Elihu shows restraint and wisdom in waiting to speak until the others had exhausted their arguments. But since Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar’s statements and responses to Job were off the mark, in Elihu’s eyes, he could be silent no longer.

In chapter 33, Elihu tells Job that God tries more than once to talk to a person, and His purpose is to bring them into a relationship with Him. He uses various ways to communicate, from dreams to our conscience, other people of God, illness, healing, and other methods. And then Elihu gives Job a chance to respond, or stay silent while Elihu continues.

In chapter 34, Elihu says several good things. He’s actually become a sort of mediator between Job and the other three, and between Job and God.

One of the things he says is that God is not unjust in his dealings with man, and that if afflictions have come upon Job, then it is for his own good. It’s not that he has necessarily done something wrong, but only that God has a reason.

Elihu says that we are not able to understand all that God does, but that God is almighty, righteous, He has complete control over the affairs of men, and He is wise.

These are all true, and there is no accusation against Job in anything that he says, except that Job misspoke, because of his affliction, in accusing God of being cruel and unjustly out to get him.

Even though Elihu is the youngest of the group, so far he has made good contributions to the conversation. There are three more chapters of Elihu’s words coming up, and then God speaks.