October 27
Reading: Job 36
1 And Elihu continued, and said:
2 “Bear with me a little, and I will show you,
for I have yet something to say on God’s behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar
and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false;
one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 “Behold, God is mighty, and does not despise any;
he is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He does not keep the wicked alive,
but gives the afflicted their right.
7 He does not withdraw his eyes from the righteous,
but with kings on the throne
he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 And if they are bound in chains
and caught in the cords of affliction,
9 then he declares to them their work
and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.
10 He opens their ears to instruction
and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him,
they complete their days in prosperity,
and their years in pleasantness.
12 But if they do not listen, they perish by the sword
and die without knowledge.
13 “The godless in heart cherish anger;
they do not cry for help when he binds them.
14 They die in youth,
and their life ends among the cult prostitutes.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction
and opens their ear by adversity.
16 He also allured you out of distress
into a broad place where there was no cramping,
and what was set on your table was full of fatness.
17 “But you are full of the judgment on the wicked;
judgment and justice seize you.
18 Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing,
and let not the greatness of the ransom turn you aside.
19 Will your cry for help avail to keep you from distress,
or all the force of your strength?
20 Do not long for the night,
when peoples vanish in their place.
21 Take care; do not turn to iniquity,
for this you have chosen rather than affliction.
22 “Behold, God is exalted in his power;
who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has prescribed for him his way,
or who can say, ‘You have done wrong’?
24 “Remember to extol his work,
of which men have sung.
25 All mankind has looked on it;
man beholds it from afar.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not;
the number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water;
they distill his mist in rain,
28 which the skies pour down
and drop on mankind abundantly.
29 Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds,
the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he scatters his lightning about him
and covers the roots of the sea.
31 For by these he judges peoples;
he gives food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning
and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its crashing declares his presence;
the cattle also declare that he rises.
In verse 2 Elihu begins his fourth and final speech, “Bear with me a little…” We are bearing with Elihu, but it is not easy. After all that Job has been through, and the back and forth with his three friends, Elihu is exhausting. He is the all too eager young counselor, full of words, that we wish would leave so that we can have our supper.
But now, in this last speech, his tone seems to soften. He becomes somewhat more thoughtful. It seems that Elihu has left off accusations and is teaching theology and giving advice.
He begins, however, with such colossal arrogance that it is hard to listen to him. In verses 2-4 he claims that God has given him his words to say and that “one who is perfect in knowledge is with you.” We can give him the benefit of the doubt and think that he is speaking of the presence of God, but it is still not good. Many of us have had the experience of being approached by someone who says, “God has something to tell you and here I am to deliver the message.” I have had people tell me that they have the gift of prophesy and then proceed to tell me what I am doing wrong. At the very least it shows a lack of wisdom on the part of the supposed prophet.
In verses 5-21 Elihu explains that God sends calamity to the wicked and the righteous to test us. In such cases it is important to confess sin, get right with God, and live uprightly. Do not let hardship drive you into sinning. Good advice.
In verses 22-33 Elihu reminds us not to forget to praise God for his power and His mighty works. Just because we do not understand Him and His actions does not mean He is not worthy of our worship. This too is good advice.
I think of Elihu and he reminds me of me 30 years ago. He was young, zealous, smart, and prideful. When I was young, I thought I knew and understood things. Now, I know more, but I also know how much I don’t know. I am less inclined to tell others what I think they need to know because I know that I might be wrong.