“What did the wise book say to the reader? Chapter by chapter wisdom awaits.” (Trapp)
Wisdom Wrapped in Opinion
By Machelle McDowell
February 20, 2024
“Before I speak I have something important to say.” Groucho Marx
As we close out of the book of Job we patiently wait for God to speak wisdom into Job’s situation. We have sat through 37 chapters of listening to four men who claim to show wisdom into Job’s situation. Really? All of them had something to say! Was it wise?
Wisdom…what does that even mean? Wikipedia say: The quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.
I don’t see anything in this definition that points to opinion? These men base their arguments upon opinion, (in my opinion), LOL.
We sometimes get a skewed perspective on how wise a young person is. We presume that wisdom comes with age, does it? Logically speaking, it should, but there are times when exception is the rule. Elihu brings (some) wisdom to Job’s situation even though he did not see the situation clearly either.
This young man had a lot to say about the subject! Have you ever shared a conversation with someone who cannot wait to speak. It’s like you can read the body language. They swell up like a tick feeding off of an animal. They are about to explode! (Too graphic?) LOL. You get the point.
Elihu had sat quietly and listened to Job and his friends debate over why Job was experiencing the level of suffering that he was. He could not keep silent any longer.
Once again opinion outweighs wisdom here. Granted Elihu is right about one thing, Job lost his perspective on the situation. It became more about proving his innocence and in the midst of it all he became arrogant towards God…which sparked a nerve in the listening bystander, ….Elihu.
Elihu reminds me of a balloon with a pin hole. Once he began to speak, his words lingered on for (5) chapters! He was very long winded. He spends one chapter just making an announcement he is going to speak! I don’t think Elihu realized how his wordy introduction made him look? I’m sure the others probably were thinking…is this wise or a know it all?
Elihu spoke with authority. His main point of his address is that God is powerful and brings perfect justice. Job’s arrogant behavior towards God prompted Elihu to put Job in his place.
In his long and windy speech he succeeds in painting a picture for Job that points to the fact God did not owe him anything. Elihu wanted to remind Job just how great God is. He wanted to make Job see that he had stepped back and took his eyes off of his creator and placed them on himself. Elihu was right in his thinking but wrong in his conclusion.
I feel, the story took a turn when God’s spirit moved Elihu to speak as he did in the last part of chapter 36. What a perfect stage to reveal God’s majesty and power than in a storm! I feel like It was through Elihu’s description of God’s power displayed in the storm that drew Job’s mind back to its rightful place with God.
Job has been in the worst storm of his life and did not feel God’s presence but all at once God speaks out of the storm as to say, “Look Job, I know you are in a storm and I am here with you!” “I have been with you all along!” Elihu sees God in the storm-
Job 37:1-4 “At this also my heart trembles, and leaps from its place. Keep listening to the thunder of His voice, and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. Under the whole heaven, he lets it go and His lighting to the ends of the earth. After it his voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, And He does not restrain the lightnings when His voice is heard. God thunders marvelously with HIs voice; He does great things within we cannot comprehend.
Even though things seem out of control God is in control of every little detail.
Elihu’s final advice to Job was to remind him that he did not know as much as he thought he did. Elihu has the right idea but his argument comes from the wrong motive. He too believes Job is struggling with sin.
Ironically, NOW Job is sinning by being self-righteous towards God, but this sin had nothing to do with his suffering! He remains blameless in it all! He instructs Job to stop trying to speak to God and fear him instead!
To wrap this up: God hears enough. He confronts all involved, but He speaks to Job directly.
Interestingly enough God does not answer Job’s questions but turns the situation around and gives Job a laundry list of questions in which the answers to those questions points Job back to a position of humility and conviction.
“What did the wise book say to the reader? Chapter by chapter wisdom awaits.” (Trapp)
At the end of the book of Job….WISDOM spoke. No opinion needed.
In 42 chapters of the book of Job, we are taught an important lesson about gaining wisdom. It all boils down to waiting on God to speak.
We spend so much time putting our trust in the opinions of man and ourselves that we miss out on the biggest blessings God has for us.
“What did the wise book say to the reader? Chapter by chapter wisdom awaits.” (Trapp)
At the end of the book of Job….WISDOM speaks….God himself.