Skip to content Job 33-35: Exploring Elihu's Role in Job's Journey Feb 2 · 14 min ...more
Job 33-35: Exploring Elihu's Role in Job's Journey
February 2, 2026 · 14 min
Uncover Elihu's approach and the valuable lessons he imparts about wisdom and discernment.
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Introducing Elihu: The Young Observer's Wisdom 0:10 Good morning, and welcome to stand on the word. Thanks for joining this morning as we continue our journey through the book of Job. In fact, we're coming almost to the end of the book of Job, and then we will move to the0:22 book of Exodus. This is a great time to think about inviting someone to join you on this journey through the word of God. Just send them to f r c dot o r g slash bible to get all the information. Alright.0:33 Today, chapters 33 through 35. Verse 32 of chapter 34, teach me what I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do no more. Alright. What we're gonna look at today is what should we0:45 ask when trials come our way? In these chapters, we have the speeches or the messages of Elihu. That was the younger observer who was, apparently a part of the the the0:57 crowd, the audience that was watching this exchange between Job and his 3 friends. Now I mentioned this at the very beginning of, of of the book of Job. Some scholars, some biblical scholars believe that1:09 Elihu was the book's author. And I think that's a plausible suggestion, although most scholars believe it is Moses. I I agree with that view. And, the the book of Job could have been1:21 the very first book written by Moses. Alright. In chapter 32 32, which is where Elihu, his first message begins, we get a very vivid description of him. Look at verse 2.1:33 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barcel, the buzzite of the family of Ram, remember we said said he was connected to Abraham, was aroused against Job. His wrath was aroused because he justified1:44 himself rather than God. He was saying that that Job justified himself rather than God. Verse 18, for I am full of words, the spirit within me compels me. Indeed, my belly is1:56 like wine that has no vent. It is ready to burst like new wineskins. I will speak that I may find relief. He's been sitting there all this time, and he feels compelled by the spirit to speak. I must open my2:08 lips and answer. Let me not, I pray, show partiality to anyone, nor let me flatter any man, for I do not know how to flatter, else my maker would soon take me away.2:20 He shows accountability for the words that he will speak. Now the name Elihu means God is Jehovah or my God is he. Now as we discussed last time,2:32 scholars have wrestled and debated over Elihu, a number of early church father Saul. Elihu is mostly orthodox in his content, but spiritually compromised in his2:44 attitude or posture. Right? Elihu spoke the truth. The young man's words displayed wisdom. But at times, it appears that he may cross over2:56 into arrogance. You know, there is a place for righteous indignation. And, and and and so we have to ask what is this what he was showing?3:08 Was it righteous indignation? Was he speaking as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4 15? Was he speaking the truth in love? Was he speaking to restore Job, or was he3:19 speaking simply to win the debate with Job and his 3 friends? I I actually think that as we read through this, I think he was speaking to restore3:31 Job. Alright? I I I do think, you know, there was a little bit of lack of discernment in some of the things he said. Just my opinion shared by some of the biblical scholars. I I kinda3:43 see Elihu similar to Joseph. God had revealed truth to Joseph as a young man, but he was not extremely discerning in how he shared it. God used the the evil3:55 designed to hurt Joseph to refine him and prepare him to be used for his purposes. So I I think there is, there's benefit that comes with with age. Alright. Verse verse 8 chapter 32. But there is a4:07 spirit in a man, and the breath of the almighty gives him understanding. Great men are not always wise, nor do the aged always understand justice. That was a little4:18 sharp. You know, there is truth in what he says. Youth may possess wisdom, but age tempers it with grace. Wisdom is born of the fear of the Lord, as we4:30 read in scripture. Discernment is rightly applying it, and that is often forged through years of living it out. Right. This message, the first message continues, into4:42 chapter 33, then we have his second and his third speeches. He gives a total of 4 going through chapter 37. He speaks more than the others. He sets out to take a different approach4:54 from Job's friends. He he does not, want to be an accuser, and this is where I think he his motivation was a bit different. He he was not wanting to be an accuser, but an advocate.5:06 And this young man speaking by the spirit of God, which he describes he's being propelled to speak, speaks words of wisdom, words that we should listen to as he answers the question of what should we5:18 ask God when trials come our way. Should we be asking why, or should we be asking what? Alright. Verse 1 chapter 33. But please, Job, hear5:30 my speech and listen to all my words. Now I open my mouth. My tongue speaks in my mouth. My words come from my upright heart. My lips utter pure knowledge. The spirit of God has made5:42 me, and the breath of the almighty gives me life. If you can answer me, set your words in order before me. Take your stand. Truly, I am as your spokesman before God. I also have been5:54 formed out of clay. Surely, no fear of me will terrify you, nor will advocate. Of course, we discussedGod's Sovereignty: Greater Than Man's Understanding 6:06 how we have an advocate now before the father, Jesus. But this young man said, I will help you. Now we don't know the the relationship. He could have been a relative. It could have been a young man that Job mentored. Job6:17 appeared to be a very gracious, kind, generous man. But he made clear he was for Job and not against him. We're gonna see, over the course of looking at his6:29 speeches how important that is is when we're coming to someone, to to correct or encourage them that it needs to come from a place of wanting to help them.6:41 Alright? Not convince them they're wrong, but bring them into right relationship with God. Now here are the well, let's go let's go to verse 8. Surely, you have spoken in my hearing, and6:53 I have heard the sound of your words saying, I am pure without transgression. I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me. Yet he finds occasion against me. He counts me as his enemy. He puts7:05 my feet in the stocks. He watches all my paths. Look in this. You are not righteous. I will answer you, for god is greater than man. Why do you contend with him? For he7:16 does not give an accounting of any of his words. Now here are the main points of Elihu's message. Number 1, god is greater than man. Right? God does not give an account to us for what he does. God does not7:28 check-in with us to see if we're okay what's on his to do list for today. God uses difficulty and trials to correct and refine us. Now this is a little bit different than the approach that Job's 3 friends7:40 took. They said that god's affliction is punishment. Elihu is saying, it is to correct us and refine us. In verse 3, my words come from my upright heart.7:52 My lips utter pure knowledge. Verse 19, man is also chastened with pain on his bed and with strong pain in many of his bones. Why? Look down to verse 29. Behold, god works all these8:04 things twice, in fact, 3 times with a man, to bring back his soul from the pit that he may be enlightened with the light of life. So Elihu is saying that these things8:16 come upon us for correction, which Paul makes very clear in the New Testament that if if we're the children of God, he will chasten us. He will bring us back to him. That's why8:28 oftentimes you see those that are are professed followers of Christ. God doesn't let us get away with things that he lets the world get away with because they're not his children. Yes. They are his8:40 creation, but they're not his children. We are adopted into the family of God and become his children. We accept Jesus Christ. Just like, you know, we've I know I can speak personally. You8:52 know, if I saw, someone else's child about to hurt themselves or hurt someone else, I would say something. But other than that, I didn't I didn't correct other children. I corrected my children because they were mine,9:03 and that's what god does for us. God and then third point that we see in Elihu's message, god defines justice. So how can we question the justice of what he does?9:15 He is justice. He defines it. So how can we question what he does? Look at verse 17. Should 1 who hates justice govern? Would you condemn him who9:27 is most just? Is it fitting to say to a king, you are worthless, and to nobles, you are wicked? Yet he is not partial to princes, nor does he regard the rich more than9:39 the poor, for they are all the work of his hands. And then fourth, he says that god defines what is good. Remember, last time we looked at the fact that we might be good,9:51 but we're not good enough to stand before god on our own merits. In verse 30, in chapter 35, verse 2, do you think this is right? Do you say10:03 my righteousness is more than god's? For you say, what advantage will it be to you? What profit shall I have more than if I had sinned? Elihu points to Job asking10:15 god as when he asked god why. Why are you doing this to me? Elihu says Job is speaking like the wicked men who reject god. Chapter10:27 34 verse, 35 and 36. I'm jumping around a little bit as I 0 in on the the the aspects of, Elihu's speech. Verse 35, chapter10:39 34. Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without wisdom. Oh, that Job were tied to the utmost tried to the utmost because his answers are like those of wicked men.10:50 Now here is the truth that Elihu brings forth that we all should grab a hold of. Verse 31 of chapter 34. For has anyone said to11:02 god, I have born chastening. I will offend no more. Teach me what I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do no more. None of us, no matter how good weFrom 'Why' to 'What': Responding to Trials 11:14 are, are above sin. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We have a sinful nature. And how can we say to God, why am I suffering because I have not sinned? Rather the11:25 question Job, who was a good man and who was being targeted by Satan, should have asked was, what? Lord, what are you trying to show me?11:37 Lord, what are you doing in my life? Lord, what do you want me to know? Lord, what do you want me to do? You see, if Job I believe. If Job would11:49 have responded by asking what rather than why, his trial may have ended sooner. You know, there will be valleys in this life. It's just a12:01 reality. We live in a fallen world. Bad things happen to good people. And and in fact, you know, some may be in the valley of the shadow of death where we are alone, and it appears that12:13 god does not hear us, and he is not responding once. Very much as Job describes here. And we're gonna be tempted to ask why. Lord, why? Why me? Lord, why?12:24 What did I do? The question that we should ask is what? Lord, what do you want me to learn? Lord, what are you doing in my life? Lord, what are you preparing12:37 me for? Lord, how can I better yield to you? Drop the question why when it comes to god and the difficulties that you face and replace it with the12:49 word what. Father, we thank you for your word. We thank you, lord, for what we have learned about Job. Lord, that there are things that we just don't understand.13:02 And, Lord, I pray that instead of asking why, Lord, why me? Why is this happening to me? Lord, that we would replace it with the word what. Lord, what are you showing us? Lord, what are you preparing us for? Lord, what13:13 do you want us to learn about you? Lord, that we might, lord, we might accelerate and and expedite the conclusion of this lesson that we're learning and that we13:25 might be better used in your kingdom for your glory and for your honor. For we pray and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright. Thanks for joining me this morning, and until next time. Keep13:37 standing on the word.13:41 Today's study comes from the stand on the word bible reading plan available for free at f r c dot o r g slash bible. By following along in just a few minutes a day,13:53 you can read through the entire Bible in just 2 years. Learn more and request the free reading guide at frc dot org slash bible.In this video 0:00 Introducing Elihu: The Young Observer's Wisdom6:01 God's Sovereignty: Greater Than Man's Understanding11:12 From 'Why' to 'What': Responding to Trials
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