English Language Bible Study Guide for January 22, 2008
What do you think of Elihu? Is he to be admired or pitied?
In today’s reading we find him continuing to attack Job and to present a defense of the Almighty. Yet when did Job claim to be without sin? And when did Job accuse God of injustice?
Job 34
1-4: Elihu prefaces this series of comments with a call for his audience to listen carefully.
5-9: Job has lived and spoken carelessly, if not maliciously and foolishly.
10-30: Let us remember who God is and what He has done.
- He is just (10-12, 17, 19,23)
- He is sovereign (13-15)
- He is powerful (20, 24)
- He is omniscient (21-22, 25)
- He is strict with sinners (26-28)
- He governs His creation (29-30)
(Credit for this succinct listing goes to Matthew Henry who mined it from the treasure of God’s Word)
Elihu is right about this. We give honor to earthly rulers and authorities; why not more honor to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
31-33: How Job should address God
34-37: Why Job’s friends should agree with Elihu
Job 35
Elihu addresses two errors which he perceives in Job’s thinking.
1-8: Religion is for God’s sake alone, and has no benefit to man
9-13: God is deaf to the cries of the oppressed
After this Elihu explains why God may delay His merciful deliverance (14-15), and concludes (16) by repeating the oft-spoken lie that Job’s comments are vain and foolish.
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