Portion For Reading JOb 32-34A. FOR WISDOM IS NOT LIMITED TO THE AGED (32:6-14)
1. But aged men are not always wise (32:8-9)
a. The breath of the Almighty (i.e., the Spirit) also gives
man understanding
b. Age alone does not guarantee wisdom and understanding of
justice
1. But aged men are not always wise (32:8-9)
a. The breath of the Almighty (i.e., the Spirit) also gives
man understanding
b. Age alone does not guarantee wisdom and understanding of
justice
Job 32:8
But it is the spirit [b] in a man,
the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
2. Therefore he will declare his own opinion (32:10-14)
a. For he has carefully listened to their reasoning
b. Yet they have not convinced Job or answered his words
the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
2. Therefore he will declare his own opinion (32:10-14)
a. For he has carefully listened to their reasoning
b. Yet they have not convinced Job or answered his words
JOb 32:11-12
I waited while you spoke,
I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
none of you has answered his arguments.
B. FOR HE BELIEVES HE CAN HELP JOB (33:1-7)
1. He speaks pure knowledge from an upright heart (33:1-3)
a. He pleads with Job to listen to what he says
b. His words are sincere, and his knowledge is pure
I waited while you spoke,
I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
none of you has answered his arguments.
B. FOR HE BELIEVES HE CAN HELP JOB (33:1-7)
1. He speaks pure knowledge from an upright heart (33:1-3)
a. He pleads with Job to listen to what he says
b. His words are sincere, and his knowledge is pure
JOb 33:1-3
"But now, Job, listen to my words;
pay attention to everything I say.
I am about to open my mouth;
my words are on the tip of my tongue.
My words come from an upright heart;
my lips sincerely speak what I know.
2. He can be as Job's spokesman before God (33:4-7; cf. 13:20-22)
a. He was created by the Spirit of God, let Job see if he can
answer him
b. Job does not need to fear him, for he too has been formed
out of clay
pay attention to everything I say.
I am about to open my mouth;
my words are on the tip of my tongue.
My words come from an upright heart;
my lips sincerely speak what I know.
2. He can be as Job's spokesman before God (33:4-7; cf. 13:20-22)
a. He was created by the Spirit of God, let Job see if he can
answer him
b. Job does not need to fear him, for he too has been formed
out of clay
Job 33:4-6
The Spirit of God has made me;
the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Answer me then, if you can;
prepare yourself and confront me.
I am just like you before God;
I too have been taken from clay.
II. ELIHU'S RESPONSE TO JOB (33:8-37:24)
A. GOD IS GRACIOUS (33:8-33)
1. Job, you are wrong in charging God as your enemy (33:8-13)
a. Elihu has heard Job profess his innocence while counting
God as his enemy
b. This is not right, for God is greater than man and not
accountable to man
the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Answer me then, if you can;
prepare yourself and confront me.
I am just like you before God;
I too have been taken from clay.
II. ELIHU'S RESPONSE TO JOB (33:8-37:24)
A. GOD IS GRACIOUS (33:8-33)
1. Job, you are wrong in charging God as your enemy (33:8-13)
a. Elihu has heard Job profess his innocence while counting
God as his enemy
b. This is not right, for God is greater than man and not
accountable to man
JOb 33:8-13
"But you have said in my hearing—
I heard the very words-
'I am pure and without sin;
I am clean and free from guilt.
Yet God has found fault with me;
he considers me his enemy.
He fastens my feet in shackles;
he keeps close watch on all my paths.'
"But I tell you, in this you are not right,
for God is greater than man.
Why do you complain to him
that he answers none of man's words [d] ?
2. God uses various ways to speak to man (33:14-28)
a. Even though man may not heed what God is saying
b. Such as dreams or visions, to turn man back
c. Such as chastening him with pain
d. Such as special messengers
1) Sent to deliver him from the Pit
2) Sent to restore him back to God
JOb 33:14-28
I heard the very words-
'I am pure and without sin;
I am clean and free from guilt.
Yet God has found fault with me;
he considers me his enemy.
He fastens my feet in shackles;
he keeps close watch on all my paths.'
"But I tell you, in this you are not right,
for God is greater than man.
Why do you complain to him
that he answers none of man's words [d] ?
2. God uses various ways to speak to man (33:14-28)
a. Even though man may not heed what God is saying
b. Such as dreams or visions, to turn man back
c. Such as chastening him with pain
d. Such as special messengers
1) Sent to deliver him from the Pit
2) Sent to restore him back to God
JOb 33:14-28
For God does speak—now one way, now another—
though man may not perceive it.
In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men
as they slumber in their beds,
he may speak in their ears
and terrify them with warnings,
to turn man from wrongdoing
and keep him from pride,
to preserve his soul from the pit, [e]
his life from perishing by the sword. [f]
Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain
with constant distress in his bones,
so that his very being finds food repulsive
and his soul loathes the choicest meal.
His flesh wastes away to nothing,
and his bones, once hidden, now stick out.
His soul draws near to the pit, [g]
and his life to the messengers of death. [h]
"Yet if there is an angel on his side
as a mediator, one out of a thousand,
to tell a man what is right for him,
to be gracious to him and say,
'Spare him from going down to the pit [i] ;
I have found a ransom for him'-
then his flesh is renewed like a child's;
it is restored as in the days of his youth.
He prays to God and finds favor with him,
he sees God's face and shouts for joy;
he is restored by God to his righteous state.
Then he comes to men and says,
'I sinned, and perverted what was right,
but I did not get what I deserved.
He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, [j]
and I will live to enjoy the light.'
3. God's purpose is disciplinary, not simply punitive (33:29-33)
a. Done to direct man away from the Pit
b. Done to enlighten man with the light of life
c. Therefore Job should listen to one as Elihu to teach him
wisdom
though man may not perceive it.
In a dream, in a vision of the night,
when deep sleep falls on men
as they slumber in their beds,
he may speak in their ears
and terrify them with warnings,
to turn man from wrongdoing
and keep him from pride,
to preserve his soul from the pit, [e]
his life from perishing by the sword. [f]
Or a man may be chastened on a bed of pain
with constant distress in his bones,
so that his very being finds food repulsive
and his soul loathes the choicest meal.
His flesh wastes away to nothing,
and his bones, once hidden, now stick out.
His soul draws near to the pit, [g]
and his life to the messengers of death. [h]
"Yet if there is an angel on his side
as a mediator, one out of a thousand,
to tell a man what is right for him,
to be gracious to him and say,
'Spare him from going down to the pit [i] ;
I have found a ransom for him'-
then his flesh is renewed like a child's;
it is restored as in the days of his youth.
He prays to God and finds favor with him,
he sees God's face and shouts for joy;
he is restored by God to his righteous state.
Then he comes to men and says,
'I sinned, and perverted what was right,
but I did not get what I deserved.
He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, [j]
and I will live to enjoy the light.'
3. God's purpose is disciplinary, not simply punitive (33:29-33)
a. Done to direct man away from the Pit
b. Done to enlighten man with the light of life
c. Therefore Job should listen to one as Elihu to teach him
wisdom
JOb 33:29-30
"God does all these things to a man—
twice, even three times-
to turn back his soul from the pit, [k]
that the light of life may shine on him.
twice, even three times-
to turn back his soul from the pit, [k]
that the light of life may shine on him.
Source:cceg.org