The Book of Job Can Help You When You Counsel - HOW ELIHU COUNSELED JOB

 By the time Job and his companions stopped arguing, the atmosphere must have been tense. Those men had spoken enough words to fill 28 chapters of the Bible, and what much of what was said was spoken in anger or out of frustration. No wonder Job's pain remained! He still needed comfort and correction. How did Jehovah help Job? He used Elihu to give him counsel. Why did Elihu not speak up sooner? "I am young, he said, "and you men are aged. I respectfully held back." (Job 32:6, 7) Young Elihu realized what many come to realize today: Older ones have lived and learned and, as a result, have wisdom as well as experience in life that younger ones often do not have. But after listening patiently to Job and his companions, Elihu could no longer keep silent. He said: "Age alone does not make one wise, nor is it only old men who understand what is right." (Job 32:9) What did Elihu say next, and did he say it?

Before Elihu gave Job any counsel, he created the right atmosphere. How? First, he got his own emotions under control. We know this because the Bible says that at first Elihu was angry. (Job32:2-5) Yet, not once did Elihu attack Job out of frustration. On the contrary, he spoke reassuringly to him. For example, he said to Job: "Look! I am just like you before the true God." (Read Job 33:6, 7.) Then Elihu made it clear that he had listened carefully to Job. In fact, he summarized the key points in Job's six speeches.  (Job 32:11; 33:8-11) Elihu did something similar when again offered Job counsel. - JOB 34:5, 6, 9; 35:1-4. 

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