Youthful Zeal and Hasty Speech

I certainly would like to have a big dose of youthful zeal and energy this morning. I slept in since this is Thursday and many of you have been advising me to get more rest. After checking with Odell to see if when we are going to finish some work we need to do together outside, I made plans for going to town this morning and meeting with him after lunch. We 've got a big job this afternoon digging some 6o plus feet of ditch a little more than 3 feet wide and installing 10 pieces of filtration system. Yes, a little youthful zeal and energy could go a long way, but I'll haveto settle for just plain old middle-age tenacity.

Our reading this morning introduced us to Elihu, the youngest of Job's "friends." For some time he has shown the wisdom to keep his mouth shut, but youthful zeal can only be restrained for so long. Eventually it erupts as wine bursting from a wineskin, to use his own analogy. Elihu takes an interesting position. He speaks against the other friends of Job, declaring that they have not given a reason for their chastisement and therefore their condemnation is unjust. Then he begins to give a discourse to defend God, claiming that Job's comments about his righteousness and integrity are offensive because God is just and righteous. Therefore he declares that Job is in error to be so bold in his speech and ought to hold his tongue. Then his zealous speech goes so far that he says,

'Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.'
Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!
Job 34:35-36 (NIV)

Unfortunately Elihu's own words condemn himself, because he is the one who is speaking without knowledge. I think that there are two lessons in this reading. The first is that we should be swift to hear but slow to speak as James tells us in James 1:19. Elihu claims to have waited but I believe he should have continued exercise restraint. Secondly we shoul always remember that with the same judgment we judge we will be judged. Elihu didn't know that God Himself had declared the righteousness of Job at the beginning of this book. Unfortunately, youthful zeal is often coupled with ignorance. However, let us be gracious to Elihu. Who knows when we may need some grace for our hasty speech and ignorant words.

My prayer today is that God will set a watch over my mouth that my words will edify and encourage others. May God bless your day.