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Job 36

33 verses

TL;DR

Elihu continues his argument, emphasizing God's justice toward the righteous and His punishment of the wicked, while urging Job to recognize divine wisdom and refrain from prideful judgment.

Summary

Elihu begins by asserting his intention to speak for God, claiming his words will be true. He declares God’s might and wisdom, noting that the Almighty spares the righteous and punishes the wicked, giving justice to the poor. Elihu explains that God allows the righteous to prosper and the wicked to perish, while warning of divine discipline for those who resist. He criticizes hypocritical hearts that remain unrepentant, emphasizing that such hearts die in youth. Elihu admonishes Job to accept God’s judgment, avoid envy of riches, and refrain from choosing affliction over righteousness. He extols God’s greatness, the mystery of His power, and the divine governance of nature—water, clouds, light—and concludes that all creation points to God's supreme authority.

Outline
  1. Elihu’s declaration of speaking for God and affirmation of God’s justice
  2. Elihu’s admonition of Job concerning righteousness, punishment of the wicked, and warning against pride
  3. Elihu’s praise of God’s sovereignty over creation and the reminder of divine majesty
Themes
Divine justice and righteousnessPride and hypocrisyNature as testimony to divine power
Keywords
Godrighteousnesswickedpoordisciplineswordjusticelightcloudsrain
People
ElihuJobGod
Places
Things
righteousnesswickednesspoorrichesswordlightcloudsrain
Key Verses
  • Job 36:6: Highlights God’s justice toward the poor and His restraint over the wicked.
  • Job 36:14: Critiques hypocritical hearts, showing the moral stakes of judgment.
  • Job 36:27: Illustrates God's sovereignty over nature, reinforcing His supreme power.
Questions
  • What does Elihu identify as the difference between the treatment of the righteous and the wicked?
  • How does the passage link nature (clouds, rain) with divine authority?
  • In what ways does Elihu challenge Job’s perspective on wealth and affliction?
  • What does the repeated mention of ‘light’ signify in the context of divine judgment?
Sentiment

mixed
The tone blends praise of divine justice with admonition and warning.