Elihu

Q: What does the Bible say about suffering and trials?

The Bible teaches that suffering and trials are allowed by God for the spiritual growth and refinement of believers. The Book of Job illustrates the purpose of suffering in the life of believers. Job experienced profound trials, yet these were not merely punitive but served to refine his faith and lead him to a deeper understanding of God's grace. Elihu, a character introduced near the end of Job, asserts that God uses such trials to ultimately deliver His people from condemnation and lead them to righteousness (Job 33:30). These trials are part of God's gracious design, working for the good of those who love Him, as stated in Romans 8:28.

Q: How do we know Christ's atonement is effective?

Christ's atonement is effective as it fulfills the righteous requirements of God and secures redemption for His people. The efficacy of Christ's atonement is evident through His substitutionary death. Just as Job is portrayed as a figure of Christ, suffering for the sins of the elect, the New Testament affirms that Christ bore the sins of His people and suffered the wrath of God in their place (1 Peter 2:24). His death was necessary to fulfill the law and satisfy divine justice, allowing for the justification and redemption of sinners. This is echoed in Elihu's declaration that God has 'found a ransom' for Job, which foreshadows Christ's redemptive work (Job 33:24).

Q: Why is the resurrection of Christ important?

The resurrection of Christ is essential as it confirms His victory over sin and death, securing eternal life for believers. The resurrection of Christ is a cornerstone of Christian faith, signifying His triumph over death and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. As illustrated in the sermon, just as Elihu appeared to bring hope to Job at his lowest point, the resurrection serves as the ultimate confirmation of hope for believers. It assures us that death is not the end and that Christ has conquered sin and death, providing a sure promise of eternal life to those united with Him (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). The resurrection reaffirms God's faithfulness to His promises and the reality of our justification.

Q: How does Elihu represent Christ in the Book of Job?

Elihu represents Christ by speaking words of wisdom and hope, pointing Job towards God's grace and redemption. In the Book of Job, Elihu appears at a critical moment to provide insight and correction, contrasting sharply with the misguided counsel of Job's friends. He speaks with divine wisdom, asserting that God uses suffering for a greater purpose, which mirrors the role of Christ as the ultimate Redeemer who brings hope and reconciliation. Elihu's proclamation that God has found a ransom for Job foreshadows Christ's atoning work for sinners, highlighting that through faith in Christ, believers can find mercy and life beyond their trials (Job 33:24). This illustrates how God uses mediators to reveal His grace.

Q: What does Job teach us about faith during trials?

Job teaches us that true faith persists even amidst profound suffering and confusion. The narrative of Job portrays a man of faith who grapples with immense loss and suffering. Despite his confusion and despair, Job ultimately holds onto his belief in God's goodness. Throughout the trials, Job expresses his struggle and questions God, yet he also proclaims confidence in his Redeemer (Job 19:25). This duality reflects the believer's journey; even when circumstances seem dire, faith can assert itself through trust in God’s plan, underscored by the eventual vindication and restoration of Job. His experiences serve as an example for believers to trust in God's providential care amid tribulations.

We return this morning to the book of Job and to this young man Elihu and his response to both Job and Job's three friends. Job chapter 36 we read that Elihu also proceeded and said suffer me a little and I will show thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf I will fetch my knowledge from afar and will ascribe righteousness to my maker for truly my word shall not be false he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee behold God is mighty and despise if not any he is mighty in strength and wisdom he preserve if not the life of the wicked but give if right to the poor. Consider Elihu this young man whose name means he is my God When does Elihu, this young man, appear on the scene in the book of Job?

We heard of Job, we heard of what came upon Job, we saw his three friends come to comfort him, we heard their endless accusations and Job's defense and yet here as we approach the end of the book Here as Job's trial nears its end. Only here at the very end, just as Job's words are finished, the words of Job are ended, we read. Just when his friends had given up speaking to him, their condemnations had come to a close and Job's defense had finished and completed, his words were at an end. And just before in chapter 38 we hear the Lord Himself speak unto Job out of the whirlwind. And finally restore Job. Deliver him from his trial and bless him more in his latter end than at the beginning. Just before Job is as it were lifted out of the trial, resurrected from the death in which he was plunged. Elihu, this young man speaks. Why now? Why was he silent? Why was he unseen until this point? What is this all a picture of? Well, what is Job a picture of?

We've seen how the Lord introduced Job at the very beginning when Satan came before him with accusations. And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil? We've seen how the Lord spake of Job. We then saw the great trial that came upon him. How Satan desired that the Lord would touch him.

And how his family were taken away, how his riches were taken from him and how even his health was taken from him. How Job was brought to the brink of death. We've seen the great calamity that he experienced and we've seen how his three so-called friends came to comfort him. But on finding him and seeing him in great grief, they could not utter a word and sat in silence for seven days and seven nights. We've then seen how they began to speak. And all they could do was contend and condemn Job.

You must have sinned, Job, for the Lord to do this unto you. And we've seen how they forced Job to defend himself against their contentions. And of course we've seen that behind all of this, Job is set forth pre-eminently as a picture of Christ in his sufferings as a picture of how Christ bore the sins of his people was made sin in their stead and was delivered up to die A picture of Christ in his sufferings upon the tree, a picture of Christ in his death.

And how he drank the judgment of God, the cup of God's wrath. How the billows of God's wrath poured down against him. How all men cast him out. how he came unto his own and his own received him not, how all men spoke bitterly of him and cast him out, how they abandoned him and how in the end the crowd rose up and said crucify him, crucify him. We will not have this man to reign over us. He was abandoned by all, even his disciples. He was alone and cast out. And under the judgment and wrath of God, he cries out, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Yes, we've seen how Job's trial is a picture of his trial, a glimpse into the sufferings of Christ in the darkness upon the cross. And as this book of Job nears its conclusion, We will see how the Lord delivered Job from his great trial, restored his life and made his latter end greater than his beginning. And in this we see a picture of Job as it were dying, suffering and then being resurrected again to glory. A picture of his death. burial and resurrection as a picture of the death burial and resurrection of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Well just before the Lord speaks out of the whirlwind to Job and restores his glory just as Job's words are brought to an end and he is as it were laid in the grave.

This young man appears, Elihu, who appears before these that are elder than he is. Supposedly older and wiser a young man appears and speaks. He's there as it were to pronounce the resurrection, to proceed the Lord's restoration of Job. Job is as it were in the grave and there Elihu speaks.

In Mark chapter 16 when Christ was crucified and buried in the tomb and the women came to the tomb looking for Christ we read that there was a young man sat on the right hand he cries out he's not here he's risen he's not here he's risen. Before Elihu appears on the scene all we heard of were Job's three friends and all we heard were their contentions. Why were there three Friends mentioned. Well this reminds us of so many things in the gospel.

Three days at the cross. The Lord Jesus who said destroy this temple and in three days I will build it again. Three hours he suffered in the darkness when the light of the sun was taken away and when the judgment and wrath of God came down upon him as he bore the sins of the elect. Three hours in the darkness. All these three friends could do with Job was find fault and accuse and condemn and what Christ experienced in the darkness of those three hours was the accusations and the condemnations against his people's sin though he himself was innocent he bore their sins so truthfully so really that the accusation and the condemnation and the guilt was so his that God judged him in their place. In those three hours, every sin of every believer, every elect chosen sinner in Christ was condemned in him.

And also in Mark, at the cross, We read a free groups of people. As we've mentioned before, who passed by when they nailed Christ to the tree. Free groups of people. Mark 15 verse 29 tells us And they that pass by railed on Christ, wagging their heads and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests, mocking, said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others, himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross that we may see and believe.

And they that were crucified with him reviled him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eloi, Eloi, lammasa bakfanai, which is being interpreted. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Three groups of people passed Christ by and condemned him just like Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar condemned poor Job. Those that passed by railed on him wagging their heads.

Save thyself and come down from the cross. The chief priests and the scribes, the religious, mocked him, saying he saved others himself he cannot save. They derided him, let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross that we may see and believe.

And even those thieves that hung either side of Christ, who faced death themselves, looked upon him in the midst and reviled him though he had done nothing wrong yes Job's friends are like these and aren't we just the same? when we hear of Christ by nature haven't we reacted in just the same way? We've passed by, we've laughed and scoffed, we've said in our hearts well if he's God why didn't he just come down from the cross and save himself? If we're religious perhaps even.

We fail to see him for who he is. We've set him at naught and we've said with the scribes and the Pharisees he saved others himself he cannot save. And in our sins like those thieves. We've reviled him. Whatever we are. a wicked sinner deserving of death one caught up in religion or just a nobody passing by we've all reacted the same way in condemnation every time we pass by every time we hear the gospel and do not believe and do not bow down before Christ as a sinner in need of salvation. Every time we shut our eyes to him, and close our ears to him, and shut our hearts to him, we put him to death. We nail him to that cross. We cry out in our hearts, crucify him, crucify him. We laugh, he saved others. Himself he cannot save. Why did he not save himself?

Because he came to save his people from their sins. And only by taking their sins away, only by bearing their sin and the judgment upon the cross, only by fulfilling the law of God, by taking the penalty and answering it in full, by dying By taking the sentence of death that that Lord pronounced against sin only by taking that sentence on behalf of His people could He deliver them from their sins.

He must die and He came to die and such was His love from all eternity that before the world was ever created He had His heart set on coming into this place. this wicked world of darkness that rejected him in order to suffer in the place of his people.

When man rebelled in the garden, when Adam rebelled against God and said, I will not bow, I will sit upon the throne myself, Christ loved his own. When wicked men multiplied upon the face of the earth, Christ loved His own amongst them. When His people hated Him without a cause, He loved them. When they nailed Him to the cross, He loved them. When they passed by as he suffered agonies upon the cross, when his own passed by and derided him, he cried out, Father forgive them, they know not what they do. And he loved them to the end. When they would not hear the gospel, when they went their own way, when they indulged in their own lives and their own desires, he loved his lost sheep until that day that he caused them to hear and that day that he gave them life to see and that day that he gathered them in he loved them when he was forsaken upon the cross he loved his own when he cried out it is finished He loved them.

When they laid him in the grave, and early in the morning on the third day he rose again, he loved his own that rose with him from the dead. In Mark 15 we read, And when the Sabbath was passed Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome had brought sweet spices that they might come and anoint him and very early in the morning the first day of the week they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun and they said among themselves who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked they saw that the stone was rolled away for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment, and they were affrighted.

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted. Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified. He is risen. He is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee. There shall ye see him, as he said unto you. Entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted. Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified. He is risen. He is not here. yes like Elihu when Job was effectively in the grave when Job's old man was crucified when his flesh was cut off when the old had gone Elihu comes a witness and as it were says he's not here.

He says in chapter 33 he speaks of the work of God in grace of how God's trial that he sent to Job was a gracious trial and ultimately he would deliver him from going down into the pit because the Lord has found a ransom. Elihu's words are contrasted in these chapters with Job's words. They're a contrast with some of Job's doubts and some of Job's despair. We see the words of men that Job's friends utter. We see their condemnation of Job. And we see Job's defense. And so often we hear the wisdom of man and the ponderings of man concerning God. But Elihu comes and sets the record right.

We read that Job spake words without wisdom. Malachi says in chapter 34, Job have spoken without knowledge and his words are without wisdom. My desire is that Job may be tried until the end because of his answers for wicked men. Why did Job speak words without wisdom?

Given God's testimony of him at the start of the book, we read that Has thou considered my servant Job that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and is sheweth evil? Then how does he speak without wisdom? Well of course not all of his words are without wisdom, Job says many right things in his replies. But in his defense against the accusations of his friends He's forced to defend himself and justify himself. And in so doing, he forgets to justify God and his ways.

Job is not just a picture of Christ in this book. He's also a picture of the believer. And the deadness of man in his flesh. We see in Job both the new man of grace speaking we see the cries of faith and triumph I know that my Redeemer liveth we see his cries of faith from the new man of grace we see that he's never completely broken but at the same time we see his flesh rise up and the deadness of man in the flesh. In Christ Job is perfect, upright and righteous as God testified. God looks upon Job in his son. God sets forth Job and speaks of him, looking through Job to his son, has thou considered my servant, my son, Jesus Christ, that there is none like him upon the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil. He's speaking of his son. And he's speaking of Job as he is seen in Christ and as he pictures Christ.

But at the same time Job himself is but a man. But a sinner. Subject to the same frustrations and failings as any other. Subject to coming to the wrong conclusions and speaking words without wisdom. We see at times Job's faith rising up and we see at times his despair. Job lamented at times that his own faithfulness brought no reward. In Job 34, Elihu says of him, he hath said it profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

Job laments, I've been faithful, I've stood, I've not been like some others, some of the wicked that I've seen and here I am in this state, brought down low, I've lost everything. He feels like he's served God and yet this trial came down upon him and broke him, so why bother? Why bother to be faithful? Why bother to suffer for the Lord's sake when you suffer so much like this?

In Job's words we see an echo of our own. How often we can get into the same state. How often we can, when trials come our way, we can feel, why has this come my way? I've sought to walk before the Lord, I've sought to speak of his grace and the gospel, I've sought to be faithful and yet here I am.

Things just get harder and harder, I seem to sink down deeper and deeper. Sometimes I cannot bear it. Sometimes God seems like he's departed me, like he's just not there. Like he's cast me out. I feel like I'm cast out forever and he's not there sometimes we're brought as it were to that point that Christ was in the midst of suffering my God my God why has thou forsaken me? where art thou? why am I so alone and so despised so why do I suffer so much? that's the sort of point Job was at ultimately that's the flesh speaking. It's a denial of grace.

If we know that grace isn't a reward for our works that in spite of all our sin and in spite of our hatred of Christ God set his love upon us as believers Believer, if you know that God saved you by grace alone and that it isn't a reward, that it's freely given, then you'll know that the trials that come your way are not a judgment for your sin either. They're not a reward like works. They're not rewarding Your good works aren't rewarded with a blessing and your bad works rewarded with trial.

The trials that God sends us are those things that he sends for our good. For our good. What seems good and what seems bad to us all is sent of God. All works together for good to them that love the Lord. all is ultimately sent to bless them the good and the bad and all our complaints and all our grumbling like Job's were is essentially saying that God is not just that he's not dealt with us fairly we don't deserve this when in reality we deserve far worse In reality, if God gave us what we deserve, he'd write us off completely.

He'd destroy us and burn us up. We deserve far worse. And Job deserved far worse than he had. And yet, in spite of all Job's complaint, and all Job's despair, God was blessing him every step of the way. Job's trial gave him a first-hand glimpse of just what his Saviour would suffer for him.

And it gives us in seeing his trial a wonderful picture of the depth of suffering that Christ went to to deliver us from our sins. Just how forsaken he was. Just how despised he was, those three groups that passed by and derided him. Just how alone he was. Oh the sorrows he felt. Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? Whose sorrows are like unto my sorrows?

Oh the depths of Christ's suffering if God gives us a trial to cause us to look to Christ alone to bring us to an end of ourselves to break our own strength and strip our own self-righteousness away to break us and bruise us and bring us in weak before him to know something of the suffering of Christ it's a great blessing a great blessing to be brought to nothing, and to fall down before Him as a sinner, and say, Lord, be merciful to me, the sinner.

Well, Job's words having ended, Elihu, as we've seen, appears on the scene, full of the wisdom of God and the grace of God. He says in Job 33, 33, hold thy peace and I shall teach thee wisdom. Wisdom. Elihu speaks with wisdom, but not the wisdom of man, not the wisdom of the flesh, but the wisdom of God.

In declaring that God uses these trials to bless his people, to deliver them from going down to the pit, to deliver them from condemnation, and to save them with an outstretched arm because he's found a ransom. He's found a ransom from their sins, he's found a redemption price. He saves them and he saves them because there's another. Job's place, who suffered worse than Job, even God's Son, who bore Job's sin and bore Job's condemnation and brought in for him the righteousness of God, oh he's found a ransom.

Yes a lie who speaks with wisdom and in this he's a picture of Christ himself and his wisdom. He who is wisdom in contrast to the wisdom of man and the wisdom of the flesh that we've seen from Job's friends and even at times from Job himself. Throughout the book We see how the old man in Job is slain. How that old man of flesh wars against the spirit. How it contends and argues and fights and resists. But ultimately is slain, how it dies. How it's condemned, how it's laid in the grave.

Throughout the book we see Job's faith rising up above it. how Christ lives in him, how he keeps him, how he delivers him. We see the mercy of God unto Job in using this trial for his good. Yes, Job, like Saul, could say, I through the law am dead to the Lord that I might live unto God. I'm slain, I'm condemned, there's no good in me. crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me he's all my hope yes I'm crucified yes I'm slain yes I've suffered But I know that my Redeemer liveth. I know that my Redeemer liveth. We keep seeing these great cries of faith rising up over the laments of his flesh.

Some may argue that Elihu in his words in condemning Job's friends and also condemning Job himself is harsh on him. But reality is that Elihu's harshness is against Job's old man and the words that came from his flesh. But Elihu paints a picture of great hope for Job that he'll come through this trial because of his faith in Christ.

That he will rise. That he'll be delivered. Job himself had said in chapter 23 he knoweth the way that I take when he have tried me I shall come forth as gold as gold and Elihu knew that when God had tried him to the end that's just what would happen For Elijah says in chapter 33 that God is gracious unto his own and saith, deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom. He says to Job, God found a ransom, you're going to live.

Your old man may be slain, but in Christ you're alive. You'll redeem a liveth. yes we see in Job how the flesh hates to be condemned it justifies itself it fights back but that was his old man talking defending and complaining just as ours does in this book we constantly see the contrast between that which is of God in Christ by grace and that which is of man in the flesh. We see the wisdom of God contrasted with the wisdom of man and ultimately in Job's trial we see how God lays him low, humbles him, breaks him, how the old man of sin and death is put in the grave and the new man of grace rises up in faith and rests in Christ alone.

You see this contrast in Elihu appearing. This young man responding to the old man. He's young. And we know from Esau and Jacob how the elder shall serve the younger. I'm young, Elihu says, and I've remained silent before you men because you're old and you're wise and should know better. But in the end, the elder serves the younger. The flesh is slain and the new man of grace comes to the fore.

This youth, this young man, this youthfulness of Elihu points to life. The vigor of life, the youthfulness of life, it points to everlasting life. Job and his friends were old. They were near the grave, they were gone and Job's old man must be judged, condemned and put to death. So Elihu the young man speaks. He speaks.

And behind all of this we see in Job that picture of Christ in his suffering. How at the cross God condemned Job's old man. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live. We see in all of this the grace of God that brings salvation. How Job's suffering was but a glimpse of that of his Saviour. Of how little it was compared to what Christ suffered.

Has God shown you that? Has he shown you anything of the depths of Christ's suffering? Are you still passing by the cross? Is it still nothing to you? Are you still saying in your heart he saved others himself he cannot save? has God touched you within to say he said he died because of the sins of his people he died in their place he was their substitute he died the death that they should die in order that they should live Has God shown you the grace of salvation in his Son? Here is my Son. This is my beloved Son. Hear ye Him. Behold the Lamb of God. Look upon my servant. Look upon my Son.

Hast thou considered my servant Christ, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and is sheweth evil, one that gave himself for sinners like you? Christ must die that sin should be taken away. If you're to be saved sinner he had to die the death that you would die. Either you will die the second death for all eternity and be cast into outer darkness from which there is no escape or Christ died that death in your place. When you consider his death, his burial, his resurrection, is it something afar off?

Something historical? Something with meaning to others but it's nothing to you? Or has God by grace shown you that you deserve to be there? that you deserve to be one of those thieves crucified with him, that you're a guilty sinner, that the deaf Christ died, you deserve to die, he was innocent but you're guilty. Has he shown you?

Well God showed Job. God touched Job. And in the depths of Job's suffering, Job felt and saw something of what his Saviour did for him. It was real, it meant something. It meant something. And when Job's words were at an end, when he was laid in the grave and could say no more, Elihu, A young man appeared in the tomb of Job's grave and said unto Job, the Lord has found a ransom for you, Job.

You sinned, but God has saved you. Your Redeemer liveth. He's done righteously with you. He's slain your sin. He's condemned it all, but he's condemned it in his son, not in you. Job you shall live forever. Yes when they came looking for Christ in the tomb they found a young man there and when Job in figure had died a young man Elihu came and spake words of wisdom that all that had come upon Job God had used for good all was of grace. Has he come unto you and said the same to you? one whose name means He is my God, come unto you and spoken of the grace of God in salvation, that God gave His Son to save sinners like you and I, wretched sinners that deserve to be left in the grave. He gave His Son and His Son rose victorious over sin, death and hell. rose with his own that they should have everlasting life. Oh what a gracious God, oh what a gospel, as he taught you, as he led you unto the grave, unto Christ, unto the Saviour.

Should God deal with us graciously as he dealt with Job, Should he send trials our way to point us to Christ alone for salvation? To bring us to an end of our own wisdom and strength? To show us the sin in our flesh? To cause us to abhor ourselves and look unto God for mercy? Should he send trials our way to bring us to Christ? and lay our old man dead in the grave?

And should others come looking for us amongst the dead? Should others come looking for us amongst our dead acquaintances, those with whom we used to mix, those with whom we used to laugh and eat and drink and were merry? Should others come looking for us amongst the dead in this world? Should others come looking for us amongst the deadness of this world or the graves of false religion in which we once walked?

Should they come looking for us in the grave? Will they find instead a young man sat a messenger in their path like young Elihu. Will they meet Him in the grave in which they dwell? Will they meet a young Elihu looking for us who will say unto them, He's not here.

She's not here. They are risen. They are risen in Christ their Saviour. Christ is not in the grave, he's risen! And they're no longer there either. They once were dead, but now they live. Once they were blind, but now they see. The Lord has found a ransom. Christ is there all in all. Oh, that God would send Elihu to you and to me to point us to Christ alone and to say unto us, the Lord has found a ransom. Amen.

Elihu

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about suffering and trials?

How do we know Christ's atonement is effective?

Why is the resurrection of Christ important?

How does Elihu represent Christ in the Book of Job?

What does Job teach us about faith during trials?

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Elihu

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about suffering and trials?

How do we know Christ's atonement is effective?

Why is the resurrection of Christ important?

How does Elihu represent Christ in the Book of Job?

What does Job teach us about faith during trials?

Sermon Transcript

About Ian Potts

Comments

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