What can we learn from Job's dialogue about listening to others' perspectives? Setting the Scene Job and his friends have spent chapter after chapter arguing over the cause of Job’s suffering. When the younger Elihu finally speaks, he begins by proving he has truly listened. He says, “Surely you have spoken in my hearing, and I have heard these very words” (Job 33:8). Before offering correction, Elihu carefully repeats Job’s own statements, showing both respect and accuracy. What Elihu Models in Job 33:8 • Careful attention: he quotes Job almost verbatim. • Patient restraint: he waits through long speeches before responding. • Accurate representation: he refuses to distort or caricature Job’s position. • Humble positioning: by acknowledging Job’s words first, he sets a foundation for constructive dialogue. Practices to Adopt • Listen until you can restate the other person’s view fairly. • Validate what was heard before offering analysis or counsel. • Resist the urge to interrupt or rush to judgment. • Weigh words against Scripture rather than mere opinion. • Approach correction as a servant of truth, not as a self-appointed judge. Supporting Voices from the Rest of Scripture • James 1:19 — “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” • Proverbs 18:13 — “He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.” • Proverbs 18:17 — “The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.” • Luke 8:18 — “Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen.” • Ecclesiastes 5:1 — “Better to draw near to listen than to offer the sacrifice of fools.” Outcomes of Attentive Listening • Fosters humility and guards us from pride. • Opens the door for accurate, Scripture-shaped counsel. • Builds trust and deepens fellowship. • Helps expose hidden assumptions or errors—both ours and theirs. • Models Christlike love that hears before it speaks (cf. Matthew 13:9). Putting It into Practice Today • Set aside distractions and give full attention when someone speaks. • Mentally—or verbally—summarize their main point before responding. • Filter every perspective through the clear, inerrant Word of God. • Speak with grace seasoned by truth, aiming to edify rather than to win an argument. • Remember that real wisdom begins with listening well, just as Elihu exemplified in Job 33:8. |
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