Job Chapter 36

From The Open Bible Project

36:1 Elihu also continued, and said,

36:2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.

36:3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

• (a) He shows that when we speak of God, we must lift our spirits higher than our natural sense is able to reach.

36:4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.

• (b) You will perceive that I am a faithful instructor, and that I speak to you in the name of God.

36:5 "Behold, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.

• (c) Strong and constant, and of understanding: for these are the gifts of God, and he loves them in man: but as much as God punished Job now, it is a sign that these are not in him.

36:6 He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.

• (d) Therefore he will not preserve the wicked, but to the humble and afflicted heart he will show grace.

36:7 He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.

• (e) He prefers the godly to honour.

36:8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,

36:9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.

• (f) He will move their hearts to feel their sins that they may come to him by repentance as he did Manasseh.

36:10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.

36:11 If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

36:12 But if they don't listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.

• (g) That is, in their folly or obstinacy, and so shall cause their own destruction.

36:13 "But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don't cry for help when he binds them.

• (h) Which are maliciously bent against God, and flatter themselves in their vices.
• (i) When they are in affliction they do not seek God for help, as Asa in (2 Chronicles 16:12).

36:14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.

• (k) They die of some vile death, and that before they come to age.

36:15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.

36:16 Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.

• (l) If you had been obedient to God, he would have brought you to freedom and wealth.

36:17 "But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.

• (m) You are altogether after the manner of the wicked: for you murmur against the justice of God.

36:18 Don't let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.

• (n) God punishes you, lest you forget God in your wealth and so perish.

36:19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?

36:20 Don't desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.

• (o) Do not be curious in seeking the cause of God�s judgments, when he destroys any.

36:21 Take heed, don't regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.

• (p) And so murmur against God through impatiency.

36:22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?

36:23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'

36:24 "Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.

36:25 All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.

• (q) The works of God are revealed, that a man may see them afar off, and know God by the same.

36:26 Behold, God is great, and we don't know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.

• (r) Our infirmity hinders us so that we cannot attain the perfect knowledge of God.

36:27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,

• (s) That is, the rain comes from those drops of water which he keeps in the clouds.

36:28 Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.

36:29 Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?

• (t) Meaning, of the clouds, which he calls the tabernacle of God.

36:30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.

• (u) Upon the cloud.
• (x) That men cannot come to the knowledge of the springs of it.

36:31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.

• (y) He shows that the rain has a double use: the one that it declares God�s judgments, when it overflows any places, and the other that it makes the land fruitful.

36:32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.

• (z) That is, one cloud to dash against another.

36:33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.

• (a) The cold vapour shows him: that is, the cloud of the hot exhalation, which being taken in the cold cloud mounts up toward the place where the fire is, and so anger is engendered; that is, noise and thunderclaps.