath is in me and the breath of God in my nostrils, my lips will not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. Far be it from me that I should say you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live. Job 27:2-6 The substance of Job s words correctly lead Elihu to conclude it was equivalent to Job saying that he was more righteous than God the Almighty Maker of Heaven and Earth! This can especially be seen when Job says {Job 27:6}, My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live he has effectively said, My righteousness is more than God s. Job may have denied such a strong statement, but we have no record of it. Based on Job s silence and the testimony of his own words we can assume Elihu was spot on with this assessment of Job s attitude. Either God is right and we are wrong, or we are wrong and God is right. As soon as Job concluded that God is wrong because he is right and suffering unjustly in spite of being right, he has declared his own righteousness greater than God s! Of this scripture testifies: But we are all like an unclean thing and all our righteous acts are like filthy 1 rags; we all fade as a leaf and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isa. 64:5 The heart is deceitful above all things and incurably sick; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. Jer. 17:9-10 Hopefully, by now, Job has had time to reflect and cool down and realize that Elihu may be correct. Perhaps Job is thinking, Maybe I should humble myself and repent. At any rate, it is an encouraging thought that Elihu has softened Job s heart to prepare him to receive what God will say to him {Job 38-41}. 1 The Hebrew meaning of this word is menstrual cycle ; i.e., thus a reference to menstrual cloths. 2

3 [ What advantage will it be to you? ] Again, although Job did not say these exact words, they are in the context of his statement in Job 21:15. Here is what Job actually says first; Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And then Job immediately says; And what profit do we have if we pray to Him? Thus, it is safe to assume that Elihu was interpreting the substance of Job s first complaint [ Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? ] the same as saying there is no advantage to knowing or serving the Almighty because He cannot deliver the expected justice. Either way, this is another serious indictment of Job s unrighteous attitude. [ What profit shall I have more than if I had sinned? ] Note that the second complaint is the same quote Elihu gave in Job 34:9 and is paraphrasing Job 21:15b. In Job 9:22 Job says, It is all one thing; therefore I say, He destroys the blameless and the wicked, which is a pretty cynical statement! In other words, Job has said that since God appears to indiscriminately destroy both the wicked and righteous, it doesn t seem to make any sense to serve Him. But this statement is of untrue because God does not [typically] destroy the righteous along with the wicked. This is demonstrated by the testimony of Abraham when the LORD was about to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, in which Abraham had relatives. Refer to Gen. 18: Here are some excerpts of the dialogue between the Abraham and the LORD: Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?... So the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes....so He said, If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it....so He said, I will not do it for the sake of forty....so He said, I will not do it if I find thirty there....so He said, I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty....and He said, I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. Gen.18:24-26, 29, It is also the initial sentiment of Solomon in Ecclesiastes, All things come alike to all: one event happens to the righteous and the wicked; to the good, the clean, and the unclean; to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath. Eccl. 9:2 but then he concludes by saying; Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. Eccl. 12:13-14 There are however special, and apparently rare, exceptions when God, in His fierce anger, does destroy the righteous along with the wicked. One such case is the destruction 2 of God s chosen people for their extreme wickedness and corruption 3 {refer to Ezek. 21:1-7}. What Ezekiel teaches us is that when the righteous stand idly by and do nothing to stop the spread of wickedness, complacently promote it due to disobedience, or even unwittingly promote it due to ignorance, God holds them just as accountable as those who actively practice and promote evil! 2 Through the agency of King Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian army in 586 BC. 3 For example; at one time in the history of Israel entire families were involved in the practices of the worship of pagan idols; the people were sacrificing their children to Molech [the god of the Canaanites] {Jer. 7:28-31}; and Temple priests were secretly worshipping false gods and idols in the inner rooms of the Temple {Ezek. 8:7-12}. In such a case God says not even to pray for the people {Jer. 7:16-20}. 3

4 Although the United States is NOT Israel, and we the people are NOT God s Chosen People ; it is nevertheless sobering, and perhaps also a little frightening, to consider the implications of this Biblical truth! Especially in light of the fact that the United States WAS founded on Biblical principles and the Christian faith. What will God do when even the Christians in this country have become so apathetic that they stand idly by while wickedness, of the grossest kind, is practiced and promoted. We are like those people in Ezekiel s day! Application: However, for a faithful and obedient believer it is good to remember that before God destroyed those dwelling on the earth because the intent of the thoughts of their heart was to do evil on a continuous basis, Noah and his family, eight people, found grace in the eyes of God {Gen. 6:1-8}, so too will believers find grace in the eyes of God by being removed from the earth prior to the coming Great and Terrible Day of the LORD {Isa. 13:6-13; Zeph. 1:14-18; 2:1-3}, the time of Israel s Trouble {}; that is, the Great Tribulation. The Day of the Lord, the Great Tribulation is a time filled with cruelty and darkness, it is time of the Lord s fierce anger and wrath: Behold, the day of the Lord comes, cruel, with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate; and He will destroy its sinners from it...therefore I will shake the heavens and the earth will move out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts and in the day of His fierce anger. Isa. 13:8, 13 Gather yourselves together, yes, gather together, O undesirable nation, before the decree is issued, or the day passes like chaff, before the Lord's fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the Lord's anger comes upon you! Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden in the day of the Lord's anger. Zeph. 2:1-3 But in contrast to this, scriptures teaches us that, as the Church, the Bride of Jesus Christ, believers are not part of this time; neither are we Israel, i.e., Jacob, so we are not part of the Trouble, nor are we subject to the fierce anger of the Lord but have been saved out of it. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thess. 1:9-10 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. 1 Thess. 5:1-11 For a detailed discussion of the Rapture please refer to the paper The Great Snatch, a.k.a., The Rapture, of the Church. Go to and click on the BIBLE STUDY NOTES tab; then click under SPECIAL TOPICS. 4

5 vv. 4-8 MAN S WICKEDNESS OR RIGHTEOUSNESS CANNOT AFFECT GOD S HOLINESS [4 I will answer you, and your companions with you. 5 Look to the heavens and see; and behold the clouds they are higher than you. 6 If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him? 7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand? 8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you, and your righteousness a son of man. ] [I will answer you, and your companions with you] The Hebrew literally reads, I will turn back to your discourse. In other words Elihu is picking up where he left off in addressing the words spoken by Job and his three friends. [Look to the heavens and see; and behold the clouds...] Elihu turns to an example of the glory and grandeur of God s creation which is actually a preview of what s to come [when God responds to Job]. Elihu tells Job and the other three friends to look up at the sky and observe the clouds. That is, consider their majesty and beauty. Earlier, Eliphaz had used the example of the stars to make his point {Job. 22:12}. Perhaps Elihu used the clouds because they are closer and more readily observed. As the Psalmist has written: The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Ps. 19:1-3 The heavens declare His righteousness and all the peoples see His glory. Ps. 96:13 [...they are higher than you] Job, these majestic clouds are higher than you, they are more lofty than you. We can marvel at the grandeur of billowy white clouds against a bright blue backdrop. The point is that mankind can never even come anywhere close to matching God s wisdom and power because man himself is a created being! The Creator is always greater than the creation {ref. Rom. 1:18-24}. Just as the painter is greater than the painting; the sculptor is greater than the sculpture; the writer is greater than the writing. The artist, the designer and creator is always greater than his creation. As we are told by the prophet Isaiah: Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. Isa. 55:7-9 Elihu uses the simple example of clouds to demonstrate the superior wisdom 4 and power of God over that of mankind {Job 12:13}. His point is that mankind s power and ability to influence the world around him is negligible to that of God s. Man is like a flea on the thick hide of the backside of an elephant. The sheer creative wisdom and power of God should humble us and this knowledge was meant to humble Job. 4 God s creative intelligence is shown in the atmospheric dynamics that govern the formation and function of clouds. Such an example is sufficient to show that what God is capable of on a grand scale and makes anything that man can do pale into relative insignificance. 5

6 In light of this truth, is it rationale for Job [or anyone for that matter] to think that a person can dictate to God what is right and what is wrong? This reminder of God s superior wisdom and power was meant to prepare Job for the four rhetorical questions that follow. [If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him?] In asking Job this question, Elihu is emphasizing the point that a person s sin cannot detract from the wisdom and power of God. A person s sin CANNOT adversely affect or change God s holiness. The point is that a person s sin, along with its accompanying consequences, does not invalidate God s authority and control. As the apostle Paul says, You will say to me then, Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will? But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, Why have you made me like this? Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor? Rom. 9:19-21 So on what basis could anyone think that God is unjust or unfair when someone suffers the consequences for their sin? There is none. [Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?] In asking this question, Elihu is emphasizing the point that God is not harmed in any way by the multiple transgressions of anyone. Here, Elihu is describing the actions of a wicked person. The point is that when God administers judgment it s not because someone has physically injured Him. God has pre-established what sin is and what the consequences will be based on His never-changing standards. [If you are righteous, what do you give Him?] Likewise, if you re righteous, what have you really added to God s righteousness? Nothing! Earlier, Eliphaz had practically said the same thing; Can a man be profitable to God, though he who is wise may be profitable to himself? Is it any pleasure to the Almighty that you are righteous? Or is it gain to Him that you make your ways blameless? {Job 22:2-3}. Now Elihu is speaking to Job s circumstances. Job perceived God as being unjust because he thought he was righteousness and therefore seemed to be suffering for sin and iniquity he did not commit. Job had accused God of this on numerous occasions {Job 6:4; 7:20-21; 10:2-3, 16-17; 13:24}. A person s righteousness does not add a tittle to God s stature. Why? Because God is uniquely righteousness ; and holy. Furthermore, we receive our righteousness from God, through Jesus Christ. As Paul writes to the Corinthian church: But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption that, as it is written, He who glories, let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor. 1:30-31 [Or what does He receive from your hand?] In other words, what can you give to God that will add to His stature? Can you make Him more glorious? Can you make Him wealthier? Can you add anything to His comfort? Of course not! God does not need anything from anyone. 6

7 The implication is that God s standards for judging people are firm, impartial, and uninfluenced by His creation. God is not bribed by man. Ultimately, God s holiness does not depend on nor is it affected by a person s wickedness or righteousness. God is sovereign and therefore His wisdom and power is unchangeable. Is there something or someone that IS affected by a person s wickedness or righteousness? Let s read on. [Your wickedness affects a man such as you...] Elihu sums this up by telling Job that wickedness on his part CAN ONLY affect and influence other people a man such as you. The same is true of everyone. [...and your righteousness a son of man.] The expression son of man is used in numerous places in the scriptures. Oftentimes it refers to the Messiah 5 {Dan. 7:13; Acts 7:56; Rev. 1:13; 14:14}. Other times it simply refers to a descendent of Adam, someone made in the likeness of mankind 6 and the object of God s attention {e.g., Ps. 144:3; 146:3; 1 Cor. 15:22-23; Heb. 2:6}. This is the way Elihu uses it here. Likewise, a person s righteousness CAN ONLY affect or influence other people. Since a person s moral conduct does affect their own life it does make a difference, to both themselves and others, whether they sin or not. In other words, Job, why do you insist on claiming your righteousness before God and complaining to Him about suffering as if you were a wicked man. What is that to God it profits Him nothing! Job s arrogant claims of righteousness and complaints likening his suffering to that of a wicked man are things that really do not change his status before God nor do they detract from His holiness, honor, power, glory and greatness. In a way Elihu is saying to Job, Get over it! Repent, humble yourself before God and He will lift you up. vv PEOPLE FORGET THE BLESSINGS OF HAVING FELLOWSHIP WITH THE LORD [9 Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out; they cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty. 10 But no one says, Where is God my Maker, Who gives songs in the night, 11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of heaven? ] [Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out...] People usually cry out to God for help when there is trouble or tyranny [the meaning of the Hebrew word rendered oppressions ]. 5 All four of the Gospel writers commonly use the expression, Son of man, in referring to the Messiah. Matthew records this expression 32 times, Mark 14 times, Luke 25 times and John records it 12 times; almost in all instances exclusively quoting Jesus Himself. 6 Many of the prophets used the expression son of man this way. Isaiah uses this expression 1 time, Jeremiah 4 times, Daniel 1 time. However, for the prophet Ezekiel the expression son of man was especially important because he uses it 93 times! Most often in referring to the prophet himself. 7

8 Perhaps Elihu is referring to Job s cries because he is complaining about God oppressing him {i.e., Job 6:4; 9:17-18; 19:22; 34:5}. [...they cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty] This is what Job had been doing. To Job God was the Mighty and he believed the arm of the Almighty God had been moving against him {i.e., Job 16:11-14}. [But no one says, Where is God my Maker? ] Even under conditions of oppression by mighty tyrants, people oftentimes don t think to ask God, their Maker, for help. Because of man s sinful nature, no one naturally seeks after God {refer to Rom. 3:10-18}. The average person on the street doesn t normally ask where God, their Maker, is because they don t believe there s a God or they believe they can handle things by their own wisdom and power. [ Who gives songs in the night...] But there is God who is our Maker and He has given us songs to sing in the night, that is, in our darkest times. An example of this is found in Acts 16:25. When we go through difficulties and challenges it is God who encourages and comforts us with songs {e.g., Psalms 42:8; 77:6; 119:62; 149:5}. [... Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth...] God, our Maker, has given us more knowledge and intelligence than the animals of the field. [... and makes us wiser than the birds of heaven? ] God, our Maker, has also given us more wisdom than the birds that fly in the sky. Stop to think about this for a minute. God has given birds the innate ability to navigate long distances during migration without getting lost! They take turns in flying point position when they fly in a V formation. They have been given the innate ability to construct some amazing nests; such as the weaver bird, which literally weave their nests into enclosed spherical houses. Humming birds can flap their wings at 50 times a second [3000 times/minute] and hover and fly backwards. The eagle takes advantage to soar effortlessly using thermal air currents.! Yet few people acknowledge that God has given man more wisdom and knowledge than these creatures, let alone thank God for it. On the other hand, God also uses the beasts and birds to teach us more about His creative power and ironically it was Job who declares this truth! But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; and the fish of the sea will explain to you. Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind? Does not the ear test words and the mouth taste its food? Wisdom is with aged men and with length of days, understanding. Job 12:7-12 The message is, Job, you re wiser and more knowledgeable than a beast of the field or a bird in the air so think and act like it. 8

9 vv GOD IGNORES THE CRIES OF PRIDEFUL, EVIL MEN [12 There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13 Surely God will not listen to empty talk, nor will the Almighty regard it. 14 Although you say you do not see Him, yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him. 15 And now, because He has not punished in His anger, nor taken much notice of folly, 16 Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain; he multiplies words without knowledge.] [There they cry out, but He does not answer...] Elihu acknowledges that God sometimes ignores the cries of people. He has already hinted that this is because they don t acknowledge God s wisdom and power. The psalmist tells us; If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear {Ps. 66:18}. Now Elihu explicitly mentions the chief reason God does not hear people s cries for help. [...because of the pride of evil men] He hits the nail on the head in telling us that the reason God does not answer people s cries is because of the pride of evil men. God will not answer the cries or prayers of those who are arrogant and full of pride. In Prov. 6:16-19 Solomon lists seven things that God hates, seven things that are an abomination to Him, and the first one on the list 7 is a proud look. God considers pride as an evil and wicked thing. By his own statements, it becomes obvious that Job believes that he is more just than God that he is more righteous than God {vv.2-3}. Job had justified himself rather than God {Job 32:2}. This is the first time that Elihu comes out and directly addresses Job s problem spiritual pride of self-righteousness. This is the reason why the LORD has not answered his heartfelt pleas for help and relief from his suffering. [Surely God will not listen to empty talk, nor will the Almighty regard it] God is silent to the cries of the proud because all their words are empty, i.e., useless, He won t regard useless words. That is, God will not turn and pay attention to useless talk. There are people who cry out, but since they don t really acknowledge God s wisdom and power personally sovereign because they have a prideful attitude, their cries do not get heard by God. He remains silent. The classic example of this is the people of Judah, who committed two gross evils against the LORD. First, they had substituted false gods for the real God and second, thereby had forsaken the LORD. And The false gods, who not help them, left the people spiritually empty {e.g., Jer. 2:13}. Here is a summary of their sordid story: Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, says the Lord. Jer. 7: The other things on this list are...a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies and one who sows discord among brethren. 9

10 But they set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. And they built the high places of Baal which are in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I did not command them, nor did it come into My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin. Jer. 32:34-35 And so the LORD says to Jeremiah: Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them, nor make intercession to Me; for I will not hear you. Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? The children gather wood, the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead dough, to make cakes for the queen of heaven; and they pour out drink offerings to other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. Do they provoke Me to anger?" says the Lord. Do they not provoke themselves, to the shame of their own faces? Jer. 7:16-19 Application: This principle applies even to Christians, especially men who act in a prideful way against their wives. Note: Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. 1 Pet. 3:7 Christian husbands are to live with their wives according to knowledge, which includes understanding the differences between the way men and women think. In this way they respect and honor her. The reason for this is that the woman, or wife in this case, is the weaker vessel. The Greek word used for weaker as it is used here means fragile or delicate. It does not mean inferior, since the husband and wife are equal in God s eyes. But it does mean there is a physical and emotional difference between the two. The responsibility is given to the husband to understand this and act on it. Perhaps an illustration will help. It has been said that a man can be likened to a truck [e.g., Ford, Chevy or Dodge], while a woman is more like a sports car [e.g., Ferrari, Maserati or Lamborghini]. Both are beneficial for transportation but you cannot handle them the same way and expect them to reach their full potential. But the incentive, or motivation, for this is so that God will hear the prayers of the husbands. Husbands, if you don t want to hear silence from God as an answer to your prayers, honor your wife by respecting her needs and desires. Elihu sensed an inconsistency with Job s reasoning: [Although you say you do not see Him, yet justice is before Him...] Job claimed that he could not see or find God {Job 9:11; 23:8-9}; yet he had placed his case in God's hands {Job 13:18; 23:7} indicating that Job must still have believed that God would be just. The point is that God s justice does not change with respect to our feelings about Him or the suffering we may go through. [...and you must wait for Him] Elihu is encouraging Job to be patient and remain faithful. He must have for James uses him as an example of perseverance: Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. Jam. 5:11 10

11 Elihu get down to the crux of the matter: [And now, because He has not punished in His anger, nor taken much notice of folly] It should be noted that the Hebrew word rendered folly is used only here, in this verse. The best understanding is that the word means to disassemble or degenerate, within the context, into foolishness. As in The fool has said in his heart, There is no God. {Ps. 14:1; 53:1}. Although Job stated that sometimes God judges the wicked at death, he nevertheless thought that since God doesn t always punish the wicked in this life {Job 24:1-12}, He must be indifferent towards sin that God doesn t take notice of a degenerate mind [i.e., folly ], which is the basis of wickedness {i.e., Eccl. 7:25}. But Elihu sensed another inconsistency in Job: [Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain...] The Hebrew word rendered vain in this verse is used extensively to describe emptiness, something which has no weight or no value. Solomon uses it repeatedly in Ecclesiastes in the refrain, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Elihu is saying that Job s word s are empty and therefore useless, and in v.13 he implied as much. Job s words have been empty of meaningful dialog so God has ignored them this is another reason why God has been silent! [...he multiplies words without knowledge] The Hebrew word rendered multiplies in this verse is used only here. It means to braid together. Job has been twisting together a story and Elihu calls him on it. Furthermore, his story is inconsistent, doesn t acknowledge the wisdom and power of God and is therefore without knowledge. Job was sure that his integrity was untarnished. Job wanted God to justify him in the midst of his suffering. But when that wasn t happening, Job pridefully justified and defended his own integrity and righteousness: Far be it from me that I should say you are right; till I die I will not put away my integrity from me. My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach me as long as I live. Job 27:5-6 If I have walked with falsehood, or if my foot has hastened to deceit, let me be weighed on honest scales that God may know my integrity. Job 31:5-6 In so doing God s integrity was diminished. Elihu is saying why that is wrong. Elihu was telling Job that he would not be justified by God {v.2} as long as he: Questioned the value of serving Him {v.3} Didn t acknowledge God s superior wisdom and power {vv.5-7} Prayed from a heart of pride {v.12}. All the while thinking in the back of his mind that God really does nothing about judging wickedness {v.15}. Job s claims of innocence and his complaints against God s justice show that he has indeed twisted together a story without knowledge or understanding. 11

12 And the LORD agrees with Elihu s assessment: Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Job 38:1-2 And, most importantly, with this Job finally agrees: Then Job answered the Lord and said: Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; yes, twice, but I will proceed no further. Job 40:3-5 You asked, Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please and let me speak; You said, I will question you, and you shall answer Me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes. Job 42:3-6 Table The Major Themes Repeated in Job s Responses First Round of Speeches Theme 1 st Speech 2 nd Speech 3 rd Speech Disappointment in his friends 6: :1-6; 13:1-12 Declaration of God s greatness 9: :7-25 Disillusionment with God s ways 7: :13-10:17 Despair with life (or desire to die) Desire for vindication with God 7:20-21 Bildad s Response 8:1-22 6:8-13; 7: : :1-22 Zophar s Response 11: :13-19 Eliphaz Response 15:1-35 Second Round of Speeches Theme 1 st Speech 2 nd Speech 3 rd Speech Disappointment in his friends 16:1-5; 17:3-5 19:1-4 21:1-6 Declaration of God s greatness 19: :19-22 Disillusionment with God s ways 16: : :7-18, Despair with life (or desire to die) Desire for vindication with God 16:18-17:2 Bildad s Response 18: : :23-27 Zophar s Response 20:1-29 Eliphaz Response 22:1-30 Third Round of Speeches Theme 1 st Speech 2 nd Speech Disappointment in his friends 26:1-4 Declaration of God s greatness 23: :5-14; 27; 28 Disillusionment with God s ways 24:1-17 Despair with life (or desire to die) Desire for vindication with God 23:1-7 Bildad s Response 25:1-6 29:1-25; 30: :1-40 Elihu Speaks Chapters The LORD Speaks Chapters

13 Bibliography (1) New Unger's Bible Dictionary, Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois (2) Nelson s Bible Dictionary; Thomas Nelson Publishers, (3) Bible Knowledge Commentary/New Testament, Cook Communications Ministries; Copyright 1983, (4) Barnes Notes, (5) Thru the Bible Commentary: Poetry (Job), Vol. 16; J. Vernon McGee, Thomas Nelson; Nashville (6) Vincent s Word Studies of the New Testament, Hendrickson Publishers, Copyright (7) Wycliffe Bible Commentary, edited by Charles F. Pfeiffer, Everett F. Harrison, Moody Publishers, Copyright (8) New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary, International Bible Translators, Inc; Copyright 1994, (9) The NET Bible, Copyright ; Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C., Dallas, Texas. 13