Job, Chapter 34
Elihu continuing his discourse, pointed out something that Job had not realized, that in complaining as he did against God, he was going in company with workers of iniquity,—with wicked men. Job began with, "I am righteous," and presently he was saying, "It profiteth man nothing if he delight himself. in God." Far be wickedness from God, and wrong from the Almighty! Yet what Job had been saying was practically to accuse Him of just that, so anxious was he to establish himself as righteous.
God acts in a certain way with man (verse 11): He will render to him, according to his work and his way; as a man sows, so shall he also reap, as we are also told in the Epistle to the Galatians (6:7). God does not do wickedly, nor pervert judgment. Who gave Him charge of the earth, or disposed the whole world? Who started it rolling through space, and keeps it going on without a pause? Was it man, indeed? "Why," said. Elihu (verse 11), "if God thought only of Himself, and gathered unto Him His spirit and His breath, all flesh would die together, and man would return to dust."
Was Job right in speaking against the All-Just (or Mighty Just)? It would not be right to speak wrongfully of a king (verse 18). What then of One mightier than all kings, both rich and poor being the work of His hands? God overtakes men in their lives, and because they have turned back from Him, and would consider none of His ways, He takes them away in judgment. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves (verse 22). Adam and Eve tried to hide from God (Genesis 3:88And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. (Genesis 3:8)), but could not, and in the closing book of the Bible we see man, both great and small trying to hide from the wrath of God (Revelation 6:15, 1615And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (Revelation 6:15‑16)).
"When He giveth quietness, who then will disturb?" Job should be saying to God, "I will bear chastisement; I will not offend. What I see not, teach Thou me; if I have done wrong, I will do so no more" (verses 31, 32). Instead, he was rebellious against Him, and adding to his words against Him, because he spoke without knowing, and without wisdom.
Elihu wished therefore, that Job should be tried to the end, because of his answers after the manner of evil men,
Messages of God’s Love 12/29/1929