Elihu began his argument with Job by saying the Lord spoke to man in dreams (Job 33:14-15, and through pain (Job 33:19) in an effort to correct him and keep him from destroying his life. We added, through the benefit of the word of God (Hebrews 1:1) that the Lord also spoke through conscience (John 8:9; Acts 23:1), and creation (Romans 1:20; Hebrews 3:4).[1] While Elihu technically speaks what is true, he takes what is true and draws the wrong conclusion, implying what God has done through Job’s calamities indicates Job is a wicked man in need of repentance (Job 33:29-30). According to the then current understanding, this is the only conclusion that could be drawn. God rewards righteousness and judges iniquity![2]
At this point I recall a song of the 1940s entitled Fools Rush In[3] The words: “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread… Fools rush in where wise men never go…” which looms large in both in the song and in life itself. Of course, the theme of the song is romantically inclined, but the words, by themselves, which gives light to the power of the romantic theme, indicate that fools rush in and draw conclusion about very complicated and wide-ranging matters. Fools like Elihu and many Christian leaders today draw conclusions about things they know little about. Yet, good folks, righteous folks believe them and give them the power and influence they enjoy in the public arena.
Elihu wants Job to listen to him, and harken to his words (Job 33:31), because he, after all, is Job’s equal and even puts himself in the place of God (Job 33:3-6), just as many modern Christian leaders do! “Hold your peace, and I will speak” (verse-31). Let my words be your words; let me speak for you! I’ll do the thinking, and you rest and leave the important decisions to me. Sleep! Rest! Be quiet!
Then Elihu concludes by telling Job, if he has anything to say, vis-à-vis if Job is now willing to agree with Elihu, “Speak, for I desire to justify you!” (Job 33:32), for “I have found a ransom!” (Job 33:24). In other words, I’m willing to stand between you and God (Job 33:23) and perfume the sacrifice for your iniquity (cp. Job 42:7). However, if you can’t do that yet, “…hold your peace (sleep, rest, be quiet) and I will teach you wisdom!”
In other words, let me do the thinking for you, and I’ll help you to understand both what you should say, and what you should do! (Job 33:33). Don’t question your understanding of God. Don’t believe the truth you’ve once understood needs to be transformed into a broader understanding of who God is. Don’t critique the inadequacies of what you’ve been taught and cast off your present worldview! Job, sleep, rest, and be quiet and let me teach you wisdom, and such is the philosophy of much of modern Christianity!
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[1] These seem to be the manner in which man perceived spiritual truth prior to the coming of Christ and the benefit of his witness (John 1:1, 14, 18; 13:15; 1Peter 2:21).
[2] Tragically, this is also the worldview held by many preachers of righteousness today. Whenever calamity strikes, they assume God is either punishing nations or people for a certain sin (read whatever sin might be popular at the time): see responses to natural disasters by Pat Robinson and John Hagee, and Jerry Falwell’s response to the 9/11 disaster reported in The Atlantic (January 14, 2010). The greatest tragedy, however, is that folks like these leaders in the Christian community have such a great influence on the righteous. Thus, they nullify in the hearts and minds of the righteous the witness of Christ that shows what God is really like.
[3] Song sung by Ray Eberte for the Glenn Miller Orchestra.
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