Job 34

In Job 34, Elihu will start to address a different set of people.  Elihu will continue to make accusations against Job, but in this chapter Elihu will make totally unfounded accusations.  Elihu appears to be making an opening argument in a jury trial.  On the surface some of what Elihu states seems to be true; however, it is far from the truth.  When it seems that Elihu is making generic comments, his words are alluding to Job as the criminal.  Elihu will outright place Job in the group of wicked men and hypocrites.  He is pushing for Job to be punished for his crimes.  However, the crimes Job is guilty of are never specifically stated.  Yet Elihu appears to be convinced of Job’s guilt and ultimate wickedness.

Job 34:1-2

¹Furthermore Elihu answered and said, ²Hear my words, O ye wise men; and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.

No longer is Elihu just addressing Job.  Elihu is requesting that the wise and those who have knowledge listen to his words.  It appears as if Elihu is making open remarks in a jury trial.  By stating that he is addressing the wise and knowledgeable, if one listens to Elihu then of course that one is wise or has knowledge.  Elihu is playing the crowd.

It should be clear by the end of the chapter that Elihu considers Job to be wicked.  That would place Job outside the group that Elihu is addressing.  Remember that God does not consider the wicked to be wise, Proverbs 4:18-19.

¹⁸But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. ¹⁹The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

The way of the wicked is dark in wisdom.  Dark that they are lost and cannot see the pathway of God’s wisdom.  So if Elihu does not consider Job wise, then definitely Elihu is no longer addressing Job nor his friends whom he earlier berated.  Elihu is building a case against Job, before those he is addressing.

Job 34:3-4

³For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. ⁴Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.

When Elihu stated let us choose to us judgment, it should be clear these are other than Job he is addressing.  Elihu is not encouraging nor comforting Job in any way, Elihu has become the accuser, more like a district attorney.

Twice in Job 34:4, Elihu stated “let us”.  Elihu is addressing the crowd; Job and possibly his friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, have been taken out of the conversation.  Elihu may not be taking the law in his own hands, but he is encouraging others to do so.

Consider for a moment that possibly Elihu is not addressing a crowd.  That, in fact, Elihu is just another district attorney.  May be what is occurring is an actual trial before the city’s elders in the legal system of those days.

One might even surmise that Elihu is similar to a less than honorable attorney.  One who is attempting to win their case in court.  They are not so much concerned with justice, their only focus is to win and gain recognition.  He is willing to present the facts so that they favor his case not necessarily justice.

Elihu speaks with total conviction and does not wavier on his position.  Elihu proves that whomever speaks loudest with conviction and continually repeats a matter is believed over the one that is correct.  This has occurred repeatedly in history; people do not always believe the righteous, but the loudest, most repetitive one that speaks with passion.  Unfortunately, the masses are ruled more by emotions than truth.

Job 34:5-6

⁵For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. ⁶Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression.

It is true that Job stated in Job 27:2.

²As God liveth, who hath taken away my judgment; and the Almighty, who hath vexed my soul;

Job did indeed state that God took away his judgment; however, that is not all he stated, Job 27:3-6.

³All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils; ⁴My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit. ⁵God forbid that I should justify you: till I die I will not remove mine integrity from me. ⁶My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

In effect, Elihu is correct; however, Job did not state it in quite the way Elihu recounts.  Job was not going to agree with his detractors just because of circumstantial evidence.  Job knew of no reason that justified his downfall.  There is no single horrendous sin nor was Job inconsistent in his walk with God.  Job was unwilling to speak as a hypocrite.

One of the advantages, we have in the 21^st Century, over that of the people of Job’s era is that we have the entire book before us to study.  So, the issue returns to not so much what Job stated, but what did God state.  From the beginning, God clearly characterized Job, Job 1:8:

⁸And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

God stated that there was no one like Job, who was a servant.  If Job is not righteous then who is?  God stated he was perfect.  If not Job, then who is at this time?  Further God repeats this praise in Job 2:3 and adds something to the end.

³And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

God stated that it was Satan that wanted to move against Job.  Those in Job’s era may have an excuse, not knowing God’s appraisal of Job or not knowing exactly what Job stated.  However, as for one in the 21^st Century, the entire book is available.  How can one miss that God considered Job righteous and Job’s words are being misquoted and taken out of context.

Again, I repeat this information, because all the statements concerning Job and the individuals that speak must be viewed in light of God’s factual statements.  There are differing opinions, but if the opinion is counter to God’s, then it is absolutely wrong.  This is what Elihu has done, he has taken a position in opposition to God.  Elihu’s motives must be questioned.  Elihu can potentially prosper by defaming Job and influencing others to do the same.

Job 34:7-8

⁷What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? ⁸Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men.

Elihu has stepped up his onslaught of Job to a new level.  Elihu accuses Job of being totally immersed in the ways of the wicked; as if Job is swimming in sin.  He portrays Job as the antitheses of the righteous man.  This goes well beyond what anyone has previously stated.  It is no wonder that Job is accused of all sorts of sins throughout the ages.  Those who have read the book multiply the words of Job’s accusers without considering the source.

If Elihu is allowed to continue on the path he is on, those listening will have a tendency to forget any good that Job has done.  Elihu intends on committing total character assassination of Job.

Job 34:9

⁹For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.

Of all the accusations that Elihu levels at Job, this has to be the most hurtful.  Remember Job’s words to his wife early on in Job 2:10.

¹⁰But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Job was not looking for profit by following God.  Job was willing to follow God even after the loss of all he had.  Job implicitly trusted God.  If evil were to come, Job accepted God’s judgment, Job merely wanted to understand why.  This is not an unreasonable request, God stated in His word that understanding will be freely given.  In Proverbs, it is discussed that understanding is available to those that seek after it.

Further in Job’s defense, Job stated in Job 13:15:

¹⁵Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

These are not the words of one concerned with profit.  Elihu has incorrectly characterized Job’s intent and is committing character assassination.  If one does not carefully listen or study the book of Job, they may accept Elihu’s flattery and slant on the truth.

Job 34:10

¹⁰Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, that he should do wickedness; and from the Almighty, that he should commit iniquity.

Elihu wants people to listen to his speech.  As for those that do, Elihu labels these as the men of understanding.  Which implies if you do not listen, you lack understanding and are therefore a fool.  Not many want to be counted as a fool, Elihu’s words have caused many to listen and ignore the earlier facts.

Further Elihu stated a truth, God does not commit wicked acts or iniquity.  Elihu always managed to mix truth in when he speaks.  Elihu does not dispute the absolute truths of God, he just disputes Job’s character and words. That seems pretty safe, because up to this point, no one has taken Job’s side.  Further, anything Job has stated has been argued against and twisted.

What one should be asking at this point is, why would one even think God would commit wickedness or iniquity?  Elihu is not actually speaking of God.  Elihu is implying that Job has stated these things.  Elihu is defending God’s position that God would not cause the righteous to suffer.  God would not chastise those that have walked in His ways.  As such, God is acting proper; therefore it is Job that is wicked and has committed iniquity and that is why all this has befallen upon Job.  In the eyes of Elihu, Job is wrong.  Further if one is of understanding, they would clearly agree with Elihu.

Job 34:11-12

¹¹For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways. ¹²Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment.

Elihu is purporting a very simplistic view of life.  Elihu is stating basic cause and effect.  If one does good they will prosper, when one does bad it brings evil upon them.  These are basic truths that many agree upon; however, agreement does not make it a truth.  As explained earlier, it is not that simple nor is it consistently true.  In this lifetime, sometimes the wicked seem to go unpunished and the good suffer.  One is not always rewarded for their deeds or misdeeds.  That may be true in the short term, but before all is said and done, the righteous will be rewarded and the evil punished.  At the end of time, it will be absolute.

The implication of Elihu’s words are that Job suffers because he has done wickedly.  This is basically what Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar declared.  Elihu stated that God would not cause the righteous to suffer; therefore Job must be guilty of something.

Further, Elihu implies that to think otherwise would be to consider God to be wicked.  He hints to the listener that this is what Job has stated.  He leads one to this conclusion based on Job’s belief that he has done nothing to warrant punishment.  However, punishment has come and because Job’s critics do not understand why, they immediately assume it is because Job did something wrong.  Job who claims otherwise, must therefore be insinuating that God is wicked.  Because God has unjustly punished Job.

Job 34:13-15

¹³Who hath given him a charge over the earth? or who hath disposed the whole world? ¹⁴If he set his heart upon man, if he gather unto himself his spirit and his breath; ¹⁵All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.

Elihu throws this is as a reminder that God is all powerful.  Therefore, one should seriously consider God.  This would lead one to believe that Job has trifled with God, as such, is being punished for his disobedience.

Job 34:16

¹⁶If now thou hast understanding, hear this: hearken to the voice of my words.

Once again, Elihu implies that if one has understanding, of course they will listen and agree.  Elihu is like so many who assume to be of higher learning and intellect.  If one does not agree, it is because they cannot understand.  If one cannot understand, it is because it beyond their ability to comprehend.  It should be obvious at this point that Elihu is playing to the crowd.

What follows is an onslaught of accusations against Job in the form of rhetorical statements.  Elihu’s implication is, if you are of understanding, then of course, you would agree, Job 34:17-18.

¹⁷Shall even he that hateth right govern? and wilt thou condemn him that is most just? ¹⁸Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked? and to princes, Ye are ungodly?

Elihu is implying that Job has done such things.  He claims that Job who is wicked should not sit in judgment of others.  Not only that, Job placed himself above the rulers of the land, Job 29:9-10.

⁹The princes refrained talking, and laid their hand on their mouth. ¹⁰The nobles held their peace, and their tongue cleaved to the roof of their mouth.

Once again Elihu has used Job’s words against him.  Elihu is willing to use Job’s statements as he pleases.

Job 34:19

¹⁹How much less to him that accepteth not the persons of princes, nor regardeth the rich more than the poor? for they all are the work of his hands.

Elihu is implying that Job was unfair in his judgments.  He is accusing Job of taking the perspective of the poor over the rich in an unjust way.  More than likely these are present and Elihu is attempting influence them.

Job stated further in Job 29:12-13.

¹²Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. ¹³The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

Job claims to not have favored the rich, but delivered the poor.  Job helped those who had lost hope.  And in Job 29:15-16.

¹⁵I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. ¹⁶I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

Job helped those that were lost and searched out their cause.

So why does Elihu brings these things up, because Elihu has already discounted all the good that Job has done and has made it look as if Job was unjust.  Elihu is not speaking to Job, he is prosecuting him.  Elihu is speaking to the crowd in an attempt to sway them.  From the words, one cannot know for sure; however, it seems that Elihu’s words were spoken with emotion in a way that engendered agreement.  It is no wonder that Job did not respond, he was up against severe condemnation.  During Elihu’s speeches, more than likely, few remember what Job had stated earlier and possibly emotions were running high.  When the truth of Elihu comes out later, it is a lesson that not all things are as they appear.

Elihu continues in his purpose, he explains his understanding of God’s chastisement of the wicked in Job 34:20-26.

²⁰In a moment shall they die, and the people shall be troubled at midnight, and pass away: and the mighty shall be taken away without hand. ²¹For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. ²²There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. ²³For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. ²⁴He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead. ²⁵Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed. ²⁶He striketh them as wicked men in the open sight of others;

This should cause one to pause, this is similar to what happened to Job.  Job was struck in the sight of all to see.  It was done swiftly and almost completely.  Is Elihu drawing a parallel of the wicked with the Job?  Based on Elihu’s earlier statements, this is exactly what Elihu is doing.  Elihu is attempting to rally support against Job.  It seems that all Elihu has spoken has been to the detriment of Job.

Yet God considered Job perfect above all on the earth.  If we were present and not privy to Job 1, 2 and 42, what would we be thinking?  Would we be so quick to judge with our physical eyes as opposed to our spiritual?  Would we follow the crowd to do evil in opposition to Exodus 23:2?

²Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

Better yet are we guilt of doing this in the past?  So many of us look to a man’s circumstances or credentials and forget that God has a much different measuring stick.  Had one evaluated Yeshua based on the majority opinion, they would have been driving the nails into the cross.  One needs to move in the spirit and not judge by their physical eyes.  Experiences and opinions grounded in the world do not determine God’s reality.

Job 34:27-30

²⁷Because they turned back from him, and would not consider any of his ways: ²⁸So that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted. ²⁹When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: ³⁰That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

Everything Elihu has stated above is to persuade others to unite against Job.  Elihu places Job in the class of the wicked and the hypocrite.  One that has turned their back on God and refused to follow God’s ways.  Elihu does not specifically state it, but he wants the listener to conclude that this is what Job has done.  That Job has turned a deaf ear to the poor and afflicted them.  Elihu wants those listening to believe that Job, the hypocrite, should have never been allowed to sit in the seat of Judgment.  Elihu stated that Job’s crimes were not against the individual, they were crimes against the nation.  Therefore, Job has not only offended the poor, he has offended all.

When one understands what Elihu is saying, it is easy to imagine that Elihu is speaking before a crowd of people.  It is as if Elihu is trying whip the crowd in to a frenzy to take action against Job.

Job 34:31-32

³¹Surely it is meet to be said unto God, I have borne chastisement, I will not offend any more: ³²That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more.

After speaking about the wicked, Elihu asks if any have heard a word of repentance for Job.  Of course no one had, because Job did not repent nor has Job claimed to have done a specific iniquity.  However, Job has asked for instructions, but at this point who remembers?  So much bad has been stated against Job, that may be all anyone can recall.

Next Elihu asks for judgment from those he has addressed in this chapter; the ones that Elihu stated had understanding.

Job 34:33-34

³³Should it be according to thy mind? he will recompense it, whether thou refuse, or whether thou choose; and not I: therefore speak what thou knowest. ³⁴Let men of understanding tell me, and let a wise man hearken unto me.

Elihu is putting this issue before the wise.  He tells them that whether or not they condemn Job, God certainly will.  Elihu speaks as if what has occurred is plain and simple.  There should be no doubt.  Job is guilty.

Elihu has served as the prosecuting attorney in Job 34.  But Elihu has not rested his case, this is just his opening statement.  Elihu will speak for another three chapters.

Job 34:35-37

³⁵Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom. ³⁶My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men. ³⁷For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God.

Here Elihu is coming directly against Job.  He calls into question everything Job has stated and done.  Elihu believes that Job should be made an example for all the wicked to learn from.  To allow Job to get away with what he has done is to let the wicked go free.  Elihu believes that Job has sinned, but only hints as what he has done.  Elihu will never provide specifics.  He would have others to believe that Job is wicked to the core.  Elihu adds the charge of rebellion to Job’s so-called crimes.  He claims that Job’s insistence that he is innocent, is rebellion.  Elihu is not the one who will carry out the action, he is the one to incite the riot.  Hitler may not have personally murdered innocent people, but he inflamed the people to commit massacre.  As such, it is as if his hands fired the gun that murdered so many throughout Europe and Asia.

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