Elihu

Elihu did not get rebuked by God, nor called on the mat to have Job pray for him, while Job’s other three unwise counselors did. The Lord showed me why: Although Elihu was a younger man, he spoke by revelation, not information.

Job 28:12  But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

13  Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

 

He revealed something incredibly powerful, the cross of Jesus Christ, and the righteousness of God. Let’s look at it.

 

Job 32:2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.

 

4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.

6 ¶ And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young, and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.

7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.

8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.

Out of the heart, the mouth speaketh, and Elihu had heard Job say:

Job 33:8 ¶ Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,

9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.

 

Job, in his heart, is trusting in His works, not in the forgiveness, the cross, and the righteousness of God.

Job 1:5  And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

 

[According to a recent poll] 88% of Catholics and a majority of Presbyterian and Methodist evangelizers [those who actively try to share their “faith”] believe that “if people are generally good, or do enough good things for others during their lives, they will earn a place in heaven.”

National & International Religion Report, August 23, 1993.

Elihu figured it out, only the cross and the shed blood of Jesus can provide forgiveness for any man’s sin.
Eph 2

:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

See it?

Job was trusting in his good works,

Job 34: 11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.

 

We know this is what he actually believed for Jesus explained:

 

Mt 12:34  for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

 

Job had been blessed by God for his good works, but was not righteous before God for them. In the holiness of God, all of us have sinned and fallen short of his glory, all of us need to be cleansed by the blood of Jesus, all of us must be cleansed for our sin.

1Co 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

1Co 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God

 

Php 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

 

Job 35:1 ¶ Elihu spake moreover, and said,

2 Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?

3 For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

Churches are full of people without this revelation. Working industriously to earn acceptance and approval before a holy God, that will never be given apart from the cross of Jesus. People full of guilt and shame for their sin, trying to work it off before God, never fully able to accept His love, because they have not yet received the justification that only comes through the cross. 

I see them in the pews, fear and brokenness on their faces, no boldness, confidence, and love poured out, because they have not yet received that liberating truth of the cross, that Jesus died for sinners, and that He did it because He loves them. This will produce joy, humility, gratefulness, and a holy boldness in the resurrection power of Jesus.

Please read: https://chrisaomministries.wordpress.com/2014/02/06/not-by-works-its-all-about-love/

At the end of the book of Job, God shows up before him, in His wisdom and holiness:

Job 42:3 Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.

4 Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

5 I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.

6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

 

Job got it. He repented. He humbled himself before a holy God.

 

Yet then God began to deal with Job’s counselors, and notice:

Job 42:7 ¶ And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.

8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.

9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the LORD commanded them: the LORD also accepted Job.

10 ¶ And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

 

Notice here that God did not rebuke Elihu, nor require him to repent before Him.!

Well, for the next generation of preachers out there, this is great news.

 

1Ti 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

 

1. Preach the cross. This is the central message of the gospel, and the only thing that will set people free from their sins.
2. Preach by revelation, not information. Be a voice for God, not merely an echo.
3. Respect, but do not fear, those older in years. If you have heard God, go on and obey Him, no matter what people think or say.

 

Let’s Pray:

 

‘Father, reveal to me:

1. Area’s where I, like Job are trying to please you in my own strength, with MY own works, instead of acts of obedience that flow from your love.
2. The Word from heaven that will set this generation free. Light me on fire, and make me a voice for you, never merely an echo, a parrot of other preachers. Cause me to hear and obey!
3. You perfect will for my life, and the people you have called me to reach,

In your name I pray, Lord Jesus Amen!