Elihu’s Solution to Job’s Problem   (32:1 – 37:24)

32:1-5
We are introduced to a young man named Elihu in chapter 32. Elihu was the youngest of those present to comfort Job. He had listened to every thing said by both Job and his three counselors/critics. Elihu proved to be the most accurate theologian among the gathering. He rebuked Job’s friends for their unsupported accusations against Job, and Job for his self-justification and wrong view of God.

Elihu spoke to Job a total of four times. His message can be outlined as follows:

• Speech 1: God is not silent (Job 33).
“However now, Job, please hear my speech. . .”

• Speech 2: God is not unjust (Job 34).
“Then Elihu continued and said. . .”

• Speech 3: God is not uncaring (Job 35).
“Then Elihu continued and said. . .”

• Speech 4: God is not powerless (Job 36-37).
“Then Elihu continued and said. . .”

Elihu’s four messages to Job are important because they form a smooth transition from the words of Job and his critics to the words of God. In addition, Elihu’s messages to Job helped to calm him down and make him less defensive and, most important, prepared Job to humbly listen to God’s words at the conclusion of the book.

32:6-14
Elihu told Job and his friends that he had respectfully listened to them because they were older and, he thought, wiser. Elihu suggested that young men may also receive wisdom and understanding from God (see Psalm 119:100). “But now,” said Elihu, “it’s time for me to speak, especially since none of you have been able to refute Job’s argument. You have been so busy thinking of what you were going to say next that you did not hear a thing that Job said.”

32:15-22
Elihu had respectfully listened to the four men before him talk themselves out. They all were finally worn out from talking. And now, Elihu felt a tremendous burden to share what was on his heart. He could no longer remain silent. He had to share what God had laid on his heart. Elihu told his listeners that he was not interested in taking the side of either Job or his friends.

Job’s Reply to Bildad   (26:1 – 31:40) — continued

31:1-4
As Job took inventory of his life and continued to state his case, he turned the spotlight inward to examine every conceivable area of his life. Job was intent on affirming his innocence of any crime or sin in his life which would explain his sufferings. First, Job declared that he had made a covenant with his eyes to not look upon a woman with lustful thoughts and desires. He declared that he had a pure thought life.

31:5-8
Second, Job examined his professional life and declared that he was innocent of any wrongdoing. He conducted his business affairs with the highest standard of ethics and integrity. Job was the kind of man you want to do business with!

31:9-12
Third, Job examined his marriage and home life. He declared that he had been faithful to his wife and not lusted after another man’s wife.

31:13-15
Fourth, Job examined his relationship with his employees. Job declared that he treated his employees with the highest respect because he understood that they, too, had been fashioned by God. In fact, not one complaint had ever been registered against him as an employer.

31:16-23
Fifth, Job examined his relationship with others in the community, specifically the less fortunate. Recall that Eliphaz had recklessly accused Job of being unkind to the underprivileged in Job 22:6-9. Job declared that he had consistently shown concern and extended help to the needy. He gladly shared his resources with the poor. He had taken the initiative in befriending the disadvantaged members of society.

31:24-25
Sixth, Job examined his attitude toward wealth. While he had wealth he did not put his trust in riches. He knew and understood that his wealth came from God. He did not worship his wealth or hold it in a tight fist.

31:26-28
Seventh, Job examined his spiritual life. He declared that he worshiped God alone. He did not worship the sun or the moon and stars like the pagans. He was not guilty of any form of idolatry or worship of false gods. He was loyal and fully devoted to God.

31:29-32
Eighth, Job examined his treatment of enemies and outsiders. He had not conducted himself with a retaliatory spirit toward enemies. He had also shown hospitality by opening his door to aliens.

31:33-34
Job said that he had not tried to cover his sin, like Adam. Nor had he tried to conceal it in his bosom.

31:35-37
Job put his verbal “John Hancock” on all he had said. He endorsed his testimony to say it was true. Job said that he would gladly receive any written accusations against him. At least then he would be able to deal with and refute specific charges rather than the baseless inferences of his critics.

31:38-40
Ninth, Job remembered one other area of his life that needed examination: his stewardship of the land and resources entrusted to him by God. Job declared that he had been a good steward of the land. The chapter concludes, “The words of Job are ended.” Job rested his case. Job declared that there was nothing in his life to account for his present suffering. Job is not quoted as speaking to his critics again during the final chapters of the book.

Job’s Reply to Bildad   (26:1 – 31:40) — continued

30:1-15
The opening words of this chapter (“But now”) signal a contrast to the thoughts of the previous chapter. Job’s present (chapter 30) was quite a contrast to his noble past (chapter 29). Job lamented that in his present miserable condition even the children of desert riffraff mocked him. Job was mocked and abused by the children of men whom Job would not have employed to work with his sheep dogs. Verse 9 begins with the words “And now.” Once again these words serve to contrast Job’s present condition with his past. Job presently found himself detested and threatened by street urchins. They treated him as one lower and more detestable than themselves.

30:16-19
Again the words “And now” point out Job’s present and apparently hopeless condition. Apart from having to endure the taunts of others, Job’s disease was strangling him and draining him of life.

30:20-23
Job lamented that even God had turned on him and would not listen to him. He misinterpreted God’s silence as lack of concern. He felt that God was persecuting him.

30:24-31
Job could not understand why he received nothing but indifference and criticism from both God and man in light of his altruistic record of service to others in need. He felt that he had become a “brother to jackals, and a companion to ostriches” (30:29). Both of these animals are known for their lonely cries. Job sounded just like them. Job’s self-pity and discouragement is understandable. He had suffered incredible losses, suffered illness for a long-period of time, and suffered through the pious theologizing of his friends. As Job took inventory of his life he felt that, beyond losing his health, he had lost the respect of others. He felt that he had lost the comfort and friendship of God. He felt that his prayers were not getting through to heaven. He felt alone and forsaken.

Job’s Reply to Bildad   (26:1 – 31:40) — continued

29:1-6
When in the midst of perplexing and difficult circumstances it is always good to look back and remember the things that God has done on our behalf. Job took the time to look back over his life and recount the blessings of God. He longingly recalled the days when God’s favor covered his home and family.

29:7-17
Job recalled the days when he was held in high esteem by every member of the community because of his life and his treatment of the less fortunate. He recalled the days when he sat at the city gate, the place where legal matters were decided. When he spoke everyone else, including princes and nobles, intently and respectfully listened to him. Job was the E.F. Hutton of his day! Job delivered the poor (29:12), helped orphans (29:12), helped the widows and crippled (29:15), assisted the needy (29:16), and defended the helpless against their oppressors (29:17). Recall that Eliphaz heartlessly accused Job of a multitude of sins against society in his speech recorded in Job 22:1-11.

29:18-20
Job recalled how he thought that his future was secure. He looked forward to dying with his children around him (“in my nest” – 29:18). He felt that his life was deeply rooted, secure, and prosperous (“dew” – 29:19). He had a good reputation (“glory” – 29:18) and strength (“bow” – 29:18).

29:21-25
Job recalled the days when he was highly regarded for his opinions and judgments.

Job’s Reply to Bildad   (26:1 – 31:40) — continued

28:1-11
Job compared his search for wisdom to a prospector’s search for silver and gold. A prospector risks his life to uncover treasures so hidden in the earth that not even the beasts have seen it.

28:12-22
Job said that a man does not find wisdom by digging shafts deep into the earth, nor can he purchase it with precious stones at a market. No earthly creature knows where wisdom can be found, and Abaddon and Death can only report rumors about it. Wisdom cannot be purchased in the market-place nor found in the abode of the dead.

28:23-28
Job declared that God, who established the wind and waves and thunderstorms, is the source of wisdom. God has revealed what wisdom is (28:28): “Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.” To fear the Lord is to be filled with awe and reverence for Him, to take Him seriously. This fear leads to both the hatred and avoidance of evil. Job understood that only God’s wisdom (not that of his friends) could help him face his perplexing situation.

Job’s Reply to Bildad   (26:1 – 31:40) — continued

27:1-6
Lawson comments, “One benefit of a trial is it can cause us to look inward and take inventory – something we might not otherwise do.” Beginning in chapter 27, Job turned the spotlight inward to take personal inventory of his life. He began with a solemn oath “As God lives” (27:2). This was a way of saying, “What I am about to say is a certain as God’s existence.” As Job took inventory of his life, his speech, and his actions he affirmed his commitment to integrity. He had not compromised either his integrity or his righteousness. Job would not confess to crimes he had never committed, in spite of the accusations of his friends. Job declared that what his friends had said about him was not true.

27:7-12
Job told his friends that God does not hear the godless in the times of their distress (which is usually the only time the godless call upon God).

27:13-23
Job asserted that the wicked will be held accountable by God, if not in this world then the next. In addition, their descendants will suffer the consequences of their forebears’ wickedness.

Job’s Reply to Bildad   (26:1 – 31:40)

26:1-4
Job fired back at Bildad with tough words. Job said, “Some help you have been. The issue is not over God’s greatness but over God’s justice. You haven’t told me anything about God’s greatness that I don’t already know. By the way, Bildad, whose mouthpiece are you, anyway?” (26:4). The implication was that Bildad was not God’s spokesman. The implication was that Bildad was not a voice from heaven. Indeed, Bildad had unwittingly become Satan’s mouthpiece, along with his other two companions.

Steven J. Lawson comments:

“We must be careful to whom we listen. Even our closest friends can become brokers of the Devil’s trash, dumping their lies at our feet. With spiritual discernment, we must carefully weigh and evaluate the advice we receive. . .Likewise, we must be careful what counsel we give to others. We, too, will either be a mouthpiece for God or for Satan. Our lives must be yielded to God and filled with His Spirit if we are to give wise guidance to others.”

26:5-13
Job spoke to Bildad about the sovereignty of God over all creation. There is no thing or place that is beyond the scope of God’s sovereignty, including the souls of men. Job concluded by stating that God is indeed beyond our comprehension (26:14).

Bildad’s Third Speech   (25:1-6)

25:1-6
Bildad briefly reminded Job that God is infinitely greater than His creatures. God’s creatures, according to Bildad, are no better than maggots and worms! How then, can any man, including Job, presume to want to argue with or present his case before God?

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz   (23:1 – 24:25) — continued

24:1
Job wondered why God allowed wrong to go unpunished. He wondered why God seemed so slow in dealing with the wicked. The key question Job asked in this chapter is, “Why doesn’t God do something?” He wished God held a regular court schedule, like human judges, so that the wicked could be expeditiously judged and the righteous would have opportunity to present their cases as well.

24:2-12
Job presented example after example of the things the wicked do that go unpunished and said that God seemed to be oblivious to it all. He could not understand why the wicked, who were guilty of heartless and cruel oppression of others, could go unpunished while he, who kept and followed God’s Word (23:12), was suffering such agony. The injustices in the world did not make sense to Job.

24:13-17
In addition to the injustices done in the light of day (verses 2-12), Job was perplexed by the problem of crimes committed under the cover of darkness that seemed to go unpunished. These verses are filled with the question of why: “Why do murderers, thieves, and adulterers go free?”

24:18-25
Job balanced his thoughts by declaring that the wicked will eventually come to ruin. They will be judged in the end. There will be a payday some day. Job challenged his friends to try to dispute his argument.

Job’s Reply to Eliphaz   (23:1 – 24:25)

23:1-7
Job responded to Eliphaz by ignoring him and speaking to the Lord instead. “Good move, Job!” He again expressed his longing for a hearing before God Himself. Only then would the matter of his innocence be cleared up. The key question Job asked in this chapter is, “God, where are You?” This is a question men often ask in the midst of their trials. Difficulties have a way of obscuring our vision. It is easy to lose sight of God when things are not going well. Job wanted desperately to stand and present his case before God, if he could but find Him.

23:8-12
It seemed to Job that no matter which way he turned he could not find God. And yet he knew that God was aware of his painful situation. “If only I could present my case in court,” thought Job, “I would come out of the trial as good as gold. I have held fast to God’s ways. I have treasured every letter of His Word. I know that God would acquit me if He could just hear my case.”

23:13-17
And then the thought of actually standing before God, the sovereign of the universe, hit Job. He became terrified at the very thought of having to stand and pleads his case before God.