What about Elihu?

[traveller]

In the book of Job all of his three elder friends speak. After patiently waiting for the elders to have their say, then young Elihu speaks up. And does he ever! After a while God interrupts him and addresses Job. At the conclusion of God and Job's discussion, God addresses the three elder friends, but not Elihu. Why is that?

[Guest luckydave2003]

Because that is what God decided to do - that is good enough for me. I wouldn't worry too much about it, God knows what He is doing.

[traveller]

Welcome to Worthyboards luckydave!

To clarify, I am not "worried" about this, but God teaches us many things in the small details. I want to learn all that I can.

[IslandRose]

From Scofield's Notes:

Elihu has a far juster and more spiritual conception of the problem than

Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar because he has an infinitely higher

conception of God. The God of Eliphaz and the others, great though they

perceive Him to be in His works, becomes in their thought petty and

exacting in His relations with mankind. It is the fatal misconception of

all religious externalists and moralizers. Their God is always a small

God. Elihu's account of God is noble and true, and it is noteworthy that

at the last Jehovah does not class him with Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar

I always figured that it was because Elihu was right. While the other three were giving their 'opinion' of the problem, Elihu was actually giving a correct assessment of what God was trying to accomplish by allowing Job to suffer.

I always wondered why people talk about the "patience of Job." It has always appeared to me that he did his own share of whining....

[nebula]

The only thing I can figure is this.

Job was really angry at Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite because of their houndings on him (insisting that Job's problem was that he had unrepented sin in his life - when Job had none). They were indeed unjust to Job.

The Lord mentions them and instructs Job to sacrifice and pray for them because Job was in serious need of forgiving them. The Lord gave Job the means to help accomplish that.

Are you with me Zophar?

By the way - who are the shortest people in the Bible?

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Knee-hi-miah (Nehemiah)

Bildad the Shoe-height (Shuhite)

and Peter - he was so small he slept on his watch

(Sorry, had to add these)

[WISDOM]

Hi Sis!

I believe it is because his SPECULATIONS were right on track. When the other three were pointing fingers at JOB despite his claims of innocence, ELIHU, who was a descendant of ABRAHAM's brother, NAHOR, suggested that GOD was not punishing JOB, but rather building his spiritual character THROUGH adversity. He followed up the lengthy (at least I think they were) arguments of JOB's three friends with his own forceful contribution concerning the inscrutable GREATNESS of our FATHER. I think GOD honored the fact that ELIHU stated the proof that GOD has put HIS seal of individuality on every man's hand (example: no two men/women have identical fingerprints/DNA).

He also did what any true loving brother/sister in CHRIST should also do here in modern day for a fellow Believer....he CHASTISED JOB for his SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.

[whatsitmean]

In the book of Job all of his three elder friends speak. After patiently waiting for the elders to have their say, then young Elihu speaks up. And does he ever! After a while God interrupts him and addresses Job. At the conclusion of God and Job's discussion, God addresses the three elder friends, but not Elihu. Why is that?

[nebula]

Would you explain, please, what exactly it was Elihu said that was ungodly counsel?

Thanks!

[traveller]

Well see, this is what I'm getting at. I have heard both versions. First, that Elihu was prideful and self-righteous. That he spoke truth about God, but leaned toward legalism. In his opening statement about "you three have spoken, now listen to wisdom." (Paraphrased) And that God did indeed interrupt him.

I have also heard to other side, that Elihu was extolling the greatness of God and how everything else was insignificant.

Yet, he was not addressed one way or the other.

Ok- - Job had done nothing wrong to bring this upon himself. Wasn't he sort of a test subject for satan? So was Elihu's statements to no avail to Job? All these things Job knew, as he was a good and faithful servant. He was very close to God.

When a fellow believer is in trouble, we don't normally rush to their side and bash them with all the things they are doing wrong, unless there is a clear ongoing sin. We hug them. We encourage them to trust God. Not even Elihu did this to Job.

I'm really confused here. I'm going back into a study on Job. If anyone has anymore insights, please share them.

[tsth]

Dear Trav,

I love the Book of Job, and I hope you don't mind, but I posted below a portion of a study I did on Elihu and Job, and what my thoughts are about them:

Elihu

Here is what I think is so marvelous about Elihu.

First, he comes to Job with truth. He is not vain, nor do I think conceited. 33:6-7 He is filled with the Holy Spirit. 32:8, 32:18, 33:4-5 36:3-4 He is willing to tell Job the truth, and therefore the beginning of repentance for Job.

Elihu also speaks to him as a true intercessor and friend, he does not condemn him, but I would seemingly think he prays for him. 33:23

He also explains from the HS, what man is to man, in terms of the love that God intends for man to have towards one another, and why repentance and no more sinning is crucial to the heart that wants to please God. 35:1-8 We please God by first loving Him, then our brothers. Our sin affects our brothers relationship with the Lord. 35:8 (hypocrisy will effect a man)

He tells Job about affliction, and about repentance, that God may bring affliction, but that there are those who will learn from it, and submit to Gods authority, and those who will perish due to pride, but that God does not despise any man, but gives all the opportunity to do one or the other. (Thru crying out to the Lord) The prideful and and rebellious will not "cry out" when they are bound, 36:5-21 but God will be proven just in the end 36:3,15,17.

The most wonderful point made in the words of Elihu is, that man is responsible for his brother and what man does towards his brother, in terms of sinning against, rebuking, and introducing him to the truth of God. Elihu gave words that were in "true" love for Job. There was a vast difference in the depth of the message Elihu gave Job and that of the so-called friends. Elihu was bold, but he showed the true love of Jesus Christ, toward Job.

If you notice Elihu simply is an intro to Job to repentance, then there will be an exclusive conversation between Job and God, just as I am sure Elihu and the Lord must have had at one time or another. I believe Elihu knew Jesus. Seems to me the most obvious thing about it all is that Job ended up having a personal relationship with the Lord. And that the Lord was not angry with Elihu because Elihu did what was right toward his brother. (Notice, Elihu was not scolded by God, like the others)

Strongs definition:

Elihu = "He is my God"