Job 32

Matt Wilson

Job was a rare man, impressive from the world's point of view and from God's. Job 1:8, 'There is no-one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright...' People looked up to Job with superstar awe, 29:8, '.the young men saw me and stepped aside and the old men rose to their feet; the chief men refrained from speaking and covered their mouths with their hands; the voices of nobles were hushed and their tongues stuck to the roof of their mouths.' Job was the man.

In the story God removes His 'hedge of protection' from Job (1:10) and Satan begins his attack on Job's flesh and bones (2:5). He makes a good job of it too. Before long Job is cursing the day he was born.

The misfortune of a great man is hot news. His mates find out and come to be with him. As nomad people they would've brought quite an entourage with them. Among them a young man called Elihu, he had maturity uncommon for his age, and most of all - zeal for the Lord.

Elihu watched as his elders made a scene, they opened their mouths and he began to cringe. He listened as they doled out their 'comfort'. Their words were just salt in Job's wounds. The great Job, Elihu's hero since he was a child was forced into petty arguments from his sick bed. As night draws in Elihu pulls his cloak around him. It may be cold outside but inside the cloak he's feeling the heat.

Into the night Elihu sits, listening intently to the debating. His heart lifts as he hears Job describing wisdom and the value of understanding. He remembers his father rising to stand as Job walked past, feels a deep compassion as Job describes his fall, yet the self-pitying tone of Job's voice bothers him. Dawn approaches, Job has finished talking, the camp is silent.

Elihu closes his eyes and reflects on the words of the night, he prays in his heart, consulting God, calling for an answer to the uneasiness in his soul. Something isn't right. These are respected elders, yet all their 'wise words' have ended in stalemate. Turn to chapter 32:2,

'Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite. became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had not found a way to refute Job and so had condemned God. Elihu had waited before speaking to Job because they were older than he. But when he saw that the older men had nothing to say his anger was roused.'

Elihu throws his cloak back over his shoulders and his words pierce the silence:
'I am young in years, and you are old; that is why I was fearful, not daring to tell you what I know. I thought, 'age should speak; advanced words should teach wisdom.' But it is the Spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding. Listen to me; I too will tell you what I know. I waited while you spoke, I listened to your reasoning; while you were searching for words I gave you my full attention. I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know. For I am full of words and the Spirit within me compels me; inside I am like bottled up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply...'

You can read the rest of his speech from verse 33. Job is gobsmacked. The three elders are convicted of their inflated egos. Elihu continues, in full flow of the Spirit, rash yes, but soaked in truth. He describes the greatness of God who unleashes lightning over the heaven, getting so carried away that the Lord himself has to interrupt before Elihu steals his thunder.

Elihu is an example to us all, not that we start hanging around our elders and sounding off when we don't like what they say, but that we are obedient to God when His Word is burning inside us. We should speak it regardless of our age or experience. We all need a bit of the Buzite in us.