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ELIHU’S THIRD SPEECH BEGINS
TUESDAY, JUNE 14
Job 35

Psalm 138

 

Our words are the evidence
of the state of our hearts…

(J C Ryle)

 

ELIHU’S THIRD SPEECH BEGINS
 
Elihu pointed out the inconsistency in Job’s position. On one hand, he trusted in God’s justice and expected to be eventually vindicated. On the other hand, he implied that there was no reason to live a righteous life since God seemed to punish such a person anyway. Elihu said he would now give an answer to Job’s inconsistent position (Job 35:1-4).
 
We note again that Job had not actually said some of the things Elihu attributed to him, but Job had in his bitterness implied them. What Job’s statements showed was that at times he looked beyond his troubles and saw the just and merciful God he had trusted all his life. At other times, he was so overcome with his suffering that he lost sight of God. At these times, he implied things he did not really mean. Job was now challenged to take his eyes from the world and look toward the God of heaven. His own troubles would then become small in the light of God’s majesty.
 
Elihu claimed that good and evil carry their own reward or punishment, so God did not have to act when men chose one or the other (Job 35:5- 8). When their wickedness brought trouble and men cried out in their suffering, it was not really in supplication to God so much as in anger and pride because they felt unjustly punished. For this reason, God often did not answer, and this was probably why He had not answered Job, Elihu said (Job 35:9-16; Ps 138:6).
 
We should learn from this portion the importance of knowing the Scriptures before we try to help others. A daily study of the Word will build us up in the faith, giving us greater spiritual knowledge and maturity. It is only in this way that we can encourage rather than discourage others in their times of special need.
 
THOUGHT: What in Elihu’s speech was correct?
PRAYER: Help me, Father, to remember that Thou dost not hear the prayers of the proud and arrogant.

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