10. The Introduction of Elihu

Job 32:1-2 "So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God."

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth highlights the most foundational and important lessons in life from the oldest book in the Bible, the Book of Job. This sermon, the tenth in the series on the Book of Job, The Introduction of Elihu, introduces Elihu, the one who speaks on God's Behalf: "Elihu is the only individual whose message Job does not refute, the only individual who could silence Job’s critics, and the only human character in the book whom God does not reprove and correct. This alone should draw our attention to this relatively obscure biblical figure. Perhaps Elihu was exactly who he claimed to be—one sent to speak on God’s behalf.

"Job could not be persuaded of his guilt, nor have his conscience convict him of sin, because he was righteous in his own eyes. Yet when men are righteous in their own sight and claim innocence before God, He will often send a minister. This is repeated throughout human history. The blindness of men requires physical messengers led by the Holy Spirit to help open men’s ears so they can hear the great lessons critical for their deliverance, like that personal righteousness is never more than God’s and that it is always a sin against Heaven to justify the self more than God. Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, was chosen to introduce these lessons to Job to prepare his heart for the entrance of Jehovah. Elihu’s ministry was purposed to prepare for a much greater ministry to follow, the ministry of God Himself. As John the Baptist prepared the world for Christ, Elihu does the same in preparing Job for God. Thus, for five uninterrupted chapters, Elihu speaks, and Job offers no retort nor disagreement with any of his words, though he had previously done so with his other accusers. While Job resisted his friends’ harsh reasoning before, once Elihu begins his address, he remains silent.

"This is the impact when a man filled with God’s Holy Spirit brings forth prophecy from the Lord—the power of God’s Spirit ultimately brings men to the conviction of sin. Hence, by God’s own holy Word, produced by the inspiration of the Spirit, sinners will be brought to their knees to both worship and acknowledge God as He should be.

"Immediately we see the effectiveness of Elihu’s spiritually inspired words, as Job’s three friends were amazed and stopped speaking. This teaches us that when prophecy hits its mark, it will often produce silence and amazement. When men come to understand that it is truly the Lord speaking to them and they find themselves unable to defend themselves against His righteous words, their mouths will cease speaking."

This sermon was preached in the In the Mouth of Two or Three Witnesses series. Other sections of Scriptures highlighted in this sermon: Job 32:1-15, Job 42:1-6.

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