Thru the Bible in a Year
If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a well-intended but poorly delivered speech, then you’ll relate to Job 34–37. These chapters are filled with the impassioned words of Elihu, a young man determined to speak for God. He had sat in silence while Job’s three older friends debated and accused. But once Elihu begins to speak, he unleashes a torrent of words—some insightful, others misguided. That mixture of truth and error is what makes this passage so challenging and so real.
Elihu opens in Job 34 by asking for attention, appealing to others to listen carefully to what he has to say. That’s not wrong in itself. There’s something noble in wanting to speak truth and correct error. But very quickly, his passion morphs into a harsh judgment. He accuses Job of saying things he didn’t actually say, a tactic that smacks of slander more than rebuke. For instance, Elihu claims Job has declared, “It profits a man nothing when he tries to please God” (34:9). Yet, that was not Job’s point at all (compare with 21:15–16). This misapplication is where Elihu begins to unravel. Like many who speak too soon, he oversteps.
That’s a warning for all of us. When we speak for God, we must be careful to rightly represent both His truth and His heart. Zeal is not the same as wisdom.
Interestingly, Elihu gets some theology right. He affirms that God is just, incapable of evil, and operates with full authority and knowledge. These are important truths. But he packages them with a scathing judgment of Job, implying that Job deserves every ounce of his suffering. There is no comfort, no compassion—only cold doctrine and condemnation. And that should make us pause.
Have you ever tried to comfort someone but ended up lecturing instead? I know I have. Sometimes we think we’re defending God when really we’re just defending our assumptions. Elihu’s failure wasn’t in his desire to speak, but in his lack of understanding. He couldn’t see that Job wasn’t being punished for sin but was part of a much bigger story unfolding in the heavens.
In Job 35, Elihu continues with his accusations. He slanders Job again, claiming Job said his innocence was of no value. He also makes the theological error of saying that sin doesn’t affect God. That’s a significant misstep. While God is certainly not diminished by our sin, Scripture makes it clear that our sin grieves Him and dishonors His holiness. The Psalms, the Prophets, and ultimately the Cross itself bear witness to the serious consequences of sin. So Elihu is partially right—but dangerously wrong.
And then there’s this accusation: that Job said he would not see God (35:14). That one really misrepresents Job. Job’s actual words in chapter 19 show that he longed to see God: “Yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes.” Elihu either misunderstood or twisted Job’s words. And once again, he interpreted Job’s suffering as evidence of divine anger, not realizing it was actually a result of Satan’s challenge in the heavenly court.
How often do we misinterpret someone’s pain? How quickly do we assign blame or assume they must’ve done something to deserve it? Elihu reminds us of the danger in drawing conclusions without all the facts. In today’s world of social media and snap judgments, his example is especially timely.
Chapters 36 and 37 mark a shift. Elihu now takes a new approach: instead of attacking Job, he attempts to defend God. This, at least, is a noble aim. He prefaces his defense with three claims about himself—his intention (to speak for God), his intelligence (he claims great understanding), and his integrity (he insists he will not speak falsely).
It’s almost comical. The younger man, full of zeal, claiming wisdom “from afar.” There’s some self-importance in his tone. And yet, in this section, Elihu does get some things right. He speaks of God’s policy of warning people through suffering, of divine discipline designed to correct, not merely to punish. He warns Job not to harbor resentment or stubbornness, which is not bad advice. However, even this is delivered without tenderness. It feels like a rebuke, not a shepherd’s care.
Then Elihu shifts his focus to the majesty and power of God in creation. He references a thunderstorm—possibly even one happening in real time. He uses the imagery of lightning, thunder, wind, and snow to speak of God’s greatness and His power over nature. Here Elihu is at his strongest. His words echo the psalmists, who often saw in creation the fingerprints of the Creator.
“Behold, God is great,” Elihu declares (36:26). And in that moment, he’s right. He reminds Job of something we all need to remember: God is far beyond our comprehension, His ways are not our ways, and His power is not to be taken lightly. There’s beauty in that.
But again, Elihu’s conclusion is aimed at rebuking Job rather than comforting him. He uses God’s power to silence Job, not to encourage him. That makes all the difference. It’s one thing to speak of God’s greatness; it’s another to imply that it’s being wielded against someone undeservingly suffering.
As I reflect on Elihu’s speech, I’m left with mixed feelings. I see glimpses of truth wrapped in layers of error. I see a man who wants to serve God but doesn’t fully understand the person he’s addressing. I see the danger of using theology as a weapon instead of a balm.
What can I learn from this? Several things, actually. First, I must be careful how I speak for God. Accuracy matters, but so does tone. Am I correcting someone with the goal of healing or just to win an argument? Second, I need to resist the urge to draw conclusions about others’ suffering. I don’t always know what God is doing. Third, I’m reminded to look at creation not just as weather, but as testimony—a reminder that God is powerful, purposeful, and very present.
God would later respond to Job directly, and when He does, He never once affirms Elihu or the three friends. That speaks volumes. In the end, it wasn’t their speech that brought truth to Job’s heart—it was God Himself.
Related Article:
Explore more on God’s response to suffering here: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-help-the-suffering
Thank You
Thank you for your commitment to studying the Word of God in one year. Every step you take in Scripture builds a deeper understanding of God’s heart.
FEEL FREE TO COMMENT AND SHARE or email Pastor Hogg at pastorhogg@live.com
And don’t forget to check out our Intentional Faith podcast on Spotify!