Elihu continues: There are still words left for me to say on God’s behalf. He announces that a perfect knowledge stands before Job ready to impart the lessons of life. These are bold statements and amount to Elihu contending he speaks with the authority of a prophet.
Elihu proclaims how God is mighty as well as great in understanding. The Lord does not hold enmity against anyone, meaning he does not view us as an overpowering monster does a gnat. Instead, He is merciful towards His subjects. When it appears God is unfair – the situation should be viewed differently as God’s justness and wisdom is always at hand. He saves the righteous a place on his throne and establishes their legacy. The Lord ultimately grants justice to the afflicted and does not let the wicked thrive.
For those who find themselves bound in cords of affliction, God will impart their follies and transgressions – if they open their ears. Therefore, if someone suffers, the reason can be learned.
The Lord commands we return from inequity. When there is repentance; God will bring one from dire straights to the broad plane, where there are no further oppressions and one’s table will be heaped with rich fare for many days.
With the proper relationship with God; a man will cross the Current (the mythological dividing line between this world and the next) into a welcoming afterlife. Those without the proper closeness will perish by the sword. Many will cry out to God in the approach to death bound in a punishment of their own making and find themselves among profane souls. The unfortunate meet their end without spiritual wisdom. They spent their short time on earth struggling for the wrong things.
The implication is that Job remains at fault for denying his guilt. Elihu turns to Job and admonishes that he shares the heart of the wicked. God’s wrath has been kindled and Job is a proper and obvious target. Further, no ransom can save Job; just as wealthy men cannot redeem themselves with earthly treasure. There will be no hope for an overturning of fortunes, unexpectedly in the middle of the night.
Elihu instructs: Take heed; for you have chosen iniquity rather than to receive the lessons affliction can impart. In other words, Job has chosen continued wrongdoing; rather than learning from his plight.
Job is told to behold how God is exalted all over the world. Elihu asks these questions: Who teaches life lessons like him?, Who teaches God?, Who challenges God?. We all observe his work. We behold the majesties of nature even if we can only appreciate a tinge of the greatness.
We may demand answers; but God is too Glorious and his wonders overwhelming to comprehend. One example is how he provides the water needed to sustain us – a relatively constant amount of water, whether in the form of ice, liquid (rain); or vapor rising form the ocean -- the hydraulic cycle.
Demanding answers from God is declaring to be on same level as Him and represents an arrogance.
Elihu asks, Can one grasp the spread of the sky above? There is a roar from His pavilions which speaks to his power. For He spreads his Thunder and Lighting from his hands.
His power is such, good men naturally exalt him. Even those who don't acknowledge Him react like animals who know a great power is on the horizon.