From time to time, as any of us who have attended church services could testify, we have noticed some folks will look at their watches, while the preacher is speaking. Usually, it probably indicates the sermon has gone on for some time, and at least a few listeners wonder when it might end. I don’t doubt that the act has not gone unnoticed by many pastors, because I’ve heard some of them comment on it in their sermons, which may indicate that the feeling is mutual. That is, they realize the sermon is longer than usual, and they feel a need to apologize. Nevertheless, I’ve never noticed anyone getting up to leave, immediately after glancing at their watches, which may point to a matter of respect, either for the pastor or the Lord, and I believe this is where we are, as Elihu continues his discourse in chapter 36 of the Book of Job.
Whatever his reason for doing so, Elihu asks for the indulgence of Job and the friends, telling them he still has a few things yet to say on God’s behalf. He believes himself to be the Lord’s advocate, and, as such, thinks he has been sent by him to Job, both to correct his bad theology and to answer questions he has asked (Job 33:6; cp. Job 9:33; 13:23). Moreover, Elihu believes the Lord has inspired him for his labor (Job 36:3; cp. 32:18) and feels he must give vent to the burden, which is upon his heart, even though he understands his monologue has become quite lengthy (Job 36:1-2; cp. Job 32:18-20).
In Job 36:3, Elihu says: “I will fetch my knowledge from afar…” but what does he mean? Is he saying that he will disclose what the Lord had privately revealed to him (cp. Luke 12:12; 21:15), or is he continuing in the very same argument Bildad offered Job saying:
“Inquire, I pray, of the former age, and apply yourself to that which their fathers have searched out (For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow). Shall not they teach you, and tell you, and utter words out of their heart” (Job 8:8-10)?
I don’t believe the ancients understood matters of the Spirit, namely, that the Lord would or could put words into one’s heart to speak in his name (Luke 12:12; 21:15). Rather, and due to the fact that mankind’s spirit was dead, and he had to be born again to receive such intimate knowledge (cp. John 3:3), the Lord had to physically appear to folks, vis-à-vis Abraham and Moses (Genesis 15:1; Exodus 3:2), or at least speak audibly to them, before anyone was able to understand what God actually said.
Therefore, it seems to me that Elihu pointed to the traditions of men, which had come down from the long-lived ancient patriarchs. They were able to acquire knowledge over hundreds of years. Their long lives made the lengths of Elihu’s and Job’s pale in comparison (Job 8:9). Surely, they would have been able to acquire a purer knowledge than could be obtained by anyone living in Job’s day. After all, under normal circumstances Elihu believed that aged folks were much more knowledgeable and were far superior in wisdom than a young man, such as himself (Job 32:6-7). So, he intended to fetch knowledge from afar back in time. In other words, he would speak out of the traditions of men, who had recorded their life’s experiences or had handed them down orally to succeeding generations, and eventually to the then present day, when Job and Elihu lived.
Elihu claims that his words are true, and he had perfect knowledge to present to the debate (Job 36:4) The problem, as I understand it, is, although Elihu didn’t accept a man’s person or give flattering titles to those in the present (Job 32:21), he did accept the persons of the ancients, whom he claimed had superior knowledge and wisdom, due to their long lives (Job 8:8-10). After Bildad brought this subject up, Job accused him of great error:
“Will you speak wickedly for God and talk deceitfully for him? Will you accept his person and contend for God? Is it good that he should search you out, or as a man mocks another, do you mock him? He will surely reprove you, if you secretly respect persons” (Job 13:8-10).
It is this that Elihu says he understood perfectly. He was able to accurately quote the traditions handed down to him, so he believed his words were true. However, Job had cautioned the friends when they thought to defend the Lord speaking out of the traditions of men. One cannot defend God by accepting another man’s person. Job claimed that God would meticulously inspect their words to see, if they accurately represented him. To claim to defend God is to invite him to judge what one says in his defense. If one accepts another man’s person, God would know it and reward it accordingly.
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