And Elihu continued, and said:
Job 36 opens with a single line of narrative: Elihu takes up his speech again, for the last time. No one has interrupted him, no one has answered him, and he tells us why he keeps going — he has more to say for God.
A speech resumed because no answer came
Why does Elihu speak again at all? One writer points to what had just happened:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinElihu had told Job in the last verse of the preceding chapter that he had opened his mouth in vanity and had multiplied words without knowledge. That should have explained to Job the reason why God did not answer. There could be no reply from Job and so Elihu continues. He is not finished speaking on God's behalf. He stands up for God in a magnificent way.
One theme carried through to the end
Elihu is nearing the end of his speeches. What holds them all together?
Samuel RidoutWe come now to the close of Elihu's remarkable dealings with Job. He still has much to say, and still the theme is the same — he will speak for God. This supreme object, to vindicate God from Job's accusations — where the friends had failed so completely — is the great characteristic of Elihu's address, and gives us the key to what he says.
Knowledge fetched from far away
Elihu says he will bring his knowledge "from afar." One writer asks where that knowledge came from:
Leslie M. GrantWhere did Elihu find his knowledge? He fetched it "from afar" (v.3). This would remind us that the Lord Jesus brought the knowledge of God from heaven itself, far above what man can produce. He would ascribe righteousness to his Maker. Job had not done this. Elihu insists that his words are not false, and that One who is perfect in knowledge was with them (v.4). This can be said only of God, and Elihu implied that God was with Job, not against him.
Another writer says Elihu's whole stand rests on one conviction about God:
William KellyElihu always takes his stand on this: it is impossible for God to say or do anything beneath Himself.
Claiming perfect knowledge without self-importance
A claim to "perfect" knowledge could sound like a boast. One writer reads it the opposite way:
Samuel RidoutElihu asks Job to let him speak for God a little longer. He will bring near the knowledge of Him who dwells far away. His constant aim is to vindicate Him. In doing so, he will speak with a knowledge that is "perfect." This is no proud boast about himself. It is the solemn awareness that he is speaking for God.
Another writer explains how Elihu could say such a thing:
Arno Clemens GaebeleinHe tells Job, "One who is perfect in knowledge is with you." How could he say this? Because Elihu knew that in speaking for God, His Spirit would speak through him to Job.
A man standing in God's place
Elihu's own name carries a meaning. One writer builds on it:
F. B. HoleNow Elihu is a name with a meaning, which is given to us as "God Himself." Keep this in mind and then read verse 6 of Job 33. There we see that he stepped in to play the part of a mediator. So he became a type — though a faint one — of the true Mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God Himself. Elihu was truly a man, formed out of the clay, and he stood before Job on God's behalf, just as Job had asked for in Job 9:33.
Commentators differ on how far to press this. One insists that Elihu speaks as a man, not as the Lord Himself appearing early:
William KellyElihu takes particular pains to insist that he presumed on no higher ground than this. If this were some early appearance of the Lord Jesus, he could not speak of his "opinion" and the like.
Where verse 1 is heading
A few verses later comes the centre of Elihu's case for God:
Samuel RidoutIn one word he sweeps away the unholy suspicions Job had been holding — "God is great, and does not despise any." He is infinite in power. Yet He looks with compassion on the feeblest of His creatures… His greatness is never an occasion for scorn. His wisdom is infinitely powerful, but never used against weakness.
Summary
- Continued. Job had no reply left, so Elihu resumed — not to win an argument, but because he was not finished speaking for God.
- For God. Elihu's one aim is to clear God's name. That is exactly where the three friends failed.
- From afar. Elihu does not draw his knowledge from what he sees happening to Job. He brings it from far away, and gives righteousness to his Maker.
- With you. Elihu's claim that one perfect in knowledge is present is no boast. He is sure God's Spirit speaks through him, and that God is with Job, not against him.
- No contempt. God's greatness never turns into scorn. He looks with compassion on His feeblest creatures.