Job

Job Chapter 36

Elihu Extols God's Greatness

Job 36:1 Elihu also proceeded, and said,
2 Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee that I have yet to speak on God's behalf.

We truly need to be careful at what we speak if we claim to be speaking on God's behalf. I would be scared to say those words myself. In fact when I write these bible studies and put them online, I put the words that are actually scripture in bold to separate them from my own words. If they are words from other parts of the bible other than the book I'm studying, I put them in bold and italics to show that they are from other books of the bible rather than the book I'm my main topic is covering. I never want anyone to take my words equal to or even close to actual scripture.

Job 36:3 I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
4 For truly my words shall not be false: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5 Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom.

This would be so good, but not if he uses the goodness and greatness of God to condemn an innocent person. They are words not fitly spoken. They are true words about God but used wrongly to hurt someone that is suffering.

Job 36:6 He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor.
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.
8 And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
9 Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.

We know from reading history the there have been many that were not evil that have been falsely accused and sent to prison. There has been some that have perished in executions that were later found to be innocent. We don't always understand why but it happens. This is why we must learn to trust God in good times or bad. And no it's not always easy but one day God will give us understanding of all things. In the book of James it does say that if we lack wisdom we can ask of God with faith. Without faith we will receive none.

Job 36:10 He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
11 If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.

I wonder if this is where some have gotten the prosperity doctrine from. In eternity this discourse would be 100% true but in this life, some suffer death for the cause of Christ. We must read the story of Joseph to see how much he suffered but he did prosper in the long run and God used him to save a whole nation. Also this is true of Moses who had to flee Egypt and spend years in the wilderness. Daniel suffered but was exalted and advised kings also. But the Apostles all were persecuted and most of them died. Whether or not it was their own choice we don't know for sure but we know that good people do sometimes suffer prison, death, torture and loss of possessions.

Hebrews chapter 11 says something about this:

Hebrews 11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

I always wonder about the verse that said they refused deliverance so they can obtain a better resurrection. That has always puzzled me. It looks as if they could have been delivered if they had asked or allowed God to deliver them. There are some that believe that just meant that they could have been delivered if they would denounce God and do as their tormentors asked them to do and deny Christ. Some believe that this means they shall get a better reward if they die for the cause of Christ. Instead of figuring out what it means for sure, I just conclude that some are delievered like the Hebrew children in the book of Daniel and some go to be with the Lord. In the end the righteous will be rewarded but the wicked will be turned into hell and also all nations that do evil without ever coming to the place of repentance.

Some prosper in this life, some are poor, some are free to live as they choose and some become captives for the cause of righteousness like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Stephen and more. In the end they all prosper when they go to be with God. We are not guaranteed earthly riches and wealth in this life although God has blessed some in that way. All the wealth in the world cannot buy us eternal life with God. When the rich die, their riches go to someone else.

Job 36:12 But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
13 But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.

Again some of these words may be true but we see that they are spoken to accuse Job of these things, which we know from the very first chapter of Job, God spoke to Satan telling him about the faithfulness of Job. So Elihu speaks good words perhaps but aimed at the wrong person.

Disobedience can lead to early deaths yet we know good people die too even tragically. There is a verse about that.

Isaiah 57:1 The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come.

There is a day when it is time to go be with the Lord. Also at the rapture of the church in the future, they are taken away from the evil to come. We can't say that they are taken because they have sinned. Sometimes we will not understand why things happen the way they do unless God reveals it but some day we will understand all things.

Job 36:14 They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.

Many times disobedience and living in sin will cause us to die younger but in this also there are many that die young that are not evil. In this case we have to take Isaiah 57:1 quoted above, in consideration.

Also In Ezekiel we read:

Ezekiel 18:31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.

We see the heart of God in these verses:

Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

God would rather see people saved from sin than to die and be lost. When we read the book of Jonah we also can see the heart of God. It is to save rather than destroy. Perhaps Job's visitors just didn't see that.

Job 36:15 He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
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.
17 But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.
18 Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.
19 Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.
20 Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.
21 Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
22 Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?
23 Who hath enjoined him his way? or who can say, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
24 Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.
25 Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.
26 Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.
27 For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
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?
30 Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
31 For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
32 With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
33 The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.

Again and again some these words are mixed with truth but to throw out accusations at Job. How this must hurt him as much as the sores on his body. There is a time for correction and reproof but there are times when bad happens to someone and we really do not know why and to cast words at them would be cruel.

What Job's visitors are saying with all these words is, "Hey Job, you must have been doing evil or this wouldn't have happened to you." Perhaps they were jealous of Job's former prosperity and wealth and they are glad this has happened to bring him down. "Just repent Job and God will restore you." Poor Job doesn't know what he has done wrong. This is total confusion. Better that his supposed friends would have stayed home, sent a get well card or something. However, going to someone in need and praying with them is far better than this stuff. DC

Job Chapter 37