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Job 32:4-5
4 Now Elihu ['Eliyhuw] had
waited [chakah] till Job ['Iyowb] had spoken [dabar], because
they were elder [zaqen] [yowm] than he.
5 When Elihu ['Eliyhuw] saw [ra'ah] that there was no answer [ma`aneh] in the mouth [peh] of these
three [shalowsh] men ['enowsh], then his wrath ['aph] was
kindled [charah]. KJV-Interlinear
4 Now Elihu had waited to speak
to Job because they were years older than he.
5 And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three
men his anger burned. NASB
There must have been a significant pause after Job
spoke his last words. The three friends,
Eliphaz, Zophar and Bildad, had nothing further to say.
Who else was present in Jobs home? We only have these four guests identified
within this book. We presume that Jobs
wife was present, and of course Job himself.
Then since these four men traveled some distance, three of them being
older, then we can reasonably assume that there were other people present,
people who were among the traveling entourage of the guests.
Elihu is among the youngest of the guests. And though young, he was allowed to sit
nearby as the older men spoke.
Furthermore, he is allowed to speak, so that indicates that he was
acquainted with these men. He was not
simply a passerby or a party crasher that no one knew.
Elihu had manners, and even though he disagreed with
what had been said by the elders present, he maintained his respect for their
years.
Whenever a mix of people are gathered together, then
deference should be given to those who are older.
Years does not equate to wisdom. The world is full of older folks who have
foolishly wasted their lives and of whom make bad decisions over and over
again. But even when wisdom comes up
against age, then the elders must be given a degree of respect, regardless of
their opinions.
There is an unwritten rule in life, that says, age is
the basis for higher position as far as courtesy and respect are
concerned. It follows the respect that
that is earned and deserved for authority through age, by the mere fact that
God has allowed and maintained a person on this earth into his older years.
If God sees fit to keep someone around, then we can
only respect His decision and reasons, and their receipt of such blessing.
There is nothing to be gained by being disrespectful
of ones elders, and everything to be gained through being respectful and polite,
even if you disagree with their views.
Now is the time to post a prayer.
End Of Lesson
Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
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