Job 35:13

_BUT NONE SAITH, WHERE IS GOD MY MAKER, WHO GIVETH SONGS IN THE NIGHT;_ But the reason is, that the innocent sufferers often do not humbly seek God for succour; so to their "pride" is to be laid the blame of their ruin: also because (Job 35:13) they, as Job, instead of waiting God's time in pious trust, are prone to despair of His justice, when it is not immediately visible (Job 33:19). If the sufferer would apply to God with an humbled, penitent spirit, He would hear. WHERE ... - (Jeremiah 2:6; Jeremiah 2:8; Isaiah 51:13.) Where ...

9-13 Job complained that God did not regard the cries of the oppressed against their oppressors. This he knew not how to reconcile the justice of God and his government. Elihu solves the difficulty. Men do not notice the mercies they enjoy in and under their afflictions, nor are thankful for them, therefore they cannot expect that God should deliver them out of affliction. He gives songs in the night; when our condition is dark and melancholy, there is that in God's providence and promise, which is sufficient to support us, and to enable us even to rejoice in tribulation. When we only pore upon our afflictions, and neglect the consolations of God which are treasured up for us, it is just in God to reject our prayers. Even the things that will kill the body, cannot hurt the soul. If we cry to God for the removal of an affliction, and it is not removed, the reason is, not because the Lord'...

Verse Job 35:13. _SURELY GOD WILL NOT HEAR VANITY_] He will not attend to such vain cries; they cry _from_ their oppressions, but they cry not to God....

SURELY GOD WILL NOT HEAR VANITY - A vain, hollow, heartless petition. The object of Elihu here is to account for the reason why sufferers are not relieved - having his eye, doubtless, on the case of Job as one of the most remarkable of the kind. The solution which he here gives of the difficulty is, that it is not consistent for God to hear a prayer where there is no sincerity. Of the “truth” of the remark there can be no doubt, but he seems to have taken it for granted that all prayers offered by unrelieved sufferers are thus insincere and hollow. This was needfull in his view to account for the fact under consideration, and this he “assumes” as being unquestionable. Yet the very point indispensable to make out his case was, that “in fact” the prayers offered by such persons were insincere....

EXPOSITION JOB 35:1 In this short chapter, once more Elihu addresses himself to Job, first (verses 1-8) answering his complaint that a life of righteousness has brought him no correspondent blessings; and then (verses 9-14) explaining to him that his prayers and appeals to God have probably not been answered because they were not preferred in a right spirit, _i.e. _with faith and humility. Finally (verse 15, 16), he condemns Job for haughtiness and arrogance, and reiterates the charge that he "multiplies words without knowledge" (comp. Job 34:35-18). JOB 35:1, Job 35:2

SURELY GOD WILL NOT HEAR VANITY,.... Or "a lie" z, than which nothing is more an abomination to him; if men come to him with a lie in their mouths, they cannot expect to be heard by him; he is only nigh to those who call upon him in truth: or that which is "rash" a; which is rashly uttered, and in a passionate wrathful manner, savouring of a revengeful spirit, too often the case of those that cry under oppression; see Ecclesiastes 5:2; or vain and empty prayers, a speech of vanity, as Aben Ezra; which as to the matter of them are about vain and empty things; only for outward mercies, worldly goods; and not for spiritual mercies, or such things as are according to the will of God; but what are pleasing to the flesh, and sought for to consume on the lusts of it, and therefore such prayers are not heard, Psalms 4:

CHAPTER 35 _ 1. Remember the greatness of God (Job 35:1)_ 2. Why God is silent and does not answer (Job 35:9) Job 35:1. Job having kept silence Elihu continues and asks him if this is sound judgment, what he had said, “My righteousness is greater than God's righteousness.” This was the logical conclusion which Elihu drew from some of his words. Because God did not care for him the sufferer what profit was it to him if he had not sinned? Then Elihu answers and his friends as well by following Job's unjustly charge. He points out the greatness of God and that cannot in any way be affected by what man does. That was Job's contention. Look at the heavens which are higher than the creature of the dust. If thou hast sinned b

Men cry out by reason of oppression, but do not inquire after God, who gives songs in the night and makes us wiser than the animals. They cry because of the pride of evil men, but God does not answer, since the cry is vanity, has no real religious character. How much less will He hear Job, who is frankly irreligious (Job 35:14)? In Job 35:15 follow _mg.,_ But now, because he hath not visited in his anger, Thou sayest, He does not greatly regard arrogance (Job 35:16). Thus doth Job open his mouth in vanity, etc. This is Elihu's condemnation of Job's criticism of God's government....

THE ALMIGHTY. Hebrew El Shaddai. GOD ALMIGHTY....

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 suffering; it is no true devout appeal to heaven none saith, Where is God my maker?...