Job 33

After reading Job 33:

*Elihu is speaking. In verses 1-7 he prepares us for his awesome words. They are on the tip of his tongue. Get ready, because he is about to lay it on the line. First, Elihu heard Job say that he was without sin,  yet  God (El) has found fault with him. That's just not right. Who is Job to complain that God doesn't answer men's words? God is greater than men. Besides, God does speak in various ways, people just might not recognize it when it happens. He can speak in dreams, visions, little whispers of conscience, even pain and near death experiences. Here you go folks, the classic "god works in mysterious ways" apologetic argument.

*If a man ...women seem to be mostly absent from social consideration in the book of Job...if a man who is being chastised by God is lucky, he gets an angel to mediate for him. Then he will be spared and restored. After that, he goes to other men and tells them that he was a sinner after all, and thankfully he didn't get what he deserved, presumably  death. He gets to live a little longer. And by the way, this kind of thing might happen to a man two or three times in his life. That's to "turn back his soul from the pit that the light of life might shine upon him." My study bible seems to think this is a reference to resurrection and eternal life. I think that is a stretch.

*In the last three verses, Elihu tells Job to be quiet and listen, or speak up if he has anything to say, or listen and be silent. Elihu is there to teach Job wisdom.