Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Job 34:10 - 34:30

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Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Job 34:10 - 34:30


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Proof of the Divine Righteousness

v. 10. Therefore hearken unto me, ye men of understanding,
the same men being appealed to for a verdict to whom Elihu had first addressed himself. Far be it from God that He should do wickedness, to deal in a mean, unjust, and cruel manner, and from the Almighty that He should commit iniquity, actually commit a crime.

v. 11. For the work of a man shall He render unto him,
recompensing to every man according to his deeds, and cause every man to find according to his ways, each one receiving what his works are worth, what his conduct deserves.

v. 12. Yea, surely God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment,
this thought being repeated for the sake of emphasis.

v. 13. Who hath given Him a charge over the earth,
delivering the earth to his power, placing it under His direction? Or who hath disposed the whole world, establishing and governing the whole circle of the universe? The answer evidently is: No one but God Himself; He is the absolute Creator and Ruler, this thought excluding every selfish motive on the part of God.

v. 14. If He set his heart upon man,
rather, upon Himself, if He gather unto Himself His spirit and His breath, that by which the existence of all creatures is maintained,

v. 15. all flesh shall perish together,
with the withdrawal of the divine power and sustaining strength, and man shall turn again unto dust. Man is completely dependent upon the providence of God, and yet God does not use His majestic power in an arbitrary manner, making use of cruelty toward His creatures.

v. 16. If, now, thou hast understanding, hear this,
Job should use his powers of observation in a proper way; hearken to the voice of my words. Elihu wanted to impress upon Job the importance of his argument.

v. 17. Shall even he that hateth right govern?
The love of righteousness and justice is a condition of proper government. And wilt thou condemn Him that is most just, the mighty Just One, that is, God Himself? Surely Job would not presume upon such a course.

v. 18. Is it fit to say to a king, Thou art wicked?
calling him worthless and a scoundrel, and to princes, Ye are ungodly? Even to human rulers and governors one would not dare to speak thus, how much less to the almighty and all-just God on high, as Job had done!

v. 19. How much less to Him that accepteth not the persons of princes nor regardeth the rich more than the poor;
for with God there is no distinction of persons or rank. For they all are the work of His hands, and therefore all are held in the same regard by Him.

v. 20. In a moment shall they die,
perish with the greatest suddenness, and the people shall be troubled at midnight and pass away, entire nations passing away, as a sleeper who is awakened at midnight only to meet a violent death; and the mighty shall be taken away without hand, without having the hand of men touching them, being destroyed by a higher invisible power, by the command of God.

v. 21. For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and He seeth all his goings,
watching most carefully over every person's conduct in life.

v. 22. There is no darkness nor shadow of death where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves,
since the omniscient eye of God will penetrate to every hiding-place which men may devise or discover, Psa_139:11-12.

v. 23. For He will not lay upon man more than right,
that is, God does not need to wait long for any examination which He desires to make, for He has all men before His eyes continually, that he should enter into judgment with God. Job had pleaded that God would enter into judgment with him, since he was anxious to demonstrate his innocence. Elihu replies that God, by virtue of His omniscience, finds out men in a moment and summons them before His judgment; God was acquainted with all his ways long before any formal examination had taken place.

v. 24. He shall break in pieces mighty men without number,
without a long inquiry into their past records, since He is familiar with their whole lives, and set others in their stead, Luk_1:52.

v. 25. Therefore He knoweth their works,
looking through even their intentions, and He overturneth them in the night, with a sudden overthrow, so that they are destroyed, crushed out of existence.

v. 26. He striketh them as wicked men,
as evil-doers are scorned and smitten, in the open sight of others, as a public example and a warning to all men,

v. 27. because they turned back from Him,
or, "for that reason they turn away from Him," and would not consider any of His ways,

v. 28. so that they cause the cry of the poor to come unto Him,
in consequence of the oppression exerted upon them; and He heareth the cry of the afflicted, which is brought to His notice because the persistent wicked conduct of the godless causes the complaint of the downtrodden to penetrate to the notice of God. Thus the justice of God strikes tile unrighteous.

v. 29. When He giveth quietness,
giving rest and relief to the poor and oppressed, who then can make trouble, who will condemn the course of God in so acting? And when He hideth His face, who then can behold Him? If God chooses not to he graciously disposed, who will compel Him to feel that way? Whether it be done against a nation or against a man only, individuals and peoples are alike under God's government,

v. 30. that the hypocrite reign not,
the ungodly person assuming control of affairs, lest the people be ensnared, their wicked rulers plunging them into ruin. All this Elihu maintained in defense of God's righteousness and justice at all times.