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The Holy Spirit Guides Wisdom

July 3rd, 2025

Job 32:1-9.   

We know that words have the ability to build or to destroy, but how do we know what words to use? The story of Job gives us a great answer to this question. In Job 32, we see one of Job’s friends, Elihu, finally speak up after three of their older friends had spoken. He waited because they had more wisdom by virtue of their age, but then he adds, “It is the spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding,” not their age (v. 8).

This is helpful for us to remember as well, that the Holy Spirit will help us know what to say. The Holy Spirit can guide our words when we are open His leading. Elihu is not a good example of this principle at work, as his arguments proved to be no wiser than that of his elders. In the end, Job was proved right, and the conventional wisdom of his friends was proved wrong.

All the same, we don’t need to be the oldest one in the room, or even the most well-spoken; we just need to lean on the Spirit of God to guide our words. When we lean on the Spirit, we will have the wisdom to know when to speak and when to be silent.

Author: Robbie Cansler