Elihu's Words (XI)

As we have seen, Elihu gives a caricature of Job that is not true to reality. In this he is no different than the three senior friends who spoke prior to Elihu. He was therefore guilty of slander and character assassination. The Job that Elihu attacked was not the real Job, but a caricature, a straw man. Satan was the first to slander and assassinate the character of Job in the court of heaven. Eliphaz, Zophar, Bildad, and Elihu only repeat the words of Satan, for they are accusers like he was. They were no doubt sent by Satan as a furtherance of his trial and sufferings. They certainly were "miserable comforters" and "physicians of no value," for they only harmed Job and helped him not at all.

Thus far we have examined Elihu's words in Job chapters 32-35. Now we will begin looking at his speeches as contained in chapter 36.

"Elihu also proceeded and said: “Bear with me a little, and I will show you That there are yet words to speak on God’s behalf. I will fetch my knowledge from afar; I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you." (36: 1-4)

"Bear with me a little"? This wordy man who loves to hear himself talk, and who needs to keep yelling at his audience "listen to me!"? It takes a lot of endurance to keep listening attentively to Elihu's ramblings. Elihu wants those he addresses to bear with him further, even though I am sure that they had heard enough, for what reason? So that he may "show you that there are yet words to speak on God's behalf." 

I have already called attention to the presumptuous sins of Elihu in previous chapters. He presumes to speak for God, to be God's defense attorney, or God's prosecutor against Job's complaint. He then touts his credentials, or ethos by talking about his special "knowledge," and boasts saying "I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker." Well, who failed to do that? Not Job. Yet, this is what Elihu insinuates of Job. He does not ascribe righteousness to his Maker. 

Elihu calls for acceptance of what he affirms simply because of his ethos. In other words, you can trust me because I am trustworthy and incapable of error. He says "truly my words are not false," implying that Job's words were false. But, in this Elihu contradicts God's judgment about what Job said about God. So, if Elihu is speaking by the Spirit of God, then God is pictured as saying that Job has spoken right in one breath and said that he has spoken falsehood in another breath.

Finally, Elihu is most brash and arrogant when he exclaims "One who is perfect in knowledge is with you." What a narcissist! What an ego! Perfect in knowledge? Why then does he misrepresent the words of Job so often? Why does God not praise Elihu for such superior knowledge in the epilogue? Why do some commentators on Job think Elihu is as he confesses himself to be (perfect in knowledge)?

Elihu continues, saying:

"And if they are bound in fetters, Held in the cords of affliction, Then He tells them their work and their transgressions— That they have acted defiantly. He also opens their ear to instruction, And commands that they turn from iniquity. If they obey and serve Him, They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. But if they do not obey, They shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge." (8-12)

The words highlighted above give the thesis of Elihu. This thesis should have been stated at the beginning of Elihu's speeches and not buried in the body of the argument. Elihu affirms that one's earthly condition, as respects health, wealth, and well being, is directly related to one's relation to God and the latter is dependent upon repentance and righteous living (or being law abiding). As I stated in earlier chapters, Elihu was an ancient promoter of the health and wealth gospel that we see promoted today among many Pentecostal groups. This ideology says that conversion, or getting right with God, will bring instant reversal of earthly fortunes. It is, as we have shown, a heretical idea, totally foreign to what the scriptures say about conversion and present salvation. Many have been saved who did not "spend their days in prosperity and their years in pleasure." Also, many lost souls, wicked men, spend their days in prosperity and pleasure. Further, as we have before stated, God does not put to death wicked men for their wickedness. Elihu believes that only the righteous live to old age. 

Further, a man who gets saved while in prison does not get his shackles removed as Elihu says. Yes, the shackles of sin are removed, but this will not bring deliverance from an earthly prison. 

Elihu next says:

“But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; They do not cry for help when He binds them. They die in youth, And their life ends among the perverted persons. He delivers the poor in their affliction, And opens their ears in oppression. “Indeed He would have brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; And what is set on your table would be full of richness. But you are filled with the judgment due the wicked; Judgment and justice take hold of you. Because there is wrath, beware lest He take you away with one blow; For a large ransom would not help you avoid it." (13-18)

Elihu insinuates that Job is a hypocrite. Job has had a good name and reputation, being known as a righteous and godly man. Elihu cannot disprove this. What he does however is to say that Job is not what he seems or appears to be, but is a hypocrite. Again, this is the very thing that "the Satan" (accuser) had said about Job. God, however, affirmed that Job was the real thing, no fake or fraud. Job is suffering God's wrath because he is a hypocrite and God refuses to answer Job's cries for help, says Elihu. 

Elihu continues his prosperity message and affirms that the hypocrite dies in youth. What an awful theology! And this is the man who speaks only truth and is God's spokesman?

He also continues to slander the righteous sufferer saying that Job is getting what his sins deserve. He also again seeks to extort a confession from Job by threatening him with further calamities. He tells him that if he does not confess and repent, then he will be beyond redemption, or at least would require a hefty ransom.

Those commentators who interpret Elihu's words as being true have missed the mark and misunderstood the story and lessons in the book of Job.