Job

Job Chapter 34

Elihu Asserts God's Justice

Job 34:1 Furthermore Elihu answered and said,
2 Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3 For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
4 Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

These first words tend to be directed at Job's other three visitors. He speaks about the things he also is accusing Job of. Elihu continues speaking until chapter 38. These do not seem to be bad things to say so we search here for a motive and who the words are directed at.

Job 34:5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.
6 Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

He speaks of Job exercising his right to speak and defend himself.

Job 34:7 What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?
8 Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.
9 For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

He accusations against Job is almost exactly like the words of the other 3 men who was attacking Job. When people go through these things we need to diligently pray for them because we can't always see their innermost being. Most of us would cry out and try to understand in this situation. Elihu is accusing Job of acting like those that are workers of iniquity and wickedness that accuse and blame God. That we know Job isn't doing it by thinking badly of God but is just going through a horrible time and he is confused about why. It might sound like Job is really blasting God and accusing God of being wicked but I don't see that Job is going that far in his words. He just is so miserable that he is just venting.

Job 34:10 Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.
11 For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
12 Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Again like the others, they may speak true words about God but applying it to the wrong person.

Job 34:13 Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?

God did give Adam dominion over the earth. He gives us a freewill to choose. He does not force us to obey His word but allows us to continue until the time we leave our bodies and enter into eternity. Yet His Holy Spirit will try to draw us to Jesus for cleansing of sin and being reconciled to God that sin separates us from. If we receive this, we face an eternity with God, of not we will be judged according to our sins if our sins have not been forgiven through our faith in Christ Jesus. Before Jesus came they could be saved by looking forward to the time when God sends the savior to die for our sins. The prayers and sacrifices was to be acts of faith in God to provide salvation. That is why God accepted Abel's sacrifice but not Cain's. Cain's heart was not right as we see later. We can read In Hebrew's 11 about the faith of many gone on before us. It mentions Cain and Abel in that chapter also.

Job 34:14 If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;
15 All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

The breath is part of us that keeps the body alive. It is not the same as the spirit and soul which is the inner person that does not die. The spirit and soul leave the body when the breath leaves and the body dies. Some of this is a mystery to us but there is a part of us that rejects God or receives God into our innermost being. That is a part of us that is a witness to the presence of God. At times we may feel God's presence in our flesh but the inner spirit is what believes or rejects God. Jesus came to give us eternal life in which at the resurrection we receive a new body to house the soul and spirit which does not die. The ones that reject God suffer eternally as a soul and spirit but do not receive a new body. At least that is my understanding of it. Further study and diligently seeking God will bring out the truth of these things if we desire to know them. Only the outward flesh dies permanently.

Job 34:16 If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.
17 Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?
18 Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?
19 How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.
20 In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.

Wicked tyrants who are rich and oppress the poor will die just like the poor they are oppressing. They reap what they sow. I don't think this applies to Job but it seems like using good words are aimed at Job. Job does not hate God. If these men who are with Job had to go through the same things, they would see the innocence of Job. Job is crying out for understanding and help. His going through a very hard time. He just lost his children. Any one of us would be confused and bewildered.

Job 34:21 For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.

No one can hide from God. That is for sure.

Job 34:22 There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.
23 For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.

The judge of all the earth shall always do right. Nothing is hid from Him. We can't hide from Him. In this Elihu's words are exactly right.

Job 34:24 He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
25 Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.
26 He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;
27 Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:

Here are the words of Daniel concerning God who sets up kingdoms and tears them down when the people depart from Him and do evil.

Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.

We can be glad also that God also sees it when a person is righteous and others accuse them of things they didn't do.

Job 34:28 So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
29 When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:
30 That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

All these words are true when it comes to God's caring for the poor and bringing judgment upon any that oppress the poor and does not help them. It is true many things that Elihu says but it seems as if he continually casts these good words to accuse Job.

In Proverbs we read:

Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.

Good words that comfort and bring assurance is what should be given to Job in his time of suffering. It has to be done in a way that does not condemn an innocent person and does not make assumptions when God does not send them or instruct them to do so. God has used many prophets in the past to correct, warn of God's judgment and leads many to repentance but in Job's case they are using good words to attack instead of comforting.

Job 34:31 Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:
32 That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.
33 Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest.
34 Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.
35 Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
36 My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
37 For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Oh my how these words must be hurting Job. It sounds like Elihu wants Job to keep suffering until he repents. It's like saying repent, repent when the poor soul doesn't know what he is to repent of. He accuses Job of rebellion and lacking wisdom. It seems as if all 4 of Job's visitors have forgotten the Job that helped the poor, lived righteously and did good. The only thing Job did wrong was to assume God sent these things upon him. He didn't understand. That is all. He was forced to defend himself against accusations and that caused him to say things he normally wouldn't say if he had not been in pain and suffering. No one could be full of joy and in this right mind having lost all his children and his body be covered with painful sores. These guys are cruel. DC

Job Chapter 35