Reflections on Job 34

 Job 34 (Contemporary English Version)

1. Elihu said:
   
2. You men think you are wise, but just listen to me!
   
3. Think about my words, as you would taste food.
   
4. Then we can decide the case and give a just verdict.
   
5. Job claims he is innocent and God is guilty of mistreating him.
   
6. Job also argues that God considers him a liar and that he is suffering severely in spite of his innocence.
   
7. But to tell the truth, Job is shameless!
   
8. He spends his time with sinners,
   
9. because he has said, "It doesn't pay to please God."
   
10. If any of you are smart, you will listen and learn that God All-Powerful does what is right.
    
11. God always treats everyone the way they deserve,
    
12. and he is never unfair.
    
13. From the very beginning, God has been in control of all the world.
    
14. If God took back the breath that he breathed into us,
    
15. we humans would die and return to the soil.
    
16. So be smart and listen!
    
17. The mighty God is the one who brings about justice, and you are condemning him.
    
18. Indeed, God is the one who condemns unfair rulers.
    
19. And God created us all; he has no favorites, whether rich or poor.
    
20. Even powerful rulers die in the darkness of night when they least expect it, just like the rest of us.
    
21. God watches everything we do.
    
22. No evil person can hide in the deepest darkness.
    
23. And so, God doesn't need to set a time for judgment.
    
24. Without asking for advice, God removes mighty leaders and puts others in their place.
    
25. He knows what they are like, and he wipes them out in the middle of the night.
    
26. And while others look on, he punishes them because they were evil
    
27. and refused to obey him.
    
28. The persons they mistreated had prayed for help, until God answered their prayers.
    
29. When God does nothing, can any person or nation find fault with him?
    
30. But still, he punishes rulers who abuse their people.
    
31. Job, you should tell God that you are guilty and promise to do better.
    
32. Then ask him to point out what you did wrong, so you won't do it again.
    
33. Do you make the rules, or does God? You have to decide-- I can't do it for you; now make up your mind.
    
34. Job, anyone with good sense can easily see
    
35. that you are speaking nonsense and lack good judgment.
    
36. So I pray for you to suffer as much as possible for talking like a sinner.
    
37. You have rebelled against God, time after time, and have even insulted us.

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Elihu began round two of his speech and called for the group to listen to him and weigh the accuracy of his words. Then he proceeded to defend God. Job had accused God of injustice, saying God had caused him incurable suffering though he was without transgression. But it is impossible for God to do wrong, Elihu says. He only repays a person according to his deeds. God does not act wickedly nor pervert justice. If He were to withdraw His spirit every living thing would die, but He doesn't.

How could God govern the world if He were unjust? He puts down the wicked regardless of who they are, be they king or rich while defending the poor. There is nowhere a person can hide from God, so God doesn't need to examine a person in court. He already knows the evidence. Without further invetigation, as Job called for, God strikes down the wicked, and "when God is silent, who can declare Him guilty?"

Elihu proposed a further argument to Job. What if Job were to now confess his sin and promise to "no longer act wickedly?" On whose terms should God then repay him? Shoud God repay Job on Job's terms since he had rejected God's? Reasonable men as well as the wise, says Elihu, would join him in saying that Job had spoken without knowledge. His words were like those "of wicked men." He had added rebellion to his sin.

Though it is true, as Elihu claims, Job was showing arrogance in refusing to acknowledge any sin in his life. Who can be sure they are not blind to sin in their life? But Elihu still had the same flaw as his friends in assuming that Job had sinned or he otherwise would not be suffering.