Matthew Henry Commentary Job 36
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 36
Matthew Henry Commentary
Job 36
"Elihu also proceeded, and said, Suffer me a little, and I will show thee; For I have yet somewhat to say on God`s behalf. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker. For truly my words are not false: One that is perfect in knowledge is with thee." — Job 36:1-4 (ASV)
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 for 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.
"Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: He is mighty in strength of understanding. He preserveth not the life of the wicked, But giveth to the afflicted [their] right. He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: But with kings upon the throne He setteth them for ever, and they are exalted. And if they be bound in fetters, And be taken in the cords of afflictions; Then he showeth them their work, And their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly. He openeth also their ear to instruction, And commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they hearken and serve [him], They shall spend their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures. But if they hearken not, they shall perish by the sword, And they shall die without knowledge. But they that are godless in heart lay up anger: They cry not for help when he bindeth them. They die in youth, And their life [perisheth] among the unclean." — Job 36:5-14 (ASV)
Elihu here shows that God acts as righteous Governor. He is always ready to defend those who are injured. If our eye is always toward God in duty, his eye will always be upon us in mercy, and, when we are at our lowest, he will not overlook us. God intends, when he afflicts us, to reveal past sins to us and to bring them to our remembrance.
Also, to incline 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 in 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 its comforts, 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 who love God's law. If the affliction fails in its work, people should expect the furnace to be heated until they are consumed. Those who die without knowledge, die without grace, and are undone forever. See the nature of hypocrisy; it lies in the heart: that is for the world and the flesh, while the outward appearance may seem 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 they exist in everlasting misery.
"He delivereth the afflicted by their affliction, And openeth their ear in oppression. Yea, he would have allured thee out of distress Into a broad place, where there is no straitness; And that which is set on thy table would be full of fatness. But thou art full of the judgment of the wicked: Judgment and justice take hold [on thee]. For let not wrath stir thee up against chastisements; Neither let the greatness of the ransom turn thee aside. Will thy cry avail, [that thou be] not in distress, Or all the forces of [thy] strength? Desire not the night, When peoples are cut off in their place. Take heed, regard not iniquity: For this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. Behold, God doeth loftily in his power: Who is a teacher like unto him? Who hath enjoined him his way? Or who can say, Thou hast wrought unrighteousness?" — Job 36:15-23 (ASV)
Elihu shows that Job caused the continuation of his own trouble. He cautions him not to persist in obstinacy. Even good people 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 discipline.
Job should not continue his unjust quarrel with God and His providence. And let us never dare to think favorably of sin, never indulge it, nor allow it in ourselves. Elihu thinks Job needed this caution, because he had chosen to gratify his pride and temper by contending with God, rather than to mortify them by submitting and accepting the punishment.
It is absurd for us to think we can teach Him who is Himself the Fountain of light, truth, knowledge, and instruction. He teaches through the Bible, and that is the best book; He teaches through His Son, and He is the best Master. He is just in all His dealings.
"Remember that thou magnify his work, Whereof men have sung. All men have looked thereon; Man beholdeth it afar off. Behold, God is great, and we know him not; The number of his years is unsearchable. For he draweth up the drops of water, Which distil in rain from his vapor, Which the skies pour down And drop upon man abundantly. Yea, can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, The thunderings of his pavilion? Behold, he spreadeth his light around him; And he covereth the bottom of the sea. For by these he judgeth the peoples; He giveth food in abundance. He covereth his hands with the lightning, And giveth it a charge that it strike the mark. The noise thereof telleth concerning him, The cattle also concerning [the storm] that cometh up." — Job 36:24-33 (ASV)
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 hide His face and hinder the light of His loving-kindness from shining on our souls.
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