seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Job 34:1 Then Elihu said:
2 “Hear my words, you wise men;
listen to me, you men of learning.
3 For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
listen to me, you men of learning.
3 For the ear tests words
as the tongue tastes food.
4 Let us discern for ourselves what is right;
let us learn together what is good.
5 “Job says, ‘I am innocent,
but God denies me justice.
6 Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
7 Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?
8 He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit
in trying to please God.’
but God denies me justice.
6 Although I am right,
I am considered a liar;
although I am guiltless,
his arrow inflicts an incurable wound.’
7 Is there anyone like Job,
who drinks scorn like water?
8 He keeps company with evildoers;
he associates with the wicked.
9 For he says, ‘There is no profit
in trying to please God.’
10 “So listen to me, you men of understanding.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.
13 Who appointed him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14 If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit[a] and breath,
15 all humanity would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.
Far be it from God to do evil,
from the Almighty to do wrong.
11 He repays everyone for what they have done;
he brings on them what their conduct deserves.
12 It is unthinkable that God would do wrong,
that the Almighty would pervert justice.
13 Who appointed him over the earth?
Who put him in charge of the whole world?
14 If it were his intention
and he withdrew his spirit[a] and breath,
15 all humanity would perish together
and mankind would return to the dust.
16 “If you have understanding, hear this;
listen to what I say.
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.
listen to what I say.
17 Can someone who hates justice govern?
Will you condemn the just and mighty One?
18 Is he not the One who says to kings, ‘You are worthless,’
and to nobles, ‘You are wicked,’
19 who shows no partiality to princes
and does not favor the rich over the poor,
for they are all the work of his hands?
20 They die in an instant, in the middle of the night;
the people are shaken and they pass away;
the mighty are removed without human hand.
21 “His eyes are on the ways of mortals;
he sees their every step.
22 There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
where evildoers can hide.
23 God has no need to examine people further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
24 Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
and sets up others in their place.
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 He punishes them for their wickedness
where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways.
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.
29 But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
30 to keep the godless from ruling,
from laying snares for the people.
he sees their every step.
22 There is no deep shadow, no utter darkness,
where evildoers can hide.
23 God has no need to examine people further,
that they should come before him for judgment.
24 Without inquiry he shatters the mighty
and sets up others in their place.
25 Because he takes note of their deeds,
he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed.
26 He punishes them for their wickedness
where everyone can see them,
27 because they turned from following him
and had no regard for any of his ways.
28 They caused the cry of the poor to come before him,
so that he heard the cry of the needy.
29 But if he remains silent, who can condemn him?
If he hides his face, who can see him?
Yet he is over individual and nation alike,
30 to keep the godless from ruling,
from laying snares for the people.
31 “Suppose someone says to God,
‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.
‘I am guilty but will offend no more.
32 Teach me what I cannot see;
if I have done wrong, I will not do so again.’
33 Should God then reward you on your terms,
when you refuse to repent?
You must decide, not I;
so tell me what you know.
34 “Men of understanding declare,
wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.’
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”
wise men who hear me say to me,
35 ‘Job speaks without knowledge;
his words lack insight.’
36 Oh, that Job might be tested to the utmost
for answering like a wicked man!
37 To his sin he adds rebellion;
scornfully he claps his hands among us
and multiplies his words against God.”
a. Job 34:14 Or Spirit
Job didn't claim to be innocent.... He claimed to be covered.... there's a difference. Job made the appropriate sacrifices required by law for the errors of his way..... and he also made a sacrifice for the sins he missed or forgot about or never knew about.... and the sins of his kids were covered by sacrifice as well. He never claimed to be innocent.... He claimed to be covered.... God was supposed to have His protective hand over Job and Job's family.
Elihu is stating the obvious.... God is the perfect Judge. He judges everyone from princes to paupers all the same.... He created them all so they are all equal in His eyes..... this is before Jesus got here..... so all men are indeed created equal and remain equal..... So, according to Elihu.... God has no reason to pick on Job.... after all everyone is equally evil and Job MUST have messed up and left himself open for this horrible judgement.
This is from the easy English site.
Elihu was saying that Job’s words sounded like the words of a wicked man. Elihu was not saying that Job was evil. But evil men do say things like those that we read in verses 5-6. Job seemed to copy an evil man’s ideas. Job was a holy man. But he was actually arguing that it is better to be evil than to be good. His words seemed as if he was laughing at God.
These are important verses. The Bible clearly teaches such things.
· God is not evil. It was the devil, not God, who caused Job’s troubles. We should never blame God when evil things happen.
· God is fair. Job thought that God was unfair (verse 5). But Job was wrong. Later Job realised that his words were foolish. God is the greatest judge. And his decisions are always right.
· We must not accuse God. We must always respect him. He is the ruler of the whole world.
The commentaries are getting a little skewed..... they are so "New Testament" that they get into the "confession". Job didn't have the opportunity to "confess". Job could only have the priest throw another ox or sheep on the alter for what he "might" have done and forgotten about. It's different than confessing.... it's doing what is required..... Back in Job's day there weren't Believers and Non-Believers..... There were only Jews and non-Jews. All the Jews had to make sacrifices..... God had to sacrifice animals to "clothe" those two who were eating their way out of the Garden of Eden.... and in Job's day... Job had to bring the sacrifice to a priest at the Temple to sacrifice so Job could be "covered" or "clothed". So the commentaries are skipping what Job's position was and they are jumping right to the reader's need to confess..... two entirely different animals.
Job and his compatriots didn't have a prayer let alone Salvation. Job was going to die one day.... it was a fact.... there was no Heaven for Job because Jesus hadn't been to the Cross..... Job and his compatriots had very clear rules to follow and as long as they followed the rules.... they would live and die.... not sinless but covered.
What they didn't know was that satan told God that he could make Job hate God.... and God being God was giving satan a little time to learn he is wrong and change his mind.... but satan won't be a good guy because satan is a fallen angel.... I wonder.... just how long will God let satan continue messing with Job.
