Job chapter 35 is part of the dialogue between Elihu and Job. Elihu, a younger friend of Job, offers his perspective on Job's suffering and the nature of God's justice. This chapter is significant because it addresses themes of human righteousness, divine justice, and the relationship between God's actions and human behavior. To understand the meaning of Job chapter 35, we must delve into the context of Elihu's speech and the broader narrative of the Book of Job.
Elihu begins by responding to Job's earlier claims about his righteousness and the apparent indifference of God to his suffering. Job had maintained that he was innocent and that his suffering was unjust, which led him to question the justice of God. Elihu's response in chapter 35 can be seen as an attempt to correct what he perceives as Job's misunderstandings about God's nature and the relationship between human actions and divine responses.
Elihu starts by addressing Job directly:
"Do you think this is just? You say, ‘I am in the right, not God.’ Yet you ask him, ‘What profit is it to me, and what do I gain by not sinning?’" (Job 35:2-3, NIV)
Elihu challenges Job's assertion that his righteousness has brought him no benefit and that his suffering is proof of God's injustice. Elihu argues that this perspective is flawed because it assumes that human righteousness or wickedness directly influences God's actions toward individuals. He suggests that God's justice is not transactional and that human actions do not manipulate divine responses.
Elihu then shifts his focus to the nature of God's transcendence and the limitations of human understanding:
"Look up at the heavens and see; gaze at the clouds so high above you. If you sin, how does that affect him? If your sins are many, what does that do to him? If you are righteous, what do you give to him, or what does he receive from your hand?" (Job 35:5-7, NIV)
Here, Elihu emphasizes God's sovereignty and transcendence. He argues that human actions, whether righteous or sinful, do not affect God's nature or His position. God is exalted above the heavens, and His majesty is not dependent on human behavior. This perspective is meant to humble Job and remind him of the vast gap between human beings and the divine.
Elihu continues by addressing the issue of human suffering and the cries for help that often accompany it:
"People cry out under a load of oppression; they plead for relief from the arm of the powerful. But no one says, ‘Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches us more than he teaches the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds in the sky?’" (Job 35:9-11, NIV)
Elihu acknowledges that people often cry out to God in times of distress, seeking relief from their suffering. However, he criticizes the tendency to seek God only in times of trouble, without a genuine desire to know Him or understand His ways. Elihu suggests that true wisdom comes from seeking God for who He is, not merely for what He can provide in times of need.
Elihu also addresses the apparent silence of God in response to human suffering:
"He does not answer when people cry out because of the arrogance of the wicked. Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea; the Almighty pays no attention to it." (Job 35:12-13, NIV)
Elihu argues that God's silence is not a sign of indifference or injustice but rather a response to the arrogance and insincerity of human beings. He suggests that God is not obligated to respond to cries for help that are motivated by selfishness or a lack of genuine faith. This perspective challenges Job to examine the sincerity of his own pleas and to consider the possibility that God's ways are beyond human comprehension.
Finally, Elihu concludes by reaffirming the greatness of God and the limitations of human understanding:
"So Job opens his mouth with empty talk; without knowledge he multiplies words." (Job 35:16, NIV)
Elihu's final words in this chapter are a rebuke to Job, accusing him of speaking without true understanding. Elihu believes that Job's complaints and assertions about God's justice are based on limited human knowledge and do not take into account the vastness of God's wisdom and the complexity of His ways.
In summary, the meaning of Job chapter 35 lies in Elihu's attempt to correct Job's understanding of God's justice and the relationship between human actions and divine responses. Elihu emphasizes God's transcendence and sovereignty, arguing that human righteousness or wickedness does not affect God's nature or His actions. He challenges Job to seek a deeper understanding of God, beyond the immediate desire for relief from suffering. Elihu's speech serves as a reminder of the limitations of human understanding and the importance of humility in the face of divine wisdom.
The broader narrative of the Book of Job ultimately leads to a divine encounter where God Himself speaks to Job, further emphasizing the themes of divine sovereignty and the limitations of human understanding. Job's story is a profound exploration of suffering, faith, and the mystery of God's ways, and chapter 35 is a crucial part of this exploration, offering a perspective that challenges simplistic notions of divine justice and human righteousness.
