job 36 and 37

Read Job 36 and 37 at Bible Gateway.

Job 36 and 37 Hebrew paragraph divisions:

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for each man’s speech are like the divisions in the Psalms that we studied in 2014. There is an understood {s} division at the end of each numbered line, with an {n} marking where a new line begins within a numbered line.

Job 36:7a He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; {n}
Job 36:7b But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted.
Job 36:16a “Indeed He has brought you out of dire distress, Into a broad place where there is no restraint; {n}
Job 36:16b And what is set on your table is full of richness.
Job 37:4a After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, {n}
Job 37:4b And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
Job 37:6a For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; {n}
Job 37:6b Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.
Job 37:12a And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do {n}
Job 37:12b Whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth.
Job 37:21a Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, {n}
Job 37:21b When the wind has passed and cleared them.

Job 37:24, the end of Elihu’s speech, ends with a {p} strong paragraph division.

The outline of Elihu’s speech:

Job 32:1-33:7, Elihu’s introduction: why he has entered the discussion:

Job 33:8-33, Elihu’s argument for the graciousness of God:

Job 33:8-13, God is not Job’s enemy;
Job 33:14-28, God uses many methods to speak to men to turn them from a destructive path;
Job 33:29-33, God is motivated by desire for repentance, not only to dispense punishment.

Job 34:1-35:16, Elihu’s argument for the justness of God:

Job 34:1-9, Job has unwisely charged God with injustice because of his suffering;
Job 34:10-15, Far be it from God to pervert justice;
Job 34:16-33, God deals with all men impartially according to what is right.
Job 35:1-8, Does a man’s righteousness profit God? No, righteousness benefits others;
Job 35:9-16, Justice is always before God, and if you do not see it yet, you must wait on Him.
Job 36:1-4, Elihu will yet ascribe righteousness to God.

Job 36:5-37:24, Elihu’s argument for the greatness of God:

Job 36:5-15, God is mighty but despises no one: He deals justly with the righteous and wicked alike;
Job 36:16-21, Elihu warns Job not to let his affliction turn him to wickedness;
Job 36:22-23, God is powerful, who has taught Him? who has instructed Him?
Job 36:24-25, Ascribe to God the majesty due Him;
Job 36:26-33, God is great, who can discover His limits?
Job 37:1-5, The marvelous thunder of His voice;
Job 37:6-13, He commands the weather for His purpose;
Job 37:14-18, The greatness of God in His wonderful works;
Job 37:19-24, God in His awesome majesty.

The chiastic structure of Elihu’s speech:

1a) Job 33:8-33, The graciousness of God;

1b) Job 34:1-9, Job has charged God with injustice because of his suffering;

1c) Job 34:10-33, Far be it from God to pervert justice, for He deals with all men impartially;

central axis) Job 35:1-8, Does a man’s righteousness profit God? No, righteousness benefits others;

2c) Job 35:9-16, Justice is always before God, and if you do not see it yet, you must wait on Him;

2b) Job 36:1-4, Elihu will yet ascribe righteousness to God;

2a) Job 36:5-37:24, The greatness of God;

1a) Job 36:5, God is mighty but despises no one;
m1b) Job 36:6-15, He executes judgment for the wicked + justice for the oppressed;
mm1c) Job 36:22-23, God is exalted by His power;
mmm1d) Job 36:24-26, Magnify Him / He is great + we cannot discover Him:
mmmm1) Job 36:24-25, Remember to magnify His work;
mmmm2) Job 36:26, God is great/ we do not know Him or the number of His years;
mmmm1e) Job 36:27-29, Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds;
mmmmm1f) Job 36:30a, Look, He scatters His light upon it;
mmmmmm1g) Job 36:30b, He covers the depths of the sea;
mmmmmmm1h) Job 36:31-33, By these He judges the peoples;
mmmmmmmmcentral axis) Job 37:1-5, God thunders with His majestic voice;
mmmmmmm2h) Job 37:6-13, He commands the weather for correction, His land, mercy;
mmmmmm2g) Job 37:14, Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God;
mmmmm2f) Job 37:15, He causes the light of His cloud to shine;
mmmm2e) Job 37:16-21, Do you know how the clouds are balanced;
mmm2d) Job 37:22-23a, God is awesome in majesty / we cannot find Him:
mmmm1) Job 37:22, He comes as golden splendor; with God is awesome majesty;
mmmm2) Job 37:23a, As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him;
mm2c) Job 37:23b, He is excellent in power;
m2b) Job 37:23c, In judgment and justice He does not oppress;
2a) Job 37:24 {p} Men fear Him, for He shows no partiality to any.

Who is Elihu? I don’t know if anyone has answered that. He is like Melchizedek in that he appears on the scene on God’s behalf without introduction. His speech has the thumbprint of the Holy Spirit upon it, just as Job’s speeches do, but which is lacking in the friends’ speeches. Moreover, as we get into the Lord’s speech, we see that Elihu mirrored many of the things the Lord says.