6th December 2025

6th December 2025


Pray (ACts) 


Read (Job 34&35) 


Message (Scott Woodburn) 


Elihu had not finished addressing Job and from speaking to the issue of God's apparent silence, he then turned to the subject of God's justice. Job had said "I am in the right, and God has taken away my right; in spite of my right I am counted a liar; my wound is incurable, though I am without transgression...It profits a man nothing that he should take delight in God." (34v5-6,9). Needless to say, Elihu couldn't allow such a suggestion to go unchallenged. He feared that Job had begun to sound like a wicked man (Job 34v36).


Is God fair? Does the Lord always do justice? Elihu understood that the Lord cannot sin and he told the gathering that God will not do wickedly, He will not pervert justice and He shows no partiality (34v12,19). If the Lord for a second withdrew His power then all humanity would return to dust (34v14-15). All of us are reliant upon Him and He is good.


So how can any of us dare to question the Lord? How can any condemn the righteous and mighty God (34v17)? The Lord speaks, the Lord always acts justly and the Lord is omniscient/all-knowing. God sees everything done under the sun (34v21) and there is nowhere that the wicked can hide themselves from the Lord (34v22). The wicked may seem to prosper but the justice of God will be seen to be done (34v26). Indeed, even if it seems that the Lord is moving slowly we still have no right or business condemning Him and His ways (34v29-30).


Is there any advantage to being righteous before God (35v2)? Is there any profit in taking delight in the Lord (34v9)? Absolutely! But the righteous man should never believe that God is in his debt. Elihu pointed Job the clouds to highlight the immensity of God (35v5). Human sin can accomplish nothing against the Lord God Almighty and righteous deeds add nothing to Him (35v6-7). The Lord cannot be forced into a corner, He cannot become our debtor and He needs absolutely nothing from us. 


Does Elihu say that faith is worthless? By no means! Faith is precious and the Lord does not hear or have regard for a faithless cry (35v13). Saving faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2v8) and the work that He requires of us is to believe in the One whom He has sent (John 6v29). But brothers and sisters, please be clear that even the most righteous of us still has no grounds to demand anything from the Lord. Faith does not turn the Lord God Almighty into our own private good luck charm. 


Job had fallen into dangerous territory. He had begun to question the justice of God and he wondered "what is the point of trusting the Lord?" (34v36-37 & 35v15-16). If we notice these questions in our own hearts then we would do well to repent. Perhaps we need to pray as Elihu urged "I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more; teach me what I do not see; if I have done iniquity, I will do it no more." (Job 34v31-32).


Brothers and sisters, the Lord still causes us to sing in the night (35v10). In your darkness please remember that God stills speaks, He does no evil, He needs nothing and you cannot back Him into a corner forcing His hand. God's ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55v8-9) but He will always do what is right (Genesis 18v25).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q38 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? At the resurrection, believers, being raised up to glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity.
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