1.25.25 – Job 32-33

SPEAKER 01 : 0:08

Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.

SPEAKER 02 : 0:22

Today we’re going to cover Job chapters 32 and 33. Though Job’s words ended in chapter 31 and his friends have no more to say, there’s a fourth young man who’s been listening to all this. He has plenty to say for the next six chapters. So let’s listen in to what Elihu has to say in chapters 32 and 33 of Job. Job 32

SPEAKER 04 : 0:50

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu, the son of Barakal the Buzite of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job, because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends, because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job, because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger. And Elihu, the son of Barakal the Buzite, answered and said,

SPEAKER 03 : 1:34

I am young in years, and you are aged. Therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said, Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom. But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right. Therefore I say, Listen to me, let me also declare my opinion. Behold, I waited for your words, I listened for your wise sayings while you searched out what to say. I gave you my attention, and behold, there was none among you who refuted Job or who answered his words. Beware lest you say, We have found wisdom. God may vanquish him, not a man. He has not directed his words against me, and I will not answer him with your speeches. They are dismayed. They answer no more. They have not a word to say.” And shall I wait, because they do not speak, because they stand there and answer no more? I also will answer with my share. I also will declare my opinion. For I am full of words, the spirit within me constrains me. Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent, like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak, that I may find relief. I must open my lips and answer. I will not show partiality to any man, or use flattery toward any person. For I do not know how to flatter, else my maker would soon take me away. Job 33 But now hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. Behold, I open my mouth, the tongue in my mouth speaks. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Answer me if you can. Set your words in order before me. Take your stand.” Behold, I am toward God as you are. I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. Behold, no fear of me need terrify you. My pressure will not be heavy upon you. Surely you have spoken in my ears, and I have heard the sound of your words. You say, I am pure without transgression. I am clean and there is no iniquity in me. Behold, he finds occasions against me. He counts me as his enemy. He puts my feet in the stocks and watches all my paths. Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. Why do you contend against him, saying he will answer none of man’s words? for God speaks in one way and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings that he may turn man aside from his deed and conceal pride from a man. He keeps back his soul from the pit, his life from perishing by the sword, Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed and with continual strife in his bones, so that his life loathes bread and his appetite the choicest food. His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, and his bones that were not seen stick out. His soul draws near the pit, and his life to those who bring death. If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of the thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, And he is merciful to him and says, Then man prays to God and he accepts him. He sees his face with a shout of joy and he restores to man his righteousness. He sings before men and says, I sinned and perverted what was right, and it was not repaid to me. He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit, and my life shall look upon the light. Behold, God does all these things twice, three times with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. Pay attention, O Job. Listen to me. Be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me. Be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.

SPEAKER 02 : 6:27

In 1984, I read Job chapters 31 through 34 on the same day, and I wrote Job asserts his righteousness before God. Elihu lectures Job, prays God for Job’s firmness despite attacks from friends. It is important to know our relationship with our God so well no one can take it away from us. In 1997, I read Job 29 through 34 on the same day, and I’ll save my journal entry for a later chapter. In 2015, I read Job 32 and 33 on the same day, like we’re reading this time. And I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, Job is righteous in his own eyes, according to verse 1. But he is also righteous in God’s eyes. And I was referring back to chapter 1, verse 8. Elihu is mad at Job because he justifies himself rather than God. And he is mad at the three friends because they gave Job no answer. And then I continue to write, He is right, and I quote in verse 32, 8, and 33, 4. It is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. I continue to write, He too tells Job he is not right, in chapter 33, verses 9 and 12. And then I wrote, He is also right, and I was referring to Elihu, saying in verse 12 of chapter 33, God is greater than man. Next in my journal, I wrote, God speaks to man in dreams and visions and rebuking him with pain and suffering. And I was referencing chapter 33, verses 14 through 28. And then I finished with, to keep man from hell, chapter 33, verses 29 through 30. That’s a little bit of a mishmash of journal entries, so let’s go back and look at what Elihu has to say in chapters 32 and 33. First of all, oh to be young again. Elihu has sat there and patiently listened to both Job and to the three friends. All he did was get angry. He’s mad at Job because he justified himself. Then he’s mad at the three friends because they found no answer. But Elihu is a courteous young man. He’s waited for his turn to speak. He has deferred to his elders. Now he takes his turn. Let’s pick it up in chapter 32, verse 6. I am young in years, and you are aged. Therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you. I said let days speak, and many years teach wisdom. But it is the Spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand. Jumping down to verse 10. Therefore I say, listen to me. Let me also declare my opinion. So in a couple of words, Elihu has brushed aside all the wisdom of the old men. Chapter 33 opens up with these words. But now hear my speech, O Job, and listen to all my words. Behold, I open my mouth. The tongue in my mouth speaks. My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely. The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. He gives a little bit more of his resume before he begins. Look at 33.6. Behold, I am toward God as you are. I too was pinched off from a piece of clay. Oh, how humble Elihu is. Then he says, then Elihu begins. Let’s look at verse 9. He says to Job, you say I am pure without transgression. I am clean and there is no iniquity in me. And then jump down to verse 12. Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, for God is greater than man. Then, for the good of all listening, he declares how God speaks. For God speaks in one way and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men while they slumber on their beds, then he opens the ears of men and terrifies them with warnings. Then Elihu describes the mercy of God. Look at verse 23. If there be for him an angel, a mediator, one of a thousand, to declare to man what is right for him, and he is merciful to him and says, deliver him from going down into the pit, I have found a ransom. then man prays to god and he accepts him he sees his face with a shout of joy and he restores to man his righteousness we don’t disagree with that do we we are thankful for god’s mercy we are thankful when we pray to god and he accepts us we are thankful when god restores our righteousness Elihu finishes the chapter this way, starting with verse 29. Behold, God does all these things twice, three times with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit, that he may be lighted with the light of life. Pay attention, O Job. Listen to me. Be silent, and I will speak. If you have any words, answer me. Speak, for I desire to justify you. If not, listen to me. Be silent, and I will teach you wisdom. Yes, Elihu is right. God does bring back our soul from the pit. And then, in his humble way, he basically says, Job, be quiet and listen to me. I will teach you wisdom. That’s the prelude to what Elihu has to say. The next few chapters, he will expand his comments. So what’s our practical application from Job 32-33? First of all, I don’t know what age you are as you listen. But surely if you’re young, you probably think a lot like Elihu from time to time. That if these old guys would just be quiet, you could express your wisdom in a variety of situations. Maybe it’s at work. Maybe it’s with your parents. Our application is be careful. Be cautious. It is true that all wisdom is not with the aged. But it is also true that life gives us much experience. With experience comes wisdom. Secondly, regardless of what age we are, we need to remain humble. I’m not sure we see much humility with Elihu. And thirdly, let’s be careful. We don’t have all the answers. Elihu doesn’t, nor do we, regardless of what age we are. Remember once again, none of these friends, nor Job, know what really happened in the heavenlies back in chapter 1. So in summary, wisdom does not necessarily have an age, but humility should. Let’s pray. Father, I’m also reminded as I begin to pray that we should do nothing out of burning anger. Also, we should do nothing out of pride and arrogance. Teach us humility even when we don’t see it in one like Elihu. Forgive us when we do respond in anger and in pride. Thanks for cautioning us in these couple of chapters. Restore a right spirit within me, we ask it in Jesus’ name. Amen. It’s not too late to get your copy of the writings of the Old Testament historical books to follow along with this Ad Bible program the next several weeks. The book contains our studies on Job, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, and 1-2 Chronicles, which we will be in the next several weeks. The book has comments on every chapter, applications for your life, and a place for you to record your own thoughts on each chapter of each book for future reference. Visit EzraProject.net and order the writings of the Old Testament historical books today, so you can get more out of these radio programs and more out of your Bible. I know you’re going to enjoy it.