Elihu is the only speaker that calls Job by his first name. Job had previously asked that his three friends would listen to him (Job 13:6; Job 21:2), now Elihu basically says, "I respectfully listened to you, now please listen to me".... [ Continue Reading ]
The words that he was about to speak were on the tip of his tongue and they were honest, upright, and sincere words. Elihu is redundant, but when one is trying to help someone, one is often redundant.... [ Continue Reading ]
Like Job, he is God's creation (Job 33:6) as well. "One's view of his genesis will be reflected in his conduct" _(Jackson p. 70)._ Job had also claimed that God had created him (Job 31:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
Elihu is prepared for. counter-argument and he is willing for these men to examine his arguments.... [ Continue Reading ]
"The young man considered himself to be equal with Job before God (and not superior to him, as had his friends), for both were God's possessions and creations, formed (literally, nipped) out of clay. Therefore, because they were equals, Elihu would not terrify him (as Job had frequently said God had... [ Continue Reading ]
He has clearly heard and understood Job's claims of innocence, in these verses Elihu will summarize what he had heard Job say. This is. very smart move, for Elihu is not ignoring Job or talking over him, but rather he is saying, "I have heard you, and. understand what you are saying".... [ Continue Reading ]
He had also heard Job accuse God of being his enemy (Job 13:27; Job 7:17-20). Here he rehearses Job's complaints that God had been harassing him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Right here. Elihu is not afraid to be blunt with Job, for he argues that Job is not right, "for his charges are incompatible with the moral greatness of God" _(Jackson p. 70)._... [ Continue Reading ]
Job has complained that God will not answer him. "Well, He is not required to give account to humanity" _(Jackson p. 70)._ It seems that Elihu thinks that Job is being childish for thinking that God must give account for everything He does and that He must answer everyone's question.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet God has been speaking to Job, but Job had not been listening. Elihu claims that God speaks in various ways (Hebrews 1:1-2). God speaks in dreams and visions (Job 33:15). God no longer uses this method of communication seeing that He has revealed all truth through His Son Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:... [ Continue Reading ]
Such communications are designed to keep. person on the right track, and to keep man from becoming arrogant and falling into destruction. JOB 33:16 "SEALS THEIR INSTRUCTION": "He communicates warnings to men on their beds, in. manner as solemn and impressive as if it were ratified with. seal, and ma... [ Continue Reading ]
This is. vivid description of the pain and suffering that Job was experiencing, and Elihu says that God also speaks to men through such suffering. God can use pain to get. person's attention and bring them closer to Him _(Romans 5:3-5; Psalms 119:71; Hebrews 12:5ff)._ C.S. Lewis called pain, "God's... [ Continue Reading ]
Eliphaz had argued that no angels could assist Job (Job 5:1), and Job had complained that he did not have. mediator (Job 9:33), Elihu disagrees. He seems to be arguing that God has plenty of angels ("one out of. thousand") that He can send and communicate to Job the workings of His providence. The w... [ Continue Reading ]
Here is repentance that is publicly proclaimed to others. The statement "AND IT IS NOT PROPER FOR ME": Could mean, "It did not agree with me". "The verb 'agree' is literally 'be even or level', and from that literal meaning comes the idea of being equal to or of the same value as. The thought here i... [ Continue Reading ]
All these things, that is, including allowing men to suffer, God does often, for the purpose of saving men. Job's three friends had argued that suffering was. _punishment for sins,_ while Elihu argues that suffering may be _disciplinary, and so serve to prevent sin_ " _(Jackson p. 71)._ "Elihu viewe... [ Continue Reading ]
Elihu earnestly wants Job to carefully listen to him for two reasons. First, he really wants to clear Job. He is not Job's enemy, and he wanted to impart wisdom to Job. He does not simply want to win an argument, rather, he wants to see Job justified, he wants to work towards what God would desire.... [ Continue Reading ]