Issues In Perspective

Elihu chides Job for his pride and his failure to grasp God's transcendence.

Elihu counsels Job to allow God to teach him through his suffering and understand His justice and sovereignty.

In contrast to Job's three friends, Elihu chastises them and Job as he answers Job's questions.

Job presents his final appeal and rests his case with his three friends and with God.

Job's questions remain unanswered but he revels in the majesty, power and wisdom of God.

Job's three friends contend that they have God all figured out and can therefore judge Job, which he emphatically rejects.

Job goes from the downward spiral of despair to the heights of an affirmation of the resurrection.

Bildad's accusations are followed by Job's seeking to present his case directly to God.

Zophar focuses on God's omniscience to accuse Job, who responds with a perspective on God that rejects the singular focus of his friends.

Bildad evaluates Job's condition through God's justice, Zophar through God's omniscience but Job sarcastically rebukes their incomplete view of God.