Elihu Proclaims Gods Goodness

A Methodist minister was continually bragging to his Baptist minister friends about the greatness of his church. No matter what they said, he always found a way to claim that the Methodists were better. Eventually his friends got tired of this, and decided to play a prank o … More

Greatness

Sometimes we wonder if being faithful to our convictions really does any good. Elihu speaks to this very point (vv. 1-2). He reaches new heights of self-importance as he introduces the last part of his speech. His listeners must have been getting restless as he stated “Bear with me a little longer” (v. 2). “The statement “I will fetch my knowledge from afar” (v. 3) suggests he is boasting of wide knowledge, or of getting his knowledge right from heaven. To call himself"one perfect in knowledge” (v. 4) is hardly an evidence of humility. The whole sense of what he is saying is simply that God is far removed from us. Elihu is wrong, and many folk today are wrong in that concept (vv. 5-16).

Elihu told Job not to be angry with God when judgments usually sent upon the wicked came upon him (vv. 17-18). It was in Job’s best interest, because repentance was the only thing that would avail (v. 19). No hope would come because of a national disaster (v. 20). God uses His great power to afflict because of the lesson affliction teaches (vv. 21-23). God does not look with favor upon those who are wise in their own eyes (vv. 23-24). Elihu urged Job to catch a new vision of the greatness of God and start praising Him (vv. 22-25). With the mind of a scientist, but the heart of a poet, he describes a storm. He begins with the formation of the clouds (vv. 26-29), then the release of power by the lightening (vv. 30-32) and then the sound of the thunder (v. 33).

Application

When God, in His sovereign grace, has allowed me to achieve certain goals it is easy for me to think that I’m more than I am. Lord, help me to always be quick to give you the credit.

Job 36:1-33 (English Standard Version)


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