Job 35 The LORD Speaks

Analysis of Job Chapter 35

The Book of Job, one of the wisdom literature books in the Old Testament, delves profoundly into the themes of suffering, righteousness, and divine justice. Chapter 35 continues the third round of speeches, where Elihu, a young man dissatisfied with the arguments put forth by Job and his three friends, addresses Job directly. Elihu’s discourse is a blend of rebuke and philosophical reflection, seeking to offer fresh insights into Job’s circumstances.

Verses 1-3: The Introduction of the Argument

“Moreover Elihu answered and said,
‘Do you think this is right? Do you say,
“My righteousness is more than God’s”?
For you say,
“What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?”’”

Here, Elihu begins by challenging Job’s perception of justice and righteousness. He accuses Job of implying that his righteousness surpasses that of God’s—a bold and controversial assertion. Elihu seems to be responding to Job’s earlier complaints about the perceived futility of his piety and the lack of observable benefits of his righteousness when compared to the wicked who prosper.

Job had questioned the worth of maintaining righteousness when it does not seem to yield immediate, tangible benefits. Elihu interprets this as Job placing his moral integrity above God’s, which is a fundamental misunderstanding. Elihu is setting the stage to correct what he perceives as Job’s flawed theology and to realign Job’s understanding of divine justice and human righteousness.

Verses 4-8: Human Actions and Divine Response

“I will answer you,
And your companions with you.
Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
If you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.”

In these verses, Elihu provides a cosmic perspective on human actions. He points Job toward the skies to underscore the vastness and transcendence of God. By doing so, he emphasizes that human sin or righteousness does not alter God’s essence or sovereignty. Elihu asserts that God is supremely independent of human actions; our conduct, whether righteous or wicked, affects other humans but not God Himself.

This argument introduces a critical theological point: God’s involvement in human affairs is not contingent upon human morality in a transactional sense. Instead, God’s justice and governance operate on a higher plane, one that transcends human understanding and limitations. Elihu is reminding Job and his friends that the divine economy is vastly different from human exchanges of merit and reward, sin and punishment.

Verses 9-12: The Cry of the Suffering

“Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night,
Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
There they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.”

Elihu shifts his focus to the cries of the oppressed and the pervasive injustice in the world. He acknowledges the reality of suffering and the regular pleas for relief from oppression. However, he notes a crucial deficiency: the lack of seeking God, the Creator, earnestly and humbly during times of oppression.

This section implies that many people, when oppressed, are quick to cry out for relief but do not genuinely seek a relationship with God Himself. They fail to recognize the divine source of wisdom and joy, the “songs in the night,” which signifies comfort and hope during dark times. Instead, their cries often stem from a place of pride or a lack of genuine acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty. Elihu suggests that this is why many prayers and cries for help seem unanswered—because they are not rooted in a humble pursuit of God but are clouded by human pride and misunderstanding.

Verses 13-16: The Consequences of Pride and Empty Words

“Surely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
Although you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him.
And now, because He has not punished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”

In these concluding verses, Elihu reinforces his previous points by underscoring that God does not heed empty or insincere talk. Just as insincere repentance or mechanical piety holds no weight, so too does empty lamentation fail to move the divine hand. Elihu then addresses a significant concern of Job’s—that God seems invisible or distant. He reassures Job that divine justice is ever-present, even when humans fail to perceive it immediately. The call here is for patience and enduring faith.

Further, Elihu criticizes Job for what he perceives as speaking vainly and without true understanding. By asserting Job “multiplies words without knowledge,” Elihu is emphasizing that Job’s extensive lamentations and self-justifications are missing the mark. They lack the depth of true wisdom, being grounded more in Job’s immediate experience of suffering rather than a broader, more humble theological reflection.

Overall Reflections on Job Chapter 35

In analyzing Job Chapter 35, Elihu’s discourse reveals several critical themes central to the Book of Job and to the wider biblical wisdom tradition:

• God’s Transcendence: Elihu highlights that God’s existence, actions, and responses are far beyond human actions and understandings. The belief that human righteousness or sin can directly influence God in a transactional manner is challenged. God remains sovereign and exalted above all creation, His plan and purposes unperturbed by human conduct.
• The Nature of Divine Justice: Elihu reaffirms that divine justice operates on a divine timeline and plane of existence, which may not always align with human expectations or timing. True justice is present and active but may require patience to be discerned.
• Human Pride and Empty Words: Elihu admonishes against pride and insincere pursuits of God. Authentic relationship and earnest seeking of God, devoid of pride, are necessary to understand divine justice and receive true comfort and wisdom.
• The Role of Suffering: Elihu acknowledges suffering but suggests that it should serve as a backdrop for deeper theological reflection and a more genuine pursuit of God’s wisdom, rather than mere platforms for complaint.

Ultimately, Elihu’s speech in Chapter 35 calls for a shift in perspective: from a transactional view of righteousness and suffering where God is merely a responder to human actions, to a more profound appreciation of God’s autonomous justice and the importance of sincere faith and humility in approaching the divine. Job’s deep anguish and search for understanding are met with Elihu’s call for deeper theological reflection, patience, and an acknowledgment of God’s supreme sovereignty.