Job 34-36
Day 15: Job 34-36 Notes & Takeaways
We begin our notes for chapter 34 with the second verse, “Hear my words you wise men” which reminds us of how Paul stated something similar in 1 Cor 10:15. Elihu would try to quote Job’s words as he believes Job accused God and tried to justify himself even while being wicked, which was not truth.
Verse 3 says that “the ear tests words” and goes on to say in verse 4, “let us discern for ourselves what is right; let us learn together what is good.” And, how do we do this? By the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16) for it bears witness and it confirms what is true on some deep and unspoken level.
Elihu believed that Job was scornful towards god and misquotes him in Job 34:9. Though Job didn’t say anything like this, maybe Elihu thought it was wrong that he blamed God for his problems whilst still calling himself righteous. Elihu believed Job’s cries to God were to condemn God but in actuality he cried out to God because he was rooted in God’s love (Job 34:17).
In verses 21-30 we see the perfection of God’s judgments and in verse 24, “without inquiry he shatters the mighty and sets up others in their place,” we remember the story of Belshazzar in Daniel 5, 7, 8.
Once again like the others, [Elihu believes that ] Job is to blame and his guilt is measured by the scale of his sufferings (Andersen, Francis I. Job (Leicester, England: Inter-Varsity Press, 1975)
In verses 31-33 we see him speaking about “someone,” but that someone he had in mind is obviously Job. As we continue to Job 34:36 we see that “he thought Job had not suffered enough. He thought that a little more suffering (tested to the utmost) might bring Job to repentance” (Enduring Word Commentary).
As he begins chapter 35 he puts more words in Job’s mouth and continues to misquote him. Elihu continues to show Job how much higher God is than all. Enduring Word Commentary states:
i. “The Lord showed Abraham the stars, but Elihu shows Job the clouds… Elihu sees the clouds as a wall between Heaven and earth; to him they are a picture of God’s distance from man, of His unreachability and His impassiveness.” (Mason, Mike The Gospel According to Job (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1994))
ii. “The further we can look unto heaven (or into it) the better shall we conceive of that infinite distance that is betwixt God in heaven and men on earth.” (Trapp, John A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments, Volume 2 – Ezra to Psalms (Eureka, California: Tanski Publications, 1997))
For Job 34:9 I wrote down two notes:
It seems to refer to Job 24:12 in the first part and
in the later, “they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful” to Elihu the cries of the oppressed are not answered because there is wrong motives (see James 4:3).
Elihu ends the chapter with “So Job opens his mouth with empty talk” (Job 35:16) the thought that God had not answered him and therefore it proved his unrighteousness and wickedness even more.
The final chapter of Day 15 reading shows that Elihu truly thought he was speaking on “God’s behalf” (Job 36:2), he believed the “one who has perfect knowledge” spoke through him (Job 36:4). He states that “God is mighty, but despises no one” in verse 5. That is because God is magnanimous. He is generous and forgiving— especially to those less powerful than he (us).
He continues and speaks of the godless and states that “in their heart they harbor resentment” and “they do not cry for help”. Why? Because that is the nature of the godless and hypocrites, their hearts are hardened against God. But, if we pray for those whom we love that we believe have hardened hearts, the Lord can replace their hearts of stone with a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 11:19).
In the latter verses of chapter 36 he goes on to show the greatness of God and that he is exalted in power, but through his words he is trying to show Job what god would have done for him had he not been wicked or if he would turn away from his sin that Elihu believed Job had. He finishes the chapter in Job 36:26-33 with God’s greatness through the storm. The final verse speaks of cattle. Note about cattle: they are sagacious (having keen mental/discernment and good judgment). They can perceive rain and when it will fall and foresee it at a distance through vapors (Enduring Word Commentary). Therefore when "His thunder announces the coming storm,” even the cattle know it!
The next post will have the notes & takeaways for Day 16 (Job 37-39) where Elihu will continue to speak. We will finish Job and come back to where we left off in Genesis on January 18. I hope you’re learning a lot and enjoying it all at the same time. I know I am! Make sure to follow RF on Instagram, and join our FB Group to stay up to date for our upcoming weekly zoom sessions!
