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What I Noticed Today (Job 30-33)
Job 30-31
Job continues his response in Job 30-31.
Job 30
Job makes four main points in Job 30:
- Job 30:1-15. My friends mock me. My honor and prosperity are gone.
- Job 30:16-19. My body hurts all over from the affliction that has come upon me.
- Job 30:20-23. God has deserted me and no longer answers my cries.
- Job 30:24-26. All hope is lost; my friends have rejected me, evil has replaced good, darkness has replaced the light, and I am alone in my suffering.
Job 31
Job makes his final appeal in Job 31 by naming specific sins and denying that he committed them.
Note: The word “if” is used 19 times in this chapter as an element of a negative confession: “if I am guilty of this…then…”
- Job 31:1-4. Job denies looking lustfully at another woman.
- Job 31:5-8. Job claims to have been honest; never deceitful.
- Job 31:9-12. Job denies having committed adultery.
- Job 31:13-15 Job always treated his servants well.
- Job 31:16-23. Job denies oppressing the poor and the needy.
- Job 31: 24-28. Job denies being materialistic.
- Job 31:29-34. Job denies being happy about other people’s troubles.
- Job 31:35-39. Job begs God to hear him and call him to account for his life.
- Job 31:38-40. Job claims to have been honest in all his business dealings.
Job 32-33
At the conclusion of Job’s remarks, the youngest of the friends, Elihu, rebukes Job’s friends in Job 32, and Job in Job 33.
Job 32
In verses 1-5, Elihu is angry with Job for defending himself while accusing God, and angry with Job’s three friends because they accused him without proper evidence.
In verses 6-9, Elihu begins by saying that just because he is the youngest does not mean he does not have wisdom.
In verses 10-22, He asks that they listen to him because he has something different to say.
- Elihu says Job’s friends have no proven Job wrong so they should not claim to have great wisdom.
- Elihu claims to have the Spirit within him, and if he remains silent, he will burst like a wineskin.
- He would not take sides because he disagreed with both sides.
Job 33
Elihu now turns his attention to Job.
In verses 1-7, Elihu asks Job to listen to him because he speaks with an upright heart and with sincerity.
In verses 8-11, Elihu demonstrates that he has been listening closely to Job because he quotes Job’s words seven times (Job 33:9-11)
Elihu says Job is wrong in accusing God:
- He says that God owes him no explanation (33:13).
- Yet, God does speak to man through dreams and visions (33:14-18),
- Through painful trials (33:19-30), and
- Through people (33:31-33).
Some thoughts for additional consideration:
- Young Elihu may not know how to deliver a concise message, but he is right that God may be trying to speak to Job through different means. When we feel apart from God, we need to be aware that He may be trying to speak to us through the Holy Spirit, through situations of life, and through other Godly believers.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.
