Up to this point, he was content to observe the back and forth between Job and his so-called “friends.” For 28 chapters he’s eavesdropped on their debate. After all, he’s just the kid in the crowd, thus considering it all propriety to yield the floor to the supposedly more-learned grey-heads. But after Job’s final soliloquy of self-justification, and after Job’s panel of exasperated critics falls silent, enough’s enough. Time to get in the game! Time to speak up.

Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.

(Job 32:2-5 ESV)

If repetition is exclamation in the Scriptures, then the Spirit is downright shouting out something he wants to make sure we get; that Elihu “burned with anger!” Literally, “his nose (aka his face) became hot!” As we used to say, he was “ticked off.” Annoyed. Irritated. Enraged. Furious. Incensed. Livid. Chew on that phrase a bit, and you gotta ask yourself, “How come?”

Glad you asked, says the Spirit.

Elihu’s anger burned at Job because Job was willing to throw God under the bus, as it were, “pitting his righteousness against God’s” (MSG). To be sure, Job was a man whose life was marked by being “blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil” (Job 1:1, 1:8, 2:3) — that too, repeated for emphasis. Blameless, that was Job. He knew it. God knew it too. But in trying to reconcile being blameless before God with being blasted by God, Job wants a word with the Almighty because the Almighty must be doing something wrong. And accusing the Holy One of somehow not really being wholly holy? Well, that’s enough to make you mad.

Elihu’s anger burned at Job’s three friends because in there “either / or” world, there was no place for “both / and.” You were either good as evidenced by blessing on your life, or you were bad as evidenced by boils on your body (Job 2:7). There was no way one could be upright and yet still be laid low. No place for being God fearing and yet God disciplined. No world in which those who turn from evil are yet touched by evil (Job 2:7 again). And where’s there’s no place for “both / and” then there’s every manner of judgment of men where judgment is unwarranted, and reduction of God even though God can’t be reduced — His ways higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isa. 55:8-9). In a world with no “both / and” the best one can muster up is mixed up theology and empty platitudes. And how does that sit? Well, it’s infuriating.

Elihu burned with anger as Job crossed a line in questioning God and as his friends crossed a line in simplifying God. And so, it was time to speak up.

Did a bit of extra reading this morning on Elihu’s enraged response and it seems that, among commentators, the jury’s split on how Elihu is to be seen and how his words are to be understood. Split as to whether he’s to be commended for jumping in or castigated for adding to the confusion. (What we do know, however, is that while God addresses Job and rebukes Job’s friends, God says nothing about Elihu). But while what is about to come in Job 32 through 37 may be up for some debate, it’s clear that we are to know that Elihu was angry — like, really angry. And, that we are to know why. So, I can’t help but wonder if there’s not something here for us to be warned of, as well.

When it comes to questioning the character of God, don’t do it. Tempted to lower God down a bit in order to lift yourself up? Yeah, don’t do that either. Wanting to put your ways and wisdom above God’s? Nope, stay away from that, too.

Let God be true though every one were a liar . . .

(Romans 3:4 ESV)

Wisdom is found in looking at life from what we know to be true about God, not discerning what must be true about God from how we look at life.

When man becomes the arbiter of God, when man becomes the judge of other men, well, it’s time for a bit righteous anger. Time to speak up.

By God’s grace. For God’s glory.