May 17, 2025 - Job 32-37

Job’s three “friends” wrapped up their dialogue with Job:  “So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes” (32:1).  No, he wasn’t it!  And besides that, I’m not sure these guys would recognize righteousness if it hit them in the face.  Job never claimed a perfect righteousness.  Rather, regarding the common belief that, always, a one-to-one ratio of good or bad consequences resulted from a person’s actions.  That is, the friends argued that, for Job to suffer so greatly, surely he must have committed some great sin.  A smaller, less significant sin would result in much less harsh consequences.  And now, a fourth person begins to speak, Elihu, and “he burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God” 32:2).  No, he didn’t!  Job was simply trying to understand rightly his current predicament.  In his arrogance, Elihu says to Job, “Bear with me a little, and I will show you” (32:2).  That is, this young man says, “Listen to me, old man, I’ll explain it to you.”  Well, Elihu did not do a great job of explaining.  Another, however, is about to speak and, when God speaks, Job listens, is humbled, and is blessed.  We are nearing the end of the saga but not just yet.  Soon, Job will be able to rest.

Thou hidden Love of God, whose height,

whose depth unfathomed, no man knows,

I see from far Thy beauteous light,

and only sigh for Thy repose;

my heart is pained, nor can it be

at rest till it finds rest in Thee.   --Paul Gerhardt, (1729)