Above: The Wrath of Elihu, by William Blake
Image in the Public Domain
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Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning:
Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them,
that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of life,
which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
—The Book of Common Prayer (1979), page 236
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Job 35:1-16
Psalm 119:(1-16) 17-32
Matthew 7:13-20
2 Peter 2:1-22
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Elihu is simultaneously correct and incorrect. Indeed, whenever we sin, we harm others, not just ourselves, and whenever we act righteously, we benefit others, not just ourselves. Furthermore, nothing escapes divine notice. One might think of the false teachers in Matthew 7 and 2 Peter 2 and find examples of these principles. One might also imagine Elihu agreeing wholeheartedly with the ideas in Psalm 119:1-16 and be correct. The problem with Elihu’s speech in Job 35 is that he employs truthful statements to support a mostly false conclusion:
Hence when Job opens his mouth,
it is for idle talk:
his spate or words comes out of ignorance.
–Job 35:16, The Jerusalem Bible (1966)
In the Book of Job all people who speak do so out of ignorance, but the main character is accurate in his assertion of innocence (Consult Job 1, 2 and most of 42, Chapters 38-41, and the first few verses of Chapter 42 not withstanding). That Job, as an innocent person, is suffering, is the main idea to which Elihu objects. Elihu speaks out of ignorance yet does not know it.
Each of us speaks out of ignorance, partial or total, daily; that is part of the reality of the human condition. Knowing this about ourselves is a fine beginning of the process of addressing the problem via grace. May we be sufficiently humble to recognize the fact that we do not know as much as we might imagine about many topics, especially the nature of God. And may we, even in our ignorance, glorify and draw people to the throne of grace, not blame victims and incur divine anger.
KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR
SEPTEMBER 10, 2016 COMMON ERA
THE FEAST OF SAINT SALVIUS OF ALBI, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP
THE FEAST OF MORDECAI JOHNSON, EDUCATOR
THE FEAST OF SAINT NEMESIAN OF SIGUM AND HIS COMPANIONS, ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS AND MARTYRS
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Adapted from this post:
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BLOGA THEOLOGICA 
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