SONGS IN THE NIGHT
Chapters 32-35

Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, Job's friends, whom he thought had come to console and comfort
him, instead came to scold and condemn.   As someone had said, "they had the beside manner of
a drill sergeant and the compassion of a chain saw killer."   It appears that a crowd had gathered to
listen to all the debates.   Probably these were the most respected and successful leaders in the
area.

A man by the name of Elihu emerged from the crowd, angry at Job, and the three friends as well.
Job 32:2,3.   Elihu had waited out of respect because all were older than him.   Job 32:4.
Apparently he wanted to hear all the debate and then became furious at all.   Job 32:5.   Elihu
appears to be conceited because of his condescending attitude toward his elders.   Job 32:9.   He
says that Job really did better at answering than the three friends, but Job had not taken him on
yet.   Job 32:11-14.

However, for the most part Elihu was a sincere and compassionate young man who wanted to
help Job understand his suffering.   Job 32:21-22.

  1. Elihu's Challenge To Job (Chapter 33)

    1. Elihu politely asks for attention and before beginning his speech assures Job that his
      words were properly motivated.   Job 33:1,3.
    2. Elihu assures Job that he is a mere mortal and that Job could respond without fear.
      Job 33:6,7.   Apparently Elihu did not want a monologue but a dialogue where Job
      could respond.
    3. The fact that Elihu is more compassionate and personal in his speech shows in the
      fact that twice he called Job by name.   Job 33:1,31.
      1. Job's three friends never mentioned Job's name.
      2. Remember when ministering to a hurting person that it is important to talk to
        them personally.
      3. It is very important when talking to someone who is hurting to call them by
        name.   (That lets them know you are thinking of them, not just their situation or
        another impersonal thing.)
    4. In Job 33:8-11 Elihu lets Job know he has been listening carefully to what Job has
      said.
    5. Elihu as a model speaker gives the premise for his speech and then a thesis statement.
      Job 33:12-14.
      1. Elihu addresses not the issue of Job's guilt or innocence but his frequent
        complaint - that God would not grant him a hearing to defend himself.   Job 9:16,
        35; 13:22; 19:17; 23:2-7.
      2. God's ways and methods of working are often beyond human ability to
        comprehend.   Isaiah 55:9.
    6. In the rest of the chapter Elihu says that God speaks to us in at least two ways.
      1. Dreams were a primary way that God spoke to His messengers in the Old
        Testament.   Job 33:15-18.   (That is not how God speaks today.)
        1. Hebrews 1:1,2 should be clear!

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        1. God's inspired, written Word is His complete message to us today.   II Tim.
          3:16,17.
      1. The second way, according to Elihu, that God speaks to us is through suffering.
        1. "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to our conscience, but shouts
          in our pain."             C. S. Lewis.
        2. God does use pain in our lives.   James 1:3,4.
          1. God uses pain to develop patience.
          2. Patience develops the strength of character needed to live for God.
          3. There is a saying among seamen, "No sailor ever distinguished
            himself on a smooth sea."
          4. It takes storms to bring out human character and greatness.
          5. Character never comes to the surface amid comfort and ease.
        3. God uses suffering to develop humility.
          1. Problems knock a lot of arrogance out of us.   Job 33:66.
          2. Suffering helps us remember our frailty and need of total
            dependence on the Lord.   II Cor. 12:9.
      2. Elihu closes this part of his speech by inviting Job to speak and if not, to
        continue to listen carefully.   Job 33:32, 33.

  1. The Justice And Sovereignty Of God (Chapters 34-35).

    1. Elihu had respect for Job and his friends and appeals to them to gain their attention.
      Job 34:2,3.
    2. Elihu quotes Job's claim that God was unfair in causing a righteous man like him to
      suffer and that there is no profit in living for God.   Job 34:9.
    3. Elihu says that if God is unjust, then He is not God.   Job 34:10.
    4. In the remainder of the chapter Elihu defends God's justice.   Job 34:12-19.
    5. Elihu continues reasoning with Job about his complaint that God somehow does not
      see the wicked and allows them to prosper.   Job 34:21.
    6. Elihu was shocked that Job would have the audacity to criticize God and counsels
      him to stop criticizing God.   Job 34:36-37.   (Job is advised to repent of such
      rebellious remarks.)
    7. Throughout Chapter 35 Elihu defends the sovereignty of God.
      1. Actually the entire book of Job is about the sovereignty of God.
      2. From the very first chapter it is obvious that God is in control, for He tells Satan
        what he can and cannot do.
      3. More than thirty times in the book of Job God is called Almighty, which means
        "all powerful."
      4. Elihu is right: God does no wrong and is sovereign.
    8. Elihu is clearly perturbed at Job's claim that neither his righteousness nor sin made
      any difference.   Job 35:5-7.
      1. In rebuttal Elihu pleads with his listeners to consider how much higher God is
        than humanity.
      2. God is not affected adversely by sin or benefited by good deeds and
        righteousness.   God is simply beyond the capacity of human ability to affect
        Him one way or the other.)
    9. Elihu contradicted Job when he said that the cry of the oppressed and suffering went
      unheard by God, and that therefore God was unconcerned.   Job 35:10.

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      1. God places hope in our hearts no matter how dark the night.
      2. Note this truth demonstrated in Acts 16:24,25.
    1. Elihu now points out a very important principle of prayer.   Job 35:9.
      1. When people are in trouble they do cry out to God for help, but they are often
        only looking for a way out, not a way of life.
      2. Elihu presented important truth about this fact in Job 35:13.
      3. God does not respond to empty, insincere calls for help.
      4. One cannot plea bargain with God.
      5. One cannot demand God to explain Himself.
    2. We may not be able to see God or His justice in the suffering and adversity of life.
      Job 35:14.
      1. It does not matter whether we can see or not!   Job 35:16.
      2. The important thing is that God does see us and His justice and sovereignty be
        seen.
      3. Here there must be patience, faith and waiting on the Lord.
    3. Our God is a God who can give songs in the night.

      Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was the most famous American poet of his day and a
      Professor of literature at Harvard University.   One Christmas day he sat in his study,
      distressed, grieving and totally broken-hearted because he had just received word
      that his son had been critically wounded at Gettysburg.   As he sat there he heard a
      nearby church playing Christmas carols.   In this setting he wrote:

        I heard the bells on Christmas day
        Their old familiar carols play,
        And wild and sweet the words repeat
        Of peace on earth, good will to men.

        And in despair I bowed my head;
        "There is no peace on earth," I said,
        "For hate is strong, and mocks the song
        Of peace on earth, good will to men."

        Then pealed the bells more loud and deep,
        "God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
        The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
        With peace on earth, good will to men."

        Till ringing, singing, on it's way,
        The world revolved from night to day
        A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
        Of peace on earth, good will to men.

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