Of the Godly examples of men in the Bible, Elihu stands apart as he sets the stage for God to speak to Job from the whirlwind. As John the Baptist heralds the arrival of Christ, Elihu [unknown to him] sets the stage for God to speak.
Setting:
Job’s life has been changed dramatically by apparently tragic circumstances with the loss of his children and substance, and he receives visitors that sit at length with him – initially to comfort, but later become critical – even as Job sits in physical misery from an attack from the enemy on his health. Even Job’s wife adds to Job’s misery.
Background:
Job lived in the time of exile or just afterwards, is not an Israelite, and no mention is made of the Law. Ezekiel mentions him twice in chapter 14 with the words “deliver their own souls by their righteousness.” When Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite arrive [which may have taken months to get to Job], see him, weep, and rend their clothes – then they sit for seven days and nights before Job begins to speak. Elihu is present but remains silent. What can we learn from Elihu?
Who is Elihu?
Elihu is noted as the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram. Elihu signifies “My God is he” and he’s said to be a Buzite, from Buz, Nahor’s second son (Gen. 22:21), and of the kindred of Ram, that is, Aram (so some), from where the Syrians or Aramites descended and were denominated, Gen. 22:21. Of the kindred of Abram; so the Chaldee-paraphrase, supposing him to be first called Ram-high, then Abram-a high father, and lastly Abraham-the high father of a multitude. Elihu was not so well known as the rest, and therefore is more particularly described thus. The account of Nahor in Genesis 22 is from approximately 1870-1850 BC, which precedes the Exodus, Moses, and subsequent to Abraham’s encounter with God on Mount Moriah. Abraham may have been Elihu’s great uncle.
Our Elihu is younger than Job and his three “friends”, and waits patiently for his opportunity to speak.
What is the character of Elihu?
- Godly – Elihu displays a passionate sense of God as a Gentile believer, long before Peter is sent to the Gentiles in the Book of Acts.
- God’s Sovereignty – Job 37:23 “Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.”
- God’s Justice Job 34:10 “Therefore hearken unto me ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity. 11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. 12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.” Elihu understands that the sovereign God is also a Just and Holy God, and that sin does not touch Him.
- God’s “grand purpose”. More will be said on this later.
- Patient – he waits for the others to finish speaking before he begins
- Job 32:11 “Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say.” This is a talent lost in our culture now as most feel they have something important to say and are not willing to wait their turn. Our instant gratification culture where news ages out by the hour, and people connected to the world wide web does not give space to waiting for another to finish before speaking. Too often words are launched in conversation before one’s mind is able to determine what the next appropriate word should be. This causes a barrage of over-talking others, and is impolite and coarse. I can be guilt of this myself.
- Respectful – as he is the youngest in the group, he knows his place in the conversation
- Job 32:4 “Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.” This is another weakness in our culture as everyone seems to have something more important to say than the next person. Social media has given everyone an elevated sense of self-importance, and the young feel that older generations have nothing important to say. The age of Elihu’s companions is respected as they have life experiences that he does not yet have. In a prior generation, it was said that children “should be seen and not heard”, and younger generations would learn much by setting this order to their lives in in their own household. 1 Timothy 3:4 sets out the elder and “One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity.” This should be considered for all men with children whether desiring the position of a bishop / elder / deacon or not: they should order their lives in such a way they are not excluded from any future considerations if the need arises in the church.
- The 5th Commandment “Honor thy father and mother” was not written in Elihu’s day, but he represents a sense of this. Deep study into this commandment will show that not just your biological father and mother should be honored, but their siblings and your grandparents should be honored. This is not a suggestion at all. Studying the older writers that have written on the 5th Commandment such as Louis Berkhof, Hermann Bavinck, Wilhelmus a’Brakel will detail that all of those in your life that have position over you – such as managers and bosses – should be entreated with honor because God has set them up over you for His Divine purpose, and Christ is honored when you honor those persons placed in your life by God’s Providence. We have God’s written Law that commands this honor, and breaking this honor breaks God’s order set forth in His Word.
- Observant – he listens carefully to what is being said – both from Job and his three friends. This hearkens back to my point on patience.
- It is one thing to hear and entirely another to listen. In Job 33:8 “Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying, 9 “I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.” This was early in the meeting with Job, and Elihu paid careful attention to what was being said by Job and his friends. Again – this is a talent not seen now. Opinions are rendered and verdicts given in simple conversation before the conversation concludes too often. God gives man one mouth but two ears. Ecclesiastes 5:5 “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. 2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. 3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.”
- Passionate – Elihu delivers a long and passionate speech when it’s his turn
- Job 32:18 “For I am full of matter, the spirit within me constraineth me. 19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.” He has been sitting patiently awaiting his own turn after his elders had finished speaking.
- Courageous – when he speaks, he commands the attention of his listeners
- Job 32:9 “Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment. 10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion. 11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons, whilst ye searched out what to say. 12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words: 13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man. 14 Now he hath not directed his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.”
- In spite of him being junior in years to his audience, Elihu delivers a pointed response politely, but with high impact so that his listeners stopped v15 “They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.” That Hebrew word pronounced “khaw-thath’” is more direct and explicit than the English translation. They were shattered, broken, and dismayed, as noted by the Qal tense. The English translation does this no justice. What Elihu said had a great impact on those men – Job included.
- Upright – this event happens before the Law is given, and displays the truth of God’s Moral Law being written on the heart and in the conscience.
- Elihu speaks as the opening act for what God is going to say. He speaks much about God’s sovereignty in all areas, and God drives the point home in Chapter 38 and following.
- Purpose – he is able to see through the argument and summarize what has been said. Summary is a gift from God.
Job’s three friends fail to comfort him and declare that this suffering came upon because of some secret sin he committed – Job declares himself and his humility before God, and the three friends neglect to draw a conclusion. They all support the justice of God, but do so in a clumsy way guessing that there must be some mechanical way Job can act to restore himself before God.
The abundance of words from Job and his friends begin to move in a direction charging God with being unfair, and all four set themselves up in self-righteousness. By the way, Elihu sufferers a little from this as well.
Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar assume that God always blesses the righteous outwardly, God always sends severe suffering only as punishment for particular sins – therefore Job must be concealing horrible guilt. They do not and cannot see meaning in suffering, and this young man is about to correct their error. We see in Job 33:27 “He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; 28 He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. 29 Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, 30 To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.” Job’s friends only see suffering as a verdict – and that Job must have done something to deserve this.
As a contrast, Elihu states purpose in suffering. Suffering and affliction may be: corrective, preventative, instructive, sanctifying, and not merely punitive. This is a profound change in the discussion.
David states this: Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”
Many other verses say the same:
Psalm 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”
Psalm 94:12 “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;”
1 Corinthians 11:32 “But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”
Hebrews 12:10 “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”
Hebrews 12:11 “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”
Elihu’s Speech:
When God enters the conversation in Job 38, it is immediately after Elihu states this: 23 “Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.” The first statement in chapter 38 is “Then God answered Job…” Job wanted answers, yet God never answers him. The first order is that God shows that Job’s friends [and maybe even to an extent Elihu] have words without knowledge, and that Job needs to stand up, gird up, and answer God.
This is the most self-revelatory statement from God in scripture. He declares His omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence across five chapters of scripture. God only declares Himself, and Job is abased. God then directly confronts Eliphaz [the likely leader of the three], and commands them this: Job 42:7 “And it was so, that after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath. 8 Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job. 9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did according as the Lord commanded them: the Lord also accepted Job.”
God never correct Elihu.
What can we learn from this?
1. Godly people seek out God’s Will and we have hope in His sovereignty. Although a young man, Elihu rests on the fact God’s hand is on his life as well as his friend’s lives. There is nothing that comes to you apart from a divine ordination from God, and when tests and affliction come, we need to praise God for His goodness still, and find joy. James 1 tells us: v2 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” God desires you to be perfect and entire – this is His way of sanctification in your life – conforming you into the image of Christ.
2. The man or woman of God needs to be upright in life and practice. It is easy to be Christian in church, but you must also be Christian when no one is watching – when you are with the counsel of your own mind. Many say “do the right thing”, but this is even more clear when there is no accolade coming and no one is watching.
3. The Christian should be patient and respectful with others. The world wants everything yesterday, and we should be different from the world. This goes to the work of sanctification in yourself and others. You may not know what another believer is working through in God’s work of sanctification in their life. Which leads to the next point:
4. Be observant. Read and hear the Word of God first for yourself. What impact can this have on me? How about those around me? Do not be so self-absorbed that you miss God’s work in others around you. A kind word to another can go a long way with them. It doesn’t cost you a thing to be kind and observant to others.
5. Knowing your place. First – do not usurp the work of the Holy Spirit in another. You are not the Holy Spirit. Next – in the hierarchy of the family, God is first, the man is second, the wife is next, then the children. This is a difficult thing to say in our culture, but know your place. If you have parents and grandparents, God has given them to you for a reason. Honor that reason and respect the order that God has decreed and expressed in His commands. If you are an employee, respect the order that God has set. If you are an employer or manager, know that you are accountable before God for how you treat your employees.
6. Have courage, passion, and purpose. God has placed you here in this time for a reason. His Word will not return void, but it will accomplish its purpose. Christianity is under fire and the days are short – be burning bright for Christ.
If you are a Christian, you already have a purpose and reason. If you have a question, seek the face of God in His Word. If you are not a Christian, the command of Christ from Mark 1:15 still stands – “Repent and believe the Gospel”.