Job Chapter 35 Commentary: Elihu’s Teaching on Divine Transcendence and Human Insignificance in God’s Universal Plan

Job chapter 35 contains Elihu’s third speech addressing the relationship between human righteousness and divine response. This chapter explores divine transcendence, human insignificance, proper motivation for righteousness, and God’s apparent silence during suffering. Elihu challenges both Job’s complaints about divine indifference and the notion that human behavior significantly affects God’s well-being. The young speaker presents profound truths about God’s exalted nature, the proper basis for righteous living, and understanding why prayers sometimes seem unanswered.

Elihu’s Challenge to Job’s Self-Righteousness

Verses 1-3 introduce Elihu’s third discourse with a direct challenge to Job’s attitude toward his own righteousness. The young defender of divine truth questions whether Job considers his position reasonable or justified given proper understanding of God’s nature and human position in creation.

Elihu quotes Job’s problematic statement “My righteousness is more than God’s” which represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the relationship between divine and human justice. This claim suggests that Job believes his moral standards exceed God’s standards or that his righteousness deserves better treatment than he has received.

The question “What advantage will it be to you” reflects Job’s apparent belief that righteousness should produce tangible benefits and protection from suffering. This transactional view of the relationship between God and humanity reduces divine interaction to a simple reward system based on human performance.

Elihu also addresses the implied question “What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?” This reflects a mercenary approach to spiritual life that seeks righteousness primarily for personal gain rather than out of love for God or commitment to moral principles.

Divine Transcendence and Human Insignificance

Verses 4-8 present Elihu’s foundational teaching about God’s exalted position above human affairs and the relative insignificance of human actions in affecting divine well-being. These verses contain some of the most important theological insights in the entire book of Job regarding proper understanding of God’s transcendent nature.

The invitation to “look unto the heavens and see” uses visual imagery to emphasize the vast distance between human and divine perspectives. The physical heavens represent God’s transcendent realm that operates according to principles and purposes beyond human comprehension or influence.

Elihu’s rhetorical question “If you sin, what do you accomplish against him?” establishes that human wickedness cannot diminish God’s glory, power, or essential nature. Divine transcendence means that God remains unaffected by human moral failures in terms of His fundamental character and purposes.

Similarly, the question “If you are righteous, what do you give him?” demonstrates that human righteousness adds nothing to God’s completeness or perfection. Divine self-sufficiency means that God’s nature and glory remain constant regardless of human moral choices or spiritual achievements.

The statement “your wickedness affects a man like yourself” redirects attention to the proper sphere of human moral influence. Human actions primarily impact other human beings and the created order rather than affecting God’s essential nature or divine well-being.

Proper Understanding of Divine Response

Verses 9-13 address the apparent problem of divine silence or delayed response to human cries for help during times of oppression and suffering. Elihu explains why prayers sometimes seem unanswered and what conditions must exist for effective communication with God.

The description of people crying out “because of the multitude of oppressions” acknowledges the reality of human suffering and the natural impulse to seek divine intervention. Oppression and injustice create legitimate reasons for appealing to God for relief and vindication.

However, Elihu points out that people often fail to ask “Where is God my maker, who gives songs in the night?” This question reveals that many appeals to God focus solely on relief from difficulty rather than seeking to know God Himself or find spiritual strength during trials.

The phrase “songs in the night” represents divine comfort and hope that can sustain believers during dark seasons of life. God provides internal resources for enduring hardship that transcend external circumstances and offer deeper satisfaction than mere relief from problems.

Elihu explains that God “does not answer” certain prayers because of human “pride” and lack of genuine spiritual seeking. Empty prayers that lack humility, faith, or sincere desire for relationship with God receive no divine response because they miss the purpose of prayer itself.

The Problem of Empty and Prideful Prayer

Verses 14-16 conclude Elihu’s third speech by directly addressing Job’s complaints and explaining why his appeals to God have not received the response he expected. The young speaker diagnoses spiritual problems in Job’s approach that prevent effective communication with the Almighty.

Elihu acknowledges that Job has said “you do not see him” which reflects the suffering patriarch’s sense of divine absence during his trials. This feeling of abandonment represents one of the most difficult aspects of severe testing when God’s presence seems hidden or withdrawn.

The statement “the case is before him; therefore wait for him” counsels patience and trust in divine timing and wisdom. Even when God seems absent or silent, He remains aware of human circumstances and will respond according to His perfect knowledge and love.

Elihu criticizes Job for opening “his mouth in vanity” and “multiplying words without knowledge.” These harsh words suggest that Job’s lengthy complaints and demands for explanation reveal ignorance about God’s nature and proper human response to divine testing.

The accusation of speaking “without knowledge” indicates that Job’s theological understanding has been distorted by his emotional response to suffering. Pain and confusion have led to statements that contradict fundamental truths about God’s character and ways.

Verse by Verse Analysis

Verse 1 introduces Elihu’s third speech with his characteristic confidence and direct approach to addressing Job’s theological errors and misunderstandings.

Verse 2 contains Elihu’s incredulous question about whether Job considers his position reasonable, suggesting that careful thought would reveal the problems in Job’s reasoning.

Verse 3 quotes Job’s problematic statements about the profitability of righteousness and cleansing from sin, revealing a transactional view of the divine-human relationship.

Verse 4 introduces Elihu’s comprehensive response that will address both Job and his friends, indicating that the young speaker sees broader theological issues at stake.

Verse 5 uses the invitation to look at the heavens as a visual aid for understanding God’s transcendent position above human affairs and concerns.

Verse 6 poses rhetorical questions about the effect of human sin on God, establishing that divine nature remains unaffected by human moral failures.

Verse 7 asks what human righteousness gives to God, demonstrating that divine completeness makes human moral achievements unnecessary for God’s well-being or glory.

Verse 8 redirects attention to the proper sphere of human moral influence, emphasizing that human actions primarily affect other human beings rather than God directly.

Verse 9 acknowledges the reality of human suffering under oppression and the natural response of crying out for help and relief from injustice.

Verse 10 points out that people often fail to seek God Himself rather than merely seeking relief, missing the opportunity for deeper spiritual relationship and growth.

Verse 11 describes God as the source of wisdom and understanding that surpasses what can be learned from observing animal behavior or natural instincts.

Verse 12 explains that God does not answer prideful prayers that lack humility and genuine spiritual seeking, emphasizing the importance of proper heart attitudes.

Verse 13 states that God will not hear empty or vain appeals because such prayers contradict His nature and the purpose of prayer itself.

Verse 14 acknowledges Job’s complaint about not seeing God while counseling patience and trust in divine wisdom and timing for appropriate response.

Verse 15 suggests that divine anger and judgment may not always be immediately apparent, requiring faith and patience rather than demanding immediate explanation or vindication.

Verse 16 concludes with harsh criticism of Job’s verbose complaints, suggesting that multiplying words without proper knowledge reveals ignorance rather than wisdom or insight.

Theological Themes and Spiritual Lessons

Divine transcendence emerges as the central theological theme throughout Job chapter 35. Elihu presents God as exalted far above human affairs in ways that make human actions relatively insignificant in affecting divine well-being or nature. This transcendence does not mean divine indifference but rather divine completeness and self-sufficiency.

Human insignificance represents a necessary corollary to divine transcendence. Elihu teaches that human actions, whether righteous or wicked, primarily affect other human beings rather than adding to or diminishing God’s glory and perfection. This perspective humbles human pride while clarifying the proper motivation for righteous living.

Proper motivation for righteousness becomes crucial when understanding that moral behavior should not be primarily motivated by expectation of divine reward or fear of divine punishment. Righteousness finds its foundation in love for God and commitment to moral principles rather than in transactional expectations about divine response.

Divine silence and apparent non-response to prayer receive careful attention as Elihu explains that God’s timing and methods transcend human understanding and expectation. Prayers may go unanswered not because of divine indifference but because of improper attitudes, motives, or understanding on the part of those who pray.

The problem of pride in spiritual life emerges as a significant barrier to effective communication with God. Elihu suggests that prideful attitudes prevent genuine spiritual seeking and reduce prayer to empty words that lack the humility and faith necessary for divine response.

Practical Applications for Modern Believers

Contemporary Christians can learn important lessons about proper motivation for spiritual living. When believers serve God primarily for personal benefit or protection from difficulty, they misunderstand the nature of the divine-human relationship and set themselves up for disappointment during seasons of trial.

Elihu’s teaching about divine transcendence helps modern believers maintain proper perspective during times when God seems distant or unresponsive. Understanding that God’s ways transcend human understanding provides stability when circumstances challenge faith or create confusion about divine purposes.

The emphasis on humility in prayer challenges contemporary tendencies to approach God with demanding attitudes or expectations that He should respond according to human preferences and timing. Effective prayer requires recognition of human dependence and divine sovereignty.

Modern readers can also benefit from Elihu’s warning about multiplying words without knowledge. In times of crisis, believers may be tempted to speak extensively about their circumstances without carefully considering whether their words reflect accurate understanding of God’s character and ways.

The young speaker’s teaching about finding “songs in the night” offers hope to contemporary believers facing difficult circumstances. God provides internal resources for spiritual strength and joy that transcend external difficulties and offer deeper satisfaction than mere relief from problems.

Understanding Unanswered Prayer

Elihu’s explanation of why prayers sometimes go unanswered provides valuable insight for modern believers who struggle with divine silence during difficult seasons. The young speaker suggests several reasons why God may not respond as expected to human appeals.

Pride represents a primary barrier to effective prayer because it prevents the humility necessary for genuine spiritual seeking. When prayers focus primarily on human preferences rather than divine will, they miss the fundamental purpose of communication with God.

Empty or vain appeals lack the substance necessary for divine response because they fail to reflect genuine faith, love, or desire for relationship with God. Mechanical or superficial prayers that lack heart engagement receive no divine attention because they contradict the nature of authentic spiritual communication.

Improper understanding of God’s nature and ways can lead to prayers that expect divine response according to human logic rather than divine wisdom. When believers demand that God act according to their understanding of justice or love, they may miss opportunities to learn deeper truths about divine character.

Selfish motivation in prayer reduces divine communication to a transactional relationship where God becomes merely a means to achieve human goals rather than the ultimate object of love and worship. Such prayers receive no response because they fundamentally misunderstand the purpose of divine-human relationship.

The Value of Waiting on God

Elihu’s counsel to “wait for him” provides important guidance for believers who struggle with divine timing in responding to prayer and resolving difficult circumstances. Waiting on God involves much more than passive resignation; it requires active trust in divine wisdom and goodness.

Divine timing operates according to perfect knowledge of all circumstances, consequences, and purposes that transcend human understanding. What appears to be delay or indifference from human perspective may reflect divine wisdom in determining the most appropriate timing for intervention or resolution.

Spiritual growth often occurs more effectively during seasons of waiting than during times of immediate relief or resolution. The discipline of trusting God when circumstances remain difficult develops character qualities that cannot be achieved through constant comfort and ease.

Waiting provides opportunities to seek God Himself rather than merely seeking relief from difficulty. During extended seasons of trial, believers can develop deeper intimacy with God and stronger foundation for faith that will sustain them through future challenges.

The practice of waiting teaches humility and dependence that counteract natural human tendencies toward pride and self-reliance. Learning to wait on God’s timing helps believers recognize their need for divine wisdom and strength in all areas of life.

Cross References

Psalm 8:3-4 reflects on human insignificance in comparison to the vastness of creation, supporting Elihu’s teaching about proper human perspective in relation to divine transcendence.

Isaiah 40:15-17 describes nations as drops in a bucket and dust on scales before God, reinforcing themes about divine transcendence and human insignificance in the cosmic order.

Isaiah 55:8-9 emphasizes that God’s thoughts and ways are higher than human understanding, supporting the need for patience and trust in divine wisdom and timing.

Romans 11:35-36 asks who has given anything to God that needs to be repaid, confirming that human righteousness adds nothing to divine completeness or glory.

1 Kings 19:11-13 describes God’s presence in the still small voice rather than dramatic phenomena, supporting themes about divine transcendence and the need for spiritual sensitivity.

Psalm 27:14 counsels believers to wait on the Lord and be of good courage, reinforcing Elihu’s advice about patience during seasons of apparent divine silence.

James 4:6 states that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, supporting Elihu’s teaching about pride as a barrier to effective prayer and divine response.

1 Peter 5:6-7 encourages believers to humble themselves under God’s mighty hand and cast their cares on Him, combining themes of humility and trust in divine care.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 warns against being hasty with words before God, supporting Elihu’s criticism of Job’s many words without proper knowledge or understanding.

Psalm 46:10 commands believers to be still and know that He is God, reinforcing themes about recognizing divine transcendence and learning to wait on divine timing.