Job 35
Elihu continues, asking Job:
Do you think this to be just?
Job 35:2-3
Do you say, “It is my right before God,”
that you ask, “What advantage have I?
How am I better off than if I had sinned?”
Elihu answers with the observation that Job’s sins do not hurt God, and his righteous acts do not enhance God — but his acts affect others. (Job 35:4-8) Regardless of Job’s goodness, God owes him nothing — and it’s not about Job anyway. That is to say, our motivation for righteousness should not just be what we get out of it, but how others benefit. (At least that’s how I read these verses. I’d be interested to hear what others think.)
Elihu then goes on to describe how people cry out under oppression but in their pride fail to seek or even acknowledge God, and so God does not pay any regard to their empty cry. (Job 35:9-13) Turning his attention back to Job specifically, Elihu continues:
How much less when you say that you do not see Him,
Job 35:14-16
that the case is before Him, and you are waiting for Him!
And now, because His anger does not punish,
and He does not take much note of transgression,
Job opens his mouth in empty talk;
he multiplies words without knowledge.
If God is silent toward Job, it is because Job has been asking the wrong questions and asking them in pride. Job has arrogantly put together a legal defense and challenged God. But not recognizing God’s silence as mercy and restraint, Job has continued digging his hole deeper and deeper.
How often I have done the same! In my discontent (for whatever reason) I “cry out” to God, but with an underlying attitude of resentment. And then I grow more discontent at what I perceive as stonewall silence from God. May I listen to Elihu and learn from Job’s experience! Perhaps a little humility when approaching the Almighty would be in order…
I think John said it all pretty well today; not much that I can add, except that I was struck by verses 9-11: Men cry out under great oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the mighty. But no one asks, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives us songs in the night, who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?’ I think Elihu has described a very large swath of humanity quite well. We cry out to God when we are in need, but have little or no recognition of Him when things are going well. We fail to see His work and acknowledge Him in the beauty of His creation all around us, but oh, when things aren’t going well…! Too true, Elihu!