愤怒青年
约伯记三十二章1至14节
1于是，这三个人因约伯自以为义，就不再回答他。
2那时，有布西人兰族巴拉迦的儿子以利户向约伯发怒，因约伯自以为义，不以神为义。
3他又向约伯的三个朋友发怒，因为他们想不出回答的话来，仍以约伯为有罪。
4以利户要与约伯说话，就等候他们，因为他们比自己年老。
5以利户见这三个人口中无话回答，就怒气发作。
6布西人巴拉迦的儿子以利户回答说：“我年轻，你们老迈，因此我退让，不敢向你们陈说我的意见。
7我说：‘年老的当先说话；寿高的当以智慧教训人。’
8但在人里面有灵；全能者的气使人有聪明。
9尊贵的不都有智慧；寿高的不都能明白公平。
10因此我说：你们要听我言，我也要陈说我的意见。
11你们查究所要说的话；那时我等候你们的话，侧耳听你们的辩论，
12留心听你们。谁知你们中间无一人折服约伯，驳倒他的话。
13你们切不可说：‘我们寻得智慧；神能胜他，人却不能。’
14约伯没有向我争辩，我也不用你们的话回答他。
信息分享
有趣的是，「以利户」这个名字意即「祂是我的神」；而他父亲的名字，则解作「神祝福」。约伯记若是圣经最古老的经卷之一，那么，当时的人一定普遍认识神，纵然认识有限，也会经常想到神。
这位愤怒青年的发言占据了六章经文，总共165节。他究竟说了些甚么呢？他经常提及神，并且对神的属性和工作有一些精辟的见解；可是，他所认识的神，只是一位满有爱心的朋友，却是非常的有限。
以利户直言神无须向我们解释祂的作为。祂是至高无上的主宰，可以随祂的意思而行。「约伯，你说神不说话，这是错误的。」（12至19节）祂透过许多方式说话。神永远正确（三十四10-12）；神知道一切（三十四21-23），当然知道自己正在做甚么，所以你可以信靠祂。
然而，以利户就像那三个朋友一样，重复同一个主题：「约伯，你犯了罪，所以一切发生在你身上的事，都是罪有应得。」他对神的认识非常偏狭，也忽略了一个最重要的事实：神爱护祂的儿女。
以利户用很多方式很好地形容神，但那只是神的其中一面。我们对神的亲身经历，以及我们所认识的神，实在让我们知道神的恩典无比丰厚。
以利户对约伯无甚帮助，到最后，当神亲自向约伯说话，约伯才终于感到满意。神解答了约伯的问题。他虽然不能明白每一件事，可是，他终于看到自己不配得神的恩惠，于是，便以一种前所未有的方式信靠祂。这些章节我们还会在接着的两天查考，我们会在当中看到一些令人震奋的信息。
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.