Job 30-32 Elihu Arrives

Thoughts

Job 30

This who now mock Job are the very people he once would not have even associated with.These younger men are described as outcasts or “children of fools”. 

Job becomes the subject of mockery in song and speech. People spit at him and avoid him. He describes being surrounded by terror and disgrace.

Job’s soul “pours out,” and his bones burn with fever. He cries to God for help but receives silence. He feels tossed about by the wind and expects death as his only relief.

Job reminds God that he once comforted those in distress, but now no one comforts him. He ends with a ghastly image: his skin darkened, his harp turned to mourning, his flute to wailing.

Job 31 Job’s Final Speech

Job declares, “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?” He insists he has guarded himself against lust and impurity.Job recognizes that God sees all his steps

Job denies deceit, dishonesty, or covetousness.He calls for personal judgment if he has turned aside from truth or exploited others.

Job swears he has not committed adultery or desired another man’s wife. He acknowledges such sin “would be a fire that consumes to destruction”  and accepts punishment if found guilty.

Job declares that he treated his servants fairly, remembering they too were made by God. He helped the poor, the widow, and the orphan.

Job denies trusting in gold or rejoicing in wealth. He has not worshiped the sun or moon.

Job has not rejoiced at his enemy’s misfortune or withheld hospitality from travelers. His household was open to strangers. 

Job concludes with a final test: if he has exploited his land or workers, let thorns grow instead of wheat.

“The words of Job are ended.”

Job 32 Elihu

Elihu arrives. 

The three friends  stop answering Job because “he was righteous in his own eyes.” Enter Elihu son of Barachel the Buzite, from the family of Ram. He has been listening quietly out of respect as he was young. 

He is angry both at Job for justifying himself rather than God and at the friends for failing to understand Job’s arguments.

Even though he is younger, he insists that wisdom doesn’t belong to age alone. He feels compelled to speak because truth has been mishandled. “Not one of you has proved Job wrong.” He warns them not to claim wisdom they don’t possess.

“My belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst.” He feels divinely pressured to speak. Elihu vows to be impartial.

Questions

Is Job saying he has never lusted?

Was Elihu there the whole time?

Application

We have come to the end of Job’s speeches. He is surely exhausted and standing among the ruins of his former life. He was once admired and now mocked. He lost his family, his reputation, his health, and his possessions. However throughout all of this  Job keeps talking to God, even when it feels like no one is listening. Job has defended his integrity over and over and Chapter 31 shows how much he values righteousness. The Accuser might have been able to take all of his earthly possessions, but no one could take away his faith.  Though he cannot understand why God is silent, Job refuses to abandon the relationship. Our faith is a constant battle. Sometimes we will feel blessed and sometimes we are crying from the ashes.