11 June
Bible In 365 Days 
Job 35-37
Job 35
Turning to the second quotation, Elihu suggested that when Job questioned the advantage of serving God, he set up his righteousness as being "more than God's." He then laid bare the very foundations of the truth concerning the divine sovereignty of God by declaring that there is a sense in which God is unaffected by man. Man's sin does nothing to God, and man's righteousness adds nothing to God.
This view had been advanced before in the controversy. Undoubtedly there is an element of truth in it, and yet the whole revelation of God shows that whereas according to the terms and requirements of Infinite Righteousness God is independent of man, according to the nature of His heart of love, which these men did not perfectly understand, He cannot be independent.
However, proceeding, Elihu declared that the reason why men do not find God is that the motive of their prayer is wrong. It is a cry for help rather than for God Himself. He declared that God will not hear vanity, and charged Job with this wrongness of motive in his search for God.
Job 36
After answering the arguments of Job, as expressed in the quotations, there would seem to have been a pause. Then Elihu commenced his last address.
He first appealed to Job to hear him, as he was about to speak on God's behalf. He was absolutely sure of his ground, and at once plunged into his theme. This opens and closes with a statement of the greatness of God. The first statement of divine greatness concerns His understanding. This he had already declared, but now he proceeded to apply it. It is not true that God "preserveth . . . the life of the wicked." It is true that "He giveth to the afflicted their right." Such as are right with Him are not immune from suffering. In the midst of such suffering God proposes to teach them their own transgressions, and to instruct them. The issue of suffering is determined by man's response to it. If he listens and abandons iniquity, prosperity is the result. If he hearkens not, he dies and perishes miserably. The whole truth is summarized in the words:
He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.
Rising above mere argument, Elihu proceeded to speak again of the greatness of God, first as to manifestation, and then in application to Job. It has been suggested that this last part of Elihu's speech really consists in a word description of what was happening around him at the moment. When presently God speaks, He speaks out of a whirlwind, and the idea is that it was this great storm in its approach and force which Elihu described.
Job 37
The description of the storm commenced in the previous chapter and is here completed. There is first the drawing up of the water into the clouds, their spreading over the sky, the strange mutterings of the thunder. Then the flash of light, the darkness which follows, again lightning that strikes the mark, and the cattle are seen to be conscious of the storm. Gradually its violence increases, the thunder is louder, and the lightning more vivid. It is a strange mixture in which the south wind and the north are in conflict, and intermixed with rain is ice. The purpose of the storm may be for correction, for the land, or for mercy.
Elihu appealed to Job to hear it, to consider it, to ask himself if he really knew God. Even in the midst of the storm there is a light which men see not, a golden splendor which is the majesty of God.
Elihu was attempting to use the storm to tell Job of his inability to know God, and, therefore, of the folly of his speech against God. It was a great theme, but Elihu was not equal to it, and was interrupted by the voice of the Most High.
