Preview of Job #3

By Oscar M. Baker

[Continuing the ministry of Elihu, the mediator.] Elihu deals with some of the argument that the other men have put out, and in 32:9 he says, “Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.” This man, Elihu, is coming in here and really is an answer to what Job had asked for, and so in 33:6 he says so. “Behold, I am according to thy wish in GOD’S stead…”, that is, he is the daysman, the advocate that Job was looking for (in 9:33) – someone to speak to God, to plead with God for him.

Then he gets down to business in chapter 34. In v.5 Elihu says, and he’s blaming Job here, “For Job hath said, ‘I am righteous: and GOD hath taken away my judgment’.” He’s got it summed up. And in v.10 he says, “…far be it from GOD, that He should do wickedness; and from THE ALMIGHTY, that He should commit iniquity.” Then in v.12 he goes on to say, “Yea, surely GOD will not do wickedly, neither will THE ALMIGHTY PERVERT JUDGMENT.” He’s not taking away Job’s judgment – there’s something wrong with Job somewhere. Well, you can read more on that argument, and see what the daysman has to say.

Over in chapter 38 we have the LORD speaking out of the whirlwind to Job. “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?” That takes Job’s argument to pieces with just one sentence. Job has been clouding over counsel by words without knowledge. How many of us are guilty of that? Then He asks Job a great number of questions, and Job can’t answer one of them.

I’m going to just take you on to the end now – chapter 40. (God has asked Job a great list of questions, and it’s a good idea to ponder each one because they give an insight into some things that existed long before man was upon this earth.) After God gets through, Job doesn’t have much to say, so in verse 4 he answers the Lord, “I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay my hand upon my mouth.” Job sees, when he comes face to face with his Creator, that there are greater matters than his own righteousness, and the fact that he thought that God had taken away his judgment. We can’t maintain our own righteousness and at the same time maintain that God is righteous, because there’s such a vast difference, and we must realize that.

Finally over in chapter 42, we find that Job is utterly broken down now in vs. 1-6. He has seen his Creator, has seen the goodness and the nature of God and he says, “I ABHOR MYSELF AND REPENT IN DUST AND ASHES.” That is the result of “seeing” God, of getting some knowledge of HIM!

[Conclusion of excerpts from “Preview of Job” tape.]