22 Lo, God doth sit on high by His power, Who 'is' like Him—a teacher? 23 Who hath appointed unto Him his way? And who said, 'Thou hast done iniquity?'
24 Remember that thou magnify His work That men have beheld. 25 All men have looked on it, Man looketh attentively from afar. 26 Lo, God 'is' high, And we know not the number of His years, Yea, there 'is' no searching. 27 When He doth diminish droppings of the waters, They refine rain according to its vapour, 28 Which clouds do drop, They distil on man abundantly. 29 Yea, doth 'any' understand The spreadings out of a cloud? The noises of His tabernacle? 30 Lo, He hath spread over it His light, And the roots of the sea He hath covered, 31 For by them He doth judge peoples, He giveth food in abundance. 32 By two palms He hath covered the light, And layeth a charge over it in meeting, 33 He sheweth by it 'to' his friend substance, Anger against perversity.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 36:22-41
Commentary on Job 36:15-23
(Read Job 36:15-23)
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.
Commentary on Job 36:24-33
(Read Job 36:24-33)
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.