Have You Considered My Servant Job? Lesson 10 Job 32 37 : Elihu s Speech
God is Sovereign He is good all the time, and He is always in control. God does not feel obligated to explain Himself, nor should He.
Job 32-37 - Outline Chapter 32 - Introduction and First Speech of Elihu Introduction of Elihu (32:1-5) Elihu s hesitancy to speak (32:6-10) Determined to speak, he launched out (32:11-14) The silenced friends opened the way for Elihu to speak (32:15-22) Chapter 33 Elihu s first address to Job Elihu s desire to speak earnest and sincere (33:1-7) Job charged with defending his righteousness at the expense of God s justice (33:8-12) Elihu s answer to Job s complaint that God gives no account of His matters (33:13-33)
Job 32-37 - Outline Chapter 34 Elihu answers Job s complaints Elihu s challenge to determine truth (34:1-4) Job charged with irreverence and scoffing (34:5-9) Elihu defended God s actions (34:10-15) God s omnipotence and sense of justice exclude partiality (34:16-20) God s omniscience further qualifies Him to be an impartial judge (34:21-30) Elihu accused Job of speaking without knowledge, and of rebellion against God (34:31-37) Chapter 35 Elihu s third speech Job s presumptuous words (35:1-8) Why cries of the oppressed are not heard (35:9-16)
Job 32-37 - Outline Chapter 36 Elihu s fourth speech: more words on God s behalf Introduction to the fourth speech (36:1-4) The power of God and His use of it (36:5-16) An appeal to Job to yield to God s way (36:17-23) An appeal to recognize God s wonderful works (36:24-33) Chapter 37 Elihu continues his speech An appeal to recognize God s wonderful works (37:1-13) A personal appeal to Job (37:14-20) The conclusion to Elihu s speeches (37:21-24)
Lessons Respect the wisdom of those older, but do not sell yourself short Be careful not to put words in someone else s mouth God is sovereign. He is good all the time, and He is always in control
Chapter 32 - Introduction and First Speech of Elihu Introduction of Elihu (32:1-5) Elihu angered Job justified himself rather than God Three friends found no answer but still condemned Job Elihu s hesitancy to speak (32:6-10) What kept Elihu from speaking up to this point? Respect for the age of the three friends compared to him
Chapter 32 - Introduction and First Speech of Elihu Determined to speak, he launched out (32:11-14) They had failed he had listened patiently to them, but none of them convinced Job He says he will not make the same arguments as they The silenced friends opened the way for Elihu to speak (32:15-22) Must now speak because: He has his own opinions; his spirit compels him Principle he will follow Does not wish to show partiality or merely flatter anyone
Chapter 33 Elihu s first address to Job Highlighting the word pit in ch. 33 shachath (shakh'-ath) a pit (especially as a trap); figuratively destruction, corruption, ditch, grave (Strong s) Used as an undesirable place that one might go down to ; could be the grave, death, Hades Elihu uses in a way that holds out promise God will redeem Job from the pit or deliver him from it if he would only be righteous and acknowledge his sin
Chapter 33 Elihu s first address to Job Elihu s desire to speak earnest and sincere (33:1-7) Basis An upright heart and pure speech Assurances Speak what is known to be true, speak on common ground, will treat Job fairly Job charged with defending his righteousness at the expense of God s justice (33:8-12) Accurately represent Job? That he was innocent and that God had treated him as His enemy. Job was wrong He was not without sin; had indeed wrongly charged God
Chapter 33 Elihu s first address to Job Elihu s answer to Job s complaint that God gives no account of His matters (33:13-33) God speaks to man in three ways God speaks in dreams (33:13-18) God speaks through chastening by suffering (33:19-22) God may speak through a messenger (33:23-28) God works in these ways repeatedly to accomplish His will (v. 29) Striving for fairness with Job (v. 32) Believes that he has true insight on these matters (v. 33)
Chapter 34 - Elihu answers Job s complaints Elihu s challenge to determine truth (34:1-4) Job charged with irreverence and scoffing (34:5-9) Accused Job of speaking like scorners and wicked men Because he is walking in the ways of wicked men by claiming that God is not just Accurate? Yes and no Had claimed to be righteous; had said God took away his justice ; had thought God caused the affliction and only He could remove it Had not said that God viewed him as a liar; had not said it is no profit to delight in God
Chapter 34 - Elihu answers Job s complaints God is just and impartial God cannot commit iniquity in His judgments; they are perfect Elihu defended God s actions (34:10-15) Elihu has some profound and true things to say of God s justice here
Chapter 34 - Elihu answers Job s complaints God s omnipotence and sense of justice exclude partiality (34:16-20) Characteristics and attributes of God God is just God is impartial God s omniscience further qualifies Him to be an impartial judge (34:21-30) Elihu completely refutes Job s charge that there is no moral government in the world (9:22-24) Elihu accused Job of speaking without knowledge, and of rebellion against God (34:31-37)
Chapter 35 - Elihu s 3 rd speech Job challenged to rethink what he has said Job s presumptuous words (35:1-8) Statements attributed to Job accurate? No - Job had not said he was more righteous than God Had not he said that it didn t matter whether he had sinned or not Why cries of the oppressed are not heard (35:9-16) Elihu concluded that Job s cries were not answered Because of his pride Because of his empty talk (void of sincerity and truth)
Chapter 36 Elihu s 4 th Speech: more words on God s behalf Introduction to the fourth speech (36:1-4) He thinks he speaks on God s behalf Views his words as being without fault The power of God and His use of it (36:5-16) Basic doctrines or principles Elihu lays out regarding God and His dealing with the wicked wickedness will be punished swiftly in this life great suffering implied great wickedness An appeal to Job to yield to God s way (36:17-23) An appeal to recognize God s wonderful works (36:24-33) Theme God is great and man cannot begin to know His ways
Chapter 37 Elihu continues his 4 th speech An appeal to recognize God s wonderful works (37:1-13) Elihu depicts God s greatness A thunderstorm Characteristics: God is great He is beyond comprehension His providential care He is in control A personal appeal to Job (37:14-20) Cannot begin to approach God s understanding of things Cannot presume to speak to Him The conclusion to Elihu s speeches (37:21-24)
Lessons Respect the wisdom of those older, but do not sell yourself short Be careful not to put words in someone else s mouth God is sovereign. He is good all the time, and He is always in control