HOW GREAT IS GOD

Job 36:1-33 / Keywords 36:26

How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.

 

36:1 Elihu continued:

2 “Bear with me a little longer and I will show you

    that there is more to be said in God’s behalf.

3 I get my knowledge from afar;

    I will ascribe justice to my Maker.

4 Be assured that my words are not false;

    one who has perfect knowledge is with you.

5 “God is mighty, but despises no one;

    he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.

6 He does not keep the wicked alive

    but gives the afflicted their rights.

7 He does not take his eyes off the righteous;

    he enthrones them with kings

    and exalts them forever.

8 But if people are bound in chains,

    held fast by cords of affliction,

9 he tells them what they have done—

    that they have sinned arrogantly.

10 He makes them listen to correction

    and commands them to repent of their evil.

11 If they obey and serve him,

    they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity

    and their years in contentment.

12 But if they do not listen,

    they will perish by the sword[a]

    and die without knowledge.

13 “The godless in heart harbor resentment;

    even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help.

14 They die in their youth,

    among male prostitutes of the shrines.

15 But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering;

    he speaks to them in their affliction.

16 “He is wooing you from the jaws of distress

    to a spacious place free from restriction,

    to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.

17 But now you are laden with the judgment due the wicked;

    judgment and justice have taken hold of you.

18 Be careful that no one entices you by riches;

    do not let a large bribe turn you aside.

19 Would your wealth or even all your mighty efforts

    sustain you so you would not be in distress?

20 Do not long for the night,

    to drag people away from their homes.[b]

21 Beware of turning to evil,

    which you seem to prefer to affliction.

22 “God is exalted in his power.

    Who is a teacher like him?

23 Who has prescribed his ways for him,

    or said to him, ‘You have done wrong’?

24 Remember to extol his work,

    which people have praised in song.

25 All humanity has seen it;

    mortals gaze on it from afar.

26 How great is God—beyond our understanding!

    The number of his years is past finding out.

27 “He draws up the drops of water,

    which distill as rain to the streams[c];

28 the clouds pour down their moisture

    and abundant showers fall on mankind.

29 Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds,

    how he thunders from his pavilion?

30 See how he scatters his lightning about him,

    bathing the depths of the sea.

31 This is the way he governs[d] the nations

    and provides food in abundance.

32 He fills his hands with lightning

    and commands it to strike its mark.

33 His thunder announces the coming storm;

    even the cattle make known its approach.[e]

Footnotes

a. Job 36:12 Or will cross the river

b. Job 36:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for verses 18-20 is uncertain.

c. Job 36:27 Or distill from the mist as rain

d. Job 36:31 Or nourishes

e. Job 36:33 Or announces his coming— / the One zealous against evil

1. This is Elihu's fourth and final speech. He proclaims God's justice. Even though God is mighty, he does not despise men. His eyes are on the righteous. When those who suffer repent of sin and seek him, he blesses. But godless men become stubborn and bitter when they suffer. With rebellious hearts they persist in sin and reap its consequences.

 

2. God has revealed himself in power and glory to all humanity. We are called to praise him. God is beyond our ability to understand, but he pours out blessings on all mankind. With his almighty power, his perfect justice, and his sovereign greatness, God governs the nations in order that his glory may be revealed and multiplied. Apart from God all men fall into bitterness and judgment. We are called to pursue how great is God. Though he is beyond our understanding, his glory is revealed to us every day.

 

Prayer Lord, help me to pursue your greatness with the hope of tasting your eternal glory.

One Word Seek the greatness of God