In verse 36:4 Elihu calls himself “one perfect in knowledge.” Hmmm. However, he has failed to understand the truth about Job – that Job is in truth blameless and is not failing to acknowledge his transgression or “behold God.” No, Elihu has Job “perish(ing) among the cult prostitutes” in his youth (verse 36:14) in judgment for his being “full of judgment on the wicked” (36:17). Elihu himself is judging Job, absolutely incorrectly. Job acknowledged God’s sovereignty and praised Him for who He is and what He has done in creation, just as Elihu does; Elihu contributes nothing new to the conversation. All this, and he claims “Job opens his mouth emptily; He multiplies words without knowledge,” while he himself is “one perfect in knowledge.” Then he arrogantly admonishes Job, “Remember that you should exalt His work” (verse 36:24) and “Listen to this, O Job,” (verse 37:14) and launches into a rather vague description of God’s wonders in creation, as if Job hadn’t already expressed awe for God as revealed in nature in his last speech.
In verse 37:16 Elihu describes God as perfect in knowledge. Thus, he equates himself with God.
We need to be careful that we are not like Elihu. Fallen human nature has a tendency to pride like cursed nature has a tendency to decay. We’d be victims of our own pride like Elihu if we were blind to our own prideful tendencies. Can you recall a time when you thought you were pretty wise, pretty mature spiritually? Have you gained more wisdom since then, perhaps even enough to realize that you were totally erroneous in your former “wisdom?” Have you grown spiritually since you marveled at your own spiritual maturity? Do you in your more advanced condition cringe at that you of the past who thought he was so wise and so mature? Hopefully you will continue to grow so that even today’s wisdom and maturity seem puny to you in the future. That’s God’s desire for us, that we “grow to become in every respect the mature body of Him who is the head, that is Christ….” (Ephesians 4:15) So if we are always to be growing, how truly mature are we today? How like Elihu are we in our claims of wisdom and maturity for ourselves?
Tomorrow’s reading gives us God’s response. I don’t think it will disappoint! I hope you have built into your weekend schedule the time you need to read and reflect.