"So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him.

Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the three men had nothing more to say, his anger was aroused.

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:

‘I am young in years,
    and you are old;
that is why I was fearful,
    not daring to tell you what I know.
I thought, “Age should speak;
    advanced years should teach wisdom.”
But it is the spirit in a person,
    the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.
It is not only the old who are wise,
    not only the aged who understand what is right.
Therefore I say: "Listen to me;
    I too will tell you what I know."
I waited while you spoke,
    I listened to your reasoning;
while you were searching for words,
I gave you my full attention.
But not one of you has proved Job wrong;
    none of you has answered his arguments.
… I too will have my say;
    I too will tell what I know.
For I am full of words,
    and the spirit within me compels me;
inside I am like bottled-up wine,
    like new wineskins ready to burst.
I must speak and find relief;
    I must open my lips and reply.
I will show no partiality,
    nor will I flatter anyone.' "

- Job 32:1-21

Elihu Let's Loose His Words

Job’s three friends (now merely called “these three men” in the text) have given up on Job since he was convinced his suffering was not a fair reflection of his personal righteousness. In the rules of debate in the ancient world the silencing of Job’s three friends indicates a victory for Job, but this also makes room in the conversation for a younger man who apparently has been observing this debate, but had not engaged with his own words. The fact that this young man, named Elihu, had not spoken does not mean he has not formed an opinion.

Elihu enters late into this debate in a fury of anger aimed, first, at the subdued friends for having failed to formulate a substantial argument to defeat Job, and second, targeted at Job for choosing to slander the character of God in order to defend his own character.

Elihu had disciplined himself to remain quite so he would not interrupt the three older friends. (Allowing the elder person the honor of speaking first was a cultural standard.) But, even as Elihu held back his words they had been fermenting like wine in expanding wineskins ready to burst. Elihu is so focused on sharing what he perceives to be “the truth” that he guarantees two things: one, his words will show no partiality, so everyone standing against “the truth” will get rolled over in spite of their age, rank, afflictions or social standing; two, his words will not be used with an ulterior motive of manipulation by flattering either Job or his friends. Elihu guarantees that he says what he thinks and he means what he says. To the best of his ability Elihu is going to bless his friends (or, those who were his friends!) with the “absolute truth” according to Elihu.

Elihu then follows his introduction with four sections in his speech that basically state his understanding of “the truth” as this:
1. God uses both dreams and afflictions to teach people and attempt to turn them from wrong (32:6-33:33)
2. Without partiality or exception, God rules the world with justice (34:1-37)
3. Men cannot effect God with their sinful behavior, but neither can they manipulate God with their righteous behavior. (35:1-6)
4. God will disciplines men in order to lead them to deliverance (36:1-21).

Then before God interrupts in chapter 38 Elihu describes the glory and majesty of God with the image of a thunderstorm in chapter 37.

Do I allow others to speak and share their opinions? Do I consider that my ideas and my thoughts may be incomplete, one-sided, limited to my own experience,
warped by my own perspective or simply wrong?
I will pursue a greater understanding of the Truth.
I will not merely defend my present opinion.