The author of Job shows us a gathering storm in the last half of Elihu’s speech. Elihu tells us of the “spreading of the clouds” (Job 36:29) followed by quite a bit of lightning and thunder (36:29-30, 36:32-33, 37:2-5). Then a whirlwind emerges (37:9) and the clouds start to spin (37:12). It will be out of the whirlwind that God will answer Job in tomorrow’s reading (38:1).

But Elihu has no clue that God is about to answer. Instead, he is convinced that it is up to him to speak on God’s behalf (36:2). Elihu informs Job and his friends that he brings knowledge (36:3); indeed he instructs the others that his “words are not false; one who is perfect in knowledge is with you” (36:4)

Where Job had said that he didn’t know why God had assailed him, Elihu the perfect-in-knowledge is confident to assert that Job has many transgressions (35:6), and that Job’s wickedness affects others around him (35:8). Elihu boldly asserts that the Almighty does not hear the cry of prideful evildoers (35:12-13), and will certainly not listen to Job’s complaint that he wants to lay his case before God (35:14).

In the end Elihu will declare that “God is great, and we do not know him” (36:26), that we cannot find the Almighty (37:23): God is so far beyond human knowledge. Yet if God is beyond human knowledge, nevertheless Mr. Perfect-in Knowledge Elihu is sure that he knows this: God will not violate abundant righteousness (37:23). (Elihu is of course wrong about this, as we know from the beginning of the story, where God specifically authorized the wrecking of the life of Job the Righteous.) And Elihu’s final statement is this, uttered with an impressive lack of self-awareness: God “does not regard any who are wise in their own conceits” (37:24) – even though “wise in his own conceit” would be the category for which we could pick Elihu as poster child.

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And “wise in my own conceit” is my own failing as well, O Lord: so often so sure that my insights are clear and right and better than those who have gone before me. I wonder how frequently you have been about to speak, while I blithely went ahead and answered on your behalf. Give me a quiet and teachable spirit, O Lord, that I may listen, and hear your voice.

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