A Man Perfect in Knowledge

Job 36

Context
Job, a man whom God calls "blameless", has had his wealth, family, and health destroyed. Job and his three “friends” argue through most of the book on the reasons for his destruction. A young man named Elihu appears on the scene in chapter 32. He’s angry at Job for complaining against God, and angry at Job’s friends for not coming up with a good answer. His speech continues in our reading today.

Listening to the writer
Verses 5-13 provide a good summary of the main argument of Job’s friends. According to Elihu, God is powerful, and people are either righteous or wicked. What does he say about God's treatment of the righteous and the wicked?

Elihu says affliction is to teach us (vv 8-10, 15), that we might learn what we are doing wrong and start doing right. God will either reward or punish us, depending on our response to affliction (vv 11,12). Do you agree with Elihu’s basic argument? Why or why not? Does it apply to Job and his circumstance?

Elihu believes the proper response to pain is to learn what you’re doing wrong and stop doing it (vv 8-12), not to complain against God or seek death (vv 18-20). Do you agree or disagree?

Listening to God
Elihu knows that he is right; lucky Job is in the presence of a know-it-all! (verse 4). This gives his speech great confidence; unfortunately, at the end of the book God tells him he's wrong. Does your speech need more confidence, or more humility? Ask God for insight.

Elihu ends by reminding Job of God’s power, which can be used either to help or to hurt human beings. Spend some time with God reflecting on the beauty and the destructive power of God’s creation.

Miscellaneous Meanderings
I continue in mourning for our government. The health-care battle showcases congress's inability to work together to bring about substantive change - instead of a reasoned discussion and a focus on the strengths of opposing viewpoints, we end up in a shouting match of Elihu's, each "perfect in knowledge" and unwilling to give up their private perks.

In order to solve problems, we need to acknowledge that Elihu is both right and wrong. Both personal and social responsibility are important. Some of the things that happen to us are our own fault, some are not. Although it may not be possible, or even right, to foist the specifically Christian value of "grace" upon a secular society, it seems to me that it's our duty to try and convince others that both the Left and the Right have some rational values, and that these values need to work together in order to make good laws.

At the very least, we could stop echoing the views of the "Elihus" on both sides. If you think all Republicans or all Democrats are blind idiots, you're an Elihu. If you think Obama is out to destroy the country - or that he's the Savior - you've been listening to too many Elihus. Find a friend who disagrees with you, and spend a few minutes really listening to them.