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Why Do the Righteous Suffer? Lesson 10: Elihu Speaks to Job

Scripture Text: Job 32:1-37:24

Memory Verse: “Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind? Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?”—Job 37:14-18

Introduction:

Here the conversation between Job and his three friends ceases. A young man named Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, had been listening to the heated debate between Job and his three critics. Elihu became incensed with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with his three friends for failing to answer Job adequately. Elihu, using the word “please,” calls for Job’s attention. He rebukes Job for the way in which he had professed absolute innocence, and for blaming God for unjust treatment. When a person responds to the Lord’s voice, says Elihu, then he is restored to physical health and spiritual wellbeing.

Elihu next asks the three friends to test his words as they would taste food. He quotes Job’s claim that God was unfair in causing a righteous man like him to suffer, and that there is no use being pious in order to please God. Apparently addressing Job, Elihu next counsels him to confess and forsake his sin, and to stop demanding God to do what he wants.

Elihu then reproves Job for claiming to act more righteously than God and for saying that righteousness does not pay. Man’s sin does not harm the sovereign God, neither does his righteousness benefit God.

In Elihu’s fourth speech, he professes to draw from deep truths to defend the justice of God and to explain suffering.

Studying the Word

Lesson Study

  1. How was Elihu different from the other three friends of Job? How was he the same? (Job 32:1-9)
  2. Elihu claimed that Job believed he was morally perfect. Did Job ever insist that he was sinless? What is the difference between following God’s ways with all your heart and sinlessness? (Job 33:1-33)
  3. Elihu argues that the Lord is not affected one way or the other by Job’s righteousness or lack of it. It is this a true statement? (Job 35:1-16; 2 Corinthians 9:7; Genesis 6:6; Psalm 78:40; Ephesians 4:30)
  4. Elihu, as well as the other three friends of Job, constantly repeat the same theme: the wicked suffer and the righteous prosper. What is wrong with this scenario? (Job 36:1-33)

 Applying the Word

Many Bible students see Elihu as a picture of Christ, our Mediator. He seems the perfect bridge between Job’s friends’ analysis of his situation and the solution of God. Other commentators have less favorable views of him. What do you think? Does he accurately portray the true character of Jesus? (Job 32:1-22)