憤怒青年
約伯記三十二章1至14節
1於是，這三個人因約伯自以為義，就不再回答他。
2那時，有布西人蘭族巴拉迦的兒子以利戶向約伯發怒，因約伯自以為義，不以神為義。
3他又向約伯的三個朋友發怒，因為他們想不出回答的話來，仍以約伯為有罪。
4以利戶要與約伯說話，就等候他們，因為他們比自己年老。
5以利戶見這三個人口中無話回答，就怒氣發作。
6布西人巴拉迦的兒子以利戶回答說：“我年輕，你們老邁，因此我退讓，不敢向你們陳說我的意見。
7我說：‘年老的當先說話；壽高的當以智慧教訓人。’
8但在人裡面有靈；全能者的氣使人有聰明。
9尊貴的不都有智慧；壽高的不都能明白公平。
10因此我說：你們要聽我言，我也要陳說我的意見。
11你們查究所要說的話；那時我等候你們的話，側耳聽你們的辯論，
12留心聽你們。誰知你們中間無一人折服約伯，駁倒他的話。
13你們切不可說：‘我們尋得智慧；神能勝他，人卻不能。’
14約伯沒有向我爭辯，我也不用你們的話回答他。
信息分享
有趣的是，「以利戶」這個名字意即「祂是我的神」；而他父親的名字，則解作「神祝福」。約伯記若是聖經最古老的經卷之一，那麼，當時的人一定普遍認識神，縱然認識有限，也會經常想到神。
這位憤怒青年的發言佔據了六章經文，總共165節。他究竟說了些甚麼呢？他經常提及神，並且對神的屬性和工作有一些精闢的見解；可是，他所認識的神，只是一位滿有愛心的朋友，卻是非常的有限。
以利戶直言神無須向我們解釋祂的作為。祂是至高無上的主宰，可以隨祂的意思而行。「約伯，你說神不說話，這是錯誤的。」（12至19節）祂透過許多方式說話。神永遠正確（三十四10-12）；神知道一切（三十四21-23），當然知道自己正在做甚麼，所以你可以信靠祂。
然而，以利戶就像那三個朋友一樣，重覆同一個主題：「約伯，你犯了罪，所以一切發生在你身上的事，都是罪有應得。」他對神的認識非常偏狹，也忽略了一個最重要的事實：神愛護祂的兒女。
以利戶用很多方式很好地形容神，但那只是神的其中一面。我們對神的親身經歷，以及我們所認識的神，實在讓我們知道神的恩典無比豐厚。
以利戶對約伯無甚幫助，到最後，當神親自向約伯說話，約伯才終於感到滿意。神解答了約伯的問題。他雖然不能明白每一件事，可是，他終於看到自己不配得神的恩惠，於是，便以一種前所未有的方式信靠祂。這些章節我們還會在接著的兩天查考，我們會在當中看到一些令人震奮的信息。
THE ANGRY YOUNG MAN
Job 32: 1-14
1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.
2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God.
3 Also against his three friends his wrath was aroused, because they had found no answer, and yet had condemned Job.
4 Now because they were years older than he, Elihu had waited to speak to Job.
5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, his wrath was aroused.
6 So Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, answered and said:
“I am young in years, and you are very old;
Therefore I was afraid,
And dared not declare my opinion to you.
7 I said, ‘Ageshould speak,
And multitude of years should teach wisdom.’
8 But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.
9 Great menare not always wise,
Nor do the aged always understand justice.
10 “Therefore I say, ‘Listen to me,
I also will declare my opinion.’
11 Indeed I waited for your words,
I listened to your reasonings, while you searched out what to say.
12 I paid close attention to you;
And surely not one of you convinced Job,
Or answered his words—
13 Lest you say,
‘We have found wisdom’;
God will vanquish him, not man.
14 Now he has not directed his words against me;
So I will not answer him with your words.
Message
It is interesting that his name means “He is my God Himself” while his father’s name means “God blesses”. If the book of Job is one of the oldest books, there must have been a general knowledge of God, however limited, which led men to think often of Him.
What did this angry young man say in six chapters - 165 verses? He makes very frequent references to God and has some excellent remarks on the nature and work of God. But again his knowledge of God as a personal loving friend seems to be very limited.
Elihu said plainly God is not accountable to us for His actions. He is sovereign and does what He wishes. “Job you’ve been saying God is silent. No He isn’t. (vv.12-19) He speaks in various ways. God is always right. (34:10-12) And God knows everything (34:21-23). So you can trust Him because He knows what He is doing.”
However Elihu still goes back to the same theme as the three friends – “Job you are a sinner and deserve all that’s happened to you.” But there was so much Elihu did not know and he overlooked something which we richly enjoy - the love of God for His children.
The picture Elihu gave of God was wonderful in many ways, but it was only one aspect of God. The personal presence and knowledge of God which we have is a greater privilege than we really appreciate.
Elihu didn’t help Job very much but then God came and spoke personally to Job and he was satisfied. Job was answered. He still didn’t understand everything but he saw himself as unworthy of God’s goodness and came to trust Him in a fresh way. That story is ahead of us in our readings over the next two days. It is a thrilling message for us all.