For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
The verse belongs to the discourses and argument of Elihu reproving Job after the debate between Job and his friends closes. In one reckoning it stands within the portion running from chapter 20 to chapter 37, in the speech of Elihu after the argument closes in chapter 31. There Elihu appears as a younger man claiming superior wisdom, attempting to correct Job along the same line as the friends, and he is given no answer. In another reckoning it belongs to the closing part of the book, chapters 28 to 42, in Elihu's argument seeking to convince Job that he is not great in himself while God is everything.
To this argument Job makes no answer and no comment is given, before the Lord answers Job from chapter 38 by pointing to His mighty works in creation to show His infinite power and wisdom in contrast to how small Job is. The section containing Elihu's instructive discourses is given as spanning chapters 32 to 36, while Elihu's argument and reproof to Job is also given as spanning chapters 32 to 37. It belongs to the discussion of God's justice, whose surrounding account has Job persisting in self-justification after his friends falsely accuse him, with God ultimately vindicating him and restoring his prosperity.
The verse teaches that God renders to a man for his work and causes every man to find according to his ways, repaying each person according to deeds done and the way lived. It is evidence that God regards human actions and will recompense people according to their works, with everyone's conduct considered in judgment. Punishment is thereby just and exalts the character of God, because hardness of heart comes from disobedience to known law and is exactly in proportion to the light rejected, so that the wrath treasured up and rendered is measured by that hardness. Evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, which is generally true but was misapplied in Job's case.
Adversity, affliction, and suffering therefore do not prove a man to be under God's displeasure and give no reason for discouragement. Whom the Lord loves He chastens for his good, and suffering for His sake glorifies Him, as Jesus the Son of God was the prince of sufferers.
The verse belongs to the discourses and argument of Elihu reproving Job after the debate between Job and his friends closes. In one reckoning it stands within the portion running from chapter 20 to chapter 37, in the speech of Elihu after the argument closes in chapter 31. There Elihu appears as a younger man claiming superior wisdom, attempting to correct Job along the same line as the friends, and he is given no answer. In another reckoning it belongs to the closing part of the book, chapters 28 to 42, in Elihu's argument seeking to convince Job that he is not great in himself while God is everything.
To this argument Job makes no answer and no comment is given, before the Lord answers Job from chapter 38 by pointing to His mighty works in creation to show His infinite power and wisdom in contrast to how small Job is. The section containing Elihu's instructive discourses is given as spanning chapters 32 to 36, while Elihu's argument and reproof to Job is also given as spanning chapters 32 to 37. It belongs to the discussion of God's justice, whose surrounding account has Job persisting in self-justification after his friends falsely accuse him, with God ultimately vindicating him and restoring his prosperity.
The verse teaches that God renders to a man for his work and causes every man to find according to his ways, repaying each person according to deeds done and the way lived. It is evidence that God regards human actions and will recompense people according to their works, with everyone's conduct considered in judgment. Punishment is thereby just and exalts the character of God, because hardness of heart comes from disobedience to known law and is exactly in proportion to the light rejected, so that the wrath treasured up and rendered is measured by that hardness. Evil is ultimately punished and good is ultimately rewarded, which is generally true but was misapplied in Job's case.
Adversity, affliction, and suffering therefore do not prove a man to be under God's displeasure and give no reason for discouragement. Whom the Lord loves He chastens for his good, and suffering for His sake glorifies Him, as Jesus the Son of God was the prince of sufferers.