Job did a very good job of rebuking his friends. Friends who did not really have any answers, but still, they spoke. Their "words" of wisdom, though many, did not move Job to confess or accept responsibility for anything that had happened to him. If anything, it confirmed for Job that something else was going on, but poor Job did not know what.
The friends should have been there to bring some comfort or support. They definitely did not do that.
They had all had their turns speaking, and Job rebutted each argument or scenario. And still there were no answers. Job's protests [more]that he had done nothing wrong seemed to fall on deaf ears.
And then the kid stood up!
No one knows how old Elihu was, but in his own words he says "I let you guys speak because you are way older than me. (32:6)" It was his sense that because of his lack of years and experiences, he should let the older people speak, because they might bring some wisdom to the subject at hand.
After listening for what must have been hours, Elihu came to the conclusion that "old people might not be wise or understand what justice really is". He hits them up side the head with a "You talked but did not say anything. For all you had to say, none of you could refute Job."
Sort of points out how even today, we talk, but the words mean nothing. We verbally wrestle with family, friends and co-workers, but our words are meaningless. Without the real picture of what is going on, we babble about what we think. Our "wisdom" is based upon false or incomplete theories or information.
My Pastor gave us a challenge a couple of weeks back from the book of James. The challenge was to read the Word. But more than that, the challenge was to "DO" the Word. You see, it's not enough for us to memorize or shout platitudes. It's what we do with what we know. Our experiences should make us different people – they should make us do things a different way. Knowing what the Bible says and doing what the Bible says are two different things.
Job's friends had words, but they were stymied. They had no answers for Job, but they wanted to be heard. It's as though they felt that the more they talked, the wiser ther were.
Elihu captures the essence of the matter when he says "Lemme tell you guys something, what you are doin' an saying ain't right, and the reason is simple. God is greater that any man, so stop trying to make Him explain Himself! (33:12 my translation)
What do you expect from God? More than that, what does God expect from you?