Bible Commentaries
Job 34

3. Now on to Chapter 34

H. Job_34:1-9 (NKJV) Elihu further answered and said:

2 "Hear my words, you wise [men]; Give ear to me, you who have knowledge.

3 For the ear tests words As the palate tastes food.

4 Let us choose justice for ourselves; Let us know among ourselves what [is] good.

5 "For Job has said, `I am righteous, But God has taken away my justice;

6 Should I lie concerning my right? My wound [is] incurable, [though] [I] [am] without transgression.'

7 What man [is] like Job, [Who] drinks scorn like water,

8 Who goes in company with the workers of iniquity, And walks with wicked men?

9 For he has said, `It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God. '

1. He says, "Listen up," to Job's friends as well as Job!

2. "Job has said that God had wounded him for no reason, but even his response has put him in the company of sinners."

a) Because the message he has sent out by that statement basically says, "It profits a man nothing That he should delight in God."

(1) When Christians complain about their lives it sends the same message today!

(2) It tells the world that Christianity is a joke, and that there is not God who really cares about man!!

I. Job_34:10-12 (NKJV) "Therefore listen to me, you men of understanding: Far be it from God [to] [do] wickedness, And [from] the Almighty to [commit] iniquity.

11 For He repays man [according] [to] his work, And makes man to find a reward according to [his] way.

12 Surely God will never do wickedly, Nor will the Almighty pervert justice.

1. God cannot do or be wicked or unjust!It is against His nature!

J. Job_34:31-37 (NKJV) "For has [anyone] said to God, `I have borne [chastening]; I will offend no more;

32 Teach me [what] I do not see; If I have done iniquity, I will do no more'?

33 Should He repay [it] according to your [terms], [Just] because you disavow it? You must choose, and not I; Therefore speak what you know.

34 "Men of understanding say to me, Wise men who listen to me:

35 `Job speaks without knowledge, His words [are] without wisdom.'

36 Oh, that Job were tried to the utmost, Because [his] answers [are] [like] those of wicked men!

37 For he adds rebellion to his sin; He claps [his] [hands] among us, And multiplies his words against God."

1. "Job you would be better of throwing yourself upon the mercy of the court instead of trying to justify yourself!"

2. "Just because you cannot `see' or understand the thing in your life that the Lord is dealing with, should He change who He is just for you?"

3. "Job, you speak without wisdom."

a) Remember we said at the beginning that age does not guarantee wisdom!

b) Elihu ends these verses telling Job that he hopes that the Lord doesn't let up until he can magnify the Lord instead of justifying himself!

4. Now we conclude with a brief look at Chapters 35-37.

K. Job_35:1-8 (NKJV) Moreover Elihu answered and said:

2 "Do you think this is right? Do you say, `My righteousness is more than God's'?

3 For you say, `What advantage will it be to You? What profit shall I have, more than [if] I had sinned?'

4 "I will answer you, And your companions with you.

5 Look to the heavens and see; And behold the clouds--They are higher than you.

6 If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him? Or, [if] your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?

7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him? Or what does He receive from your hand?

8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you, And your righteousness a son of man.

1. It appears that in the back of this young man's mind is the thought that Job figures that he is dying anyway and things can't get any worse, so why admit that he is at fault?

a) There is no proof that this was in Job's heart, but it is an interesting deduction!

2. Based upon this deduction, the thought here is this:

a) Man's sin or his righteousness will not change the Lord one iota in the long run!

b) But, it will affect the life of a man a great deal.

(1) In other words, we are not making the Lord any greater by living Godly lives, but we are better people for doing so!

(2) So, Job giving the Lord His rightful place in his heart could only result in his own good!

L. Job_36:4-7 (NKJV) For truly my words [are] not false; One who is perfect in knowledge [is] with you.

5 "Behold, God [is] mighty, but despises [no] [one]; [He] [is] mighty in strength of understanding.

6 He does not preserve the life of the wicked, But gives justice to the oppressed.

7 He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But [they] [are] on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.

1. Elihu assures Job that the Lord is the only one is perfect in knowledge, and that he is with him!

2. He also assures him that the Lord despises [no][one],

a) Something Job had forgotten.

3. He remind him that God is just.

4. And that the Lord sees Job's pain!

M. Job_36:22-23 (NKJV) "Behold, God is exalted by His power; Who teaches like Him?

23 Who has assigned Him His way, Or who has said, `You have done wrong'? (To the Lord)

N. Job_37:22-24 (NKJV) He comes from the north [as] golden [splendor]; With God [is] awesome majesty.

23 As [for] the Almighty, we cannot find Him; [He] [is] excellent in power, [In] judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.

24 Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any [who] [are] wise of heart."

III. CONCLUSION

A. The next time you feel like complaining about your life remember these things from Elihu's speech:

1. Being old, or powerful (successful) doesn't necessarily guarantee wisdom and understanding.

a) No matter how long you have been in the Lord, ask yourself if you really have the wisdom to question the Lord!

2. God is greater than man, and He doesn't have to give an account or explain what He does!"

a) It is nice when He does, but He is not "required to."

3. The Lord often does what He does In order to turn man [from] [his] deed, And conceal pride from man, VS 17

4. God's motivation is ALWAYS just! It is against His nature to be anything other! ( Rom_8:28 )

5. What we say about the Lord in the middle of a trial can either be a great witness or an awful one!

6. It is a lot smarter to throw ourselves upon the Lord's mercy that to try and justify ourselves!