Elihu began his address to Job by asking him to listen to what he had to say (Job 33:1). He tells Job that he will reply to him in the uprightness of his heart. In other words, he intends to reply to Job clearly, vis-à-vis with knowledge that can be tested, proving that his claims are true (Job 33:2-3). After all, Elihu concludes, “the Spirit of God made me, and the breath of the Almighty has given me life” (Job 33:4; cp. Job 13:6). In other words, Elihu is claiming equality with Job and the friends. The Spirit of God made us both. Neither he nor Job should be able to claim supremacy over the other, since both of them are the work of God’s own hands! His arrogance is only thinly veiled.
Elihu tells Job to stand up and, if he is able to reply to the statements Elihu is about to make, set his words in order before him (Job 33:5), which is an allusion to Job’s desire to stand in the presence of the Almighty and set his own judgment of his integrity in order before HIM with the accompanying proof for Job’s cause (Job 23:4). The point is, Elihu sees himself as the answer to Job’s prayers. He has come to Job in the likeness of his flesh, but in the place of God (Job 33:6). That is: isn’t this what you asked for, Job? Didn’t you want to appear before the Almighty in a context where you wouldn’t be afraid (cp. Job 9:32-35; 13:3)? Well, here I am! I’ll be gentle with you Job. Don’t be afraid (Job 33:7) Speak, if you are able to offer an orderly reply (Job 33:5). The air of Elihu’s contempt can almost be broken like glass.
It seems to me that Elihu has a lot of zeal. He is full of energy, but without mercy, and he desires to make a difference. While there’s nothing wrong with this, per se, and indeed, it is often admirable. Nevertheless, it may also be misplaced. Elihu’s impatience with Job and the friends reminds me of what we call the Serenity Prayer. There are several versions, but the one I have in mind is:
God, give me grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things which should be changed,
And the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other
Elihu has a problem, but he doesn’t know it. He certainly has the courage to speak up and seek to change what he believes to be a wrong, which needs to be righted. However, according to God, Job was the most righteous man in the East, and he (the Lord) didn’t destroy him for wrongdoing (Job 2:3)! Moreover, and despite what Elihu and the friends believed, Job hadn’t spoken anything incorrectly, when he spoke of the Lord (Job 42:7). So, in the context of the Serenity Prayer, Elihu grew impatient with Job’s consistent efforts to defend his integrity (the thing that changed not). Nevertheless, Elihu sought to change what couldn’t be changed, vis-à-vis the Lord’s times and seasons (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). Therefore, Elihu lacked the wisdom to judge what the Lord was and was not doing (cp. Job 1 & 2)! Personally, I make Elihu out to be what the Bible refers to as a fool. He is intelligent, and even brings believable and high-sounding thoughts to the debate, but he lacks wisdom to put it all together and frame a truthful reply. Thus, he’s a fool.[1] There’s a difference between him and the friends. The friends are wise and will accept correction (cp. Job 42:7; cp. Proverbs 15:31; 17:10), while no one, not even the Lord, replies to Elihu (cp. Proverbs 26:4).
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[1] I don’t mean to say Elihu is an immoral person, nor would he be the fool who abuses his wealth and/or power. Rather, he is the religious fool who believes he knows the truth and won’t listen to reason. He is blind but believes he sees (John 9:39-41).
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