Job 35
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CHAPTER 35
Elihu Continues (35:1–16)
1–3 Elihu continues to challenge Job's former statements. According to Elihu, Job had said, “I will be cleared (vindicated) by God” (verse 2). Yet at the same time Job had implied that God was unjust because He didn't reward the righteous. “. . . what do I him all that he has lost gain by not sinning?” Job had asked (verse 3). Again Elihu is misquoting Job (see Job 34:9). Elihu is trying to catch Job in an inconsistency: Why should Job seek God's justice if he doesn't think God is just? Of course, in his heart Job did believe God was just; but he was perplexed by God's willingness to let an innocent man suffer.
4–8 Elihu says that Job shouldn't expect to be rewarded for being righteous; how does his righteousness benefit God? It doesn't. God is too great to be affected by what mere humans do (verses 6–7); humans can only affect each other (verse 8). Here Elihu is revealing his ignorance of God: God is greatly affected by our behavior. He is our loving heavenly Father who grieves over our sins and takes pleasure in our obedience.
9–16 Here Elihu explains to Job why God has not answered his calls for help, for vindication. Elihu says many oppressed people call out for help, but they don't call out to God (verses 9–10). God is the only One who can give them relief and joy—songs (verse 10)—and also wisdom (verse 11). But He does not answer them because of their arrogance (verse 12): they do not put their trust in God. Therefore, their plea for help is empty (verse 13). In the same way, Job's plea to be heard by God is also empty (verse 16)—especially when Job arrogantly criticizes God for ignoring wickedness on the earth (verse 15). Here Elihu has misunderstood Job's feelings toward God: Job has called out to God directly, not in arrogance or disbelief but in the hope of seeing God become his friend once more.
In every generation there are basically righteous people like Job who experience prolonged suffering. They cry out to God, but He does not seem to hear. Elihu could have offered Job a truer explanation for God's silence: namely, Job's suffering had not yet accomplished its purpose. Whenever God seems to ignore our cries of distress, it is not because He is unwilling or unable to deliver us; it is because His work of testing and refining us is not yet complete. For this reason, we can thank God in every circumstance—even in our distress (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).