23 Who ever gave orders to him, or said to him, You have done wrong?
By whom has the spirit of the Lord been guided, or who has been his teacher? Who gave him suggestions, and made clear to him the right way? who gave him knowledge, guiding him in the way of wisdom?
Who put the earth into his care, or made him responsible for the world? If he made his spirit come back to him, taking his breath into himself again, All flesh would come to an end together, and man would go back to the dust. If you are wise, take note of this; give ear to the voice of my words. How may a hater of right be a ruler? and will you say that the upright Ruler of all is evil? He who says to a king, You are an evil-doer; and to rulers, You are sinners; Who has no respect for rulers, and who gives no more attention to those who have wealth than to the poor, for they are all the work of his hands. Suddenly they come to an end, even in the middle of the night: the blow comes on the men of wealth, and they are gone, and the strong are taken away without the hand of man. For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps. There is no dark place, and no thick cloud, in which the workers of evil may take cover. For he does not give man a fixed time to come before him to be judged. He sends the strong to destruction without searching out their cause, and puts others in their place. For he has knowledge of their works, overturning them in the night, so that they are crushed. The evil-doers are broken by his wrath, he puts his hand on them with force before the eyes of all onlookers. Because they did not go after him, and took no note of his ways, So that the cry of the poor might come up to him, and the prayer of those in need come to his ears. ... ... ... ... ...
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Job 36
Commentary on Job 36 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 36
Elihu, having largely reproved Job for some of his unadvised speeches, which Job had nothing to say in the vindication of, here comes more generally to set him to rights in his notions of God's dealings with him. His other friends had stood to it that, because he was a wicked man, therefore his afflictions were so great and so long. But Elihu only maintained that the affliction was sent for his trial, and that therefore it was lengthened out because Job was not, as yet, thoroughly humbled under it, nor had duly accommodated himself to it. He urges many reasons, taken from the wisdom and righteousness of God, his care of his people, and especially his greatness and almighty power, with which, in this and the following chapter, he persuades him to submit to the hand of God. Here we have,
This he prosecutes and enlarges upon in the following chapter.
Job 36:1-4
Once more Elihu begs the patience of the auditory, and Job's particularly, for he has not said all that he has to say, but he will not detain them long. Stand about me a little (so some read it), v. 2. "Let me have your attendance, your attention, awhile longer, and I will speak but this once, as plainly and as much to the purpose as I can.' To gain this he pleads,
Job 36:5-14
Elihu, being to speak on God's behalf, and particularly to ascribe righteousness to his Maker, here shows that the disposals of divine Providence are all, not only according to the eternal counsels of his will, but according to the eternal rules of equity. God acts as a righteous governor, for,
Job 36:15-23
Elihu here comes more closely to Job; and,
Job 36:24-33
Elihu is here endeavouring to possess Job with great and high thoughts of God, and so to persuade him into a cheerful submission to his providence.