In our previous lesson, the action revolved around Job and his three sorry friends. Suddenly, a new voice is heard. Elihu, a young man who has been listening in silence all this time, finally spoke up because he was angry with both Job and his friends (32:2). Job 32:12 I gave you my full attention. But not one of you has proved Job wrong;none of you has answered his arguments. Elihu did not believe any of them were right. He believed Job was wrong because he justified himself at the cost of criticizing God. He believed the friends were wrong because they had accused Job of sin but could not prove it or answer Job’s arguments. Elihu’s speech expresses a view closer to the truth than the friends had expressed and it properly corrects some of Job’s mistakes, yet it still does not fully reach the truth. Elihu’s speech also prepares the way for God’s speech (38-42). Elihu is not right in all that he says, but he helps introduce some new and helpful ideas. Elihu offers a response to Job that lifts up the Lord, condemns Job’s three friends, and rightly confronts Job. In this week’s lesson we will summarize chapters 32-36 but spend most of our time on chapter 37.
