.JPG)
I just finished the Book of Job which is a story about a man named Job and his trials at the hand of Satan and the will of God. The majority of the book is a theological discussion with Job and his friends which attempts to answer the question of how God allows a righteous man to suffer. Job maintains his innocence while his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, argue that Job is not innocent but instead guilty in his sins. They make good arguments, citing God's harsh dealings with the wicked and favor toward the righteous. However good their arguments were, the three friends were ironically the ones who were without wisdom, blinded from reality. When the LORD spoke at the end of the book, He was angry at the three friends for not speaking what was right. Their arguments and dealings with Job should be a warning to us to stop our mouths whenever we judge others without understanding the "whole picture".
What I had forgotten was that there was a fourth character whom God was not angry with. He was burning to speak to Job and waited until the three older men spoke their words of wisdom, or more accurately, folly. His name is Elihu, which means "My God is He". Why wasn't God angry with Elihu? What was it about his six-chapter (Ch. 32-37) speech, which prophetically and immediately led to God speaking to Job out of the whirlwind? It may be wise to carefully consider Elihu's understanding of man and of God.
First, Elihu understands that we have no self-righteous standing before God. Who are we to claim any rights before Him? Second, Elihu proclaims God's goodness justice. He will never do anything unjustly nor pervert justice. The wicked will ultimately see their destruction but the oppressed and the righteous will be preserved by the hand of the Almighty. Finally, Elihu proclaims God's power and majesty and dominion over His entire creation. Because all is His, we simply must acknowledge that reality and submit to Him. This leads to Chapter 38, when God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind.
Elihu's speech to Job: Job 32-37
The LORD's response to Job: Job 38-42
What I had forgotten was that there was a fourth character whom God was not angry with. He was burning to speak to Job and waited until the three older men spoke their words of wisdom, or more accurately, folly. His name is Elihu, which means "My God is He". Why wasn't God angry with Elihu? What was it about his six-chapter (Ch. 32-37) speech, which prophetically and immediately led to God speaking to Job out of the whirlwind? It may be wise to carefully consider Elihu's understanding of man and of God.
First, Elihu understands that we have no self-righteous standing before God. Who are we to claim any rights before Him? Second, Elihu proclaims God's goodness justice. He will never do anything unjustly nor pervert justice. The wicked will ultimately see their destruction but the oppressed and the righteous will be preserved by the hand of the Almighty. Finally, Elihu proclaims God's power and majesty and dominion over His entire creation. Because all is His, we simply must acknowledge that reality and submit to Him. This leads to Chapter 38, when God speaks to Job out of the whirlwind.
Elihu's speech to Job: Job 32-37
The LORD's response to Job: Job 38-42
No comments:
Post a Comment