10Dec 2011 Job 32:20
20 I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.
Have you ever been so angry that you felt like you were going to burst if you didn’t speak up? This is exactly what Elihu is experiencing. He has kept silent while the three older men have tried to argue with Job. But since they have failed (in his eyes) and they are now silent, he feels he must speak. Sometimes this urgency to speak is a good thing. Sometimes it is not. Our verse today points out how to tell which one it is. Elihu is going to speak up because he needs relief. This is not about Job’s welfare, or justice. This is about Elihu’s need to get something off his chest. It is about him, and his need, not Job. In my position I have people come and tell me all sorts of personal things. Sometimes they want to get a ‘clean slate’ with their family and tell them all the details. I have to ask them what burdening their family will do in the long run. Who gets the benefit of the full disclosure? What good will it do the family to know all the details? If they are the one getting all the benefit, I discourage disclosure. Getting it off their chest only to land on a spouse’s chest is not helpful. If the spouse’s known benefit does not outweigh the potential harm done, don’t disclose. Elihu is not really concerned about Job. He just wants to pin Job in a corner and win the argument. And this is motivated and propelled by anger. Never a good combination!
The Arnold Journey 