Bible Commentaries

CHAPTER 35

1. Remember the greatness of God (Job 35:1-8)

2. Why God is silent and does not answer (Job 35:9-16)

Job 35:1-8. Job having kept silence Elihu continues and asks him if this is sound judgment, what he had said, “My righteousness is greater than God’s righteousness.” This was the logical conclusion which Elihu drew from some of his words. Because God did not care for him the sufferer what profit was it to him if he had not sinned? Then Elihu answers and his friends as well by following Job’s unjustly charge. He points out the greatness of God and that cannot in any way be affected by what man does. That was Job’s contention. Look at the heavens which are higher than the creature of the dust. If thou hast sinned by thy many sins, what canst thou do to Him? If thou are just, what givest thou to Him? Thy sin may hurt thee, and thy righteousness may profit thee; how canst thou claim that He has afflicted you in an unrighteous way? In all this Elihu had accommodated himself to Job’s wrong reasoning.

Job 35:9-16. Furthermore, Elihu shows that this reasoning of Job is utterly false. Job had contradicted himself. God takes notice of man. Then he gives the reasons why God does not answer the cry of the afflicted. It is not His indifference but man’s sin and forgetfulness of Him. None saith, “Where is God my Maker, who giveth songs in the night?” The true reason is the evil-doer’s pride. God will in nowise hear vanity. Pride, vanity, self-will and all that goes with it makes it impossible for a righteous God to hear. And therefore Job’s contention that it does not matter with God whether a man sins or is righteous is disproven.