Job 32:1-22

Job has finished his arguments and is seems that Job’s three friends have given up on convincing him of his wrong doing, but now we are introduced to Elihu, Job’s fourth friend who apparently has been sitting quietly this entire time because he is the youngest.  However, he is now ready to speak and we will spend the next several chapters hearing what he has been storing up all of this time.  There is both wisdom and folly in silence.  It is wise to listen before we speak but it is folly to sit and seethe in anger instead of speaking.  There appears to be a portion of both wisdom and folly in Elihu; as I suspect there most likely is in all of us.  Balance is important to find in these issues.

ELIHU WAITS IN SILENCE: We say that silence is golden, and sometimes it truly is.  There are times when we need to learn to just wait in silence, listen in silence and simply “be there” to provide comfort and companionship to those who are hurting.  Elihu also demonstrates respect in the fact that he is younger and so he gives preference to those who are wiser and presumably wiser than he.  This respect for age is something that is lost in many cultures which is very unfortunate.  However, we must also recognize that time in and of itself does not grow wisdom.  Long periods of time spent in folly will not bring about wisdom.  We could all do well to learn to listen for longer and to have respect for and give preference to our elders.

ELIHU WRITHES IN ANGER: Unfortunately, Elihu has not been simply sitting and listening, but has allowed his anger to burn the entire time he was sitting in silence.  He is now ready to speak and describes himself as bursting which sounds a lot like exploding to me.  We must be careful not to allow the dangerous emotion of anger to control us.  Most people like to avoid confrontation so they will simply keep silence instead of speaking.  However, little by little, that anger begins to build up within them and then at some small incident that angers spills over.  Parents can relate to this when they have put off disciplining their children for a long time and then when that poor kid rolls her eyes at the wrong moment the parent explodes.  Gaining control of our anger is vital to our ability to maintain healthy relationships and effective communication.