Crying Out

INTRO

Job’s three friends had serious issues with Job. In spite of his friends’ repeated accusations that Job’s own sin must have caused the suffering that he experienced, Job invited his friends to examine every area of his life, to discover he had not sinned, almost to the point of self-righteousness (Job 31). In Job 32, a new character, Elihu, expressed his anger at both Job and his three friends. Chapters 34 and 35 are a continuation of Elihu’s speech.

TEACHING

Job 35:1–2: Elihu challenges Job on whether or not it is right to question God’s judgment by declaring himself to be righteous. Elihu’s question was basically, “Who do you think you are to come before the Almighty and say, ‘I am righteous’?” Elihu thought Job implied “his ethical standards were higher than God’s”¹ and questioned Job’s legal status to question God’s righteousness in the first place.

Job 35:3-7: Elihu summarizes the focal point of Job’s complaint in verse 3: avoiding sin didn’t profit Job. Job had never said these exact words, but they were an implication of the points he had made throughout his speeches. Elihu called out Job’s self-righteousness. The NKJV Study Bible notes, “God was not under any obligation to Job for any work or deed. Therefore, it was logically inconsistent for Job to demand that God must appear in court.”²

Job 35:8-14: Elihu observes people often cried out to God because they are oppressed by someone mightier than themselves (v. 9), implying Job had not been sincere in his prayers. MacArthur proposes three reasons God had not heard Job’s prayers: pride (vv. 10, 12), wrongmotives (v. 13), and lack of patient trust (v. 14).³ Elihu points out that no one questions where God is when He provides the good things people sing about in the day. Charles Spurgeon notes, “It is easy to sing when we can read the notes by daylight; but he is the skillful singer who can sing when there is not a ray of light by which to read.”⁴

Elihu contends God does not have to answer a person’s prayer when he is full of pride and devoid of pure motives (vv. 12-13). God was not obligated to answer Job because of Job’s lack of patient trust in God.

What would it have looked like for Job to cry to God out of humility, the right motives, and with patience? The Institute in Basic Life Principlesgives an outline of words and phrases used throughout the Bible, to describe crying out to God:5

1. A cry of deep distress: “zaaq” (Hebrew). “You saw the oppression of our ancestors in Egypt and heard theircry [zaaq] at the Red Sea. You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew how arrogantly they treated our ancestors. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day. You divided the sea before them, and they crossed through it on dry ground. You hurled their pursuers into the depths like a stone into churning waters” (Nehemiah 9:9–11). In their deep distress, the Israelites realized they had nowhere else to turn but to God.

To cry out for help: “tsaaq” (Hebrew). “So hecried out [tsaaq] to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he threw it into the water, the water became drinkable” (Exodus 15:25a). Moses knew there was nothing he could do to find or create water for the Israelites to drink. Out of his desperation, he cried out to God.

To call with a loud sound: “qara” (Hebrew). “Jabez called out [qara] to the God of Israel: ‘If only You would bless me, extend my border, let Your hand be with me, and keep me from harm, so that I will not cause any pain.’ And God granted his request” (1 Chronicles 4:10).

5 “What Does It Mean to Cry Out to God?”; available at https://iblp.org/questions/what-does-it-mean-cry-out-god.

To shout a war cry: “ruwa” (Hebrew). “And the men of Judah raised the battle cry [ruwa]. When the men of Judah raised the battle cry [ruwa]., God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah” (2 Chronicles 13:15). This cry was done together, as a collective group.

A cry for help: “shavah” (Hebrew). “He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry [shavah] for help and saves them” (Psalm 145:19).

A cry of deep distress: “tsaaqah” (Hebrew). “For the One who seeks an accounting for bloodshed remembers them; He does not forget the cry [tsaaqah] of the afflicted” (Psalm 9:12).

To cry out: “krazo” (Greek). “But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out [krazo], ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately, Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, ‘You of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:30–31).

To implore with a strong voice: “boao” (Greek). “So he called out [boao], ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Then those in front told him to keep quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, ‘Son of David, have mercy on me!’ Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him. When he drew near, He asked him, ‘What do you want Me to do for you?’ ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘I want to see!’ ‘Receive your sight!’ Jesus told him. ‘Your faith has healed you’” (Luke 18:38–42). This man was not ashamed to admit he needed Jesus’ help. He did not allow his pride to keep him from asking for Jesus’ help with a loud, strong voice.

The Institute for Basic Life Principles outlined characteristics of a cry to God:6

Genuine humility: For the One who seeks an accounting for bloodshed remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted” (Psalm 9:12).

Unconditional surrender: “If I had been aware of malice in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18).

A plea for mercy: “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Personal helplessness: “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me” (John 15:5).

Faith in God’s power and resources: “So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to die!’” (Matthew 8:25).

Desperation: “I called to the Lord in my distress, and I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry to Him reached His ears” (Psalm 18:6).

CLOSING

Elihu called out Job’s pride, self-righteousness, and lack of trust in the Lord. How do we make sure we are not praying the same way? Examine yourself: What is your motivation in coming before the Lord and asking Him for anything? Are you asking the Lord to save your neighborhood? Do you want to see your marriage restored? Do you want to see your kids walking with the Lord?