Job 32:1-22
Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar have exhausted their arguments. In his turn Job is silenced. Now there comes on the scene a new person – Elihu – whose name means "God Himself". The Spirit of God is to speak through his mouth (1 Peter 4:11).
Man’s inadequacy has been amply demonstrated. His inability to stand testing has been demonstrated in Job; the emptiness of human comfort has been shown by his friends. Now that "earthly wisdom" has been shown to be lacking, "the wisdom that is from above" is to speak through Elihu (James 3:14-17). The four old men are to be found speechless before this man who is younger than they are.
Elihu has a sense of propriety. He has waited patiently for the end of the preceding discourse. Young people especially must know how to listen. Firstly it is a sign of wisdom (James 1:19). The knowledge and experience of their elders are usually greater than their own! Secondly it is simply good manners to do so.
However these considerations do not prevent Elihu from being filled by righteous anger. God’s glory has been brought into question by Job and his companions; the faithful man of God cannot deal gently with them. He has the right neither to flatter nor to "accept any man’s person," two dangers from which we do not always escape (v. 21).