Job 32:18-20

18 For I am full [male'] of matter [millah], the spirit [ruwach] within [beten] me constraineth [tsuwq] me.

19 Behold, my belly [beten] is as wine [yayin] which hath no vent [pathach]; it is ready to burst [baqa`] like new [chadash] bottles ['owb].

20 I will speak [dabar], that I may be refreshed [ravach]: I will open [pathach] my lips [saphah] and answer [`anah]. KJV-Interlinear

18 'For I am full of words; The spirit within me constrains me. 19 'Behold, my belly is like unvented wine, Like new wineskins it is about to burst. 20 'Let me speak that I may get relief; Let me open my lips and answer. NASB

New wine skins hold new wine. When the wine is in its state of fermentation, it gives off vapors which when contained, create pressure. In bags made of skins, the bags can burst under the strain unless opened to release the pressure.

In his youth, Elihu is anxious, full of energy, full of words which will make him simply burst apart, as he uses the expression, if he is not allowed to speak and get the words out.

But the spirit within him, and this is the lesson of the day, constrains him such that he withholds himself until everyone has had their say and until he has an opportunity, and their permission, to speak.

When a person is born, he is born physically alive but spiritually dead. The body has biological life residing in the physical body, and the soul has human life residing within the soul.

When a person believes in the Savior (Christ), then he receives a new birth. This is often times called being reborn, or born again. At the instant of belief, God creates a human spirit and imputes eternal life within it. Now a person is body, soul, and spirit. Each are the respective vessels of their respective lives - biological, human, and eternal life.

During ones life, you will be under the control of the sin nature or the Holy Spirit depending on whether you have confessed your sins to the Father or not.

When you sin, or when you disregard the spiritual aspects of your life (you sin by default), then you are said to be out of fellowship. In this case you live your life as a slave to the sin nature.

When you confess your sins (this applies to believers only), then you are said to be in fellowship, and live your life under the control of the Holy Spirit. 'In the spirit,' is an expression for being in fellowship.

And so Elihu, though he is young, explains here that he is speaking while he is in fellowship, under the control of the spirit, while he applies self discipline to his own actions by respecting the elders, and by holding his tongue in their presence.

It is this self-discipline which he has trained himself in, by learning manners and respect and so forth, that constrains him.

Confession of sin, daily Bible study, and all of the repetition that occurs in this process, serve as excellent training devices and learning tools for spiritual growth.

And note, these methods apply only to believers. Unbelievers lack a human spirit, which is the critical link for having a relationship with God and the spiritual side of life. No human spirit (which comes only through faith in Christ), no spiritual life.

Elihu is itching to speak, and feels like he will explode if told to keep still. But he has great poise and self discipline restraining him despite his emotional feelings in the matter.

Now is the time to post a prayer.