Job 35 Elihu Reminds Job of God’s Justice
Then Elihu said: “Do you think it is right for you to claim, ‘I am righteous before God’? For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for me? What’s the use of living a righteous life?’
“I will answer you and all your friends, too. Look up into the sky, and see the clouds high above you. If you sin, how does that affect God? Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him? If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him? No, your sins affect only people like yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans.”
“People cry out when they are oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty. Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my Creator, the one who gives songs in the night? Where is the one who makes us smarter than the animals and wiser than the birds of the sky?’
“And when they cry out, God does not answer because of their pride. But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen, to say the Almighty isn’t concerned. You say you can’t see him, but he will bring justice if you will only wait. You say he does not respond to sinners with anger and is not greatly concerned about wickedness. But you are talking nonsense, Job. You have spoken like a fool.”
Well, for a guy who has claimed to honor his elders, Elihu certainly doesn’t hesitate to repeatedly insult Job. This part of Elihu’s rant is a perfect example of being theologically correct while being morally insensitive.
A little of Elihu goes a very long way! First, Elihu wants to be snarky about how God refuses to notice whether people are good or bad. But we know that when we do what God wants us to, we give Him joy. True, God is eternal and all-powerful, but God is also all-knowing and merciful. People on the other hand, are swift to judge and slow to be compassionate.
Obviously, Elihu is full of himself, sure that HE has never sinned, nor will he. Judging people who have cried out to God? Come on, Elihu! How do you know that God refuses to answer those people? God is far more compassionate than any person can be, and only God knows the human heart. If people cry out to God sincerely, God WILL answer. How can those people know that God gives songs in the night if they have never been in God’s presence at night?
While much of Elihu’s discourse is tiresome, the phrase about songs in the night is a gem. Many times, it’s far easier to pray at night than in the daytime, for there are fewer distractions, less noise, and it’s easier to hear from God. Many times, I have returned from doing an emergency nighttime operation to spend time sitting quietly before the Lord. I emphasize being quiet because prayer is a two-way communication and it’s impossible to hear from God when you’re making noise.
Benefiting from studying Elihu’s speeches requires “chewing up the meat and spitting out the bones.” Parts of Elihu’s speech glisten while the rest of it is barely endurable.
Years ago, we had a friend who prided himself on defending the Gospel, no matter what. But our friend was so focused on winning arguments that he lost sight of the fact that the Gospel is all about love. Elihu is a lot like our friend-so bent on gaining points in debate that he has lost all compassion for anyone failing to bow to his superior statements. In the end, all we can say is, “OUCH! Don’t be like Elihu!”
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to listen rather than judge and to remember that You are Your own best defense. Help us to be compassionate rather than arrogant. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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