Elihu's Third Reply to Job. Job's complaint that a man is in no way profited by his righteousness more than if he had sinned is made without knowledge. Neither righteousness nor sin affects God; their influence must be felt among men. Apparent exceptions can be explained Job's complaint that under... [ Continue Reading ]
Statement of Job's charge against God that under His rule of the world to be righteous is no advantage to a man. The verses read, 2. Thinkest thou this to be thy right, And callest thou it, My just cause against God, 3. That thou sayest, What advantage hast thou? And, What am I profited more tha... [ Continue Reading ]
The "companions" of Job referred to in this verse can hardly be the three friends, for Eliphaz (ch. Job 22:2) had advanced substantially the same answer to Job as is here given, which even Job himself had touched upon, ch. Job 7:20, though with a different purpose. Most probably Job is considered he... [ Continue Reading ]
The reply of Elihu to Job's complaint. A glance at heaven, the infinitely exalted abode of God, must tell us that our conduct whether good or bad cannot affect Him. Our righteousness confers no profit on Him, neither does our wickedness entail any loss. It is men themselves that their conduct affect... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse reads literally: _thy wickedness is to_(touches, affects) _a man as thou art, and thy righteousness is to one of mankind_, i. e. thyself who art a man; for it cannot touch God who is exalted above such influence.... [ Continue Reading ]
_they make the Oppressed to cry_ Rather, MEN CRY OUT BECAUSE OF THE MULTITUDE OF OPPRESSIONS which powerful and cruel men lay upon them (Job 35:12). This is the anomaly.... [ Continue Reading ]
Having laid down his principle Elihu now proceeds to clear away some anomalies which seem to support Job's contention. There are instances where godliness does not seem to advantage men, where oppressed innocence cries in vain for redress. The reason is that the cry is merely the natural voice of su... [ Continue Reading ]
The explanation of the anomaly. _Where is God_ The language of one devoutly seeking God. _songs in the night_ They seek not God in truth, who by sudden deliverances (comp. ch. Job 34:20; Job 34:25) fills the mouth of the afflicted with singing, Psalms 32:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
God has given to men a higher wisdom than to the beasts, and communicates to them a continuous instruction through His fellowship and ways. Their appeal to heaven should not be the mere instinctive cry of suffering, but the voice of trust and submission.... [ Continue Reading ]
The first and last words of the verse are in connexion: "they cry because of the pride of evil men, but none giveth answer." They remain unheard because their cry is "vanity" (Job 35:13).... [ Continue Reading ]
The interpretation and connexion of these verses is difficult. Job 35:14 might carry on the idea of Job 35:13, 13. Surely God will not hear vanity, Neither will the Almighty regard it; 14. Much less when thou sayest, Thou seest him not, The cause is before him and thou waitest for him. God refu... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is very obscure, and the A. V. competes worthily with the original in darkness. The word translated _extremity_does not occur again, and, if it be a word at all and not a mere error of copyists (the Sept. read "_transgression_"), its meaning can only be guessed at. The connexion, however,... [ Continue Reading ]