Chapter Summary

Elihu's discourse, stating his reasons for interfering.

Discussion Questions for Job, Chapter 32

1. In verse 2, why did Elihu find fault with Job’s response? Is there ever a time when Job’s justification should take priority, or that somehow both he and God could be justified? What makes Elihu’s concern such a priority?
2. What are some of the healthy signs of humility found in Elihu in verses 2-3. How might this strengthen his answer? What, then, should consist in a healthy word from Christians to one another?
3. In verse 5, the readers are told that Elihu “burned with anger” (ESV) because of the unhelpful words of Job’s three comforters. Considering Jesus’ anger in Mark 2:3-5. How could Elihu’s anger be similar to Jesus’ anger with the Pharisees?
4. Focusing on verse 8, what is the connection between man and God for wisdom? How could this connection of a man’s spirit and God’s breath be applied to anyone? How, also, could it be applied specifically to Christians in dwelled with God’s Spirit?
5. Verses 7-9 challenges the common belief that wisdom can only come from the elderly. Do you find it encouraging that the youth can be given wisdom from God rather than from their lived experiences? How might that make it difficult to share wisdom, even God’s wisdom, with someone who is older?
6. In verse 12-14, what does Elihu mean by his warning? What error does he imply they should avoid? What should Christians learn about counseling someone through suffering from Elihu’s warning?
7. If you were in Job’s point of view, specifically as his three comforters have “not a word to say” to explain your suffering, how might you be tempted to feel? What kind of conclusion would Job experience in all three men unable to respond to him further? How does this help Christians better consider God’s wisdom when human wisdom runs out?
8. How does Elihu's spirit's "constrains" (ESV, verse 18) seem in contradiction in its effect? If Elihu is speaking against his desire to stay silent, what does that speak regarding the conviction of his wisdom? How might Christians practice this as a means of discerning that God is providing wisdom? Is this a trustworthy practice?
9. Verse 19-20 uses common imagery, the picture of bottling something up. What might be another circumstance where someone would bottle up until the exact right moment? Using this scenario as a template, when must Christians speak into difficult situations?
10. As Elihu gives final comments on what he will say, he clarifies in verse 21-22 that he will not use “flattery” (ESV) of any kind. How would flattery affect the wisdom Elihu is offering? Can you think of other times when someone would misapply your wisdom if you also offered them flattery alongside wisdom? What are some characteristics you could give this kind of wisdom being given to Job, just in considering this passage from Elihu?

Key Words/Phrase

Opinions, vv. 6, 17.

Characters

God, Job, Elihu, friends.

Strong Verse(s)

8, 21.