Job 32:1-22
1 So these three men ceased to answer Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then was kindled the wrath of Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram: against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himselfa rather than God.
3 Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now Elihu had waitedb till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled.
6 And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said, I am young,c and ye are very old; wherefore I was afraid, and durst not shew you mine opinion.
7 I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.
8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
9 Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment.
10 Therefore I said, Hearken to me; I also will shew mine opinion.
11 Behold, I waited for your words; I gave ear to your reasons,d whilst ye searched out what to say.
12 Yea, I attended unto you, and, behold, there was none of you that convinced Job, or that answered his words:
13 Lest ye should say, We have found out wisdom: God thrusteth him down, not man.
14 Now he hath not directede his words against me: neither will I answer him with your speeches.
15 They were amazed, they answered no more: they left off speaking.
16 When I had waited, (for they spake not, but stood still, and answered no more;)
17 I said, I will answer also my part, I also will shew mine opinion.
18 For I am full of matter,f the spirit within me constraineth me.
19 Behold, my belly is as wine which hath no vent; it is ready to burst like new bottles.
20 I will speak, that I may be refreshed: I will open my lips and answer.
21 Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man.
22 For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away.
Job 32:2. Elihu. The Greek copies read Elihuz, the same as they write Elijah. The critics refer us for his genealogy to Huz the son of Nahor; for Ram is thought to be Abraham; but a similarity of name does not prove affinity. His wrath was kindled. In proof of this he charges Job, through misconstruction, with saying several things which Job never did say. He was angry also with Job's three friends, because he saw they were vanquished. His speech contains little more than the old arguments new modified.
Job 32:8. A spirit in man. רוח היא ruach hi, the Spirit himself is in poor frail man. The spirit of prophecy, as the Chaldaic reads. To this text St. Paul evidently alludes in Romans 8:16, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit.” It is this holy afflatus which is the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world. It is this endowment of divine grace which enables man to hear and see the gospel light, and which is the principle of regeneration in the heart.
Job 32:18. I am full of matter, as Psalms 45:1; or the pythonesses, as illustrated in Isaiah 41:23.
Job 32:19. New bottles. See note on Joshua 9:4. The LXX join the adjective, new, to wine; a liberty which does not disturb the sense. Some think Elihu refers to conjurors and ventriloquists, who seem to speak from their belly.
Job 32:22. My Maker would soon take me away. Hear this, oh christian minister, when the proud, when the blasphemer, when the seducer, and the avaricious are before you. If you flatter them, you destroy them, and God will soon take you away. Think how Paul reasoned before Felix.
REFLECTIONS.
“We are here taught that modesty and humility are great ornaments to young people. It is their duty to be learners, to hear patiently, and attend to the sentiments of the old and wise; to be diffident of themselves, and shun every thing which has the appearance of vanity and conceit; especially when it appears proper that they should deliver their opinion, let them do it with all deference to the aged, and all the marks of a modest spirit. Age gives men great advantage for improvement in knowledge, and being useful by their advice and instructions. It is naturally expected that their faculties should be strengthened, their stock of ideas enlarged, by reading, reflection, and experience. Therefore the aged should be teachers of good things, and endeavour to instruct the rising generation, in what may be useful to them, and conducive to their true happiness.
Let us consider that our fellow creatures are rational beings as well as ourselves. There is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth him understanding. All the ordinary exercises of reason are here ascribed to the inspiration of the Almighty. Let us be thankful for this gift of God; and pray to him to strengthen our rational faculties, and enable us to judge and speak aright. This consideration should preserve the aged from a supercilious treatment of the young, that they have reason, as well as their fathers; and some are wiser at twenty than others at sixty. Every man has a right to judge for himself, and ought to be allowed a liberty of speech. Those who pretend to dictate to the world, and would have every one be as they are, and believe just as they believe, should consider that others are rational creatures as well as themselves, and have equal access to the oracles of divine wisdom. Let us therefore learn to hear with candour, judge with temper, and never deny to others those rights and privileges which we claim to ourselves.
The fear of God should also engage us to deal plainly with men, in all matters of importance, particularly in those where religion and happiness are concerned. Excess of compliment is an utter enemy to truth and wisdom. It is especially a lesson to ministers, not to prophesy smooth things for fear of giving offence, but to address men's consciences with all plainness and affection united; remembering their Maker, who has declared that he will take away all flattering lips, and every deceitful tongue. In the mean time it will be found, as Solomon observes, that he who reproveth a man, afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.”