Day: January 10, 2025

Job 32-34

Now in these next 6 chapters we have a new character that changes the whole narrative.  His name is Elihu, and he has not been mentioned so far in the book.  He is by his own admission a younger man than the others and so has waited to speak.  The presence of his speeches in the center of narrative gives us a true focus of the book of Job.  It then transitions the book from the negative message of the first 31 chapters to positive of the last 7 chapters. 

Elihu is a wise beyond his years speaker and proceeds to speak I believe as inspired words from God.  He brings a true God perspective first to the arguments of Job, then to the replies of the comforters.  Finally he speaks from God the perspective that we should have.  This prepares us to hear from God Himself in the next section. 

Job 32:1-10(NLT) Elihu Responds to Job’s Friends

Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence.
² Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him. ³ He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments. ⁴ Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he. ⁵ But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily. ⁶ Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said,
“I am young and you are old,
so I held back from telling you what I think.
⁷ I thought, ‘Those who are older should speak,
for wisdom comes with age.’
⁸ But there is a spirit within people,
the breath of the Almighty within them,
that makes them intelligent.
⁹ Sometimes the elders are not wise.
Sometimes the aged do not understand justice.
¹⁰ So listen to me,
and let me tell you what I think.

Job 32:17-20(NLT) No, I will say my piece.
I will speak my mind.
¹⁸ For I am full of pent-up words,
and the spirit within me urges me on.
¹⁹ I am like a cask of wine without a vent,
like a new wineskin ready to burst!
²⁰ I must speak to find relief,
so let me give my answers.

See how I think he is speaking by the prophetic spirit of God within Elihu?

Job 33:8-13(NLT) “You have spoken in my hearing,
and I have heard your very words.
⁹ You said, ‘I am pure; I am without sin;
I am innocent; I have no guilt.
¹⁰ God is picking a quarrel with me,
and he considers me his enemy.
¹¹ He puts my feet in the stocks
and watches my every move.’
¹² “But you are wrong, and I will show you why.
For God is greater than any human being.
¹³ So why are you bringing a charge against him?
Why say he does not respond to people’s complaints

Elihu in one sentence destroys all of Job’s arguments “God is greater than any human being”.

Job 34:7-15(NLT) “Tell me, has there ever been a man like Job,
with his thirst for irreverent talk?
⁸ He chooses evil people as companions.
He spends his time with wicked men.
⁹ He has even said, ‘Why waste time
trying to please God?’
¹⁰ “Listen to me, you who have understanding.
Everyone knows that God doesn’t sin!
The Almighty can do no wrong.
¹¹ He repays people according to their deeds.
He treats people as they deserve.
¹² Truly, God will not do wrong.
The Almighty will not twist justice.
¹³ Did someone else put the world in his care?
Who set the whole world in place?
¹⁴ If God were to take back his spirit
and withdraw his breath,
¹⁵ all life would cease,
and humanity would turn again to dust.

For all Job’s accusations of God Elihu says that God is righteous and can do no wrong.  Job cannot accuse God of being unjust.

-Tom Siderius

Questions for Reflection:

Who is this masked man named Elihu?

Does he build a bigger picture for you of who our God is?