My words declare the uprightness of my heart, and what my lips know they speak sincerely.
Elihu has listened through the whole argument between Job and his three friends. Now he opens his own case with a pledge: before he argues a single point, he stakes everything on the honesty of his heart and the purity of his knowledge.
Why Elihu speaks here
The three friends have run out of words, and Job is still standing on his own defence. One writer explains why a new voice was needed here.
Samuel RidoutThe friends had fallen silent, but they seemed unconvinced. Job is left master of the situation, as far as defending himself could give him such a place. Yet the dark riddle was still unsolved, and God's character had been clouded over. If the book had closed at this point, we would have had more difficulties raised than settled.
Words that match the heart
The claim is about sincerity: heart and mouth agreeing. One commentator quotes the verse in an older wording, notes how long Elihu had held back, and says he kept his word.
William Kelly"Behold, now I have opened my mouth" — he had been very slow to do it — "my tongue has spoken in my mouth. My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart." It is all genuine and sincere, whatever these physicians of no value say, these critics. "And my lips shall utter knowledge clearly." And so they did.
Knowledge that is pure
The second half of the verse is about the quality of what he knows, not just his motives. Some render it "my lips shall utter knowledge purely." One writer traces that purity back to the source of Elihu's own life. He makes it a rule for anyone who speaks for God.
Leslie M. GrantHe claims that his words come from his heart, uttering pure knowledge (vv. 2-3). He says this because he is conscious that the Spirit of God has made him, and the breath (or Spirit) of the Almighty gives him life… This should be true of anyone who speaks for God.
Honest, not flattering
Uprightness of heart has a hard edge to it. One writer sees Elihu's refusal to flatter as the thing that fits him to speak for God.
Samuel RidoutNor will he use flattering words. He shows no favouritism, and this qualifies him to be the spokesman for God. All is most excellent. There is a tone of authority — "and not as the scribes" — that tells of one who knows what he is talking about.
What the friends lacked
Elihu's promise stands out against the three friends who spoke before him. One writer names the two things their words lacked.
C. H. MackintoshThey showed themselves only too ready to bear down on Job with "a heavy hand." They were stern judges, harsh critics, false interpreters. They could fix their cold, grey eye on the wounds of their poor afflicted friend, and wonder how they came there. … They had never grasped the full moral force of that one weighty sentence, "God tries the righteous." In a word, they were completely astray. There was neither "grace" nor "truth" in their ministry, and so they failed to convince Job. They condemned him without convincing him, whereas they should have convinced him and made him condemn himself.
A man who speaks for God
One writer sets Elihu's pledge beside a second claim he makes in the same breath.
F. B. HoleSo in the opening verses of Job 33, we find him making two claims. First, he asserts that his words will be marked by uprightness and purity, as suits one who has his being and life from God. Second, that though he would speak on God's behalf, he himself was a man, "formed of the clay," just as Job was.
Righteousness found in the Lord
One writer draws out what happens when a man stops trying to find righteousness in himself.
Charles StanleyWhat a delightful change, when, worn out with trying to find righteousness in myself, the Spirit of God sets before me the Lord my righteousness in heaven.
Summary
- Silence first. Elihu was slow to open his mouth. He waited until the friends had nothing left to say and the riddle still stood unsolved.
- Heart first. His pledge is sincerity: what comes out of his mouth is what is really inside.
- Purity next. He promises pure knowledge, because the Spirit of God made him. That is the standard for anyone who speaks for God.
- No flattery. Elihu will not flatter and shows no favouritism. That is what qualifies him to speak for God, with a tone of authority.
- Grace and truth together. The friends had neither, so they condemned Job without convincing him. An upright voice aims to make a man condemn himself and find righteousness in the Lord.