Job

Job 35: God needs no payment from us

Begin in prayer

Before we read Elihu’s questions about righteousness, please ask God to take pride out of our prayers.

Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’

Genesis 14:22-23

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Keep us from trying to place You in our debt. Help us see the mercy Jesus gives to sinners who seek Him. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Elihu asks whether Job thinks righteousness brings an advantage over sin. He points to the high heavens and asks what human righteousness can give God. Sin can harm other people, and righteousness can help them. He describes oppressed people crying without seeking their Maker, who gives understanding and songs in the night. He says God does not heed an empty cry and that Job’s cause remains before Him. He ends by speaking of God not visiting in anger and accusing Job of empty talk without knowledge.

As you read Job 35, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God needs no payment from us and will not heed empty cries rooted in pride.

Elihu challenges what he takes to be Job’s claims about the profit of righteousness. The high heavens illustrate that God is above us, rather than someone our good deeds can enrich. Our conduct still matters because evil harms neighbors and righteousness helps them. Elihu then speaks about oppressed people crying for help without seeking their Maker, who gives understanding and songs in the night. His warning about an empty cry rebukes prayer that refuses to seek God humbly. It cannot make every unanswered lament evidence of pride, since Elihu has not disclosed the heavenly reason for Job’s trial. He ends by charging Job with empty talk in the face of God’s restraint. God’s freedom from need therefore humbles our bargaining without making Him indifferent to sin or suffering.

How does Job 35 show us that God needs no payment from us and will not heed empty cries rooted in pride?

God cannot be placed in our debt.

Elihu points to the heavens above human reach and asks what our righteousness gives God. Good conduct cannot enrich the One who already gives us life. Evil still offends Him and harms the people beside us.

We must seek our Maker with more than an empty cry.

Elihu names God as the Maker who gives songs in the night and teaches people. A cry shaped by pride does not become humble prayer because trouble makes it urgent. This warning does not allow us to dismiss every grieving person whose relief has not come.

Job’s case remains before God.

Elihu says the cause is before God even though Job does not see Him. He also says God has not visited in anger and accuses Job of empty words. His ending does not establish a secret reason why Job’s suffering continues.

Memorise

If you are righteous, what do you give him? Or what does he receive from your hand?

Job 35:7

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what pride must I confess as I ask Jesus for mercy?

Elihu warns that we cannot enrich God or turn a proud cry into acceptable prayer. That warning must not become a reason to dismiss an anguished neighbor. We too need to approach God humbly.

In Luke 18 verses 9 to 14, Jesus tells of a tax collector who pleaded for mercy and went home justified. God hears the repentant sinner. The mercy Jesus gives rests on His own work. Jesus bore the punishment of His people and died in their place. His completed sacrifice needs nothing added. He rose bodily from the grave.

Turn from pride and the sins you excuse, and trust Jesus. Everyone who trusts this Savior receives forgiveness and will never be rejected. You cannot place God in your debt, but you can ask for the mercy He freely gives through His Son.

Parent's note

Tell your children that good deeds cannot make God owe us, and an unanswered lament does not prove the sufferer’s pride. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for mercy freely given to humble sinners, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:6

Father, thank You for mercy that cannot be bought with good deeds or proud words. Forgive our bargaining and our refusal to seek You humbly. Please bring us to repent and trust Jesus, whose sacrifice needs nothing added. Help us pray sincerely and treat grieving neighbors with care this week. In Jesus' name, Amen.