Job 32:1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God. 3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job. 4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. 6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion. 7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. 8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. 9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. 10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
Interesting events continue to take place across the world. In Israel, Mr. Netanyahu is facing continued opposition to his reforms to the Supreme Court. The U.S. has been funding interference in the affairs of a sovereign nation. In the U.S. the Democrats have further weaponized the judiciary and are trying to keep Mr. Trump from being able to seek the nomination for the Republican party. Some are suggesting that they are trying to make sure that he will get the nomination so that they can defeat him again. Corruption controlled the last couple of elections. Mr. Trump is an ungodly man. He is not a Christian man in spite of what he has said and what other religious leaders are saying. In Canada there is a court case being conducted right now regarding the illegal actions of the federal government and the opposition parties by enacting the Emergency Measures Act without just cause. While that is taking place, the Natives are holding their meetings where they have called upon their pagan deities. This is being broadcast on public media. Wouldn’t it be interesting if these same media would broadcast true religious services conducted by God-fearing men in local churches. Our country is willing to embrace any god except the true God. The war in Ukraine continues as well. Russia continues to gain ground against the once powerful U.S. The U.S. has crumbled under the current leadership. Canada is also on the brink of collapse. The BRICS nations are continuing to work toward a currency that will ignore the U.S. dollar in trading amongst themselves. This will further hurt the U.S. and Canada. Will people wake up as these things take place? Not likely. If they will not bow before the Almighty God and the preaching of His Word, they will not bow before Him when the economies falter and eventually collapse. The Bible warns us of trouble ahead. It does not show us that a major turning to God is coming. Religious activities continue, but not a pursuit of truth. As we continue to study the book of Job, God is now going to introduce a fifth person into the situation. Job’s three friends have had enough to say. God is not going to let them talk any longer. Job will still have some things to say, but Elihu will now give some words to these three men and to Job. God is directing this entire situation. He shows us the thinking of people and if we know Him and study His Word properly, we will be able to discern who is speaking truth and who God wants us to stay away from.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
God gives us the truth and He gives us enough of the false teachers’ thinking to help those who are saved to be able to discern truth from error. In our text, verse 1 tells us that these three friends had nothing more to say because Job was righteous in his own eyes. That was their assessment. It was good that they finally kept quiet. They were the ones who assumed they were righteous before God and that Job needed to listen to them. The Bible tells us that Elihu was a younger man and he had kept silence until now out of respect for the older men. He assumed that the older men should be able to speak with wisdom. However, he discovered that these three men lacked wisdom. He also discerned that Job had a problem in his attitude toward God. God gave us a little information about Elihu. He was a Buzite. Buz was the second son of Nahor, Abraham’s brother. We have mentioned before that it is generally understood that Job lived during the time of Abraham. Elihu was right to be angry with the three friends of Job. He was somewhat arrogant in his judgment of Job. He was not facing what Job was facing. He could refute some of Job’s words, but he demonstrated as well that he did not know what God was doing in Job’s life at this time. Elihu expected these three older men to have an answer for Job. Instead, all they were able to do was to condemn Job. Condemnation is needed at times, but with condemnation should come solutions. It is important to be able to help those who are wrong with right words. Job’s three friends had no answers. They did not even have any legitimate condemnation. In verse 4 Elihu acknowledged that he had waited for Job to speak. He had respect for his elders. It is good to respect our elders. It is also important to speak to the words of those who are older if we believe they are not right. God’s Word must be our authority. The Bible does not forbid younger men from speaking. It teaches that there needs to be a level of respect when addressing older men. Older, God-fearing men are not always right. However, they have learned some things and that needs to be acknowledged in our response to them. When a man is wrong, it is important to point that out, whether the man is younger or older. God tells us how we should do this. In verse 6 Elihu gave his reason for withholding his words until now. He was waiting for these older men to be able to give wise answers to the situation. He judged that there was a great lack of wisdom in the back and forth that he had been witnessing. Elihu did not want to interrupt. He did not want to reveal his lack of wisdom in front of these men. He discovered that they lacked wisdom and he felt emboldened to speak as well. In verse 7 he stated that there should be wisdom with age. A man should not grow old and be just as foolish as he was as a younger man. A God-fearing man will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Job’s three friends, lacked the fear of God in their hearts and they had made assumptions without any facts to back them up. Elihu had hoped to be able to learn some things from this whole matter. He was sadly disappointed. He was frustrated with what he had witnessed and he was angry at all four of these men. In verse 8 Elihu acknowledged that God is not a respecter of persons. He gives wisdom to those who are ready to receive it. Paul told Timothy not to let others despise his youth. A young man can have wisdom if he is saved and has been properly taught and is humble before the Lord. That is a rare combination but it is a possibility. Elihu acknowledged that great men are not always wise. A person might be good with dollars and cents, and may know how to conduct secular business, but may be in the dark regarding spiritual matters. Any man needs to be instructed by other Godly men in order to be able to be wise in the handling of God’s Word. Personal Bible study is important, but no faithful child of God can be a self-made man. In verse 10 Elihu stated that he had waited long enough. He was now going to give his opinion of what he observed. We will see further on that God did not rebuke Elihu for his words. He rebuked Job’s three friends and He challenged Job with his attitude. Those who are saved, need to be students of God’s Word. If we are studying to meet God’s approval, He will give us opportunities to help others to know the truth. Arrogance has no place in God’s economy. A man must be teachable if he is going to teach others. He needs to be teachable from God’s Word, not from false teachers. He needs to have discernment. Pastor Bartel
Older
Top
