Job 36

Job 36:1

Job, a servant of God An EasyEnglish Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on the Book of Job

www.easyenglish.info Keith Simons Words in boxes (except for words in brackets) are from the Bible.

This commentary has been through Advanced Checking.

Chapter 36 Elihu teaches about God v1 Elihu continued:

v2 Listen further! And on behalf of God, I will teach you more. v3 My knowledge is great. I will explain about God, who is my maker. And I will prove that God is fair.

v4 Know this: my words are true. And my knowledge is perfect.

v5 God is powerful. But he does not hate people. He is strong. And he is wise. v6 He does not allow evil people to live. But he protects poor people. v7 He always looks after good people. He makes them as important as kings. He will always give honour to good people.

Chapter 36

Verses 1-4

Elihu was bold when he spoke these words. But we do not think that he was proud. Elihu was speaking by God’s Holy Spirit (Job 32:8). In other words, Elihu’s knowledge came from God (Job 36:22). Elihu was not merely explaining his own ideas.

Whenever someone explains their own ideas, that person will make many mistakes. But God’s knowledge is perfect (Job 37:16). And often in the Bible, God sent men to speak his words (Isaiah 6:8-9; Jeremiah 1:4-10; Exodus 4:14-16). These men did not speak their own ideas. They spoke God’s words by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 2:21).

Verses 5-7

Although God is powerful, he is not like an evil ruler. An evil ruler uses his power to cause trouble for people. But God uses his great power to do good things. He is a fair judge. He punishes evil people who hate him. But he helps good people who trust him. He gives to them the honour that they deserve. God teaches men not to be proud v8 But suppose that a man has great troubles. And that man cannot avoid his problems. v9 God will show that man’s errors to the man. God will explain that the man is proud and evil. v10 God will warn that man to stop his evil behaviour.

v11 That man should obey God. And the man should serve God. Then God will help the man to be calm. And the man will be glad for the rest of his life.

v12 But suppose that the man refuses to obey God. Then, that man will die a cruel death. And he will die because of his lack of knowledge.

Verses 8-10

God is kind. He is even kind to people who are proud and evil.

Elihu described a man whose attitudes were terrible. This man was both proud and evil. Job’s friends thought that God would kill such a man as a punishment. Job agreed that God should punish that man. But Job thought that God would not punish that man. And Job did not understand why.

Elihu explained that God wants such a man to stop his evil behaviour. God wants the man to change his life and to trust God. So God may cause troubles that make the man think about his life. And God may warn the man.

Verses 11-12

God gives an opportunity for people to confess their evil deeds to him. God wants them to trust him. But God does not force anybody to change. In the end, God will be the judge of everybody. God punishes wicked people but he cares about poor people v13 Wicked people are angry. When God punishes them, they do not ask him to help them. v14 So, they die when they are young. They are among those that men hand over for an evil life.

v15 But God teaches poor people while they are suffering. And God speaks to them by means of their troubles.

Verses 13-14

Some people refuse to listen when God warns them. These people are wicked. We can be confident that God will punish them.

In verse 14, Elihu mentioned men whom other people hand over for an evil life. These men belonged to a cruel religion. During a ceremony, they had to have sex with other men. They had a terrible life. And Elihu said that wicked people deserve such a terrible fate.

Verse 15

God helps good people who suffer. He was teaching Job, even while Job was suffering. Job was learning about heaven (Job 19:25-27) and hell (Job 26:5-6). Job was learning about wisdom (chapter 28). Job was learning to trust God (Job 12:4). And Job was even learning about Jesus (Job 16:19-21). God cares about Job v16 God will take you, Job, from this place, where you suffer. And God will lead you to a good place. There, you will enjoy the best food.

v17 But now, you suffer the punishment that wicked people deserve. And you cannot escape from your troubles.

v18 Do not allow money to tempt you! Do not allow a secret gift to tempt you! v19 Even your great wealth could not prevent your troubles. All your efforts could not protect you.

v20 Do not hope for death, when people lose everything.

v21 And do not choose evil behaviour! It is better to suffer troubles than to behave in an evil way. But Job, you seem to think otherwise.

Verse 16

Job thought that he was merely waiting to die. But God had wonderful plans for Job.

Verse 17

Job did not deserve these troubles. But while Job was suffering, God was making Job into a better person (1 Peter 1:6-7; Job 23:10). Soon God would rescue Job (chapter 42). Soon God would answer Job, and Job’s troubles would end. But at this time, Job had to be patient (James 5:10-11). This does not mean that Job could do nothing. When we suffer, we should pray for help (James 5:13). We should ask other people to pray too (James 5:14-15). If we have done evil things, we should confess them (James 5:16). And we should always pray with confidence (James 1:6-8; James 5:17-18).

Verses 18-21

Elihu had almost finished his advice for Job. But in these verses, Elihu warned Job about three dangerous ideas:

 In verses 18-19, Elihu spoke about money. Many people fail to obey God because of money (Matthew 6:24; 2 Timothy 4:10). Job’s friends thought that God gives money to good people. And that, if God rescued Job, Job would become wealthy again. These ideas are wrong. Our security should always come from God, not money. Many good Christians are not rich (James 2:5). But if we are wealthy, we must not trust our money.

 Verse 20 is a difficult verse to translate. We think that Elihu was speaking about death. Job often said that he wanted to die (Job 10:18-22; Job 17:13-16). He merely wanted his troubles to end. But this attitude was not good. Paul knew that after death, he would go to heaven. And he knew that heaven is a much better place than earth. But Paul wanted to be a loyal servant of God. So he was happy to do God’s work on earth, although he would have to wait for heaven (Philippians 1:20-25). And Paul explained that death is not a good thing. Death is like an enemy of God. In the end, God will defeat death (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). In other words, nobody will die in heaven. And in the end, God will change his people on this earth so that they will not die (1 Corinthians 15:50-52).

 Verse 21 Sometimes an evil person seems to have a better life than a good person. Sometimes Job suggested that an evil person’s life was better than his. But these are unwise ideas. We must always think about God. God has a plan for our lives. God never wants anyone to do evil things. We must not allow money or anything else to tempt us. ‘It is better to suffer troubles than to behave in an evil way.’ Read Luke 6:20-26. God is great v22 God is great. And he is powerful. He is the best teacher. v23 Nobody can guide God! Nobody can say to God, ‘Your actions are wrong.’ v24 Remember to praise God for his work. And praise him with songs.

v25 Every person sees God’s good work. They stare from a far place to see God’s work. v26 God is so great that we cannot explain him. We cannot even count his age.

Verses 22-24

Many people advise their friends about God. And perhaps such people speak well. But their words are only ideas. They never guide their friends to have a real experience of God.

Elihu did not want to make this mistake. So he did not continue to speak about Job. Instead, Elihu spoke about God. He told Job and his friends that God would teach them. God is the best teacher (verse 22). Elihu warned them not to try to control God. God is always right. So they should trust him completely (verse 23). Elihu reminded them to praise God. God deserves our honour (verse 24).

Verses 25-26

Soon, the men would have an experience of God’s greatness. They would watch a powerful storm. Afterwards, God would speak. A storm approaches v27 God gathers the water to make the rain. v28 He causes the rain to fall from the clouds. So, he provides enough water for all people.

v29 We do not know how he arranges the clouds. We do not know how he causes the thunder. (Thunder is the noise that follows lightning.) v30 God causes lightning that lights the seas. v31 So, by the rain, he provides plentiful food for the people of all nations.

v32 God’s own hands cause the lightning. He orders the lightning to strike. v33 We hear the thunder (noise). So, we know that the storm is coming. Even the cows know this.

Verses 27-33

In Job 26:14, Job said that man’s experience of God was like a whisper. But God’s greatness was like the thunder. (Thunder is the loud noise that follows lightning.) But Job and his friends would soon have a greater experience of God. A storm was approaching. Elihu described the storm. The men were sitting outside (Job 2:8; Job 2:13). So they carefully watched the storm.

First, the men saw the clouds (verses 27-29). Elihu explained that God uses the clouds. By means of the clouds, God sends rain. This shows that God is kind. He provides water for us and for our crops.

Then the men saw the distant lightning. And they heard the distant thunder. It was not raining yet. But the storm was coming closer. Even the cows realised this. When a storm approaches, cows do not continue to eat. Instead, they sit on the ground (verse 33).

© 2005, Wycliffe Associates (UK)

This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words).

October 2005

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