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Job 33:1-7 Another voice is heard

Good afternoon friends,

Congratulations on completing first two months of M'Cheyne plan.  

Just some thoughts about the last voice before God speaks.  Similar to a character in a play who doesn't show up until the final act.  Audience should wonder what is the significance of this character.

Blessings,

Jeff

Elihu, the young bystander, weighs in.  After observing 3 rounds between Job and his friends, he is angry with both sides (32:2-5) and leads into his critique with a mixture of pride (answer me if you can) and humility (I too am made of clay).

His name means "He is my God" of "Jehovah is God".  His father Barachel (Barack El or God blesses).  We are not told how he came to witness the debate between Job and his friends.  The three friends heard about Job and came from their homes.  So possibly Elihu was a neighbor and knew Job.

So we can make at least two distinctions between the three friends and Elihu.  First, he critiques their arguments as well as Job.  None of the three ever criticized his compatriots.  Second, he breaks the social order of being subject to elders.  He is a young man.  Makes me wonder what the three friends thought as they listened to him. 

In addition, he is not included by accident.  God has a purpose in including another voice in man's effort to understand the problem of evil.  We will see that Job does not respond to Elihu. God speaks after Elihu finishes.


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