Job 32

There is a time for everything. There should be a place for everything too, God help us. That would save a lot of strife between mothers and teenagers with an overabundance of shoes, hoodies, and notebooks, but we can at least agree there is a set time for all things. Cello practice is at 1:30 PM on Wednesdays; the Sunday Service begins at 1o:30 AM; and my dog eats precisely at 7 AM, 11:30 AM, and 5:30 PM. If you are late, he will be sad and will tell you. The Preacher (Ecclesiastes 3) lists a few more timely things: a time to be born and to die, a time to plant and harvest, a time to grieve and celebrate, a time to shut your mouth and a time to speak. There is a time to speak.

Job, chapter 32 introduces a new character. An entirely new character. He hasn’t been mentioned at all in the previous chapters, and he just shows up, seemingly out of the blue. Hi. My name is Elihu, and I have something urgent to say, so listen up. Who even is this guy? I would call him a NPC, but his message is too important, and God preserved it for us in His Word, so there’s that-definitely not a non-player. Elihu could be considered the “herald” of the story, giving key information to the main character at a vital point. But typically, a herald is at the beginning of a story, the one who inspires the hero to embark on a grand adventure. Job’s adventure (if we can call it that) seems to be coming to a close soon. Or is it? Is Job even the actual hero of this book? He is not.

So far, our focus has been directed towards Job, feeling his pain with him, mourning with him, understanding his suffering, each in our unique ways. We’ve even been able to identify occasionally with Job’s three thoughtless friends. We’ve spoken stupid words at the wrong time before. We understand that perspective also. So it makes sense that we could have misidentified Job as the hero of this story when he is not. There is only one Hero in this book, and Elihu’s young wisdom will direct our attention to this Hero, who will soon break onto the scene.

Are Elihu’s words trustworthy? I get it, reader. You’ve been tricked before in this book. Job’s friends have talked in endless circles, unkind, cruel, self-righteous words from self-righteous pompous men. Job’s words have also been a mixed bag, sometimes a hallelujah, other times a bowl of bitterness. Who can we trust? Whose words are wise?

Consider that the narrator, or human author, of Job can be trusted. We know God’s Word is inspired by the Holy Spirit. We also know that Biblical narratives record the good, the bad, and the hideous facts. In Job, as in other narrative accounts, we can trust the narration as true facts and hold the dialogue up for scrutiny with other Scripture. That helps some. When Job says he knows his Redeemer is alive and that he will see Him with his own eyes at the end of all things (Job 19:25-27), we can feel confident that these words are true as we compare them with other scriptures about Christ’s return as our Redeemer-King.

Use the same method with Elihu’s words. Compare Scripture with Scripture. And, take note of the following facts: First, Elihu is given a lot of time to share his thoughts – six chapters worth. Second, when God speaks, He will rebuke Job. He will also rebuke Job’s friends, except for Elihu. Third, The narrator introduces Elihu with some important information, mainly that Elihu was angry with Job and his friends for good reason.

“Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job’s three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.”

Job 32:2-5

The truth about Job – “he justified himself rather than God.” The truth about Job’s friends – “they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong.” Elihu sees the truth about these older men, and he burns with anger over it. He tried to wait out of respect for their years, but he just can’t keep silent any longer.

“I said, ‘Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.’ But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty that makes him understand. It is not the old who are wise, nor the aged who understand what is right.”

Job 32:7-9

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my mediation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.”

Psalm 119:97-100

I love the fatherly advice Paul gives to the young pastor Timothy, encouraging him to be bold even though he is young – bold because of the truth of God’s Word which Timothy is learning, practicing, and preaching. Paul encourages him to be an example to the older people in his congregation by being a man of the Word (I Timothy 4:11-16). Note well the necessity of a mind and heart saturated with God’s Word for speech to be rich with wisdom. Nota Bene.

Elihu laments the lack of wisdom coming from Job’s friends. He waited for them to speak something profound, helpful, wise, but they had no wisdom to share. Nothing. Elihu explains that he feels like he’s going to explode with the words he’s been holding in. He just has to speak up!

“For I am full of words; the spirit within me constrains me. Behold my belly is like wine that has no vent; like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak, that I may find relief; I must open my lips and answer.”

Job 32:18-20

There is a time to speak, a time to share wisdom. And there is a time to be quiet. See here’s the crux of it: Am I bursting to speak because I want to vindicate myself? Is it my goal to lovingly direct someone to the truth, or am I longing to be known as “right” and “correct” in front of others. Does the Spirit in me constrain me, or is it my own agenda pushing me, egging me on? It can be a bit confusing. But we can be sure of some things. One, we can be sure that our mouths will spill out what is overflowing in our hearts (Luke 6:37-45). Please, God, let that be Your Word. Two, we can be certain that the Holy Spirit will use God’s Word, not our own, earthly wisdom, to direct us to speak in love, not with malice or selfishness (Ephesians 4).

As we look at the next five chapters of Job, we will read Elihu’s rebuke to Job, his reminder of the justice of God, his condemnation of Job’s self-righteousness, and his praise for God’s majesty and greatness. And then…finally, we will read God’s words. That’s the best part, reader. We’re almost there.