Job 36:1-25 – He watches over us

In Job 36, Elihu began to wind down on his counsel to the patriarch. Here he was appealing to Job to submit to God and to patiently consider His perfect justice, wisdom and strength.  In the first four verses, Elihu made four appeals to Job to listen to him. He assured Job that, first of all, he had more things concerning God to tell him. Secondly, what he was about to say was not inconsequential or insignificant stuff. They were significant matters that would help to clarify Job’s experience. Thirdly, what he would say would defend the righteousness of God. And finally, he claimed to have the complete truth in what he was about to say.

In verses 5-16, Elihu then proceeded to argue for the justice of God. In His dealing with everyone, both the upright as well as the sinful, God has demonstrated His perfect justice. His perfect understanding enables Him to give each person aptly what is due to him or her. Although great, God has shown Himself to be merciful. To Elihu, God used affliction to bring about deliverance. In crisis and hardship people tend to be generally more open to receive God’s instruction and align themselves with His word and will. In verses 17-25, Elihu then applied what he had said to Job’s situation. He warned Job to accept that his afflictions were designed to lead him out and to rescue him. He was telling Job that his grouchiness, if not rightly harnessed, might lead to more evil and utter destruction.   

It is undeniable that much of what Elihu said were true. The fact that Job did not retort him could be an indication that Elihu’s speech contained a great deal of truth. He was right to point to the error of blaming God for suffering. He was right to recognize the justice and righteousness of God. True to what he had said, if God’s righteousness and justice were not at the center of the fabric of our existence, mankind and the universe would have collapsed long ago. We take comfort in the assurance that in the shadow of all the mystery and unexplainable experiences of our life, stands the great God, Who is keeping watch over our lives. We are His and He cares for us. And as Jesus Himself had assured us that if His eyes are on the sparrows, surely He will watch over us. What a thought!