NOTES for Job 35:1-16

In his speech Elihu again and again, perhaps without noticing it himself, repeats arguments already presented to Job by his friends. He says to Job: what concern is your righteousness to God? Both righteousness and sinfulness are human matters; they concern people themselves, but not God at all (vv. 2-8). In this case, however, Elihu is more consistent than Job's friends, since from the beginning he bears witness to Job about a God who has no concern for so small a thing as an individual person and his life. In his own way, though, Elihu still allows for God's providence in human affairs, even if this brings no relief to a concrete person with his problems. Elihu says to Job: look how many people in the world suffer from injustice, yet none of them accuses God of their misfortunes (vv. 9-11). They wait patiently for judgment; you should endure too, Elihu tells Job (vv. 13-14).

Here Elihu remains entirely consistent: his God is the Creator and Lord of the universe, not the God of a particular, concrete person, and He acts on the scale of the universe as well. Someday, perhaps, He will get around to the individual person, including Job, but this will happen, so to speak, according to schedule. Elihu's God will certainly not change His plans for the sake of one individual person; He has other tasks, far larger in scale. For now Job had better keep silent and not irritate God with bold speeches, so as not to deserve an even harsher punishment from Him (vv. 15-16). Of course, Elihu does not deny the fact that life on earth could be different if not for "the wickedness of evil people," because of which God does not answer those who complain about oppressors (v. 12). More than that, Elihu is sure that everything will come out well in the end, that the day of judgment will arrive (v. 13). Everything simply takes time, and God is not yet free for such small matters.

As Elihu continues his testimony, he remains true to himself. His God is not only the Lord of the universe; He is also the lord of all people, but precisely of all, not of each one individually. God's power will show itself in relation to each person, but in its own time, which must be awaited. Elihu's God resembles an earthly king whom it is not easy to reach: there is a state machine, there is an established order for resolving matters, and it is impossible to obtain anything from the king outside that established order. An attempt to appeal directly to the king will provoke nothing from him but anger. Such an image of God once again confirmed that Elihu's God has no concern for an individual person with his problems and misfortunes, his righteousness and sinfulness.