Elihu had a problem with the fact that, "He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him." (Job 32:3)
Job had made his apology (defense), he had maintained his innocence and as God had said initially he was blameless, upright, did good and shunned evil. Several points worth noting:
I made a covenant with my eyes
not to look lustfully at a young woman. (Job 31:1)
let God weigh me in honest scales
and he will know that I am blameless (Job 31:6)
If my heart has been enticed by a woman,
or if I have lurked at my neighbor’s door, (Job 31:9)
If I have denied justice to any of my servants,
whether male or female, (Job 31:13)
If I have denied the desires of the poor
or let the eyes of the widow grow weary (Job 31:16)
If I have put my trust in gold
or said to pure gold, ‘You are my security, (Job 31:24)
There are other points, this is just a sampling of the argument (apology) of Job answering his friends charge that he was being punished. Job had asked what he had done, and if he had done something why doesn't he forgive me. He lamented that there was no advocate, no place to meet God in court and worried that even if there were he wouldn't be able to defend himself adequately.
He talks a lot about what he is going to say and then doesn't say much. Starting about Job 36:27, I think he is describing the approaching storm; rain, lighting, wind, thunder:
At this my heart pounds
and leaps from its place.
Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. (Job 37:1,2)
Instead of preaching at this point he is getting a little scared, I mean I know I would be. I love this line, now instead of preaching he almost seems to be imploring Job:
Tell us what we should say to him;
we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness. (Job 37:19)
These men knew Job was righteous. That wasn't the problem, or maybe it was part of the problem. This is what had Elihu so incensed:
But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. (Job 32:2)
They just didn't know why, it is revealed to a great extent in the New Testament:
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matt. 5:11,12)
Job didn't know that God's people are sometimes called to prove their faithfulness. He couldn't have possibly known that his problems were due to God bragging on him. At least the New Testament warns us that we could be on display, the persecution of the early church being a prime example.
We shouldn't judge these men too harshly, they didn't really know what was going on. I still think the key to the whole thing is summed up in three words, 'My man Job'.
Grace and peace,
Mark