JOB 36

BRENDAONLINE.COM

36 Elihu also proceeded, and said,

Elihu continues to talk.

2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

Allow me a little more time to speak on God's behalf.

3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.

I will get my knowledge from a place that is known to have a reputation that is not familiar in this area.  God will be honored to hear me while I instruct you.

4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.

My words will not be a lie.  God is with you.

5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.  

God is mighty and does not reject anyone.  He is mighty in strength and wisdom.

6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.

Wicked will die, but he gives what is the right to the poor.  This is Elihu's perception of how he views God.  If he speaking that the wicked die immediately or sooner than all of the poor, then this is not true.  It is true that if the wicked do not change, they will ultimately be destroyed. 

7 He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

Elihu is referring to God's eyes are righteous who are made kings who sit on thrones.  If you are not in that status you are not blessed by God.  Prosperity is Elihu's idea of being godly.

8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;

If the righteous/king is bound in chains and be wrapped with cords that hurt;

9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

..then God shows them their report card meaning that the person who has failed to do righteously is in trouble.  Elihu is directing this point directly about Job.  He is implying that Job was in the chief's position but now he has been pulled down by God himself.

10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

Then he tells them to repent.  Again Elihu is speaking to Job directly and indirectly.   Elihu implies that God has definitely spoken privately to Job and Job refuses to comply with what God has spoken to him concerning his bad behavior.

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

Then if they repent I will bless them.  He is telling Job that if you do as I say according to what God has given me, you will spend your days spending.  I spent time in a prosperity church and this scripture was spoken often.  I never knew the entire context of who was speaking.  We must spend time making sure we stay within the context of who was speaking as we teach.  If not, we will be held responsible for misleading people when we thought we were in line with the will of God.

12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.

But if they do not they will perish.  Again Elihu's aim is to attack Job's character and integrity.

13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

The hypocrites store up trouble; they don't cry when they get caught.

Elihu is telling Job you don't cry out for help because you would rather stay as you are, a hypocrite and that is why you are in the condition you are facing.

14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

Elihu speaks of God as a leader who wants to kill at the drop of a dime.  God is viewed as do or die type of king.  When our hearts are evil we see God as we are in our hearts.

15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.

He helps the poor in his trouble and opens their ears when they are under attack.

16 Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.

God will remove you out of limitation to a wide place and feed you the best of the best.  Elihu is implying that Job is 

17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.

But it is too late for you.  You have done wrong to the fullest and God's is against you and you are in the condition you are in because God is serving justice on you.  

18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.

Beware not to do more wrong.  God will make it worse for you and no price can be paid to deliver you.

19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.

Can you pay yourself out of the hand of God when he is punishing you?  No amount of money can get you out of what God will do to you when you fall into his wrath.

20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.

A good night's sleep will not wash away God's wrath when it falls.

21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.

You'd rather keep doing wrong than to be corrected.  You love wrong even though you are in trouble.  

22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

God lift people up.  Who can instruct like him?

23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?

Who can correct God?  Or who can tell him that he is wrong?

24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.

Men magnify the marvelous work of God.  

25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.

Every man may be able to see it; even if they live far away.

26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.

God is great and we do not know him, and we do not know how long he has been God.

27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:

He controls water from the sky.

28 Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.

29 Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?

Can anyone understand clouds or the thunder that represents God's voice?

30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.

He sends lightning that covers the cloud that goes to the bottom of the deep sea.

31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.

He uses the elements of the rainstorm to judge people and the rain he sends also provides what we need for farmers to provide food.

32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.

He covers the clouds with lightning and commands the sun not to shine.

33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour. 

The rainstorm shows God's wrath and even the cattle responds to the sound of the storm.

Elihu seems to leave accusing Job directly and he began to teach a lesson concerning a rainstorm that he subtly tells of God's wrath at the hearing of the storm.  Many times people will use an interesting lesson to justify their power of control over a matter.  Elihu is anxiously stirring a negative connotation of Job being guilty even if it took a lesson from the elements of the sky.  Meanwhile, Job is silent.  This shows that Job is a powerful man. 

SING OR SAY 

When

Silence

When you are under attack

Silence

When you could talk back

Your enemy talks more and more

And it seems he will never quit

Just remain in your silent mode

It will work if you commit.

No one said it would be easy

Learning to hold your peace

But when God sees your silence

He himself will meet your needs.