Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?
The question belongs to Elihu's corrective speech and reproof of Job in the book's discussion of human suffering, part of the speeches that occupy chapters 32-37. In this speech Elihu follows much the same line as Job's other friends as he tries to correct Job. His argument tries to convince Job that he himself is not so very great while God is everything. It comes at a point when Job is still defending himself, knowing he has committed no open sins against God and being earnest and anxious that God should manifest Himself to him.
Job knew his own integrity but could not understand God's dealings with him, yet he did not charge God foolishly. The question points to his persistent self-justification, which was provoked by his friends' false accusations, and his insistence on his own righteousness was his mistake. His error identified here is claiming that his righteousness was greater than God's, arguing that he was righteous and that his grievous suffering came without cause, thereby judging God's justice by his own understanding.
The question also exposes the mistaken idea that God's requirements benefit Him at human expense, as though human righteousness were greater than God's. Its surrounding context explains that neither human sin nor human righteousness adds to or takes from God, while human wickedness harms other people and human righteousness benefits them. Job makes no answer to Elihu, and no comment whatever is given upon Elihu's plea.
The question belongs to Elihu's corrective speech and reproof of Job in the book's discussion of human suffering, part of the speeches that occupy chapters 32-37. In this speech Elihu follows much the same line as Job's other friends as he tries to correct Job. His argument tries to convince Job that he himself is not so very great while God is everything. It comes at a point when Job is still defending himself, knowing he has committed no open sins against God and being earnest and anxious that God should manifest Himself to him.
Job knew his own integrity but could not understand God's dealings with him, yet he did not charge God foolishly. The question points to his persistent self-justification, which was provoked by his friends' false accusations, and his insistence on his own righteousness was his mistake. His error identified here is claiming that his righteousness was greater than God's, arguing that he was righteous and that his grievous suffering came without cause, thereby judging God's justice by his own understanding.
The question also exposes the mistaken idea that God's requirements benefit Him at human expense, as though human righteousness were greater than God's. Its surrounding context explains that neither human sin nor human righteousness adds to or takes from God, while human wickedness harms other people and human righteousness benefits them. Job makes no answer to Elihu, and no comment whatever is given upon Elihu's plea.