I want to now take a moment to talk about the 3 friends one last time now that we heard all their arguments (so glad that is over). These men were “sources” of information. Where do you get your “spiritual” “religious” or “biblical” information? There are 3 inadequate sources some might fall prey to.
- Experience
- Intellect
- Tradition
Experience: You determine Truth by your senses, feelings, and emotions. Eliphaz thought wisdom came from his experiences in life, and that he had God all figured out.
Intellect: Zophar! You determine truth by your ability to reason what is right or wrong, good or bad, we use intellect to figure logic. God did give us a brain, but oh how we use it wrong sometimes. I think “overthinking” is one of the hardest things not to do.
Tradition: “That is what we do” You structure your beliefs by what you have inherited. Our dependence on tradition is a way to clearly escape responsibility for knowing the Word of God. Bildad did this.
Although all 3 sources can be good in life. They need to be filtered through the Bible.
“Elihu” (“He is My God”) may have been a relative of Abraham since a man named Buz was a descendant of Nahor, Abraham’s brother.
Elihu, has been there the whole time biting his tongue because he is the “kid” in the room. He can’t take this conversation any longer and explodes. Am I fan of Elihu? Well, he is a bit too brash and dogmatic for me (I have Facebook posts I can read for that 😂) With that said, Elihu speaks a lot of truth and states God is just, and we do not have to know His motives.
I probably should not have inserted my opinion on Elihu, so let me tell you what I love about him. He UNDERSTANDS WISDOM surpasses knowledge because of the source! Wisdom comes from God.
6 So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
“I am young in years,
and you are old;
that is why I was fearful,
not daring to tell you what I know.
7 I thought, ‘Age should speak;
advanced years should teach wisdom.’
8 But it is the spirit in a person,
the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
9 It is not only the old who are wise,
not only the aged who understand what is right……
13 Do not say, ‘We have found wisdom;
let God, not a man, refute him.’
Chapter 32 is Job entering the scene. I totally get this! Sometimes I just have to “get it out or I am going to burst”.
Chapter 33 and 34
- GOD is the Creator! Elihu says:: 6 I am the same as you in God’s sight;
I too am a piece of clay.
- We are Sinners: He quotes Job:
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- 8 “But you have said in my hearing—
I heard the very words—
9 ‘I am pure, I have done no wrong;
I am clean and free from sin.
10 Yet God has found fault with me;
he considers me his enemy.
11 He fastens my feet in shackles;
he keeps close watch on all my paths.’
-
-
- Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—
- Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
- God communicates with us:
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- 14 For God does speak—now one way, now another
- God is a Deliverer:
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- 26 then that person can pray to God and find favor with him,
they will see God’s face and shout for joy;
he will restore them to full well-being.
27 And they will go to others and say,
‘I have sinned, I have perverted what is right,
but I did not get what I deserved.
28 God has delivered me from going down to the pit,
and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’
- God is Sovereign:
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- 10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.
- God is Just:
-
- 12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.
- God does not show favoritism
-
- 19 who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
Job is accused of shaking his fist at God:
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”
Elihu’s speeches were out of anger and served as a “vent”, to all 4 men, but specifically at Job. There are times he misquotes Job. The most obvious is in 34:6 misinterpreting Job’s words that he claimed to be sinless. Job never claimed to be sinless, he actually admits sin in 7:21 and 13:26.
A good lesson I have learned since reading the Bible is in times of strategy sometimes silence is the best remedy.
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. Prov. 15:1
Reading the Bible - 2021 