WWUTT 889 Job Multiplies Words Against God?

People make demands of God all the time. They expect God to meet them on their terms. Job did this of God, but if God had met Job on his terms, then he wouldn't be God when we understand the text.

Opening and Program Introduction

This is When We Understand the Text, a daily Bible commentary to help encourage your time in the Word. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we feature New Testament Study, an Old Testament book on Thursday, and our Q &A on Friday.

Now here's your teacher, Pastor Gabe.

Thank you, Becky. And being Thursday, we continue our Old Testament study of the book of Job. We started with Elihu last week, a young man who had been present throughout this whole ordeal. Ever since, Job's three friends showed up, and then they mourned with Job for a few days, and then Job lamented the sorrow that he was experiencing in his heart and the affliction that was on his body, and then his friends spoke up and got real dumb, and they started blaming Job for all the things that had happened to him.

The reason why all of this happened is because Job had done something evil. So they went back and forth with that for a little while. Well, there's been this young man who's been present throughout this whole thing, and has listened to Job's soliloquies, and then there's responses from his friends, but he's not said anything all the while.

He's younger than everybody else. Everybody is more advanced in years, and so Elihu thought that it would be inappropriate for him to speak up. It would be disrespectful for him to speak into this situation among these men who are so much more esteemed and experienced, but then once Job finished his final speech at the end of chapter 31, then Elihu spoke up, and so we had the first parts of his speeches in chapter 32 and 33.

Well, the first part of his speech. It's just one long speech that goes from chapters 32 through 37, where Elihu comes into this very humbly and says, I'm not worthy to speak. I just kind of listened to you guys, but now having heard you silent and hearing you justify yourself, I can't let this go without me saying something, and so Elihu speaks up to rebuke Job and to exalt God in his words, and Elihu, in a certain sense, acts as a prophet, not in the formal sense of a prophet, in the sense that God spoke to Elihu exactly what to say to Job, but there is some sense in which the words that are coming from Elihu flow from the Spirit of God.

As Elihu says in chapter 33, the Spirit of God has made me and the breath of the Almighty gives me life, so these words that he says comes from the wisdom of God. Likely, the Holy Spirit is guiding Elihu's pen because Elihu is the one who is writing this book.

He's the young man who has listened to the words of the wise, being Job, and written down all the things that he says, but here in this particular circumstance, Job has become very unwise. He sees himself as an adversary of God or God has kind of made him a punching bag.

Why is God afflicting me in this way? And so Elihu is speaking into the situation to rebuke Job and also to give God praise since no one has been speaking properly of God this entire while, which is why whenever you quote from the book of Job, you have to be very careful because if you're quoting something that comes from one of Job's friends, even though they might be saying something about God that would be true if the statement was kind of standing on its own, but it comes from one of Job's friend's hearts and their intentions were wicked and evil, and so ultimately at the end, God says to Job that he should offer up sacrifices for his three friends because they spoke very wickedly of the Lord and very wickedly of Job for that matter.

Elihu is humble, he comes into this very humbly and doesn't even really give himself any recognition over the course of this book. He doesn't say that he's the one that's writing this book. Nevertheless, that's more than likely the situation, which is why he's not introduced at the start of Job nor does he mention himself at the end at all, but he serves as a prophet, like I said, kind of a prophet in the sense that he's preparing Job's heart, preparing him for God who is ultimately going to speak.

That's coming up in chapter 38. In the meantime today, chapter 34, where Elihu has finished his rebuke of Job and in chapter 34, still somewhat of a rebuking tone, but here he shifts to heighten God's justice, to give glory to God for all of his works are good.

God’s Justice and Impartial Judgment

Job 34, starting in verse one,. "'Then Elihu answered and said, "'Hear my words, you wise men, "'and give ear to me, you who know, "'for the ear tests words as the palate tastes food.'". Now, once again, Elihu speaks very humbly here.

"'All you who are wise, test my words, "'that you may know that they are true.'". Verse four,. "'Let us choose what is right. "'Let us know among ourselves what is good, "'for Job has said, I am in the right, "'and God has taken away my right.

"'In spite of my right, I am counted a liar. "'My wound is incurable, "'though I am without transgression.'". We get from Elihu some very pointed summaries of some of these things that Job has said. So now verse seven,.

"'What man is like Job, "'who drinks up scoffing like water, "'who travels in company with evildoers "'and walks with wicked men? "'For he has said, it profits a man nothing, "'that he should take delight in God.

"'Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding, "'far be it from God that he should do wickedness, "'and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. "'For according to the work of a man, he will repay him, "'and according to his ways, he will make it befall him.

"'Of a truth God will not do wickedly, "'and the Almighty will not pervert justice. "'Who gave him charge over the earth, "'and who laid on him the whole world? "'If he should set his heart to it "'and gather to himself his spirit and his breath, "'all flesh would perish together, "'and man would return to dust.'".

To put it very plainly, God is the creator of all things, and he upholds all things by the word of his power, which the Apostle Paul said in Colossians 3. So once again, Elihu says, "'For according to the work of a man, God will repay him, "'and according to his ways, he will make it befall him.'.

"'Indeed, Jesus says this very thing in Revelation 2 .23, "'Know that I am he who searches mind and heart, "'and I will give to each of you according to your works.'". And then toward the end of the book of Revelation, we have a picture in heaven of great books being opened up and everybody being judged according to the works that they have done.

All those who are followers of Christ will have done the works of the father, but those who were followers of the devil will have done the things of Satan, just as we've been talking about this week going through John chapter eight.

Those who are children of Satan will lie as their father has lied. Their father, the devil has lied, but those who are of God and children of God adopted through the blood of Christ will speak truth and do the things that their heavenly father has asked of them, doing it with delight as worthy sons and daughters of God.

If God were to gather to himself his spirit and his breath, if he were to take away all of the things that God is therefore blessed man with, all flesh would perish together. Boom, God takes everything that belongs to him back to him, then man is left with nothing, not even a breath to breathe with.

Verse 16, if you have understanding, hear this, listen to what I say. Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, who says to a king worthless one and to nobles wicked man, who shows no partiality to princes nor regards the rich more than the poor for they are all the work of his hands?

In a moment they die. At midnight, the people are shaken and pass away and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. It's in James 2, verse one that we are told, my brothers show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory.

Why is it that we should show no partiality or bigotry or favoritism toward one person and prejudice toward another? Why is it that we should behave in such a way? Because it is the way that God is. He does not regard the rich person as being any greater than the poor person, but he treats and considers each one equally.

This is God who does justice and his ways are perfect. It's in Deuteronomy 32, four, the rock, his work is perfect for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

That's exactly what Elihu is saying here. Verse 21, for his eyes are on the ways of a man and he sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evil doers may hide themselves for God has no need to consider a man further that he should go before God in judgment.

He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. God doesn't need to do any investigative work because he already knows the heart and mind of a man. Thus, verse 25, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night and they are crushed.

He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him.

And he heard the cry of the afflicted. When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him? Whether it be a nation or a man, that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people.

When he hides his face, who can behold him? You know, when we consider the fall of man, that after Adam and Eve sinned in the garden of Eden, God removed them from paradise and they were separated from God because God is holy and we are not.

God in his divine justice had separated mankind from him. And part of the curse is that we would lose sight of God. Even Adam and Eve having been removed from the garden, it became that much harder for them to know God after that.

God was invisible to them before someone who is visible that walked in the garden in the cool of the day as described in Genesis chapter three. But after they fell and they were removed from his presence and all of creation was cursed, they never saw God with their own eyes again.

And nor did the rest of mankind. For it is explained to us in Romans chapter three that no one seeks for God. That's verse 11. All have turned aside. Together they have become worthless. No one does good, not even one person.

That's exactly what Elihu is saying here as well. And so it's part of the curse that we would even lose sight of God and would not even seek after him. And when God judges us for that, he's perfectly just to do so because he is holy and we are not.

Verse 31, for has anyone said to God, I have borne punishment, I will not offend anymore. Teach me what I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more. Will he then make repayment to suit you because you reject it?

For you must choose and not I. Therefore declare what you know. Men of understanding will say to me and the wise man who hears me will say, Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without insight.

Would that Job were tried to the end because he answers like wicked men for he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God. Ultimately, what Elihu is saying here is that if any of you are wise and of understanding, then you would agree with me.

And also what he is saying, and he says this boldly, is that he wants to see the suffering that Job is enduring brought to its logical end because Job is sinning by expressing this rebellion and arrogance against God.

So therefore he deserves to be punished. Maybe there wasn't anything that Job did before he was punished that was deserving of punishment. But since he's been punishment, the things that he has said in justifying himself and the arrogance that he displays before God has therefore made him worthy of punishment.

So Elihu is boldly stating that if all of this were to be brought about to its logical conclusion, then Job would perish. He would be destroyed. That's ultimately what this is leading to. Now, maybe he's speaking poetically and figuratively in that sense, not actually wishing for Job's destruction, but so that the men who are there, and if they are wise, they would understand, would agree with Elihu that though Job was not wicked before, which is what, that's what Job's friends were arguing.

Job's friends were arguing that Job was wicked before all of this came before him. And that's why it happened. Well, Elihu was saying that he was an upright and righteous man before that. But since this has all happened, the arrogance that he speaks and the way that he justifies himself now has made him worthy of the destruction and the punishment that he endures.

For he adds rebellion to his sin. Verse 37, he claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God. This is among the wisdom books, remember. And it said in another wisdom book, Ecclesiastes 10, 14, a fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be and who can tell him what will be after him.

Job’s Words Without Knowledge

Job 35 now, beginning in verse one. And Elihu answered and said, do you think this to be just? Do you say it is my right before God that you ask what advantage have I? How am I better off than if I had sinned?

This is Elihu still talking to Job here. Verse four, I will answer you and your friends be with you. Look at the heavens and see and behold the clouds which are higher than you. If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him?

And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself and your righteousness, a son of man.

In other words, what Elihu is saying here is that when you sin, you do not afflict God, you afflict yourself. Verse nine, because of the multitude of the oppressions, people cry out, they call for help because of the arm of the mighty.

But none says, where is God my maker who gives songs in the night, who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens? There they cry out, but he does not answer because of the pride of evil men.

In other words, God is not obligated to answer the cry of anybody because people are wicked, they're evil. Surely God does not hear an empty cry nor does the Almighty regard it. Verse 14, how much less when you say that you do not see him, that the case is before him and you are waiting for him.

And now because his anger does not punish and he does not take much note of transgression, Job opens his mouth with empty talk. He multiplies words without knowledge. Like you're asking God to listen to you when yet you've been saying, I don't see God, where is he?

What's going on, what is he doing? He's abandoned me, he's made me a pin cushion and a punching bag, and yet you think that you can demand God to listen to your case after this? Job is trying to help, or I'm sorry, Elihu is trying to help Job understand his absurdity in the things that he has said and the demands that he is making of God.

There are many who make demands of God. There are many who claim to be believers who will make demands of God. And the sad thing about that is unless you keep your thoughts in check and you repent of those kinds of things, thinking that you can control God and make demands of him and he'll meet your demands, unless you repent of that, what will ultimately happen is you'll fall into unbelief.

When you place upon God these expectations, I expect you to do this, this, and this for me. What you are actually expressing is that your belief is not genuine unless certain expectations are met. And God is under no obligation to meet those expectations.

He's not gonna allow himself as the creator to be controlled by the created. That would be absurd. He owes us nothing. And the very fact that you take your next breath is because God has given it to you.

And so it's absurd when a person starts making demands of God and unless they repent of that, what that will lead to is unbelief. There was a song written by John Mayer a number of years ago and the title is absurd.

The song is called New Deep. And it's actually extremely shallow when it comes down to it. One of the lines in this song is the following. Is there a God? Why is he waiting? Don't you think of it odd when he knows my address?

And look at the stars. Don't it remind you just how feeble we are? Well, it used to, I guess. So see, this is John Mayer making demands in this very song. Is there a God? Well, why doesn't he show himself to me?

He knows my address. If he wants me to believe, he would show himself to me. This is John Mayer making demands of God. I don't believe in you because you won't show yourself to me. The reason why God is hidden from us is because we are sinful wretches.

God is holy and good. And being holy, meaning set apart, he has no Congress with sinful man. We have to be made righteous in order to be worthy of the presence of God. And that's what Jesus Christ does for us.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins. And he became the propitiation for our sins, meaning that by his death and his sacrifice, he satisfied the wrath of God. He took the penalty that we deserved upon himself.

And what we're given in return is his righteousness. And so now clothed with the righteousness of Christ, now we can come before God as worthy and righteous in his presence. And we see God. Jesus Christ shows us the father.

And once we behold that goodness, then nothing else can truly satisfy. And that's something that Job has lost sight of here. He has lost sight of the goodness of God. And Elihu is attempting to remind him of it by way of rebuke.

And then eventually God himself is gonna speak into the situation and really convict Job. But we're a couple of weeks away from that. We've got a couple of chapters of Elihu to finish up here. You know, one of the benefits that we have that Job did not have is we have the cross.

When it comes to asking, does God really care about us? Does he really love us? Look at the cross. He sent his son, Jesus, God, who left his throne in heaven and took on human flesh and laid down his life for our sins.

My friends, there will never be a more gracious act of love in all of human history than what Jesus did for us on the cross. We look at the cross and we see that God loves and cares for us, that he would die for our sins.

Whoever believes in him will not perish, but will have everlasting life. We have that benefit Job did not have. So do not take that for granted. May we continue to behold the mysteries and the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are hidden in Christ, as Paul describes it in Colossians 2, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in the son of God, Jesus Christ, whom God gave to us out of his love.

Romans 5, 8, God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Amen.

Closing and Ministry Information

This has been When We Understand the Text of Pastor Gabriel Hughes. For all of our podcasts, episodes, videos, books, and more, visit our website at www .utt .com. If you'd like to submit a question to this broadcast, or just send us a comment, email whenweunderstandthetext at gmail .com and let your friends know about our ministry.

Join us again tomorrow as we grow together in the study of God's word, When We Understand the Text.