Toward the middle of the Bible is the poetic epic of Job, a man whose strength of faith was tested to the extreme. The majority of the book consists of discussion between Job and three of his friends as they attempt to explain his suffering according to their perceptions of God. By the end, God Himself enters into the dialogue to provide justification in possibly the most powerful monologue in all of Scripture. The many philosophical and theological arguments documented in this account make for an excellent study, both as to the character of God and the fallacies we can fall into if we aren’t careful. But between the ill-considered “comforting” of Job’s friends and the great defense of God, there is a less remembered presentation concerning a fourth acquaintance unmentioned up to that point: Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite.
Elihu was not a prophet by the technical definition. A prophet is one who speaks the Words of God, delivering them to others as authoritative messengers of the Lord. Elihu does not purport to do this, but claims a righteous understanding over the situation imparted to him by God (Job 33:2-4). Nor is this claim made in arrogance; Elihu had held off his interjection out of respect for the greater age and assumed experience of the others, waiting until they had utterly exhausted their arguments before acknowledging to them the True Source of Wisdom (Job 32:6-8). Even as he begins, he opens himself to challenge from his listeners for accountability (Job 33:5-7).
The three preceding men all referenced the character of God as the foundation of their arguments. They emphasized His righteousness and justice, asserted the impossibility of His acting unjustly, and concluded some unknown fault on the part of Job for which he was being punished. Elihu similarly builds his argument upon God’s character, but with a different emphasis favoring God’s holiness. He describes the ways in which God may use suffering for the betterment of the sufferer, and rebukes his listeners for presuming God’s intentions in Job’s situation. Throughout his presentation, Elihu continually extols the sovereignty of God over man and nature.
While Elihu’s words may not have been directly given to him from God, they were nonetheless treated as prophetically authoritative. Before Job could deliver a response as he had to his friends, God began to personally declare His glory to Job in the things He had made, challenging Job to find fault or inferiority in Him. Job humbly acknowledged God’s majesty, and his three friends were subsequently rebuked by God for their folly. Elihu, however, is not included in this rebuke, nor mentioned at any other point past the conclusion of his declarations. Having spoken in wisdom and according to his faith, his arguments accurately reflected God’s will, glorifying Him in edification.
Remember Elihu, both in his humility and wisdom, that we may honor God to each other in our struggles. The Word of God is available to us, recorded for our instruction and encouragement, to be shared amongst us and to the world.
Be prophetic. TTT