May 27, 2015

WISDOM DOES NOT COME WITH AGE. BUT FOOLS COME IN ALL AGES.

Job 32–34

Scott Coy
Wednesday's Devo

May 27, 2015

Wednesday's Devo

May 27, 2015

Central Truth

Growing older is no guarantee for wisdom. Wisdom comes from God. There is no automatic path to attain it and no guarantee that age will reveal it. Wisdom comes from knowing God, obeying His Word, and applying His truth.

Key Verse | Job 32:6–9

Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said,
"I am young and you are old,
so I held back from telling you what I think.
I thought, 'Those who are older should speak,
for wisdom comes with age.'
But there is a spirit within people,
the breath of the Almighty within them,
that makes them intelligent.
Sometimes the elders are not wise.
Sometimes the aged do not understand justice."
(Job 32:6-9)

Job 32–34

Elihu Rebukes Job's Three Friends

So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.

And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said:

“I am young in years,
    and you are aged;
therefore I was timid and afraid
    to declare my opinion to you.
I said, ‘Let days speak,
    and many years teach wisdom.’
But it is the spirit in man,
    the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand.
It is not the old 1 32:9 Hebrew many [in years] who are wise,
    nor the aged who understand what is right.
10  Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me;
    let me also declare my opinion.’

11  Behold, I waited for your words,
    I listened for your wise sayings,
    while you searched out what to say.
12  I gave you my attention,
    and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job
    or who answered his words.
13  Beware lest you say, ‘We have found wisdom;
    God may vanquish him, not a man.’
14  He has not directed his words against me,
    and I will not answer him with your speeches.

15  They are dismayed; they answer no more;
    they have not a word to say.
16  And shall I wait, because they do not speak,
    because they stand there, and answer no more?
17  I also will answer with my share;
    I also will declare my opinion.
18  For I am full of words;
    the spirit within me constrains me.
19  Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent;
    like new wineskins ready to burst.
20  I must speak, that I may find relief;
    I must open my lips and answer.
21  I will not show partiality to any man
    or use flattery toward any person.
22  For I do not know how to flatter,
    else my Maker would soon take me away.

Elihu Rebukes Job

But now, hear my speech, O Job,
    and listen to all my words.
Behold, I open my mouth;
    the tongue in my mouth speaks.
My words declare the uprightness of my heart,
    and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
The Spirit of God has made me,
    and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Answer me, if you can;
    set your words in order before me; take your stand.
Behold, I am toward God as you are;
    I too was pinched off from a piece of clay.
Behold, no fear of me need terrify you;
    my pressure will not be heavy upon you.

Surely you have spoken in my ears,
    and I have heard the sound of your words.
You say, ‘I am pure, without transgression;
    I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.
10  Behold, he finds occasions against me,
    he counts me as his enemy,
11  he puts my feet in the stocks
    and watches all my paths.’

12  Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you,
    for God is greater than man.
13  Why do you contend against him,
    saying, ‘He will answer none of man's 2 33:13 Hebrew his words’? 3 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words
14  For God speaks in one way,
    and in two, though man does not perceive it.
15  In a dream, in a vision of the night,
    when deep sleep falls on men,
    while they slumber on their beds,
16  then he opens the ears of men
    and terrifies 4 33:16 Or seals them with warnings,
17  that he may turn man aside from his deed
    and conceal pride from a man;
18  he keeps back his soul from the pit,
    his life from perishing by the sword.

19  Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed
    and with continual strife in his bones,
20  so that his life loathes bread,
    and his appetite the choicest food.
21  His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen,
    and his bones that were not seen stick out.
22  His soul draws near the pit,
    and his life to those who bring death.
23  If there be for him an angel,
    a mediator, one of the thousand,
    to declare to man what is right for him,
24  and he is merciful to him, and says,
    ‘Deliver him from going down into the pit;
    I have found a ransom;
25  let his flesh become fresh with youth;
    let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;
26  then man 5 33:26 Hebrew he prays to God, and he accepts him;
    he sees his face with a shout of joy,
and he restores to man his righteousness.
27      He sings before men and says:
‘I sinned and perverted what was right,
    and it was not repaid to me.
28  He has redeemed my soul from going down into the pit,
    and my life shall look upon the light.’

29  Behold, God does all these things,
    twice, three times, with a man,
30  to bring back his soul from the pit,
    that he may be lighted with the light of life.
31  Pay attention, O Job, listen to me;
    be silent, and I will speak.
32  If you have any words, answer me;
    speak, for I desire to justify you.
33  If not, listen to me;
    be silent, and I will teach you wisdom.”

Elihu Asserts God's Justice

Then Elihu answered and said:

“Hear my words, you wise men,
    and give ear to me, you who know;
for the ear tests words
    as the palate tastes food.
Let us choose what is right;
    let us know among ourselves what is good.
For Job has said, ‘I am in the right,
    and God has taken away my right;
in spite of my right I am counted a liar;
    my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.’
What man is like Job,
    who drinks up scoffing like water,
who travels in company with evildoers
    and walks with wicked men?
For he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing
    that he should take delight in God.’

10  Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding:
    far be it from God that he should do wickedness,
    and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.
11  For according to the work of a man he will repay him,
    and according to his ways he will make it befall him.
12  Of a truth, God will not do wickedly,
    and the Almighty will not pervert justice.
13  Who gave him charge over the earth,
    and who laid on him 6 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him the whole world?
14  If he should set his heart to it
    and gather to himself his spirit and his breath,
15  all flesh would perish together,
    and man would return to dust.

16  If you have understanding, hear this;
    listen to what I say.
17  Shall one who hates justice govern?
    Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,
18  who says to a king, ‘Worthless one,’
    and to nobles, ‘Wicked man,’
19  who shows no partiality to princes,
    nor regards the rich more than the poor,
    for they are all the work of his hands?
20  In a moment they die;
    at midnight the people are shaken and pass away,
    and the mighty are taken away by no human hand.

21  For his eyes are on the ways of a man,
    and he sees all his steps.
22  There is no gloom or deep darkness
    where evildoers may hide themselves.
23  For God 7 34:23 Hebrew he has no need to consider a man further,
    that he should go before God in judgment.
24  He shatters the mighty without investigation
    and sets others in their place.
25  Thus, knowing their works,
    he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.
26  He strikes them for their wickedness
    in a place for all to see,
27  because they turned aside from following him
    and had no regard for any of his ways,
28  so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him,
    and he heard the cry of the afflicted—
29  When he is quiet, who can condemn?
    When he hides his face, who can behold him,
    whether it be a nation or a man?—
30  that a godless man should not reign,
    that he should not ensnare the people.

31  For has anyone said to God,
    ‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;
32  teach me what I do not see;
    if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more’?
33  Will he then make repayment to suit you,
    because you reject it?
For you must choose, and not I;
    therefore declare what you know. 8 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 2933 is uncertain
34  Men of understanding will say to me,
    and the wise man who hears me will say:
35  ‘Job speaks without knowledge;
    his words are without insight.’
36  Would that Job were tried to the end,
    because he answers like wicked men.
37  For he adds rebellion to his sin;
    he claps his hands among us
    and multiplies his words against God.”

Footnotes

[1] 32:9 Hebrew many [in years]
[2] 33:13 Hebrew his
[3] 33:13 Or He will not answer for any of his own words
[4] 33:16 Or seals
[5] 33:26 Hebrew he
[6] 34:13 Hebrew lacks on him
[7] 34:23 Hebrew he
[8] 34:33 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 29–33 is uncertain

Dive Deeper | Job 32–34

I've met a number of old fools in my life. And frankly, they're not a fraternity I wish to join.

I must admit every day, however, that I am one step away from joining that undistinguished club. Am I afraid? No, not at all. But I am realistic enough to acknowledge that wisdom is not guaranteed with age. Wisdom comes from God. He bestows it when we walk with Him daily and devote ourselves to His Word.

So far in this book we have a story of an innocent man (as the world goes) experiencing an incomprehensible test by God to prove something to Satan. That's a fairly large stage. Wouldn't you agree? Job's friends come offer their opinion on his dilemma. Imagine that! Friends offering foolish opinions in a moment of great personal need.

Personally, I regret past advice I've offered that was not biblical. As a result, I speak less these days. I hear others, or even myself at times, drone on with personal opinions about a situation. My spirit says, "Please stop. Enough!" Speak humbly. Speak gently. Speak biblically. Or don't speak at all (Proverbs 25:11, 26:4; Ecclesiastes 5:5-6).

As for receiving counsel—if it's not biblical, it's opinion (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Elihu's counsel had its issues. But his courage to speak up though he was younger is something we can all learn from. Counseling biblically is one of the core values of good community, and we should all endeavor to honor God and serve the body by counseling using God’s wisdom rather than our own.

Another case in point is that young leader in the New Testament, Timothy. He was encouraged to be bold in wisdom and the truth, even though young (1 Timothy 4:12).

Fools come in all ages. And so does wisdom. Walk in wisdom, my friend, whether you're old or young.

Discussion Questions

1. What were the circumstances that led to Elihu speaking to Job?

2. What did Elihu offer in his counsel that the older dudes missed?

3. What do you need to do to offer better counsel?