THEOSISGregory the Great
Does the Lord demand this of you due to your displeasure? Job 34:33. This can be understood as Job indicating his intention to present reasons before the Lord as to why his wrongdoing is condemned by Him, even though it is clear that such condemnation does not necessitate divine judgment. When the righteous are unjustly attacked by the world, they cry out for divine judgment. The blessed Job expressed, "Look, my testimonies are in heaven, and He who knows me is on high" Job 16:19. Their desire is solely to please Him, and thus they seek His testimonies alone. Conversely, the wicked, having turned away from living righteously, sometimes mimic the speech of the just.
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When faced with censure for their unrighteous actions, they employ the very evidence that the righteous invoke to assert their purity as a defense. In fact, it has become their pattern to seek divine judgment rather than human judgment when accused. Even when aware that God's judgment will condemn them, they fear the opinions of men more than they fear God and prefer to evade the lesser shame of human condemnation. It is written, "Each one of us must give an account for himself to God" Rom. 14:12. As everyone’s condemnation is then revealed, the wicked remain chosen, leaving their conduct unscathed, while the righteous are now called to refute and expose the wrongs with which they had no association. The saints, however, harbor the hope of receiving a great reward even if found guilty of unlawful acts, as they perceive with the eyes of their hearts that the stricter God’s judgment is against them, the harsher man’s judgment appears. They understand that through this earthly wrath, they may avoid the eternal wrath to come. Let Elihu then, representing the proud who would rather endure eternal punishment than be rebuked in this life, pose the question: Does the Lord demand this of you due to your displeasure? However, since those who initiate disputes often accuse more vigorously than those who respond, he continues to plead: For you have begun to speak, and I have not. He believed himself entirely blameless, responding only to blows, possibly unaware that true innocence is safeguarded not by time but by wisdom. What basis does his defense have when he remained silent and refrained from evil speech, yet when he chose to respond, he insulted? He reveals himself through proud words, only to retreat under the guise of inquiry, continuing with: But if you know anything better, speak Job 34:33. He does not say, Because you know better, but rather, If you know anything better, speak—a statement in itself too proud, as it questions the knowledge of one who surpasses him. Yet, he feigns humility by permitting the blessed Job to speak. However, as mentioned earlier, all that is concealed by the words of the proud will eventually be unveiled when their boastful intentions surface, and Elihu swiftly demonstrated the true purpose behind his call for Job to speak. For it follows: