Having my say!
Job 32 gives us our first glimpse of Elihu, whose name means, " to break in upon, i.e. to assail, to imagine mischief." This passage about Elihu reminds me of David's cry, "Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O LORD." Psalms 25.7
Job's young friend was well named, as his indiscretion of speaking indicates. Well, my friends, indiscretion of speaking is not a problem experienced only by youth!
Here I am in my 6th decade of life and still suffering from 'foot in mouth' problems. Not only do I frequently, inadvertently, proverbially 'stick my foot in my mouth,' I go aggressively 'Elihu' and "break in upon, i.e. assail..." situations and conversations in order to 'stick my foot in my mouth.'
There is an adage which says, "It is better to keep one's mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Why do so many of us feel compelled to contribute to every conversation within earshot? And, what's even worse, why is there the compulsion to feel as though each conversation contains a topic which we feel particularly in need of our opinion?
Those moments must have some kind of irresistible force which draws from us not merely a statement, but a statement uttered with force and emotion. It is as if the more dynamically it is stated, the closer to absolute truth our opinion becomes.
This passage in Job 32 says that Elihu was angry. To his credit, he had remained so quiet during his three friend's dialogues with Job that we didn't even know he was there. To his discredit, he didn't remain silent when he had the opportunity to do so.
17. I too will have my say; I too will tell what I know.
18. For I am full of words, and the spirit within me compels me;
19. inside I am like bottled-up wine, like new wineskins ready to burst.
20. I must speak and find relief; I must open my lips and reply.
21. I will show partiality to no one, nor will I flatter any man;
A couple of observations which are instructive to me:
I may be "full of words" but the spirit is subject to the prophet (The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. I Co 14.32)
If it is of God, and the "prophet" is in the 'right spirit' then the wineskin isn't going to burst, it can contain the 'new wine' of the out-poured spirit of refreshing and life. (Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved. Matthew 9.17)
Our words should bring refreshing and hope (the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace Romans 8.6)
It seems to me I need to part company with Elihu and renew my efforts at the little kids' song..."oh be careful little mouth what you say...there's a Father up above looking down in tender love - so be careful little mouth what you say!"