Job 12:11 Commentary and Bible Study

Elihu repeats very similar words (Job 34:3) and so they probably come from a well-known proverb of the day. He applies it to the forming of judgment – ‘Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good’ (Job 34:4). Job uses the proverb in the same way, and by implication rebukes the friends for their lack of judgment. The ear does not simply hear meaningless sounds, but it has been given a natural skill by the Lord to discern words and sentences and meanings, to interpret those sounds. It can recognise the sounds of friends approaching and can tell these apart from the dangerous approach of enemies. Likewise the tongue can taste many foods and can tell between sweet and sour, bitter and salt, and many subtle tastes of distinct character. It warns of harmful substances and welcomes wholesome nutrition. When we see food that we like, the tongue, as it were, urges the whole body to go towards it with impulses that are hard to resist. Both these senses are described by way of comparison with wisdom and understanding. But man also has another organ, the organ of understanding, the mind. With this he tests not simply meaning, but knowledge and wisdom. How is it that the comforters who are old and ought to be wise can so dismally fail to recognise the truth of what Job has said to them? How could they dismiss it with so little consideration? How is it that they can retail the trite sayings of unbelieving men and women and so misapply them to Job? Where is the eagerness to improve understanding which is evident when it comes to improving the palate, or learning to discern sounds? What you might expect to be the case and what ought to be the case is that wisdom is found with the aged, for it is not something acquired in a moment or without careful reflection on life. It ought to be the possession of the three comforters, but it is questionable in Job’s mind whether they really have wisdom. They claim to be those who fear God, but have they gone to him for instruction? Where is the evidence of that in what they say? Where is the wisdom that they ought to have, as those who have length of days and have had a great deal of opportunity to reflect on the affairs of life and what God teaches about it? Elihu confirms that they were the oldest in the company (32:7) and therefore he allowed them to speak first.