Sermons
An Answer To Prayer
Series: Endurance In Days Of Extremity - The Journey And Journal Of JobAN ANSWER TO PRAYER
Sermon Outline By Terry Siverd
Cortland Church of Christ / February 26, 2017
The book of Job highlights seven major characters:
God … An Adversary (Satan) … Job … Job’s three counselors: Eliphaz … Bildad … Zophar … and Elihu.
I don’t mean to belittle Job’s wife, but her role is overall story is only noted briefly and not to her credit.
In Job 2:9-10 we read - -
Then his wife said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!’ But he said to her,
‘You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Indeed, shall we accept good from God and not accept adversity.’
(In fairness to Job’s wife, sometimes helplessly watching a loved one suffer is more difficult than the suffering itself.)
This morning I want to introduce us to Elihu, who’s name means “My God is He”.
We alluded to him briefly last Sunday, but this morning we want to speak about him more fully.
We might be inclined to think that he is just another friend and counselor (along with Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar).
But there is something different about Elihu that sets him apart from the others.
Open your Bibles to Job chapters 32-37
There is a bit of mystery that shrouds Elihu.
At this juncture, Job’s three friends appear to have exhausted their counseling sessions.
Likewise for Job. Remember chapters 4-31 presents dialogue - - Job and his “friends” going back and forth in discussion.
One by one Job’s counselor friends offer analysis (and accusations) and Job counters. This takes place in “three rounds”.
At this point Job, too, has had it. Job chapter 31 closes with an editorial note of sorts: The words of Job are ended.
Although we may not realize it immediately, the entrance of Elihu signals a turning point in the story of Job.
How tragically sad it would be if the book of Job had ended with chapter 31.
Job 32:1 begins saying, Then these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
Vs.2 states - - But the anger of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram burned…
Eliphaz was a Temanite (4:1) … Bildad was a Shuhite (8:1) … Zophar was a Naamathite (11:1) and Elihu was a Buzite.
The book of Job opens by noting that Job lived in the land of Uz (1:1).
According to Gen.22:21, Uz and Buz were brothers who lived around the time of Abraham.
We can rightly conclude from this that Elihu was fully human, just like Job’s other friends.
But as we will see this morning Elihu is much more adept in his counseling skills.
Elihu had apparently been present during all of the dialogue of chapters 4 thru 31, but he remained silent.
In Job 34:4 we read: Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were years older than he.
Elihu had a healthy respect for his elders. But something is burning within him and he can no longer keep quiet.
Job 34:4 states, when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men his anger burned.
Elihu spoke out and said, I am young in years and you are old; Therefore I was shy and afraid
to tell you what I think. I thought age should speak and increased years should teach wisdom.
Elihu adds (words that at first may sound bold and even brash and brazen). In Job 32:8-10a Elihu states - -
It is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. The abundant in years
may not be wise, nor may elders understand justice. So I say, ‘Listen to me, I too will tell you what I think.
If you’ve been reading as we’ve urged you to do, you might recollect a longing expressed by Job earlier?
In Job 9:32-33, in his pit of despair, Job expresses - -
(God) is not a man as I am that I may answer Him, that we may go to court together.
There is no UMPIRE between us (I am reading from the NASV) .
Others renditions offer this thought this way - - I wish there was SOMEONE TO MAKE PEACE between us (NCV) …
There is no one TO STEP BETWEEN US (TEV) … If only there were ONE TO ARBITRATE BETWEEN US (NEB).
The idea here is that Job yearns for an arbitrator, an advocate, a go-between, an umpire - - a mediator.
It is my contention that Elihu is God’s answer to Job’s prayer.
It almost seems that Elihu appears upon the scene “out of nowhere” - - we had no idea that others were listening in.
My argument here is not that Elihu is an angel or a heavenly messenger sent by God,
He is simply but significantly a man with a heavenly message.
Elihu is fully human but HE IS UNLIKE THE OTHERS.
He is younger, as we have noted. In speaking to Job, he also appears to be very compassionate rather than harsh.
In the end of the story, as we have noted previously,
God expresses His displeasure with Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar and He reprimands them saying (Job 42:7f) - -
You have not spoken of Me what is right…therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job,
and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you. For I will accept him so that I
may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as my servant Job has.
Did you notice? There is no rebuke given to Elihu.
Some commentators and Bible scholars seem to gloss over this point and really miss the boat in my opinion.
Some are inclined to include Elihu as just another misguided and arrogant counselor, very much like the first three.
What I am suggesting here is that Elihu’s words were God-given words (God-breathed words - - given by inspiration).
It’s not that Elihu, a son from Buz, was by himself light years ahead of the others, it’s that God gave him direction.
Notice again Job 32:8, it is a SPIRIT in man, and THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY gives understanding.
“The fact that God does not condemn Elihu’s message seems to be a tacit (silent and assumed/TBS) endorsement.”
(I whole-heartedly agree with this assessment offered by Ray Steadman in, Let God Be God, pg.165).
Elihu makes a similar claim in Job 33:3-4 - - My words are from the uprightness of my heart; and my lips
speak knowledge sincerely. THE SPIRIT OF GOD has made me, and THE BREATH OF THE ALMIGHTY gives me life.
In 33:31-33, Elihu speaks candidly and rather authoritatively with Job saying - -
Pay attention, O Job, listen to me; Keep silent and let me speak.
Then if you have anything to say, answer me…If not, listen to me; Keep silent and I will teach you wisdom.
This passage makes me think of two New Testament citations.
Mt.7:29 / for (Jesus) was teaching them as one having authority, and not as they scribes
Js.1:5 / if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously…and it will be given to him.
What is also quite noteworthy about Elihu’s lengthy monologue (chps.32-37) is that Job has no response.
Stated more precisely, Job does not retort.
Unlike the dialogue with Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, Job offers no argument to the words of Elihu.
Actually, the absence of a retort on Job’s part is indicative of a very favorable response.
Job’s silent response to the instructions of Elihu blossoms fully after God speaks - -
Job confesses (Job 40:4) - - what can I reply to Thee? I lay my hand on my mouth.
In multiple ways Elihu is a GO-BETWEEN.
As in Job 9:32-33, this time just before Elihu’s arrival, Job declares (Job 31:35) - -
Oh that I had one to hear me! Behold, here is my signature;
Let the Almighty answer me! And the indictment which my adversary has written.
In Job 38 GOD speaks to Job.
Had God broken onto the scene immediately after Job’s friends had ceased talking,
the transition might have been too great for Job. It would likely have been too much to bear.
Elihu bridges the gap between the false accusations and the empty solutions offered
by Job’s friends and the final discourse (the last word) delivered by God Himself.
Elihu’s role as a mediator for Job is borne out textually, but it is also in perfect keeping with the
fuller Biblical view of God (in this case God’s messenger) being compassionate, longsuffering and loving.
In a moment we will pray.
In closing, I hope this lesson has been both informative and encouraging.
We will hear more from Elihu.
Job is not without fault. He has committed transgressions. They are not the many slanderous false
charges leveled by Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, but they are serious transgressions nonetheless.
Elihu will have some strong words to say to Job, words that will help to bring about Job’s restoration.
In Job 32:3 we noted that Elihu’s anger burned against Job’s friends.
But the previous verse (Job 32:2) states emphatically – AGAINST JOB his anger burned.
In our next sermon in this series we will focus on Elihu’s rebuke of Job.
He has strong words. He pulls no punches. But as we will see, he speaks the truth in love.
And I feel confident that we can rest assured that Elihu’s words of instruction are wisdom from above.
Your assignment between now and March 12th is to read Job 32-37.
WHAT IS JOB’S PROBLEM?
Read and re-read these seven chapters and see if you can summarize Elihu’s exhortations to Job.
Dear Heavenly Father: Thank You for hearing Job’s prayer - - for sending Elihu to him to speak the truth in love.
Thank You for hearing our prayers. Thank You for sending faithful messengers to help us along our way as well.
Thank You for the love and patience You continue to display, especially when we are hurting very badly.
And especially when we experience a blind spot in our perception of Your never failing presence.
Through Christ, our beloved go-between, we pray. Amen.
