Jó 36

1 Prosseguiu ainda Eliú e disse:
2 Espera-me um pouco, e mostrar-te-ei que ainda há razões a favor de Deus.
3 De longe trarei o meu conhecimento, e ao meu criador atribuirei a justiça.
4 Pois, na verdade, as minhas palavras não serão falsas; contigo está um que tem perfeito conhecimento.
5 Eis que Deus é mui poderoso, contudo a ninguém despre grande é no poder de entendimento.
6 Ele não preserva a vida do ímpio, mas faz justiça aos aflitos.
7 Do justo não aparta os seus olhos; antes com os reis no trono os faz sentar para sempre, e assim são exaltados.
8 E se estão presos em grilhões, e amarrados com cordas de aflição,
9 então lhes faz saber a obra deles, e as suas transgressões, porquanto se têm portado com soberba.
10 E abre-lhes o ouvido para a instrução, e ordena que se convertam da iniqüidade.
11 Se o ouvirem, e o servirem, acabarão seus dias em prosperidade, e os seus anos em delícias.
12 Mas se não o ouvirem, � espada serão passados, e expirarão sem conhecimento.
13 Assim os ímpios de coração amontoam, a sua ira; e quando Deus os põe em grilhões, não clamam por socorro.
14 Eles morrem na mocidade, e a sua vida perece entre as prostitutas.
15 Ao aflito livra por meio da sua aflição, e por meio da opressão lhe abre os ouvidos.
16 Assim também quer induzir-te da angústia para um lugar espaçoso, em que não há aperto; e as iguarias da tua mesa serão cheias de gordura.
17 Mas tu estás cheio do juízo do ímpio; o juízo e a justiça tomam conta de ti.
18 Cuida, pois, para que a ira não te induza a escarnecer, nem te desvie a grandeza do resgate.
19 Prevalecerá o teu clamor, ou todas as forças da tua fortaleza, para que não estejas em aperto?
20 Não suspires pela noite, em que os povos sejam tomados do seu lugar.
21 Guarda-te, e não declines para a iniqüidade; porquanto isso escolheste antes que a aflição.
22 Eis que Deus é excelso em seu poder; quem é ensinador como ele?
23 Quem lhe prescreveu o seu caminho? Ou quem poderá dizer: Tu praticaste a injustiça?
24 Lembra-te de engrandecer a sua obra, de que têm cantado os homens.
25 Todos os homens a vêem; de longe a contempla o homem.
26 Eis que Deus é grande, e nós não o conhecemos, e o número dos seus anos não se pode esquadrinhar.
27 Pois atrai a si as gotas de água, e do seu vapor as destila em chuva,
28 que as nuvens derramam e gotejam abundantemente sobre o homem.
29 Poderá alguém entender as dilatações das nuvens, e os trovões do seu pavilhão?
30 Eis que ao redor de si estende a sua luz, e cobre o fundo do mar.
31 Pois por estas coisas julga os povos e lhes dá mantimento em abundância.
32 Cobre as mãos com o relâmpago, e dá-lhe ordem para que fira o alvo.
33 O fragor da tempestade dá notícia dele; até o gado pressente a sua aproximação.

Jó 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.

Jó 36 Commentaries

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