Devo, Job

How To Speak Up When You Are Fired Up

How To Speak Up When You Are Fired Up

ENGLISH
ENGLISH

Then Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself rather than God. He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had declared Job to be in the wrong. Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because they were older than he. And when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, he burned with anger.— Job 32:2-5

So as we come close to the end of the story, we discover someone else present. There was a younger man — Elihu. And we see that he is brewing to speak and that he is pretty angry about a couple of things. First, that Job justified his righteousness to these men. And while Job was right that he had done nothing wrong to deserve the suffering, Elihu determines Job's response was overly focused on his righteousness instead of God's righteousness. Second, he is pretty angry that Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar have come up with no answer. In the end, both parties have elevated themselves a little too much. And Elihu's anger is justified, and his assessment is spot on.

And what I love here is that Elihu is respectful in how he handles himself, even in his anger. The text says he "waited to speak to Job because they were older than he."

For some reason, it appears we have lost touch with this kind of respect. But this is more than just patriarchal respect for elders. This is respect combined with extraordinary restraint when an injustice has been done to the sovereignty of God. Elihu has just listened to four men bloviate about their views on God, suffering, sin, retribution, righteousness, unrighteousness, punishment, blessing, and repentance. And I am sure the whole time Elihu's been slowly boiling. As he listens, he might even hope that they would come to some godly conclusion on the matter. But they drift from a conclusion to no conclusion. After they are finally silent and have run out of things to say — then Elihu speaks. And in the verses that follow, we are going to hear some great insights from a fired-up young man who is deeply passionate about a very high view of God. And the best part is — we are going to learn all of them from a younger man. But I think this one line, "Elihu waited to speak to Job because they were older than he," makes everything that he's about to say easier to hear.

Are you fired up about an injustice to God? There is a lot to be fired up about today. If so, be respectful, use restraint, and speak up when the time is right, and God may use you to say something rememberable.

ASK THIS: What injustice do you need to speak about? (Share this in the comments below)

DO THIS: Be respectful and use restraint — and then speak up for God, not yourself.

PRAY THIS: God, help me to know what to say and how to say it.

PLAY THIS: Speak.

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16 thoughts on “How To Speak Up When You Are Fired Up”

  2. Dennis James says:

    Dietrich Bonhoeffer said” Silence in the face of evil is itself evil:
    God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.

    Warriors need to be disciplined and skilled in the art of warfare. God’s word gives us the details of how to move forward in the victory. We move from a position of victory but yet not of our own will but God’s will.

  3. Corey says:

    It is summed up best by saying; “Christians” especially some “Christian leaders” can be some of the meanest most inconsiderate people on the face of this earth!

    However, its all satan’s influence in them and through them. Vince, I love how and what Elihu does here because it shows self control and being led by the Holy Ghost! Exactly when and how to respond!

    God is so good. This devotional this morning comes at a time directly after receiving word of injustice. I often get angry in the spirit at injustices going on and this is one of those times. I have never read this part of the story! I love how God makes us so strong and if we just wait for His prompting, the “time” is opportune!

  4. Phil Green says:

    Another good devotional Vince. The “younger” may be trying to tell us something we need to hear.

  5. Chris says:

    I am still waiting for the next time to I speak to my colleague about my show and what to say

  7. Sheldon says:

    How the poor is neglected, taken advantage of, and just seen as insignificant to the rich , but to God they are of great value.

  8. Davin Morris says:

    I think the desire to speak first and share what we think in the moment “wisdom” many times shows a lack of it just like Job’s three friends. The difficult thing to do is set aside our pride and wait for the Lord. Wait to glean clear understanding of the situation from the Holy Spirit and then when the time is right, speak. In fact there may be some situations where not speaking at all is the wisest decision.

  9. Steve George says:

    Christian people who misrepresent Christ. The the word Christ means anointed and if we are anointed ones we should follow the same anointing that Jesus said was laid upon him to preach the gospel to the poor to heal the brokenhearted recovery of sight to the blind to set at Liberty them that have been bruised and to declare that today is the day of salvation.

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