Theology 7372, Fall 2009

I think it is interesting that when preachers use the book of Job they always talk about the view of God and the accuser in the book, Job’s horrific circumstances and his faith (and rightfully so) or his three friends (you know – “With friends like this, who needs enemies), BUT what is not often talked about is Elihu.

Elihu, for whatever reason, in the the sermons I have heard about Job is not talked about.  I think Elihu’s view of the three friends, Job and God is the most righteous response in the book.  I think he is worth us looking at more closely!

I had read somewhere (I wish I knew where) that the Book of Job is more than likely a play-write, an of the earlyest kind.  This seems to complicate the issue for me a bit.  We see that Elihu is younger, and is respectful of his elders, but even in that he disrespects them by saying that all because one is older does not necessarily mean that a person is wiser, or even understands justice as well.  This justice not being human justice but God’s justice.  This bothers me because if Job is a play-write, then it is not merely a character expressing what he sees before him, but it more than likely a generation viewing the misguidance of a prier generation.  The author’s generation would be telling the generation before that they did not really understand God’s justice and our relationship with God and His justice.