Bible Commentaries

Job 34:5. Job hath said—God hath taken away my judgment. See on Job 27:2. Elihu, in every accusation, takes or turns Job’s words in a wrong sense. Job meant that God had varied, in regard of him, the general rule of judging men.

Job 34:30. That the hypocrite reign not. Better, He sets up a hypocrite for a king, because of the wickedness of the people. Good princes are the best gifts of God to a nation, and a bad prince is the scourge of God to a guilty land. This doubles the calamity, by the abounding vices of both parties.

REFLECTIONS.

Satan seems to have reserved Elihu, who spake from his heart with honest intentions, to inflict on Job his last and deepest wounds, by the frequent repetitions of Job’s professions of righteousness, and of God’s visitations. The proposal to lay aside differences and prejudices, and examine the matter together, was a good one. In difficult and perplexed cases it is seldom that one man’s thoughts are sufficiently clear, unbiassed and comprehensive, to judge; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Let us firmly believe and reverently acknowledge the righteousness and equity of God. Far be it from him that he should do iniquity, or pervert judgment; and far be it from us to say or think so. He cannot do an ill thing, or deal unjustly with any one. He never respects persons, nor suffers any service performed with a view to his glory, to go unrewarded, nor any wicked action unpunished; sooner or later he will render to every man according to his work. It is not fit to say to earthly princes, ye are wicked; but if decency and decorum are necessary in speaking of them, much more of the great God, the blessed and only potentate.

Let a sense of the perfect knowledge of God continually impress our minds: Job 34:21. He accurately observes us wherever we go, and whatever we do: his eyes are ever upon us, there is no darkness nor shadow of death where the wicked can hide themselves. This intimates that they would be glad to hide themselves, but it is in vain. He sees all their wickedness; no concealment can hide from his view, no confederacy can secure from his hand. Let us then always act and endure, as seeing him who is invisible. We are taught our duty in seasons of affliction. Then it is fit and meet to be said unto God, as in Job 34:31-32 : I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more. That which I see not, teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more. It is our duty to humble ourselves before him, to examine what has been amiss, and pray that he would show it unto us, that we may repent and correct it. It becomes us to form resolutions that we will offend no more, and to put them into practice immediately. A sense of the almighty power, impartial justice, and tender compassion of God, with the recollection that our comfort and peace, our times and our lives, are in his hand, should engage us to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.