This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
Job 32:15-17
15 They were amazed [chathath], they answered [`anah] no more: they left off [`athaq] speaking [millah].
16 When I had waited [yachal], (for they spake [dabar] not, but stood still [`amad], and answered [`anah] no more;)
17 I said, I will answer [`anah] also my part [cheleq], I also will shew [chavah] mine opinion [dea`]. KJV-Interlinear
15 'They are dismayed, they answer no more; Words have failed them. 16 'And shall I wait, because they do not speak, Because they stop and answer no more? 17 'I too will answer my share, I also will tell my opinion. NASB
The book of Job raises a controversy between Job and his three friends. Each of the three has their respective say, and Job answers each in turn. When all of their words have come to an end, the three reject Jobs views as Job rejects their accusations. But, they all come to a silence, with neither having anything further to say.
Job will not budge from his beliefs. His three friends do not leave, because they still believe that they are right and nothing has been yet accomplished. So, they all remain silent for a while.
Elihu is a bystander. He has heard all of the arguments and opinions, and he is furious and frustrated in that he expected that from four such old and presumably wise men, truth would prevail. Not so.
So, Elihu will begin to voice his beliefs and hope to resolve the controversy. He will also fail.
The God will enter into the picture and God will sit them all back on their respective haunches, setting their open mouths (speaking or thinking their opinions) in total silence.
Elihu, who is much younger, sat and listened. He did not hear the wisdom he expected to hear. The four men became silent and now Elihu is agitated and beside himself, as it were, just filled with energy and bursting with his own thoughts.
Elihu represents the young and knowledgeable, but still not quite mature individual. He shoud have remained silent until he could learn and keep learning from the experience. But as young people go, he bursts forth with impatience and the frustration of not seeing this controversy resolved. This is a generation gap situation.
And that is going to be a picture of life in this world. Controversies will come and go, and controversies will continue, and continue and seemingly never end. Get involved with any social group and you will have your eyes opened at the endless social stresses, gossiping, ostracisms, power plays and so forth, that never end.
No matter how you try to resolve an issue, there will be those who will never listen, will never change their minds, who will continue the controversy forever, or until you just plain quit. And of course that is what they want. For you to quite so they can continue dominating their little social club activity, or whatever it is that they want to control. And the young will be frustrated with the older generation.
