The first four verses of chapter 36 introduce this speech. In them Elihu again urged Job to pay attention to what he would say. He claimed that his words were true and that he himself was "perfect in knowledge"(v. 4).
"In his defence [sic] of the righteousness of God, Elihu now develops his thought on the disciplinary meaning of suffering. God is great, but he does not despise men. The incorrigibly wicked he does not preserve, but in mercy he afflicts the righteous that they may be cleansed of all sin and pride."148
Four times in this chapter and twice in this section (vv. 1-25) Elihu said, "Behold"(vv. 5, 22, 26, 30). In each case he then proceeded to say something important about God. After this, he applied that truth.
Elihu's first affirmation was that God is mighty and merciful (vv. 5-10), and He uses suffering to instruct people. There are two possible responses to God's teaching: hearing (v. 11) and not hearing (v. 12), and each has consequences. Elihu developed these responses and consequences further, first the response of the godless (vv. 13-14) and then that of the godly (vv. 15-16). Essentially the godless become angry and refuse to turn to God for help, and this often leads to a life of shame and an untimely death (vv. 13-14). The righteous who suffer, on the other hand, turn to God, submit to His instruction, learn from it, and live (v. 15). Finally Elihu applied these points to Job and warned him against responding to his sufferings like the ungodly (vv. 16-21). Specifically Job should avoid anger and scoffing and not let the large price he was paying for his God-sent education (the "ransom,"v. 18) divert him from godly living.
Elihu's next major declaration about God, introduced by the second "Behold"(v. 22), was that He is a sovereign and supremely wise teacher (vv. 22-23). Elihu's application to Job was that he should worship God rather than murmuring, complaining, and pitying himself (vv. 24-25). Worship would enable him to learn the lessons that God was teaching him.
Note the introverted (chiastic) structure of verses 22-26 that emphasizes the fact that God is worthy of praise.
"Elihu has, in fact, steered the argument away from the justice of God to His wisdom, using His power as the bridge."149
