Hebrews 12:5-11
This passage discusses the concept of divine discipline, reinforcing the idea that God disciplines those He loves for their growth and benefit.

Romans 8:28
This verse assures believers that God works all things together for good for those who love Him, providing comfort in times of suffering.

Isaiah 55:8-9
These verses remind us that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, echoing Elihu's emphasis on God's incomprehensible wisdom.God's Justice and Power
Elihu begins by affirming God's justice and power, emphasizing that God does not despise anyone and is mighty in strength and understanding (Job 36:5). This sets the stage for understanding that God's actions are always just, even when they are beyond human comprehension.

Divine Discipline
Elihu suggests that suffering can be a form of divine discipline intended to teach and correct (Job 36:10-12). He argues that God uses adversity to open people's ears to instruction and to turn them from wrongdoing.

God's Sovereignty
Elihu highlights God's sovereignty over creation, illustrating His control over the natural world as a demonstration of His power and wisdom (Job 36:26-33). This serves as a reminder that God's ways are higher than ours.

The Purpose of Suffering
Elihu posits that suffering can lead to spiritual growth and a deeper understanding of God (Job 36:15). He suggests that through affliction, God delivers the afflicted and opens their ears to instruction.Trust in God's Justice
In times of suffering, trust that God is just and His purposes are ultimately for our good, even when we do not understand them.

Embrace Divine Discipline
View challenges and hardships as opportunities for growth and learning, recognizing them as potential tools for divine discipline.

Acknowledge God's Sovereignty
In the face of life's uncertainties, acknowledge God's control over all circumstances and rest in His wisdom and power.

Seek Spiritual Growth
Use times of suffering as opportunities to draw closer to God, seeking to understand His will and grow in faith.1. Elihu
Elihu is the speaker in Job 36. He is one of Job's friends who has waited to speak after Job and his three friends have finished their discussions. Elihu is portrayed as a younger man who believes he has wisdom to impart, and he seeks to defend God's justice and righteousness. In this chapter, Elihu emphasizes God's greatness and justice, urging Job to consider God's ways. The name Elihu in Hebrew (אֱלִיהוּא) means "He is my God."

2. God (referred to as "the Almighty")
While not directly speaking in this chapter, God is the central subject of Elihu's discourse. Elihu speaks of God's power, justice, and wisdom, highlighting His role as the Almighty Creator who governs the universe with righteousness. Elihu's descriptions aim to remind Job of God's sovereignty and the importance of humility before Him. The Hebrew term for God used here is often "El Shaddai" (אֵל שַׁדַּי), emphasizing His might and sufficiency.

In Job 36, Elihu's speech is focused on God's attributes and actions, and he does not mention other individuals by name. The chapter is part of Elihu's larger argument that seeks to correct what he perceives as Job's misunderstandings about God's justice and character.In Job 36 from the Berean Standard Bible, there are no specific geographical places mentioned. The chapter primarily consists of Elihu's discourse on God's greatness and justice, focusing on His power and wisdom rather than specific locations. Therefore, there are no places to list from this chapter. 1. Elihu Continues Speaking
Elihu, one of Job's friends, continues his discourse, emphasizing his desire to speak on God's behalf and to ascribe righteousness to the Almighty. He claims to have perfect knowledge (Job 36:1-4).

2. God's Justice and Power
Elihu asserts that God is mighty and does not despise anyone. He is mighty in strength and understanding, and He does not preserve the life of the wicked but gives justice to the afflicted (Job 36:5-6).

3. God's Care for the Righteous
Elihu explains that God does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous, but He sets them with kings on the throne and exalts them forever (Job 36:7).

4. Discipline and Instruction
Elihu describes how God uses discipline to instruct people. If they are bound in chains and caught in cords of affliction, He shows them their deeds and transgressions, that they have behaved arrogantly (Job 36:8-9).

5. Repentance and Obedience
Elihu emphasizes that if people listen and serve God, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in pleasures. However, if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge (Job 36:10-12).

6. The Fate of the Godless
Elihu warns that the godless in heart harbor anger and do not cry for help when He binds them. They die in their youth, and their life ends among the male cult prostitutes (Job 36:13-14).

7. God's Deliverance
Elihu highlights that God delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression. He also alludes to the idea that God would have brought Job out of distress into a broad place where there is no constraint (Job 36:15-16).

8. Warning Against Resentment
Elihu cautions Job not to be enticed by riches or to let a large ransom turn him aside. He warns against longing for the night when people vanish from their place (Job 36:17-20).

9. God's Greatness and Majesty
Elihu speaks of God's greatness, describing how He is exalted in His power and how no one can teach Him. He encourages Job to remember to extol His work, which men have sung (Job 36:22-24).

10. God's Sovereignty Over Nature
Elihu concludes by describing God's control over nature, including the spreading of clouds, the thunder, and the lightning. He emphasizes that God is beyond human understanding and that His works are great (Job 36:25-33).1. Elihu's Continued Discourse
Elihu continues his speech, emphasizing his desire to speak on God's behalf. He claims to have perfect knowledge and urges Job to listen to his words. This reflects the Hebrew root "דַּעַת" (da'at), meaning knowledge or understanding.
^"Bear with me a little longer, and I will show you that there is more to be said on God’s behalf."^ (Job 36:2)

2. God's Justice and Power
Elihu speaks of God's justice and power, asserting that God does not despise anyone and is mighty in strength and understanding. The Hebrew word "כֹּחַ" (koach) for power highlights God's omnipotence.
^"Behold, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding."^ (Job 36:5)

3. God's Care for the Righteous
Elihu explains that God does not preserve the life of the wicked but gives justice to the afflicted. This underscores God's righteousness and care for those who are faithful.
^"He does not keep the wicked alive, but He gives justice to the afflicted."^ (Job 36:6)

4. Discipline and Instruction
Elihu discusses how God uses discipline to instruct and guide people, particularly the righteous, to bring them back to the right path. The Hebrew root "מוּסָר" (musar) for discipline or instruction is relevant here.
^"He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity."^ (Job 36:10)

5. Consequences of Ignoring God
Elihu warns of the consequences for those who do not listen to God, emphasizing that they will perish without knowledge. This highlights the importance of heeding divine instruction.
^"But if they do not obey, they will perish by the sword and die without knowledge."^ (Job 36:12)

6. God's Sovereignty Over Nature
Elihu describes God's control over nature, illustrating His sovereignty and majesty. The Hebrew word "שַׁדַּי" (Shaddai) is often used to denote God's almighty nature.
^"He draws up drops of water, which distill the rain from the mist."^ (Job 36:27)

7. God's Unsearchable Ways
Elihu concludes by acknowledging the unsearchable nature of God's ways and His greatness beyond human understanding. This reflects the Hebrew root "פָּלָא" (pala), meaning to be wonderful or extraordinary.
^"Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?"^ (Job 36:22)1. God's Justice and Righteousness
Elihu emphasizes God's justice, asserting that He does not despise anyone and is mighty in strength and understanding. This theme is rooted in the Hebrew concept of "mishpat" (מִשְׁפָּט), meaning justice or judgment.
^"Behold, God is mighty, but He despises no one; He is mighty in strength of understanding."^ (Job 36:5)

2. God's Discipline and Instruction
Elihu speaks about God's use of discipline to instruct and guide people, suggesting that suffering can be a form of divine teaching. The Hebrew word "musar" (מוּסָר) refers to discipline or correction.
^"He opens their ears to correction and commands that they turn from iniquity."^ (Job 36:10)

3. The Consequences of Obedience and Disobedience
The chapter contrasts the outcomes of obedience versus disobedience to God. Obedience leads to prosperity, while disobedience results in judgment.
^"If they obey and serve Him, they will end their days in prosperity and their years in happiness."^ (Job 36:11)

4. God's Sovereignty and Power
Elihu highlights God's sovereign control over creation, emphasizing His power and authority. The Hebrew word "shaddai" (שַׁדַּי) is often used to denote God's almighty nature.
^"Behold, God is exalted in His power. Who is a teacher like Him?"^ (Job 36:22)

5. Human Limitations in Understanding God
Elihu acknowledges the limitations of human understanding when it comes to comprehending God's ways, which are beyond human grasp.
^"Behold, God is great—beyond our knowledge; the number of His years is unsearchable."^ (Job 36:26)

6. The Purpose of Suffering
Suffering is presented as a means through which God communicates and refines individuals, aligning with the idea of divine testing and purification.
^"He delivers the afflicted by their affliction and opens their ears in oppression."^ (Job 36:15)1. In Job 36:5, how can God “despise no one” if other scriptures depict His wrath and judgment against certain people?

2. In Job 36:6–7, where it states the righteous are exalted while the wicked are cut off, why do wicked individuals often thrive, and the righteous sometimes suffer?

3. In Job 36:11–12, obedience supposedly leads to prosperity while disobedience brings destruction; how does this align with the real-world experiences of faithful people in hardship?

4. In Job 36:27–28, which describes God’s hand in the water cycle, are there scientific inconsistencies in attributing weather events solely to divine intervention?

5. In Job 36:31–33, how does the idea that God uses storms for both judgment and provision reconcile with natural disasters that indiscriminately affect believers and unbelievers alike?

1. How does Elihu's understanding of God's justice differ from Job's and his three friends' views?

2. What does Elihu mean when he says that God uses suffering as a means of correction?

3. How can Elihu's discourse about suffering be applied to contemporary issues of pain and hardship?

4. In verses 17-25, Elihu warns Job against questioning God's justice. How does this apply to us when we feel life is unfair?

5. How does Elihu’s description of God’s works in nature (verses 26-33) enhance our understanding of God's power and wisdom?

6. How can understanding God's omnipotence and justice influence our responses to personal struggles?

7. Elihu describes God as responsive to the humble (verse 5). How does this align with the New Testament teachings about humility?

8. What does the concept of 'fearing God' mean to you based on this chapter, and how does it relate to your everyday life?

9. Why does Elihu assert that his words are truthful and fair (verses 1-4)? How should we approach giving counsel to others based on this?

10. How does the depiction of God's sovereignty in this chapter inform your understanding of God's role in the world today?

11. In verse 16, Elihu suggests that suffering could potentially lead to deliverance. How can we apply this perspective in dealing with personal challenges or crises?

12. How do you reconcile the ideas of God's justice and suffering in your own life or observed in the world?

13. How can the concept of God's justice presented in this chapter help us to maintain faith during difficult times?

14. Based on Elihu's words, what should be our response when we do not understand why we are going through suffering?

15. How do you interpret the relationship between obedience to God and prosperity as described in verses 5-12?

16. Elihu warns about the consequences of harboring resentment against God (verses 13-15). How might these insights guide us when we feel resentful or bitter?

17. In verses 22-25, Elihu speaks about the magnificence of God. How can reflecting on this aspect of God's character impact our faith?

18. Based on this chapter, how would you explain the concept of "the fear of God" to someone who might misinterpret it as being afraid of God?

19. Elihu uses meteorological phenomena to illustrate God's wisdom and power (verses 26-33). How can we see God's wisdom and power in the world around us today?

20. How does the depiction of God as both a powerful creator and a personal corrector shape your understanding of God's nature? How might this dual nature of God influence your approach to worship and prayer?