Job 36

What follows next is not as much an attack on Job as Elihu’s self exaltation of his wisdom.  Elihu will purport that he will speak on God’s behalf and that he has the wisdom of the ages.  He will repeat the beliefs of many, but not the truths of God.  Elihu, like so many during his time and through the ages, has a shallow and short-sighted understanding of God’s justice.  But he certainly does not lack in his support of himself and the condemnation of Job.

Job 36:1-4

¹Elihu also proceeded, and said, ²Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God’s behalf. ³I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. ⁴For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

I will never cease to be amazed by the audacity of Elihu.  He is telling everyone if only they would listen to him, it would be obvious that he possesses great wisdom.  The claim that he speaks on the behalf of God should be questioned by the reader.  However, this has been a common ailment of man.  Mankind holds in esteem those they prefer, those who would tickle their ears.  Although Elihu would like the listener and reader to believe that he speaks on God’s behalf; Elihu has provided no credentials beyond himself.  Elihu would prefer one to believe that he is a prophet of God.  He claims to have perfect knowledge.  However, Elihu falls short on so many facets.

If you are one who is inclined to believe that Elihu actually is filled with the wisdom of God; you might want to consider the end of the matter.  After Elihu completes his speech, nothing is heard of him again.  In the last five chapters of the Book of Job, Elihu’s name is not mentioned once.  Inference is made, but his name is not mentioned.  And if he spoke the truth of God, why was he not mentioned in Job 42:7.

⁷And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

In the end, only Job is mentioned by God as speaking properly concerning the wisdom of God.  The answer is, Elihu did not even deserve mention.  Tragically, Elihu is similar to so many today.  Perfect and complete knowledge will not be obtained by anyone in this lifetime.  Hopefully, we are not like Elihu and we continue to learn even on our death bed.

Job 36:5

⁵Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

Most would agree with what Elihu has stated above.  It sounds good, but it is too general.  Despiseth not, essentially means that God rejects no one.  However for all, there comes a time if one does not come into line with God, they will be rejected.  Solomon stated in Proverbs 29:1.

¹He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

One cannot continue to believe that an individual can reject God and when they so desire, God will take them back.  There is a time of ultimate rejection and when it occurs there is no return.  One cannot repent whenever they decide, God must grant repentance, 2 Timothy 2:25.

²⁵In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

So Elihu’s statements may make people feel good, but they are not true.

What follows are statements by Elihu that sound good, but may conflict with some parts of the Bible.

Job 36:6

⁶He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

Again this sounds good, but it is nondescript.  If Elihu is speaking at the end of time, this is true.  However, if a wicked one does repent then their life is preserved, Ezekiel 18:21-23.

²¹But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. ²²All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. ²³Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?

It seems as if Elihu picks and chooses what he stated, based on what he wants others to believe.  Further Solomon stated in Proverbs 16:4

⁴The Lord hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

In a sense, God will temporarily preserve the wicked.  In the end, there is always the requirement of repentance.

Additionally when Elihu speaks of the poor, even the poor could be wicked.  Elihu’s words are too general.

Job 36:7

⁷He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

To state that God establishes kings forever is not a true statement.  There was only one king that was established forever.  A descendent of king David was to be on the throne forever.  That lineage goes all the way to Yeshua.  However, that is the only one that is forever.

The point of what Elihu is stating is lost when compared to the Bible.  It sounds good, but it has no meaning nor is it applicable to Job’s situation.  However, it does fit Elihu’s purpose as will become clear.

Job 36:8-12

⁸And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; ⁹Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. ¹⁰He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. ¹¹If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. ¹²But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

Most would agree with what Elihu has stated above.  Again this is too general and does not quite fit with some of the examples in the Bible.  What Elihu does not explain, is how does God take action to punish the wicked and how fast are the righteous rewarded.  In the case of Hezekiah who committed a sin, he was fore told that judgment would not befall in his life time, but in that of his children, Isaiah 39:3-4.

³Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, What said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, They are come from a far country unto me, even from Babylon. ⁴Then said he, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All that is in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

Hezekiah had shown the emissaries from Babylon all that he had.  It was not so much what he had shown in the palace, but he had not given due reverence to God.  It was not Hezekiah’s to glory in, because of this Hezekiah was told in Isaiah 39:5-8.

⁵Then said Isaiah to Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD of hosts: ⁶Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store until this day, shall be carried to Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD. ⁷And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon. ⁸Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Judgment was not to come in Hezekiah’s days.  Hezekiah, who committed the transgression, appears to have escaped judgment and shows little compassion for his children.

What about Ahab who was remembered as the most evil king of the northern kingdom.  It is recorded in 1 Kings, the interaction between Elijah and Ahab, 1 Kings 21:20-26.

²⁰And Ahab said to Elijah, Hast thou found me, O mine enemy? And he answered, I have found thee: because thou hast sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD. ²¹Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, and will take away thy posterity, and will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel, ²²And will make thine house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the provocation wherewith thou hast provoked me to anger, and made Israel to sin. ²³And of Jezebel also spake the LORD, saying, The dogs shall eat Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel. ²⁴Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat; and him that dieth in the field shall the fowls of the air eat. ²⁵But there was none like unto Ahab, which did sell himself to work wickedness in the sight of the LORD, whom Jezebel his wife stirred up. ²⁶And he did very abominably in following idols, according to all things as did the Amorites, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel.

Ahab was affected by these words, 1 Kings 21:27-29.

²⁷And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly. ²⁸And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ²⁹Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before me? because he humbleth himself before me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

My point is this, Elihu speaks in absolutes; however, in reality it is not as precise.  There are many examples when the wicked are not visibly punished in their lifetime and the righteous continue to suffer.  I have discussed this in earlier chapters.  Having stated that, it should be obvious to the reader that Elihu’s purpose is not to explain the truths of God.  Elihu is not a teacher of the truth, but the progenitor of falsehood and his own ideology to promote his agenda.

Elihu is claiming that Job’s suffering is a result of Job’s own wickedness.  Because of this, God has finally moved against Job.  Further, because Elihu claims that Job is a hypocrite, Elihu warns Job in Job 36:13-14

¹³But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them. ¹⁴They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

Since there appears to be no end in sight of Job’s suffering, Elihu must feel comfortable in making such claims.  He must believe that he will not have to answer for his assertions.  Although God may not react instantly, one should always remember that God will act.  One should be mindful of the warning in Matthew 24:45-51.

⁴⁵Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? ⁴⁶Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. ⁴⁷Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. ⁴⁸But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; ⁴⁹And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; ⁵⁰The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, ⁵¹And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The work of the believer, in this lifetime, is to feed the flock as Yeshua told Peter in John 21.  One is not to profit from others, one should always be acceptable to Him whether absent or present.  One should show more compassion than is shown to them.  Micah reminds the believer in Micah 6:8.

⁸He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

All too often, Christians fail to show mercy to others.  One asks God for forgiveness, but  finds it difficult to unconditionally forgive others.  Many confuse forgiveness with approval, thereby denying forgiveness to those closest to them.

Job 36:15

 ¹⁵He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

This is similar to what Elihu stated about a king in Job 36:10.  Just because one is poor does not ensure that God will move on their behalf.  Being poor is no guarantee for deliverance.  One must continually repent and walk with God in righteousness.

Elihu continues his accusation against Job.  He describes what will happen to Job, if he continues in his refusal to repent, Job 36:16-23.

¹⁶Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness. ¹⁷But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee. ¹⁸Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. ¹⁹Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength. ²⁰Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. ²¹Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. ²²Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him? ²³Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

This is the sternest indictment that Job has received.  However, Elihu like those before him, has yet to provide evidence of Job’s wrong doing.  Elihu continues the same rhetoric as before, except Elihu is more vehement towards Job.  Elihu views Job’s lack of repentance as a sign of wickedness and stubbornness.  Neither Elihu nor anyone else has identified why this has happened to Job, but they are more than willing to tell him to repent.  It is odd that they are convinced of this, yet they cannot even see that they have failed to specifically bring evidence and witnesses of Job’s wrong doing.  All they can say is, you are wicked.  It seems that they say this because Job will not follow their guidance and counsel.  A counsel he never requested.

Elihu will change his direction here and talk about the greatness of God.  He will discuss truths that can only come from God.  There is a two-fold purpose in Elihu’s discussion below.  First it can be used to demonstrate to the listener Elihu’s wisdom and connection to the Almighty.  And the next chapter Elihu will use it against Job.  However, just because one can provide a truth, it does not corroborate the individual’s character and claims, Job 36:24-33

²⁴Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold. ²⁵Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off. ²⁶Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out. ²⁷For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof: ²⁸Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. ²⁹Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? ³⁰Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea. ³¹For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance. ³²With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. ³³The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

Buried in the passage above, Elihu speaks of truths that could only have come from a higher sources.  Or he could have heard it from another who heard from a higher source.  In Job 36:27-28, Elihu discusses the water cycle.  Although not the precise details many of us learned in school; it is unmistakably the water cycle.  Elihu sprinkles truths like this into his claims to affirm his position as an authority.  Elihu may be young, but he is quite adept at influencing others to accept his line of reasoning.

There is another reason Elihu proclaims these truths, that will be discussed in the next Chapter.  This will ultimately put Elihu in hot water.

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