ELIHU

Today's reading: Job 33-34

"He repays people according to their deeds. He treats people according to their ways." Job 34:11 NLT

There isn't much information given to us about Job's friend, Elihu.

My Bible commentary says since he was the fourth man speaking, he was probably younger than Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar. Possibly a bystander drawn into the conversation around the ash pile. Maybe even partially right in his statements, partially.

Nothing tells us how old Elihu was. How tall he might have been. Which church he attended. His credentials or his lineage.

What I do know about Elihu is this...

In order for him to make this statement to Job, to believe it enough to make the words audible, to base any sort of advice or comfort on its basis--he must have never, ever tasted of God's amazing grace or sweet mercy.

Elihu must never have been blessed beyond what he deserved or granted forgiveness for all he had done.

He must have never looked into the eyes of his children and known, without a doubt, how very little he had done to be granted such a blessing.

He must have never known the depths of his sin and the vastness of God's saving love.

Because once you've experienced either of them, been showered with grace or mercy, been a receiver of more than God should have ever given and not received what you truly deserved...you don't know.

And I think Elihu didn't know.