How does Elihu's perspective in Job 32:10 challenge our understanding of wisdom? Setting the Scene • Job sits in ashes, bewildered by pain. • Three older companions have spoken at length—yet their words ring hollow. • A younger bystander, Elihu, finally steps forward. Reading Job 32:10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me; I too will declare what I know.’” Key Observations • The “Therefore” points back to Elihu’s claim that “the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding” (v. 8). • Elihu is not boasting in youth; he is submitting to divine revelation. • By asking seasoned men to “listen,” he overturns the cultural norm that age automatically equals insight. What Elihu Teaches about Wisdom 1. God, not age, is the ultimate source – Proverbs 2:6: “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Psalm 119:99: “I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.” 2. Humility precedes clarity – Elihu waited, listened, and only spoke after discerning the Spirit’s prompting (Job 32:4, 8). – James 3:17 links humility with wisdom “from above.” 3. Fresh voices can be faithful voices – Throughout Scripture God often uses the unlikely: David the shepherd (1 Samuel 17), Jeremiah the youth (Jeremiah 1:6-7), Timothy (1 Timothy 4:12). – Wisdom is measured by alignment with God’s truth, not by chronology. 4. Boldness is appropriate when rooted in revelation – Elihu’s “I too will declare” echoes Peter’s courage in Acts 4:20: “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.” – Silence in the face of error is not piety; speaking God’s word is. 5. True wisdom exposes faulty tradition – The older friends equated suffering with sin; Elihu exposes the inadequacy of that formula (Job 32:2-3). – Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s thoughts transcend our settled theories. Implications for Us Today • Evaluate counsel by Scripture, not by résumé. • Cultivate dependence on the Spirit through prayerful study of the Word. • Welcome correction, even when it comes from unexpected quarters. • Speak truth graciously yet confidently when God’s Word is clear. • Remember that wisdom’s goal is to honor God and bless others, never to showcase intellect. Closing Reflection Elihu’s simple invitation—“Listen to me”—calls every generation to sit under the breath of the Almighty. Wisdom flourishes wherever hearts reverence Scripture, ears stay open, and voices rise only when God has spoken first. |
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