Job 34:8

Elihu does not consider at all what the three friends had charged Job with, for they had no basis for their accusations. Rather, Elihu refers to what Job himself had said, "I am in the right, and God has taken away my right" (v.5). However righteous Job was, it was unrighteous of him to dare to speak of God in this way.

He either quotes Job's words, or gives their substance, or draws obvious conclusions from them. Job had said again and again that he was righteous, or guiltless. That is the whole weight of his complaint against God. He had said that God had taken away his right. He had said that, being innocent, he would be a liar if he confessed sin. He had said his wound cannot be healed, even though he was without transgression.

He does not accuse Job of being wicked, but of speaking like the wicked do against God, and therefore putting himself in their company!

"Who travels in company with evildoers." Elihu does not mean Job's practice, but his words. Job had dared to speak far too carelessly. Eliphaz and the others provoked him by insisting that bad men are always punished, and that good men always prosper in this world… Job answered them in honest hatred of their false principle, but far too hotly. He gave the impression not only that he was just, but that God set his right aside unfairly, and that there was no need at all for his trial. That kind of language was well fitted to encourage evildoers.

So Job had spoken wrongly of God on one side. On the other, he made far too little of the way wicked people flourish in the world. Elihu could only say that Job goes in company with scorners — with evildoers — and "walks with wicked men." That was just the sort of language such men would enjoy. It would tend to weaken conscience. It would encourage sinners as much as it would grieve those who love God.

Elihu compares such statements to the conduct of the wicked. By his own claims, Job was putting himself in their company… If we lose faith in God's righteousness, what is left? This is walking "in the counsel of the wicked," far more dangerous than outward forms of evil. Such teaching means there is no profit in seeking to please God, or in having fellowship with Him… We can be thankful that Job's faith did not fail, despite this cloud of unbelief. But Elihu, being faithful, must put the point of the knife on the infected sore — a wound more serious than his physical illness.

He treats Job with all fairness and quotes what he said before. The wrong Job had done in his words is found in verses 5-9. Then Elihu answers the charge that God is unjust. He shows that God is righteous. He is God and the Almighty, and He cannot do what is evil and unrighteous. If sin or wickedness were in Him He would not be God.

And Job has not yet learned the lesson; he needs more testing. Did a word like this ever come from his sinful lips? "I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more." Has he humbly asked to be taught?… Sadly, despite all his affliction, his spirit was still unbroken.