Job 36

1 Y Añadió Eliú, y dijo

2 Espérame un poco, y te enseñaré; porque todavía hablo por Dios

3 Tomaré mi sabiduría de lejos, y daré la justicia a mi hacedor

4 Porque de cierto no son mentira mis palabras; antes se trata contigo con perfecto conocimiento

5 He aquí que Dios es grande, y no aborrece; fuerte es en virtud de corazón

6 No dará vida al impío, antes a los humildes dará su derecho

7 No quitará sus ojos del justo; antes bien con los reyes los pondrá en silla para siempre, y serán ensalzados

8 Y si estuvieren presos en grillos, y cautivos en las cuerdas de la aflicción

9 él les anunciará la obra de ellos, y que sus rebeliones prevalecieron

10 Y despierta el oído de ellos para instrucción, y les manda que se conviertan de la iniquidad

11 Si oyeren, y le sirvieren, acabarán sus días en bien, y sus años en deleites

12 Mas si no oyeren, serán pasados a espada, y perecerán sin conocimiento

13 Pero los hipócritas de corazón lo irritarán más, y no clamarán cuando él los atare

14 Fallecerá el alma de ellos en su juventud, y su vida entre los prostitutos del culto pagano

15 Al pobre librará de su pobreza, y en la aflicción despertará su oído

16 Asimismo te apartaría de la boca de la angustia a lugar espacioso, libre de todo apuro; y te asentará mesa llena de grosura

17 Mas tú has llenado el juicio del impío, contra la justicia y el juicio que lo sustentan todo

18 Por lo cual de temer es que no te quite con golpe, el cual no puedas apartar de ti con gran rescate

19 ¿Por ventura estimará él tus riquezas, ni del oro, ni de todas las fuerzas de la potencia

20 No anheles la noche, en la cual él corta los pueblos de su lugar

21 Guárdate, no mires a la iniquidad; teniéndola por mejor que la pobreza

22 He aquí que Dios es excelso con su potencia; ¿qué enseñador semejante a él

23 ¿Quién le ha prescrito su camino? ¿Y quién le dirá: Iniquidad has hecho

24 Acuérdate de engrandecer su obra, la cual contemplan los hombres

25 La cual vieron todos los hombres; y el hombre la ve de lejos

26 He aquí, Dios es grande, y nosotros no le conocemos; ni se puede rastrear el número de sus años

27 Porque él detiene las goteras de las aguas, cuando la lluvia se derrama de su vapor

28 cuando gotean de las nubes, gotean sobre los hombres en abundancia

29 ¿Si entenderá también los extendimientos de las nubes, y los bramidos de su tienda

30 He aquí que sobre él extiende su luz, y cubrió las raíces del mar

31 Con ellas juzga a los pueblos, y da comida a la multitud

32 Con las nubes encubre la luz, y les manda que vayan contra ella

33 La una da nuevas de la otra; la una adquiere ira contra la que viene

Job 36 Commentary

Chapter 36

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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 36

This chapter, with the following, contains Elihu's fourth and last discourse, the principal view of which is to vindicate the righteousness of God; which is done by observing the dealings of God with men in his providence, according to their different characters, and from the wonderful works wrought by him in a sovereign manner, and for the benefit of his creatures. This chapter is introduced with a preface, the design of which is to gain attention, Job 36:1-4; the different dealings of God with men are observed, and the different issue of them, and the different ends answered thereby, Job 36:5-15; and it is suggested to Job, that had he attended to the design of the providence he was under, and had submitted to it patiently, things would have been otherwise with him; and therefore Elihu proceeds to give him some advice, which, if taken, would be for his own good, and the glory of God, Job 36:16-25; and closes the chapter by observing the unsearchable greatness of God, as appears by the works of nature wrought by him, Job 36:26-33.