“Be assured that my words are not false;
    one who has perfect knowledge is with you.”
Job 36:4 (NIV)

I remember a college history course in which we were to write a ten-page paper. I don’t even remember the assignment. What I do remember was a young man in the class who immediately and vociferously objected to the large red “F” the professor had written on his paper.

“Dr. Clossman!? How could I have failed?! The assignment was a ten page paper and my paper was 35 pages long?!”

“Yes,” Dr. Clossman answered, “but you wrote 35 pages and didn’t say anything!”

Along my life journey, I’ve occasionally encountered individuals who have an endless supply of words while at the same time possessing the social awareness of a slab of granite. The result is that they will talk non-stop while not being able to pick up on the non-verbal social cues of their listeners that it’s time to stop talking and let someone else have a word. When I encounter individuals like this I often play a game in which I time how many minutes the person will talk non-stop if I just let them go.

I’m kind of feeling that way with young Eli.

Today’s chapter is just the first half of Eli the younger’s fourth and final discourse. He is on a roll, and not in a good way. Neither Job, nor any of the three elders have piped up and so young Eli’s stream of words is going to keep flowing. He starts his final discourse full of bluster. He is God’s chosen representative, and has so much to teach these ignorant old men. He is full of “knowledge from afar” and with his presence “perfect knowledge” has arrived to teach Job truth.

Young Eli then goes on to falsely accuse Job of preferring evil to repentance. But that’s 180 degrees different than God’s estimation of Job as “blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” So, young Eli’s knowledge is less than perfect. Though, the young man does say some things that are true. Even the worst players on Jeopardy! get a couple of questions right.

In the quiet this morning, I counted how many verses young Eli has spoken non-stop. When I get through the final half of his fourth discourse next monday, the young man will have spoken 156 verses. Then I counted how many verses God speaks in the subsequent chapters. God says what He has to say in 127 verses.

I end this week with two lessons resonating in my soul:

1. When saying something, make sure I have something to say.
2. Talk less than God.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.