Choosing our Words!

Job 32-34 and Luke 18 Self-Righteous Hypocrisy

For the first time, we hear from the young man Elihu. In reading this, one NT story comes to mind: the story of the self-righteous Pharisee and the humble Publican in Luke 18:9-14. It is amazing how the OT and the NT mirror each other. Enter Elihu, who has sat on the sidelines biding his time to speak, and he ‘humbly’ says I waited until you all had had your turn and Job as well. First, Elihu is angry because they could not find an answer, yet declared Job guilty. Then he becomes very angry! Elihu speaks for several chapters about how unrighteous Job is and how righteous he is. It sounds like the prayer of the Pharisee in Luke 18:11: I am so glad I am not like that other man, I do this, and I do that; indeed God is pleased. However, God said that it was not he, but the publican that went home justified.

Such hypocrisy! Do we become angry at one another? Are we much like the Pharisee? The lesson for us is this: we are not in the place of God. Who are we to declare someone guilty before God? In this, we act like the Pharisee and not the Publican. Today, choose our words carefully for one day we will be held accountable for every word spoken! [Mt 12:36]