Bible Commentaries
Job 34

Verses 1-37

Job gave no answer to the challenge, and Elihu proceeded. He first appealed to the wise men, asked that they would listen in order to try his words. He then made two quotations from the things Job had been saying. The first may be summarized as a contention, that he had been afflicted by God notwithstanding his integrity. This quotation is followed by an exclamation in which Elihu declared that in this attitude Job had been in the company of wicked men. The second quotation was one in which Job had suggested that nothing is gained by loyalty to God. Of course, neither of these quotations was direct. They rather summarize the conclusions which Job's arguments seemed to warrant. Elihu immediately set himself to answer both. In this section the first only is dealt with. Elihu affirmed first that God cannot do wickedness. God's authority is beyond all appeal. He cannot be influenced by any low motive. Therefore whatever He does is right.

Elihu proceeded to argue that God's government is based on perfect knowledge. He sees all man's goings. There is no need for Him to institute special trial. His judgments are the outcome of His understanding.

Therefore it is the wisdom of man to submit and learn. This Job had not done, but in what he had said he had at least suggested that God's action had been unjust, and thus rebellion was added to sin.