Job 35 1Elihu spake moreover, and said, 2Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God's? 3For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin? 4I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee. 5Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou. 6If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him? 7If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand? 8Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man. 9By reason of the multitude of oppressions they make the oppressed to cry: they cry out by reason of the arm of the mighty. 10But none saith, Where is God my maker, who giveth songs in the night; 11Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, and maketh us wiser than the fowls of heaven? 12There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13Surely God will not hear vanity, neither will the Almighty regard it. 14Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him. 15But now, because it is not so, he hath visited in his anger; yet he knoweth it not in great extremity: 16Therefore doth Job open his mouth in vain; he multiplieth words without knowledge Today's Scripture Meaning Elihu speaks of man's conduct. (1-8) Why those who cry out under afflictions are not regarded. (9-13) Elihu reproves Job's impatience. (14-26) Verses 1-8: Elihu reproves Job for justifying himself more than God, and called his attention to the heavens. They are far above us, and God is far above them; how much then is he out of the reach, either of our sins or of our services! We have no reason to complain if we have not what we expect, but should be thankful that we have better than we deserve. Verses 9-13: Job complained that God did not regard the cries of the oppressed against their oppressors. This he knew not how to reconcile the justice of God and his government. Elihu solves the difficulty. Men do not notice the mercies they enjoy in and under their afflictions, nor are thankful for them, therefore they cannot expect that God should deliver them out of affliction. He gives songs in the night; when our condition is dark and melancholy, there is that in God's providence and promise, which is sufficient to support us, and to enable us even to rejoice in tribulation. When we only pore upon our afflictions, and neglect the consolations of God which are treasured up for us, it is just in God to reject our prayers. Even the things that will kill the body, cannot hurt the soul. If we cry to God for the removal of an affliction, and it is not removed, the reason is, not because the Lord's hand is shortened, or his ear heavy; but because we are not sufficiently humbled. Verses 14-26: As in prosperity we are ready to think our mountain will never be brought low; so when in adversity, we are ready to think our valley will never be filled up. But to conclude that to-morrow must be as this day, is as absurd as to think that the weather, when either fair or foul, will be always so. When Job looked up to God, he had no reason to speak despairingly. There is a day of judgment, when all that seems amiss will be found to be right, and all that seems dark and difficult will be cleared up and set straight. And if there is Divine wrath in our troubles, it is because we quarrel with God, are fretful, and distrust Divine Providence. This was Job's case. Elihu was directed by God to humble Job, for as to some things he had both opened his mouth in vain, and had multiplied words without knowledge. Let us be admonished, in our afflictions, not so much to set forth the greatness of our suffering, as the greatness of the mercy of God.
Today's Scripture Application Each day we walk through the Bible chapter by chapter making an application of our text to help us grow in the Lord. Many applications can be made from each day's text. Today we continue in the Book of Job with Chapter 35. In our text today we see Elihu continuing to address Job bringing up the point of God being a God of justice even though He does not intervene in our situations when we believe He should. IN making application we see that Just God is a God of Justice. He works on His timetable with His divine plan in mind. To us it doesn't seem fair but don't be mistaken the wicked will be judged but God's plan is that every sinner come to repentance and salvation. How about you? Do you wonder if God is a God of Justice? Let us learn from our text today and words of Elihu to remember that our Just God is a God of Justice.
Thank You for Reading Today's Devotional Contact Me with any Questions or Comments By Email info@USBibleSociety.com By Text/Phone (770) 361-3841 Sincerely, Dr. Dave Burnette Director, The United States Bible Society, Inc.
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