The Right and Wrong of Elihu's Words.

As you read through Chapters 32-37 note that what Elihu said was similar to the other three men in that they all made many true statements that were used to bring false accusations against Job.

Elihu was right in what he said.

32:8-9 Elihu is right age and social standing does not always mean wisdom and understanding. Wisdom and understanding come through the fear the Lord. But note Elihu said nothing about fearing God.

34:22 workers of iniquity can not hide from God

·       34:10-11 with Jere 32:19, Rom 2:6; Mat 16:27 & Rev 22:12 God’s

36:22, 26; 37:23 You can not know everything about God. (Job 26:14) also 33:13 God does not answer to man for what he does.

Elihu states many things about God and nature that is true.   

·       V36:28-29 with 26:8; 37:6-

V33:9-11 Elihu heard Job’s denial of the men’s accusations. He was right that Job had become more self-righteous and was blaming God and felt God had become his enemy.

·       V33:12 Elihu was right when he said it is not just to accuse God of being unjust in His dealing with Job.

·       34:23 He agreed with Job what Job said in 9:32 and he was right in accusing Job on changing and wanting to reason with God.

·       35:14, 37:23 One should trust in God’s judgment because God will not act unjustly

Vs33:13, 34:12 with Elihu used Job’s word in V9:12 against him..

·       Job started contending or striving with God over why God would not allow him to die and progressed to striving over what that since he was a just man he should not have been troubled. He agreed with Job God does not answer to man for what He chooses to do or allow. (Rom 9:20)

V33:14-30 Elihu was right in saying that God has graciously used means to persuade man to come to Him and so his soul would be delivered. (Vs 24,28)

·       Including (V33:23) messengers that should be heeded.  (Rom 10:14 & Heb 1:1)

(36:24-37:24) Elihu states many things about God and nature that is true. But was Elihu trying to one-up Job, letting Job know that he knew every bit as much about God as Job?

Elihu was wrong in what he said: about Job

V33:8-9 Job never said that he was sinless

·       33:10 Elihu was right, It did seem that Job became to believe that God had accounted him as His enemy

V34:5-6, 9 Elihu was right about Job in these verses. (3:25-26; 9:17)

But he went too far in 34:7-8 Job never walked in company of the wicked.  V21:16

V35:2-3 Job never said that

In 32:14 Elihu said to the three me “Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.” He said he was not going the say the same thing they said. But he used the same argument as they did. 

·       V34:7 with Eliphaz V15:16

·       That is: since God came upon you in his wrath you must be a wicked man.

·       V35:14-16 Elihu felt the proof that Job’s speech in defense of himself was in vain was that God visited Job in His anger.

·       This is not true.

V36:17 Job Fulfilled the judgment of the wicked

·       V12:6, 21:6-16 Job’s three friends spoke about the judgment coming upon the wicked. Job spoke of the wicked prospering upon the earth. Job wondered since the wicked would come under God’s wrath why they seemed to prosper. Did Ehihu believe Job was actually defending the wicked against the statements of the other three men.

·       Eliphaz used Job’s statements about the wicked in Chapter 27:13-23 and the “If I” Chapter 31 where Job described the end of the wicked. Did he believe God used Job to be the example of His wrath that will outpoured upon the wicked?

·       V34:34-37; Elihu felt Job deserved all that he judgment God will bring upon the wicked. (22:5, 10-11, 11:6)

In Vs33:6; 36:2,4 Elihu seems to be making himself out to be a prophet of God. His false statement prove this to be wrong.

Note: in V42:7,9 Elihu is not acknowledged by the LORD