Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Job 32-34
Job 32:2
Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.
Let’s step back and review two facts that neither Job, his friends, nor Elihu knew. One is that according to God Almighty, Job was …perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. (1:1) Another fact is that God said: In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly. (1:22) Job’s loss of property, livestock, his children, and his health had nothing whatsoever to do with sin in his life. His plight was an issue between God and Satan. Yes, God may have allowed all this to happen to allow Job to overcome something that he feared greatly, but never lose sight of the primary reason for his calamities: God was proving to Satan that some people love the Lord and will faithfully serve Him even in the face of terrible personal hardships.
Knowing these two truths, the words of Job’s friends and those of Elihu can be judged in light of knowing things they did not know. Job’s life situation had nothing to do with his personal sin. Nothing at all. Yet, according to their human understanding and logic, these friends and this one interloper, who had been standing about listening, thought that was all it was about. They concluded that Job was a sinner, and his problems were God’s way of punishing him. This was not that.
Yes, Job, as all men are, was a sinner. Yet, he had a Redeemer. In chapter 19:25 Job stated clearly: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:. He, Job, knew that he had sinned, but he also knew that he was redeemed. In 14:17 he stated as much. My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity. This statement of God eliminating one’s sin is reminiscent of two other great verses. One is Psalm 103:12. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Another is Micah 7:19. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. This is that which the Redeemer does with the sins of the redeemed. Jeremiah even added that the Lord (the Redeemer) said: …I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more (Jeremiah 31:34).
Job was righteous through his Redeemer. But neither his friends nor Elihu knew that. Which makes one wonder, did they have a Redeemer?
Returning to Elihu. He made two charges against Job that, as far as Scripture is concerned, were not true or accurate. He quoted Job as saying, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. (33:9). Job never said those words. Not like that. Nor did he say, I am righteous… (Job 34:5). Elihu heard what he wanted to hear. He probably heard what he needed to hear to prove his point, but that which he thought he heard he did not hear. Job admitted his sin, he admitted that his hope was in his Redeemer, what else did these four men want? By reading carefully, these men wanted what so many want, they just want to say what they want to say to have their say. After all, consider the reason that Elihu spoke. Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles. I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer. (32:19-20) He had an “I” infection. He even said Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead:… (33:6) Wow, what an inflated opinion he had of his opinion!
The lesson is this: if we are to pass judgment upon others, let us do that which Jesus said in John 7:24. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. These four men did not.
Dr. William T. Howe
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