“Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered,” Job 4:1
For 7 days, Job’s 3 friends sat silent with him to sympathize and grieve. We’re told that when they saw him “and did not recognize him, they raised their voices and wept.” Finally, Job speaks, and rather than continue in silence, praying for their friend, we have today’s verse! They would have done well to heed Solomon’s words about a “time to be silent”!
Each of us knows the ease of giving others counsel, but the difficulty in hearing it. When our Faith is being stretched and refined, there is usually nothing anyone can say or do that will help. Better to put our hands on our mouths and be Quiet! That’s not to say there isn’t a time when a “Choice Word spoken in Season” is appropriate; it’s just that we find too many Seasons to do so! May God give us silent mouths and praying hearts.