Job Chapter 36
1 Elihu also continued, and said,
2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.
3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
5 "Behold, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
6 He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives justice to the afflicted.
7 He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
11 If they listen and serve him, they will spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
12 But if they don't listen, they will perish by the sword; they will die without knowledge.
13 "But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don't cry for help when he binds them.
14 They die in youth. Their life perishes amongst the unclean.
15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
16 Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a wide place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
17 "But you are full of the judgement of the wicked. Judgement and justice take hold of you.
18 Don't let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
20 Don't desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, don't regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'
24 "Remember that you magnify his work, about which men have sung.
25 All men have looked on it. Man sees it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we don't know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapour,
28 which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
29 Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?
30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.
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Job Chapter 36 Guide
After answering the arguments of Job, as expressed in the quotations, there would seem to have been a pause. Then Elihu commenced his last address.
He first appealed to Job to hear him, as he was about to speak on God's behalf. He was absolutely sure of his ground, and at once plunged into his theme. This opens and closes with a statement of the greatness of God. The first statement of divine greatness concerns His understanding. This he had already declared, but now he proceeded to apply it. It is not true that God "preserveth ... the life of the wicked." It is true that "He giveth to the afflicted their right." Such as are right with Him are not immune from suffering. In the midst of such suffering God proposes to teach them their own transgressions, and to instruct them. The issue of suffering is determined by man's response to it. If he listens and abandons iniquity, prosperity is the result. If he hearkens not, he dies and perishes miserably. The whole truth is summarized in the words:
He delivereth the afflicted by his affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression.
Rising above mere argument, Elihu proceeded to speak again of the greatness of God, first as to manifestation, and then in application to Job. It has been suggested that this last part of Elihu's speech really consists in a word description of what was happening around him at the moment. When presently God speaks, He speaks out of a whirlwind, and the idea is that it was this great storm in its approach and force which Elihu described.
From "An Exposition of the Whole Bible" by G. Campbell Morgan.
Job Chapter 36 Commentary
Chapter Outline
- Elihu desires Job's attention. -- (1-4)
- The methods in which God deals with men. -- (5-14)
- Elihu counsels Job. -- (15-23)
- The wonders in the works of creation. -- (24-33)
Verses 1-4
Elihu only maintained that the affliction was sent for his trial; and lengthened because Job was not yet thoroughly humbled under it. He sought to ascribe righteousness to his Maker; to clear this truth, that God is righteous in all his ways. Such knowledge must be learned from the word and Spirit of God, for naturally we are estranged from it. The fitness of Elihu's discourse to the dispute between Job and his friends is plain. It pointed out to Job the true reason of those trials with which he had been pointed out to Job the true reason of those trials with which he had been visited. It taught that God had acted in mercy towards him, and the spiritual benefit he was to derive from them. It corrected the mistake of his friends, and showed that Job's calamities were for good.
Verses 5-14
Elihu here shows that God acts as righteous Governor. He is always ready to defend those that are injured. If our eye is ever toward God in duty, his eye will be ever upon us in mercy, and, when we are at the lowest, will not overlook us. God intends, when he afflicts us, to discover past sins to us, and to bring them to our remembrance. Also, to dispose our hearts to be taught: affliction makes people willing to learn, through the grace of God working with and by it. And further, to deter us from sinning for the future. It is a command, to have no more to do with sin. If we faithfully serve God, we have the promise of the life that now is, and the comforts of it, as far as is for God's glory and our good: and who would desire them any further? We have the possession of inward pleasures, the great peace which those have that love God's law. If the affliction fail in its work, let men expect the furnace to be heated till they are consumed. Those that die without knowledge, die without grace, and are undone for ever. See the nature of hypocrisy; it lies in the heart: that is for the world and the flesh, while perhaps the outside seems to be for God and religion. Whether sinners die in youth, or live long to heap up wrath, their case is dreadful. The souls of the wicked live after death, but it is in everlasting misery.
Verses 15-23
Elihu shows that Job caused the continuance of his own trouble. He cautions him not to persist in frowardness. Even good men need to be kept to their duty by the fear of God's wrath; the wisest and best have enough in them to deserve his stroke. Let not Job continue his unjust quarrel with God and his providence. And let us never dare to think favourably of sin, never indulge it, nor allow ourselves in it. Elihu thinks Job needed this caution, he having chosen rather to gratify his pride and humour by contending with God, than to mortify them by submitting, and accepting the punishment. It is absurd for us to think to teach Him who is himself the Fountain of light, truth, knowledge, and instruction. He teaches by the Bible, and that is the best book; teaches by his Son, and he is the best Master. He is just in all proceedings.
Verses 24-33
Elihu endeavours to fill Job with high thought of God, and so to persuade him into cheerful submission to his providence. Man may see God's works, and is capable of discerning his hand in them, which the beasts are not, therefore they ought to give him the glory. But while the worker of iniquity ought to tremble, the true believer should rejoice. Children should hear with pleasure their Father's voice, even when he speaks in terror to his enemies. There is no light but there may be a cloud to intercept it. The light of the favour of God, the light of his countenance, the most blessed light of all, even that light has many a cloud. The clouds of our sins cause the Lord to his face, and hinder the light of his loving-kindness from shining on our souls.
From the "Concise Commentary on the Bible" by Matthew Henry.