34:1 Elihu answered: 34:2 “Listen to my words, you wise men; hear me, you learned men. 

 

In verses 1-15, Elihu gave his second speech to Job’s three friends. He showed them respect by addressing them as wise elders.

 

34:3 For the ear assesses words as the mouth tastes food. 

 

Elihu’s point was that the ears need to evaluate the words that they hear just as the tongue evaluates the food that it tastes.

 

34:4 Let us evaluate for ourselves what is right; let us come to know among ourselves what is good. 

 

The elders should listen to all of these words and evaluate what is truth and what is not truth. This sounds good, but it is actually satanism. Satanism teaches that if it sounds good, then do it. Paul told the people to be like Bereans. The believers were to listen to Paul’s words and compare them to Scripture. Everything should be measured to the Word of God, not to what one thinks is right for them.

 

34:5 For Job says, ‘I am innocent, but God turns away my right. 

 

Elihu quoted more of Job’s words. Job claimed that he was innocent and God was unjust for punishing him. Even though Job was sound in Bible doctrine and one of the three most righteous men in all of history, he could not see the spiritual warfare behind his situation.

 

34:6 Concerning my right, should I lie? My wound is incurable, although I am without transgression.’ 

 

Job commented that his wound was incurable, yet he had not done anything to merit this judgment from God.

 

34:7 What man is like Job, who drinks derision like water!

 

Elihu was making the same mistake as the other three men. He blamed Job’s calamities upon some kind of secret sin that Job had performed.

 

34:8 He goes about in company with evildoers, he goes along with wicked men.

 

Just as the other men accused Job of committing evil without any evidence, Elihu did the same.

 

34:9 For he says, ‘It does not profit a man when he makes his delight with God.’ 

 

Elihu quoted Job once again. Job claimed that it does not profit a man to serve God, because the evil men prosper even more than the good man. 

 

34:10 “Therefore, listen to me, you men of understanding. Far be it from God to do wickedness, from the Almighty to do evil. 

 

Elihu told Job’s three friends that God does not do anything that is evil.

 

34:11 For he repays a person for his work, and according to the conduct of a person, he causes the consequences to find him. 

 

God gives a man the kind of punishment that he deserves. Therefore, Job is getting the punishment in which he deserves.

 

34:12 Indeed, in truth, God does not act wickedly, and the Almighty does not pervert justice. 

 

God is a righteous Judge who does not pervert justice. Therefore, Job is wrong when he states that he is innocent and God is an unfair Judge.

 

34:13 Who entrusted to him the earth? And who put him over the whole world? 

 

Since God is sovereign over all of history, then He knows what He is doing. Therefore, Job is wrong for blaming God for his current situation.

 

34:14 If God were to set his heart on it, and gather in his spirit and his breath, 34:15 all flesh would perish together and human beings would return to dust. 

 

God is the sustainer of all life. If He wanted to do so, He could remove his spirit and all men would die and return to dust. However, God is good, so He will not take that course (even though man deserves it). 

 

34:16 “If you have understanding, listen to this, hear what I have to say. 

 

Elihu asked these four men to listen carefully to his words of wisdom.

 

34:17 Do you really think that one who hates justice can govern? And will you declare guilty the supremely righteous One, 

 

God does not hate justice. If so, He would not rule over the affairs of men. Therefore, no one (including Job) can declare that the Supreme Judge is wrong in His decisions.

 

34:18 who says to a king, ‘Worthless man’ and to nobles, ‘Wicked men,’ 34:19 who shows no partiality to princes, and does not take note of the rich more than the poor, because all of them are the work of his hands?

 

Unlike human judges, God shows no partiality to kings, nobles, wealthy, or poor.

 

34:20 In a moment they die, in the middle of the night, people are shaken and they pass away. The mighty are removed effortlessly. 

 

If God desires, He can take the life of any man with just a thought. Therefore, Job is the one who is unjust for calling God unfair.

 

34:21 For his eyes are on the ways of an individual, he observes all a person’s steps. 

 

God is omniscient. He knows all of the facts. He has seen all of Job’s steps. 

 

34:22 There is no darkness, and no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves.

 

God is omnipresent. There is no darkness where Job can hide himself.

 

34:23 For he does not still consider a person, that he should come before God in judgment.

 

God is deity. Unlike human judges, He does not need to investigate cases.

 

34:24 He shatters the great without inquiry, and sets up others in their place.

 

God is omnipotent. He can shatter evil men without bringing them to trial. He establishes everyone in their place in which He desires them to be.

 

34:25 Therefore, he knows their deeds, he overthrows them in the night and they are crushed. 

 

God is omniscient. He knows the thoughts and deeds of everyone on earth. He can overthrow them during the night. He can crush them with just a thought.

 

34:26 He strikes them for their wickedness, in a place where people can see, 34:27 because they have turned away from following him, and have not understood any of his ways, 34:28 so that they caused the cry of the poor to come before him, so that he hears the cry of the needy. 

 

God can strike down any wicked man who causes misery to the poor and needy. Elihu was referring to Job.

 

34:29 But if God is quiet, who can condemn him? If he hides his face, then who can see him? Yet he is over the individual and the nation alike, 34:30 so that the godless man should not rule, and not lay snares for the people.

 

Since God is an omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and righteous, then who can condemn Him when He decides to remain silent? Elihu’s point was that Job did not have the right to condemn God for choosing not to speak.

 

34:31 “Has anyone said to God, ‘I have endured chastisement, but I will not act wrongly any more. 

 

Elihu was stunned that Job would have the audacity to challenge God of being an unrighteous Judge.

 

34:32 Teach me what I cannot see. If I have done evil, I will do so no more.’ 

 

Job had continually expressed that he was innocent and God was judging him unfairly. He continually asked God to show him his evil so that he could change his way of life.

 

34:33 Is it your opinion that God should recompense it, because you reject this? But you must choose, and not I, so tell us what you know. 

 

Job should not be telling God what to do. He should not expect God to stoop to man’s terms.

 

34:34 Men of understanding say to me— any wise man’s listening to me says— 34:35 that Job speaks without knowledge and his words are without understanding. 

 

Since Job was questioning God’s divine right to remain in silence, then Job was speaking words without spiritual insight.

 

34:36 But Job will be tested to the end, because his answers are like those of wicked men. 

 

Elihu agreed with the other three men that Job was wicked. He would be tested to the end like other wicked men.

 

34:37 For he adds transgression to his sin; in our midst he claps his hands, and multiplies his words against God.” 

 

Elihu’s belief was the same as that of Job’s three friends. He believed that Job was being punished for some type of secret sin. Job was adding to this sin by questioning God’s silence. Elihu was correct for chiding Job in questioning God’s justice. He was wrong in stating that Job was being punished by God for some kind of secret sin that he had committed.