Bible Commentaries
Job 35

Verses 1-16

JOB - CHAPTER 35

ELIHU FURTHER CONFRONTS JOB

Verses 1-16:

Verses 1, 2 recount Elihu’s further direct inquiry of Job, as he asked Job, "do you really consider yourself to be right in saying, my righteousness is more than God’s?" Elihu put these words in Job’s mouth, claiming that this was virtually his testimony, as he had heard it, Job 4:17.

Verse 3 continues to charge Job with having sins, in essence, what profit would it be to me, or what advantage does a righteous man have over a wicked man, since both are often afflicted in identical ways, a veritable truth, Job 21:15; Job 34:9.

Verses 4, 5 add that Elihu said directly to Job, "I will answer or respond to both you and your companions (three friends with you)." He asked all of them to look to the heavens, the clouds above, and observe them, to learn a lesson of natural phenomena, from the God. Job 34:8; Job 34:36; Job 22:12.

Verse 6-8 inquire and assent directly of Job, that if he continually sins, just what are you really doing against, in rebellion against Him? Or if his transgressions multiplied, just what did that do against God? He remained righteous, didn’t he? God was not hurt in character by any number of sins Job may have done, Jeremiah 7:19.

Verse 7 adds that if Job did exist as an absolutely righteous man, which he maintained, did that give anything to God? Or did God receive anything of Job’s hands, any help, if Job was righteous, as he maintained? Proverbs 9:12. Would his sins not hurt a man and his goodness profit God nothing? Luke 17:10.

Verse 9 asserts that by reason of multitudes of oppressions, the oppressed are caused to cry; and they cry by reason of the arm of the mighty, those greater than they, as attested Exodus 2:23; Exodus 3:7; Exodus 3:9; Nehemiah 5:1-5; Job 24:12; Psalms 12:5; Psalms 43:2; Ecclesiastes 4:1.

Verses 10, 11 add however that none oppressed asks, "Where is God my maker who gives songs in the night?" Jeremiah 2:6; Jeremiah 2:8; Isaiah 51:13; There is none who cries with joys of deliverance in the night, because they do not seek the deliverer, Psalms 42:8; Psalms 149:5; Acts 16:25; Psalms 126:2; Ecclesiastes 12:1. He on high teaches more than beasts of the field and makes us to be wiser than the fowls of heaven that seek shelter from nature’s anger of storm, sleet, and cold, Psalms 8:6; 1 John 5:20; Job 28:21.

Verses 12, 13 state that there, or then, v.10, when none humbly falls before God, they cry against Him, rather than humbly to Him. The idea is that the purpose of suffering is to humble the afflicted. And no answer can be had to a prayer for relief until pride gives place to humility through penitent prayer, Psalms 10:4; Jeremiah 13:17; See too Psalms 18:41; Proverbs 1:28; John 9:31. Elihu adds that God will not hear pleas of vanity, which he insinuates is evident in Job, nor will He regard his prayers as anything other than a cry of the wicked, Job 27:9; Proverbs 15:29.

Verse 14 continues that thou Job said he should not see the Lord as a temporal deliverer from affliction, yet judgment was to remain his lot, therefore Elihu admonishes him to keep on trusting in Him, Job 19:7; Job 30:20; Proverbs 3:3-5; Proverbs 31:5; Psalms 37:7.

Verse 15 adds that because Job did not wait patiently and trustingly, v.14, God has visited him in His anger; yet Job does not recognize it in his great extremity of his sins, for which he is afflicted, Numbers 20:12; Zephaniah 3:2; Micah 7:9; Job 7:20; Job 11:6.

Verse 16 concludes that Job therefore opens his mouth for release from his just afflictions, in vain, multiplying his words without knowledge, rashly, in vain, Job 3:1; Job 34:35; Job 34:37; Job 38:2.