Job 35:1

Job 35:1 says, Elihu spake moreover, and said,  Elihu was not yet finished in his statements to Job.  He now was responding to some of the things that Job had claimed to be true.  If we are to evaluate the statements of other people, we need to be sure that we know what they really said.  Verse two asks, Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?  Elihu asked Job if he thought that it was right for Job to declare himself more righteous than God.  If we begin to claim that God is unfair in His treatment of us, this is really what we are claiming.  If God is unfair, then we by necessity must be more righteous than He is.  Elihu asked Job if he thought it was right for him to feel this way.  As followers of Christ, we will never be blameless if we claim that God is being unfair in His relationship to us, especially if that feeling is based on material things.  Verse three states, For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?  I believe that Elihu was saying that Job felt that there was no advantage to serving God if he was allowed to suffer so much.  If we are serving God only to receive material blessings, then we are ultimately going to face that question.  We must serve God because of Who He is, and not to gain material things from God.  In verse four Elihu said, I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.  Elihu said he would answer not only Job, but his friends as well.  Just as Job was wrong to question God, so were his friends were wrong to condemn Job as a hypocrite.  At times, both sides may be wrong in their assessment of each other.  His friends and Job both felt morally superior to the other.  Elihu was there to lead both sides to a better understanding of God.  We today should pray for God to send us a voice of reason if we are in dispute with fellow believers about the will and nature of God.  Verse five says, Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.  I believe that Elihu was saying that for Job's friends and Job to receive an answer they were going to have to look upward, or to God.  We are never going to find answers to spiritual questions in material things.  Only by looking to God will we find the truth.  Verse six asks, If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?  I believe Elihu was asking if Job, or anyone, were to commit the most horrible of sins and do so repeatedly how would that possibly make God any less than Who He is.  Our sins never decrease the majesty of God.  All sin can ever do is decrease the standing of the sinner before God.  I realize that sin may hurt those around us, but ultimately in a spiritual sense it is only between a person and God.  Verse seven asks, If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?  Elihu asked Job how instead of being the greatest sinner how being the most righteous person would affect God.  Our righteousness, no matter how great it may be, in no way makes God indebted to us.  We can never become righteous enough to stand before God without an Advocate.  In verse eight Elihu declares, Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.   I believe that Elihu was saying that even though our actions, whether wicked or righteous, might affect those around us, they in no way changed God.  If we are followers of Christ, the first thing we have to acknowledge is that we are sinners.  Then, the second is that we cannot redeem ourselves, but only through Christ can we be redeemed.  After that, we must live under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  We cannot feel that God owes us anything.

Job 34:29

Job 34:29 says, 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:  I believe that Elihu was getting to the heart of the matter at this point.  If God brings quietness, or peace, into the heart of a person, then nothing is able to take that away.  I believe that this means that no matter what is happening to us in life, that if we are truly following God we will be at peace.  As Paul would later say, no matter what happened, he was content in his life because of his relationship to Christ.  Job should have been, and so should we.  Elihu said that if God hid His face, whether from a nation or an individual, that they would not find Him.  I don't believe that God ever hides Himself from His people, but we may not always understand how He is at work.  Verse thirty says, That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.  We could understand this to mean that Job was being punished because he was hypocritical, but I do not believe that is what Elihu was saying.  I believe that he was speaking of the ultimate fate of the hypocrite.  Verse thirty-one says, Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more:  Elihu told Job that people should be willing to accept chastisement from God.  Though this is not what was happening to Job, I believe that Elihu was saying that Job should not claim that God was treating him unfairly.  We should never question God's love for us, no matter what.  In verse thirty-two Elihu continues, That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.  I believe that Elihu was telling Job that even if he did not see a reason for God's chastisement that he was to ask God to reveal it and then do it no more.  I believe that Elihu was saying that we may be guilty of some sin that we really aren't aware of and that we should be willing to accept God's chastisement without attempting to claim that God is punishing us unfairly.  Verse thirty-three says, 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.  Elihu said it was not up to Job or anyone else to decide the fairness of God.  We are limited in our understanding, and God is not.  We should never attempt to force our limited understanding on God, but instead should simply follow Him in faith.  Verse thirty-four says, Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.  I believe that Elihu was asking that if what he was saying was wrong for those who understood God to tell him how.  We should never be unwilling to allow another follower of Christ to show us if we are wrong in our understanding of God.  Verse thirty-four says, Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.  Job had pronounced himself innocent, but by his complaints against God he had proven himself guilty.  Verse thirty-six says, My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.  Elihu said he hoped that Job would be tried for his answer in which he attempted to justify himself before evil men.  I believe that Elihu was speaking of Job's attempt to justify himself at the expense of proclaiming God guilty of being unfair.  Verse thirty seven states, For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.  Elihu said that Job was guilty of rebelling against God by his claim that God was guilty of treating him wrong.  If we are suffering today, we need to never allow ourselves to be guilty of blaming God of treating us unfairly.

Job 34:17

Job 34;17 says, Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just?  I believe that Elihu was asking Job how he could question God's right to judge.  Even if we feel that our suffering is a direct result of God's actions, we still have no right to question God.  We must always put our faith in God's redeeming nature.  God is not out to destroy people, which could easily do, but instead has provided for their redemption.  Verse eighteen asks, Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?  I believe that Elihu was asking how those earthly rulers would respond to our condemning them as evil and unfit.  At the time that Elihu was speaking to Job, the rulers of nations had absolute power over their subjects.  Still, their power was nothing compared to the power of God, and Job was questioning God's right to judge him and claiming that God was unfair to Him.  If Job made the same claim about those earthly rulers, he could expect that they would not allow him to continue without consequences.  Fortunately, we do have the right to question those in power in America, but that is not true everywhere.  No matter where we are though, we never have the right to question God's fairness in his judgment of anyone.  Verse nineteen says, 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.  Elihu asked Job if earthly rulers would not allow people to speak or act badly toward them, then how much more did God have the right to expect His people to not speak badly against Him.  Elihu said that their material status did not affect God's judgment.  He does not judge the rich and powerful to be more important than the weak and suffering.  Verse twenty states, 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.  No matter how powerful a person may feel in this world, they cannot guarantee that they have even another second to live.  God alone can sustain life.  God will never need people to carry out His judgment, but He does choose to work through people generally.  Verse twenty-one says, For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.  We can be certain that God not only knows our actions, but He even knows the reasons behind those actions.  Verse twenty-two declares, There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.  As Elihu stated, there is no where to hide from God.  No matter how clever we may think we are in hiding our sins from the world, God always sees them.  Verse twenty-three says, For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God,  I believe that Elihu was just once more stating that God does not judge people unfairly.  This I believe means that if God's people are suffering that God is not the direct cause of that suffering.  Verse twenty-four says, He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.  No matter how powerful the rulers of the world may be, they are powerless before God if He brings His judgment on them.  I believe this would mean that not all rulers are placed in power by God.  Verse twenty-five says, Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed.  We know that ultimately God will defeat all the evil kingdoms of the world, but it will not be until Christ returns in victory.  Verse twenty-six says, He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;  I believe that Elihu was saying that when God punishes those who rule in evil that there will be no doubt that He is the One doing it.  Verse twenty-seven says, Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways:  We may feel that this is what is happening in the world today, but there are still some who are followers of Christ at work in the world.  We need to continue to work and witness for God.  Verse twenty-eight says, So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.  I believe that Elihu was saying that when the poor are oppressed that God takes notice.  One day, God will judge all people based on their relationship to Christ, and if we are truly followers of Christ, we will have concern for those who are less fortunate than us in the material things of this world.

Job 34:1

Job 34:1 says, Furthermore Elihu answered and said,  Elihu had been addressing Job, but now he was ready to include Job's friends in what he had to say.  They may have felt that Elihu was going to agree with them and prove Job wrong, but they were mistaken.  In verse two Elihu asks, Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.  Elihu was asking those around Job, especially those who thought they were wise in their understanding of God, to listen to what he had to say.  At times, even Christians can have a faulty understanding of God and how he works in the world.  We should always be willing to listen to what other Christians have to say, and when we do, we may gain in our understanding of God.  Verse three says, For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.  I believe that Elihu was asking them to hear and evaluate what he was saying, or to get to the meat, or the underlying truth of his words.  Even when we are listening to what someone says about God, we must ensure that what they are saying is consistent with God's word.  Verse four says, Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. Elihu invited those around him, those that he had called wise men, to join him in his observations about God's truth.  Even as we listen to someone else speak about God, we as followers of Christ need to make sure that what they are saying is true.  If it is, we can then join them in agreement with what they have to say.  Verse five says, For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment.  Elihu was stating what his friends and Job were in disagreement about.  Job had said he was righteous, but that God was not judging him fairly, and his friends said Job was hypocritical.  This was the heart of their disagreement.  We need to first identify what the problem is if we are going to shed the light of God on it.  Verse six says, Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.  Elihu said that Job still felt that God was punishing him unjustly and that he suffered which ever way he turned.  If everything in life falls apart around us as followers of Christ, we can never blame God and accuse Him of treating us unjustly.  Verse seven asks, What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water?  Elihu recognized that Job was being treated badly by everyone around him.  Matthew Henry says that we could interpret this to mean that Job in his self-righteousness welcomed the scorn of others by his continued profession of innocence.  Verse eight states, Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.  Job did find himself in the company of wicked men often, and Elihu seemed to be implying that Job allowed this to influence his behavior.  Verse nine states, For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.  I believe that Elihu was saying that Job was questioning God based on his material and physical suffering, and by such was bringing dishonor to God among those who did not believe in Him.  We need to make sure that our attitude about God in any situation never brings dishonor to Him.  In verse ten, Elihu declares, 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.  Elihu said that Job's friends were wrong to think that God treated people unfairly and also that Job was wrong to question God.  We can always be sure that God will never act unfairly toward anyone.  We must simply always follow God in faith, no matter what is happening in life.  Verse eleven says, For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.  I believe that Elihu was saying that everyone would be judged by their own actions, and not just arbitrarily be blessed or cursed by God.  I know that there are some people today who believe that salvation is determined even before birth, with some chosen for salvation and others for condemnation, but this is not what God's word teaches us.  Verse twelve states, Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.  I believe that Elihu was saying that if people were judged for anything other than their own actions that God would be perverting justice.  Verse thirteen says, Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world?  Elihu asked who had given God authority over the world.  The answer is that no one has that power.  God has dominion over the world because He created and sustains it.  Verse fourteen says, If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath;  Then verse fifteen continues the thought saying, All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.  I believe that Elihu was saying that if God were to decide to simply punish everyone who deserved punishment that everyone would perish without hope.  Fortunately for us, God chooses instead to make redemption possible through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  In verse sixteen Elihu asks, If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.  Like Elihu, we cannot force people to listen to and understand when we speak the truth about God, but we need to pray that they will.

Job 33:25

Job 33:25 says, His flesh shall be fresher than a child’s: he shall return to the days of his youth:  I believe that in this verse and the ones following in this chapter that Elihu was speaking of our restoration after this life, since he had just been referring to the Deliverer in verse twenty-four.  Even though Job was restored to his health and position, not all are in this life.  Still, we will be delivered, not to the old sinful body, but to a new and glorious one in the life to come.  Verse twenty-six says, He shall pray unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.  Elihu stated that when we prayed to God, which is but communicating with Him, that we will see His face, because He has rendered us righteous.  We know that the concerns and sin of this world keeps us from seeing God face to face, but in the coming resurrection, this will not be true.  Again, we could apply this to our relationship with God today, but I believe that sin will always keep us from that face to face relationship with God.  Verse twenty-seven says, He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;  I believe that Elihu was speaking of acknowledging our sins as being worthless, even if they brought us riches in this world.  We must confess our sins to God, and acknowledge that we cannot save ourselves.  Verse twenty-eight says, He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.  Elihu said that even though we are hopeless and helpless on our own that we have hope through the mercy of God.  God will deliver us from the pit, or hell, and restore us to the light if we put our trust in Him.  Verse twenty-nine states, Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man,  Elihu states that God had been and is working in the world to restore people to Himself.  Verse thirty says, To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.  I believe that Elihu was saying what we as followers of Christ know, and that is that God has provided a way of deliverance, and that is through faith in Jesus Christ.  No matter what goes on in the world, God is always ready to restore anyone who puts their faith in Him.  Verse thirty-one says, Mark well, O Job, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I will speak.  Elihu asked Job to listen to what he had to say and to hold his peace, or not interrupt him in other words.  When we hear someone speaking the truth of God today, we need to listen attentively, even if they are younger than we are.  Verse thirty-two says, If thou hast any thing to say, answer me: speak, for I desire to justify thee.  Elihu did ask Job to speak, but only if he had something to say the would dispute what he was saying as being wrong about God and His nature.  Elihu said that he wanted to justify Job.  I believe that Elihu meant that he wanted to show that Job was justified before God, no matter how much he might have lost materially.  We can never justify anyone else before God, but we can stand with them if they are suffering and remind them that God is still with them if they have put their faith in Him.  In verse thirty-three Elihu asks, If not, hearken unto me: hold thy peace, and I shall teach thee wisdom.  If we have nothing of value to add to what someone is saying about God, we need to do as Elihu asked Job to do.  We need to be quiet and listen and learn.

Job 33:14

Job 33:14 says, For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.  Elihu said that God did not answer us just once and hope that we got the answer, but that God was always answering us, which I believe is meant by answers us twice.  The problem is that we often fail to hear God's answer because it isn't what we want to hear.  No is an answer, but often if we want to hear yes, we fail to acknowledge the no.  Verse fifteen says, In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed;  Then verse sixteen continues this statement saying, Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction,  I believe that Elihu was saying that God speaks to us in many ways, even in our sleep.  In sleep, we should have tuned out the cares of the world and our minds should be at peace.  This does not mean that all dreams are God speaking to us, but we do know that God often spoke to His people in their dreams.  Verse seventeen says, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man.  When we are asleep, we shouldn't concerned with what we are going to do next, nor are we filled we self pride.  Sleep should bring peace, and Elihu told Job that God sometimes spoke to His followers at this time.  Verse eighteen says, He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword.  Elihu said that God would keep Job, and us also, from the pit. I believe that Elihu was speaking of the pit of hell.  No matter what happens in this life, God keeps the souls of believers safe from the pit of hell.  In verse nineteen Elihu says, He is chastened also with pain upon his bed, and the multitude of his bones with strong pain:  Elihu said that often God chastises those who believe in Him but have strayed from His will.  Elihu did not say that this was what had happened to Job, but even had it been that Job should not question God's fairness.  Verse twenty says, So that his life abhorreth bread, and his soul dainty meat.  Then verse twenty-one states, His flesh is consumed away, that it cannot be seen; and his bones that were not seen stick out.  I believe that Elihu was saying that even if we reach the point of not wanting to eat and have wasted away to skin and bones, we still have no right to question God.  God will ultimately restore us.  Verse twenty-two says, Yea, his soul draweth near unto the grave, and his life to the destroyers.   Even as we approach the grave, or death, we must not question God.  Then, more than ever, we need to remain firm in our faith in God.  Verse twenty-three states,  If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness:  Then verse twenty-four states, Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.  I believe that Elihu was speaking of the Messiah that God's people were looking for, and that we know was Jesus Christ.  He showed us how to live upright and likewise delivers us from the pit, which we could see as the grave, but I believe means hell itself.

Job 33:1

Job 33:1 says, Wherefore, Job, I pray thee, hear my speeches, and hearken to all my words.  Elihu first addresses Job.  Job was the one that they were there to comfort and offer hope to.  Elihu did not demand that Job listen to what he had to say, but asked simply that Job would.  We cannot demand that people listen to us, even if we have told them that we feel lead by the Holy Spirit to speak.  Verse two says, Behold, now I have opened my mouth, my tongue hath spoken in my mouth.  Elihu said that now that he had started to speak, as he felt compelled to do, that Job should listen.  Job's friends would also hear what Elihu had to say.  Though we may be addressing on person in particular when we speak, God's truth applies to all those that hear.  There is not one truth of God for one person and another truth of God for another.  In verse three Elihu declares,  My words shall be of the uprightness of my heart: and my lips shall utter knowledge clearly.  Elihu declares that what he was about to say that he spoke knowing that he could do so with a clear conscience.  If we have any doubt that what we are going to say is indeed inspired by God's Spirit, especially if we are attempting to correct someone about their relationship with God, then we would be better off remaining silent.  Verse four says, The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.  I believe that Elihu was acknowledging the power of God in his life.  Unless we know that God is the Creator and sustainer of life, we cannot be attuned to God's will.  In verse five Elihu says, If thou canst answer me, set thy words in order before me, stand up.  Elihu said that if Job felt that he could honestly dispute what Elihu was saying or going to say that Job should be ready to answer him with a well thought out answer from God.  In verse six Elihu continues, Behold, I am according to thy wish in God’s stead: I also am formed out of the clay.  I believe that Elihu was saying that he was there as a representative of God to answer Job's prayer to God.  If we have prayed to God for any reason, we must be open to the answer coming however God chooses to answer it.  Verse seven says, Behold, my terror shall not make thee afraid, neither shall my hand be heavy upon thee.   God does not want His people to live in terror of Him.  I believe that too often we as followers of Christ live as though we believe that God is just waiting for us to allow the smallest of sin to come into our lives so that He can crush us.  God instead experts us to follow Him out of love for Him, and not fear of Him.  Verse eight says, Surely thou hast spoken in mine hearing, and I have heard the voice of thy words, saying,  Elihu said he had heard what Job had said.  Elihu had actually listened to what Job had been saying, unlike his three friends who already had their minds made up about Job.  Verse nine states, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me.  Elihu repeated what Job had said, if not literally, at least by implication.  Job had pronounced himself innocent, and therefore felt that God was treating him unjustly.  We can never stand totally innocent before God of our own merit.  We can only pronounce ourselves as saved sinners through Christ.  In verse ten, Elihu declares, Behold, he findeth occasions against me, he counteth me for his enemy,  Then he continues in verse eleven, He putteth my feet in the stocks, he marketh all my paths.  In these two verses, Elihu continues to repeat Job's claims that God was being unfair to him.  The only way God is ever unfair with those who believe in Him is by forgiving us when we have earned His punishment.  The unfair act was for Christ to die for our sins.  Then, in verse twelve Elihu states, Behold, in this thou art not just: I will answer thee, that God is greater than man.  I believe that Elihu was saying that Job might have been innocent, until he started to claim that God was unfair to Him.  We can never blame God with treating us unfairly.  Elihu gave Job the reason.  God is greater than man.  Then, verse thirteen states, Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.  Elihu told Job that he did not need to question God, and neither do we.  We can rest assured that whatever happens in life, that as followers of Christ, we are God's forevermore.