Join us on day 26 of our exploration through the book of Job, as we delve into the words of the young man Elihu, via chapters 34 and 35. Through Elihu’s assertions, we revisit themes of divine justice and the folly of human misjudgment. Reflect alongside as Elihu challenges Job’s perspective, reminding us of God’s unwavering justice.
00:00:08 Introduction to Add Bible and Introduction to Elihu
00:12:19 Closing Thoughts and Ezra Project Support
SPEAKER 01 :
Welcome to Add Bible, an audio daily devotion from the Ezra Project. Alan J. Huth shares a Bible passage with comments from over 35 years of his personal Bible reading journals and applies the Word of God to our daily lives.
SPEAKER 02 :
Today is day 26 in our 30-day journey through the book of Job. Only five days to go. Yesterday we were introduced to the young man Elihu. Today we hear more of him in chapters 34 and 35. In chapter 34 of Elihu asserts God’s justice. In chapter 35, he condemns Job. Let’s listen in to Elihu in chapters 34 and 35 of Job.
SPEAKER 03 :
Then Elihu answered and said, Hear my words, you wise men, and give ear to me, you who know. For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. Let us choose what is right. Let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job has said, I am in the right, and God has taken away my right. In spite of my right, I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinks up scoffing like water, who travels in company with evildoers and walks with wicked men? For he has said, It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God. Therefore hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God that he should do wickedness and from the Almighty that he should do wrong. For according to the work of a man he will repay him, and according to his ways he will make it befall him. Of a truth God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice. Who gave Him charge over the earth, and who laid on Him the whole world? If He should set His heart to it, and gather to Himself His spirit and His breath, all flesh would perish together, and man would return to dust. If you have understanding, hear this, listen to what I say. Shall one who hates justice govern? Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty, who says to a king, Worthless one, and to nobles, Wicked man, who shows no partiality to princes, nor regards the rich more than the poor, for they are all the work of his hands? In a moment they die. At midnight the people are shaken and pass away, and the mighty are taken away by no human hand. For his eyes are in the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment. He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place. Thus, knowing their works, he overturns them in the night, and they are crushed. He strikes them for their wickedness in a place for all to see, because they turned aside from following him and had no regard for any of his ways, so that they caused the cry of the poor to come to him, and he heard the cry of the afflicted. When he is quiet, who can condemn? When he hides his face, who can behold him? whether it be a nation or a man, that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. For has anyone said to God, I have borne punishment, I will not offend anymore. Teach me what I do not see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more. Will he then make repayment to suit you because you reject it? For you must choose, and not I. Therefore declare what you know. Men of understanding will say to me, and the wise man who hears me will say, Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without insight. Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin. He claps his hands among us and multiplies his words against God. Job 35 And Elihu answered and said, Do you think this to be just? 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? I will answer you and your friends with you. Look at the heavens and see, and behold the clouds which are higher than you. If you have sinned, what do you accomplish against him? And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give to him? Or what does he receive from your hand? Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, and your righteousness a son of man. Because of the multitude of oppressions, people cry out. They call for help because of the arm of the mighty. But none 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 the heavens? There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. Surely God does not hear an empty cry, nor does the Almighty regard it. How much less when you say that you do not see him, 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.
SPEAKER 02 :
As I turn to my journals concerning these two chapters, I see in 1984 that I read Job 31 through 34 on one day and Job 35 through 38 on the next day. So I’m going to save that journal entry till tomorrow’s readings. In 1997, as I was reading the entire Old Testament that year, I read Job 29-34 on the same day, and chapters 35-42, completing the book the next day. On the first day I wrote in my journal, Job finishes his defense, young Elihu responds, elevating God in chapter 34, verses 10-15. In 2015, I read Job chapters 34 and 35 on the same day, and I wrote, I continue to write, I still hope God does watch over the leadership of his people on earth. 34, 24 says, He shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. 34.30 says, A godless man should not reign that he should not ensnare the people. Amen, I wrote. Let’s take a look at chapters 34 and 35 of Job. In chapter 34, verse 5, Elihu acknowledges that Job thinks he’s innocent. The verse says, For Job has said, I am in the right, and God has taken away my right. And he continues, “…in spite of my right hand I am counted a liar. My wound is incurable, though I am without transgression.” But he also knows Job’s condition, and he says, “…that can’t come from God.” Verse 10, “…therefore hear me, you men of understanding, far be it from God that he should do wickedness, and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.” Verse 12 affirms it even more, “…of a truth, God will not do wickedly, and the Almighty will not pervert justice.” Elihu continues to assert God’s justice. Look at verse 21. For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. For God has no need to consider a man further, that he should go before God in judgment. He shatters the mighty without investigation, and sets others in their place. Yes, Elihu is right. God is just. He is fair. Even today we would hope that he shatters the mighty without investigation and sets others in their place. Even today we would hope, like in verse 30, that a godless man should not reign, that he should not ensnare the people. Oh, we wish that that was true today. And though God is just, he lets unjust people rule across the globe. Elihu finishes chapter 34 with these words against Job. Job speaks without knowledge. His words are without insight. Would that Job were tried to the end, because he answers like wicked men. For he adds rebellion to his sin, he claps his hands among us, and multiplies his words against God. If that weren’t enough, Elihu continues in chapter 35. He makes an interesting statement in verse 7. If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand? Yes, we’ve said it before, our righteousness is as filthy rags before a holy God. Elihu may be right in this. and then he accuses job one more time the last few verses of the chapter surely god does not hear an empty cry nor does the almighty regard it how much less when you say that you do not see him 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. Oh, it must be painful for Job to hear these kind of accusations. Has that happened to you? False accusations against you? How does it make you feel? Surely Job feels the same way. He’s down and out, and his friends are kicking dirt on him. The lessons from chapter 34 and 35 may be clear, and that is, yes, it’s true, God is just. Yes, it’s true that his eyes are on the ways of a man and he sees all his steps. He sees us in our unrighteousness. And fortunately for us, he holds back his judgment, allowing every one of us the chance to get under His grace, love, and mercy through Jesus, His only begotten Son. Take a moment before you finish today to thank God for His love, His justice, His mercy, and His grace. And Elihu is not finished. We have two more chapters to listen to what he has to say. Until then, Father, bless us as we gain knowledge, understanding, and wisdom from Your Word. Help us be better friends to our friends. And when falsely accused, help us have a heart like Job and look to you rather than men. We ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen. Thanks for listening to AdBible today. We started on radio on October 1st, 2024. I hope you noticed some differences in AdBible from other programs. For example, we are fully committed to the Word of God. That’s why we play full chapters on the air, not sound bites. It takes a lot of our program time, but it’s my belief it’s more important for you to hear the Word of God than me. You may also have figured out by now I’m not a pastor, just a layman like most of you. So these recordings are not based on sermons. They’re based on my personal walk through the Bible over several decades of my life. Therefore, Add Bible is a unique perspective of how the Bible impacts life, not a teaching series you get at your church. I share personal Bible reading journal entries from my life, from my journals I’ve never thought would ever be shared with anybody. What I share are raw, authentic notes from Bible intersections of my own life. My life is no different from yours, so I hope the stories and applications I share are relevant to your life as well. I hope you are enjoying this unique radio program and therefore will help us stay on the air. We have so much more to share. Visit EzraProject.net and donate today. 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Join us on day 26 of our exploration through the book of Job, as we delve into the words of the young man Elihu, via chapters 34 and 35. Through Elihu’s assertions, we revisit themes of divine justice and the folly of human misjudgment. Reflect alongside as Elihu challenges Job’s perspective, reminding us of God’s unwavering justice.
