Chronological Reading Plan for Jan 12

Today's readings are Job 32-34. Tomorrow's are Job 35-37.

Elihu, a young man who seems to have appeared out of nowhere, has the floor for the next six chapters. He makes a long-winded speech.

While Elihu seems to make a lot of sense, he has his own struggles with pride and self-righteousness (Job 32:9, 17, 21-22; 33:1-5 and 36:4). Elihu truly seems to be recapping all that has been said to this point. He is just as wrong about Job as Job's friends (Job 34:37).

It might be best to see Elihu as our collective reaction to all the dialogue we've heard so far. Apart from what you and I have read in chs 1 & 2, everyone sounds good. We've heard a lot of worldly wisdom rise up out of supposedly godly men. Listening to Job's counselors, they seem to make sense. Listening to Job, he seems to make sense. Who is correct?

I see Elihu as setting the stage for God's entry into the dialogue. All parties have claimed wisdom. All parties claim righteousness. According to Elihu, none of them are truly righteous. None of them are truly wise. Ironically, Elihu seems to be neither as well. Elihu's dialogue presents us with the major questions of the Book of Job. God is about to answer them.