A True Friend Gives Upbuilding Counsel

When Elihu entered the conversation, his counsel was completely different from that of Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, both in content and in the way he dealt with Job. He proved himself to be a true friend and an effective counselor, worthy of imitation.

Elihu talks to Job while Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar look on

QUALITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE COUNSELOR	ELIHU SET A GOOD EXAMPLE
32:4-7, 11, 12; 33:1
PATIENT ATTENTIVE RESPECTFUL	Elihu waited patiently for the older men to finish speaking before he spoke By listening attentively, he had a better understanding of the issues at hand before giving counsel He used Job’s name and spoke to him as a friend
33:6, 7, 32
HUMBLE APPROACHABLE EMPATHETIC	Elihu was humble and kind, admitting his own imperfection He was empathetic to Job’s suffering
33:24, 25; 35:2, 5
BALANCED KIND GOD-ORIENTED	Elihu kindly showed Job that his viewpoint was unbalanced Elihu helped Job to see that his own righteousness was not the most important thing Elihu’s sound counsel prepared the way for Job to receive additional instruction from Jehovah himself