Job 36:5-17 - Homilies By R. Green

The perfectness of the Divine ways.

Elihu continues to speak on God's behalf. He defends the Divine ways from what he esteems to be Job's reflections upon them. He will fain "ascribe righteousness ' to his "Maker." The perfectness and justness of the ways of him who is "mighty in strength and wisdom" is traced by Elihu in many instances. Though greatly exalted, God does not look disdainfully upon man; nor doth he despise the work of his own hands. His perfect work is seen—

I. IN HIS JUDGMENTS UPON THE UNGODLY . "He preserveth not the life of the wicked."

II. IN HIS JUSTICE TO THE OPPRESSED . "He giveth right to the poor;" "He deliverth the poor in his affliction" (verse 15).

III. IN HIS REGARD FOR THE OBEDIENT AND PURE . "He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous." This is especially seen—

IV. IN HIS DISCIPLINE AND CORRECTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS . This topic Elihu expands. While the Almighty suffers the wicked to perish, he maintains the lot of the oppressed and righteous poor, keeping them ever in view, and ever working all things together for their good.

1 . In leading them to an established honour. "With kings are they on the throne." He "doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted."

2 . He sanctifies their sorrows as means of spiritual discipline and correction. "If they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction, he showeth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded."

3 . He imparts instruction, warning them away from the dangers of iniquity.

4 . He crowns their obedience with ample reward. "If they obey and serve him," he makes them to spend their days in prosperity. How does this anticipate the final condition of Job? and in the process of this Divine poem, how is the unravelling of the mystery, the knot of human suffering, gradually promoted? Again, with another motive to urge Job to repentance, Elihu points out

5 . That even the righteous, if they are disobedient to the Divine instructions and correction, "shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge." He makes a direct application of the whole teaching to Job: "Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place;" but lays at Job's door the accusation of fulfilling the judgment of the evil-doer and suffering, as he does, for the severities of "judgment and justice." The principle of Elihu's teaching is just, if his application of it is faulty. All may learn