Job 35:9-10 | KingComments | STEP | God is far above man, but therefore He is not yet without attention for man. This may seem so, because He sometimes does not answer the cry for help ( ). That cry for help comes to Him from the oppressed who cry out because “of the arm of the mighty” weighs heavily upon them. And these oppressions go on and on, without God intervening. They do cry out, but that is only to be freed from the power of their oppressors, not to be free for God. They do not cry out to Him acknowledging that He is their Maker ( ). Job has acknowledged that ( ). That acknowledgment is lacking among the oppressed. If there was, it would mean that they also serve Him and this is what they don’t want to do. Through their denial of their Maker they also block the way to a happy life, a life they will live even if the circumstances are difficult, if it is night in their lives. God gives to those who acknowledge Him as their Maker “about midnight … singing hymns of praise” to Him (cf. ; ). This is because they have faith in Him in trouble. Therefore they must have a relationship with Him. Man’s acknowledgment as an erect being that God is His Maker is the wisdom he possesses over the animals of the earth and the birds of the air ( ). There is no sense of God in animals. They do cry out to Him ( ), but without a sense of God. Man who does not acknowledge Him as Maker is not even equal to these animals, but lowers himself below them. Animals know no better, while man deliberately excludes God as his Maker ( ; ). Such people do cry out to God when they are in need ( ), but they do not want to bow down before Him as their Maker. Their crying is disingenuous and hollow. They are arrogant and therefore God does not answer. Elihu states that God is not indifferent to people, but that people are indifferent to Him. People want God to save them, but they are not interested in honoring Him as their Creator, Savior, and Source of wisdom. This is the kind of people who are hungry and want bread while at the same time they do not want God. This is what the Lord Jesus said to the crowd: “You seek Me, … because you ate of the loaves and were filled” ( ). Their hearts only went out to Him because He gave them a full stomach, but they did not want His message. An appeal to God must be made in the right spirit, in the acknowledgment of Who He is ( ). God does not listen to the lie, to what is not in accordance with the truth ( ). The born blind person joins Elihu when he says: “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him” ( ). God does not hear the liar, and as the Almighty He does not see him. He turns ear and eye away from him. God can only behold someone in connection with Christ. A sinner who acknowledges to be a sinner may know that Christ has accomplished everything for him. For this reason God accepts him.

‏ Job 35:9-10

Why God Sometimes Does Not Answer

God is far above man, but therefore He is not yet without attention for man. This may seem so, because He sometimes does not answer the cry for help (Job 35:9). That cry for help comes to Him from the oppressed who cry out because “of the arm of the mighty” weighs heavily upon them. And these oppressions go on and on, without God intervening. They do cry out, but that is only to be freed from the power of their oppressors, not to be free for God.

They do not cry out to Him acknowledging that He is their Maker (Job 35:10). Job has acknowledged that (Job 10:8). That acknowledgment is lacking among the oppressed. If there was, it would mean that they also serve Him and this is what they don’t want to do. Through their denial of their Maker they also block the way to a happy life, a life they will live even if the circumstances are difficult, if it is night in their lives. God gives to those who acknowledge Him as their Maker “about midnight … singing hymns of praise” to Him (cf. Acts 16:25; Psa 42:9). This is because they have faith in Him in trouble. Therefore they must have a relationship with Him.

Man’s acknowledgment as an erect being that God is His Maker is the wisdom he possesses over the animals of the earth and the birds of the air (Job 35:11). There is no sense of God in animals. They do cry out to Him (Psa 147:9), but without a sense of God. Man who does not acknowledge Him as Maker is not even equal to these animals, but lowers himself below them. Animals know no better, while man deliberately excludes God as his Maker (2Pet 3:5; Rom 1:19-23).

Such people do cry out to God when they are in need (Job 35:12), but they do not want to bow down before Him as their Maker. Their crying is disingenuous and hollow. They are arrogant and therefore God does not answer. Elihu states that God is not indifferent to people, but that people are indifferent to Him. People want God to save them, but they are not interested in honoring Him as their Creator, Savior, and Source of wisdom.

This is the kind of people who are hungry and want bread while at the same time they do not want God. This is what the Lord Jesus said to the crowd: “You seek Me, … because you ate of the loaves and were filled” (Jn 6:26). Their hearts only went out to Him because He gave them a full stomach, but they did not want His message. An appeal to God must be made in the right spirit, in the acknowledgment of Who He is (Psa 51:19).

God does not listen to the lie, to what is not in accordance with the truth (Job 35:13). The born blind person joins Elihu when he says: “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him” (Jn 9:31). God does not hear the liar, and as the Almighty He does not see him. He turns ear and eye away from him. God can only behold someone in connection with Christ. A sinner who acknowledges to be a sinner may know that Christ has accomplished everything for him. For this reason God accepts him.