Hello everyone! Welcome to today’s Bible study on Job 35 – Elihu sharply reproves Job. According to Bible scholars, the events of the book of Job took place approximately before 2100 B.C.
I encourage you to turn to Job 35 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Job 35 with me. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know. All the scriptures that you find highlighted in purple in this post are from the NKJV.
In the Bible Study on Job 34, we read about Elihu vindicating God’s justice. Well, in this Bible study on Job 35, we will read about Elihu condemning self-righteousness and reproving Job.
Without any further delay, let us study together Job Chapter 35, shall we?
Elihu Rebukes Job’s Self-Righteousness
1Moreover Elihu answered and said:
2 “Do you think this is right?
Do you say,
‘My righteousness is more than God’s’?
3 For you say,
‘What advantage will it be to You?
What profit shall I have, more than if I had sinned?’
In Verses 1-3 of Job 35, Elihu questions Job if it was right for him to think that he was more righteous than God Himself. He recalls how Job questioned what profit he would have from being righteous than sinning. For being righteous had no profit just as sinning would have no profit, according to Job. If there was a profit in being righteous then Job wouldn’t be suffering now, according to Job. He saw the sinner walking free while he was in torment. He was in a worse state than the sinner. Job in his desperate situation came to the conclusion that there was no profit in being righteous.
A Man’s Righteousness Or Wickedness Affects Another Man
4 “I will answer you,
And your companions with you.
5 Look to the heavens and see;
And behold the clouds—
They are higher than you.
6 If you sin, what do you accomplish against Him?
Or, if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to Him?
7 If you are righteous, what do you give Him?
Or what does He receive from your hand?
8 Your wickedness affects a man such as you,
And your righteousness a son of man.
In Verses 4-8 of Job 35, Elihu replies to Job that he will answer him and also his companions (Bildad, Zophar and Eliphaz). He asked them to look to the heavens and the clouds which are higher than man. Man’s sin does not accomplish anything against God. And, a man multiplying his sins does not affect God either or His sovereignty. Also, a man’s righteouness does not benefit God and He receives nothing from man, according to Elihu. God can gain nothing from man as He is All-Powerful, Omnipotent and Eternal whereas man is fleeting, in Elihu’s opinion.
Elihu, further, added that a man’s wickedness or righteousness (he refers to Job’s wickedness or righteousness) affects another man and fellow men and not God Himself.
Elihu Criticizes Job Of Speaking In Vain Against God
9 “Because of the multitude of oppressions they cry out;
They cry out for help because of the arm of the mighty.
10 But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker,
Who gives songs in the night,
11 Who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth,
And makes us wiser than the birds of heaven?’
12 There they cry out, but He does not answer,
Because of the pride of evil men.
13 Surely God will not listen to empty talk,
Nor will the Almighty regard it.
14 Although you say you do not see Him,
Yet justice is before Him, and you must wait for Him.
15 And now, because He has not punished in His anger,
Nor taken much notice of folly,
16 Therefore Job opens his mouth in vain;
He multiplies words without knowledge.”
In Verses 9-16 of Job 35, Elihu continued how people cry out for help when they are oppressed. However, no one calls out to God for help or remembers Him. Even though oppressed people cry out to God, He does not answer them because of the pride of evil men. And, God does not reply/answer to empty talk (prayers without Faith). Although, Job said that he could not see God or His justice, justice is always before Him because He is just and He sees everything. Elihu told Job that he must wait for God’s timing. Just because He did not punish in His anger quickly (because He is long-suffering), it does not mean that He has not taken note of sin. Just because God is silent does not mean He is absent. In his desperation, Job opens his mouth in vain against God, according to Elihu.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of the bible study lesson on Job 35. Elihu sharply reproves Job in this chapter and condemns self-righteousness. I hope you learnt something from this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey.
If you have any comments or questions for me, kindly leave them in the comments box below. I highly appreciate it. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until Next Time!