Elihu Justifies God

341 Elihu continued: 2 "So, my fine friends - listen to me, and see what you think of this. 3 Isn't it just common sense - as common as the sense of taste - 4 To put our heads together and figure out what's going on here? 5 "We've all heard Job say, 'I'm in the right, but God won't give me a fair trial. 6 When I defend myself, I'm called a liar to my face. I've done nothing wrong, and I get punished anyway.' 7 Have you ever heard anything to beat this? Does nothing faze this man Job? 8 Do you think he's spent too much time in bad company, hanging out with the wrong crowd, 9 So that now he's parroting their line: 'It doesn't pay to try to please God'?

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 34:1-9

Commentary on Job 34:1-9

(Read Job 34:1-9)

Elihu calls upon those present to decide with him upon Job's words. The plainest Christian, whose mind is enlightened, whose heart is sanctified by the Spirit of God, and who is versed in the Scriptures, can say how far matters, words, or actions, agree with true religion, better than any that lean to their own understandings. Job had spoken as if he meant wholly to justify himself. He that say, I have cleansed my hands in vain, does not only offend against God's children, Psalm 73:13-15, but gratifies his enemies, and says as they say.