Job 36:25
All mankind has seen it; men behold it from afar.
All mankind
The phrase "all mankind" emphasizes the universality of God's works and His revelation to humanity. In the Hebrew text, the word used here is "kol-adam," which signifies the entirety of humanity. This suggests that God's actions and His creation are evident to every person, transcending cultural, geographical, and temporal boundaries. From a conservative Christian perspective, this underscores the belief that God's presence and power are manifest in the world for everyone to witness, leaving humanity without excuse for disbelief (Romans 1:20).

has seen it
The verb "has seen" in Hebrew is "ra'ah," which means to perceive or to understand. This implies not just a physical seeing but a deeper comprehension of God's works. The use of the perfect tense indicates a completed action, suggesting that God's works have been consistently visible and understandable throughout history. This aligns with the biblical theme that God's creation is a testament to His glory and majesty, as seen in Psalm 19:1, where the heavens declare the glory of God.

men behold it
The phrase "men behold it" reiterates the idea of observation and understanding. The Hebrew word "chazah" used here can mean to gaze upon or to contemplate. This suggests an intentional and thoughtful consideration of God's works. In the context of Job, this can be seen as a call to recognize and reflect on the divine order and wisdom present in creation, encouraging believers to seek a deeper understanding of God's nature and purposes.

from afar
The phrase "from afar" indicates a sense of distance, both physically and spiritually. In Hebrew, "merachoq" can mean from a great distance or from a place of separation. This could imply that while God's works are visible to all, there is a recognition of the vastness and transcendence of God compared to humanity. It serves as a reminder of the infinite nature of God and the humility with which humans should approach Him. This distance also highlights the need for revelation and divine intervention to bridge the gap between God and man, a theme central to the Christian faith with the coming of Jesus Christ as the mediator.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elihu
A young man who speaks to Job and his friends, offering a perspective on God's justice and majesty. He is the speaker in this passage.

2. Job
A righteous man who suffers greatly and seeks understanding of his suffering.

3. God's Creation
The context of this verse is Elihu's discourse on the majesty and power of God as seen in creation.

4. Mankind
Refers to all people who witness God's works and creation.

5. The Heavens
Often seen as a representation of God's handiwork and majesty, which mankind observes.
Teaching Points
God's Majesty in Creation
God's creation is a testament to His power and majesty, visible to all people.

Universal Witness
All of humanity has the opportunity to witness God's works, leaving no excuse for ignorance of His presence.

Perspective on Suffering
In the midst of suffering, like Job's, recognizing God's majesty can provide comfort and perspective.

Call to Worship
Observing God's creation should lead us to worship and revere Him for His greatness.

Humility Before God
Recognizing the vastness of God's creation should humble us and remind us of our place in His grand design.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does Elihu's perspective on God's majesty challenge or affirm your understanding of God's presence in the world?

2. In what ways can observing creation help you in times of personal suffering or doubt?

3. How does the universal witness of God's creation hold people accountable to recognize His existence?

4. What are some practical ways you can incorporate the awe of God's creation into your daily worship?

5. How do other scriptures, like Romans 1:20 or Psalm 19:1, enhance your understanding of Job 36:25?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 19:1
This verse speaks of the heavens declaring the glory of God, similar to how Elihu describes mankind witnessing God's works.

Romans 1:20
Paul writes about God's invisible qualities being understood from what has been made, echoing the idea that all mankind can see God's power and divine nature.

Isaiah 40:26
This passage calls people to lift their eyes and see who created the stars, reinforcing the theme of observing God's creation.

Acts 17:24-27
Paul speaks about God creating the world and being evident to all, aligning with Elihu's assertion that mankind sees God's works.

Psalm 8:3-4
David reflects on the majesty of God's creation and mankind's place within it, similar to Elihu's discourse.
God Praised for His WorksW.F. Adene
People
Elihu, Job
Places
Uz
Topics
Afar, Attentively, Behold, Beholdeth, Beholds, Gaze, Sees, Thereon
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Job 36:24-27

     4060   nature

Library
Whether by his Passion Christ Merited to be Exalted?
Objection 1: It seems that Christ did not merit to be exalted on account of His Passion. For eminence of rank belongs to God alone, just as knowledge of truth, according to Ps. 112:4: "The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens." But Christ as man had the knowledge of all truth, not on account of any preceding merit, but from the very union of God and man, according to Jn. 1:14: "We saw His glory . . . as it were of the only-Begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth."
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Christ Acquired his Judiciary Power by his Merits?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ did not acquire His judiciary power by His merits. For judiciary power flows from the royal dignity: according to Prov. 20:8: "The king that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look." But it was without merits that Christ acquired royal power, for it is His due as God's Only-begotten Son: thus it is written (Lk. 1:32): "The Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of David His father, and He shall reign in the house of Jacob for
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Christ Will Judge under the Form of his Humanity?
Objection 1: It would seem that Christ will not judge under the form of His humanity. For judgment requires authority in the judge. Now Christ has authority over the quick and the dead as God, for thus is He the Lord and Creator of all. Therefore He will judge under the form of His Godhead. Objection 2: Further, invincible power is requisite in a judge; wherefore it is written (Eccles. 7:6): "Seek not to be made a judge, unless thou have strength enough to extirpate iniquities." Now invincible power
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Old Law was from God?
Objection 1: It would seem that the Old Law was not from God. For it is written (Dt. 32:4): "The works of God are perfect." But the Law was imperfect, as stated above [2060](A[1]). Therefore the Old Law was not from God. Objection 2: Further, it is written (Eccles. 3:14): "I have learned that all the works which God hath made continue for ever." But the Old Law does not continue for ever: since the Apostle says (Heb. 7:18): "There is indeed a setting aside of the former commandment, because of the
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Man Can Know that He Has Grace?
Objection 1: It would seem that man can know that he has grace. For grace by its physical reality is in the soul. Now the soul has most certain knowledge of those things that are in it by their physical reality, as appears from Augustine (Gen. ad lit. xii, 31). Hence grace may be known most certainly by one who has grace. Objection 2: Further, as knowledge is a gift of God, so is grace. But whoever receives knowledge from God, knows that he has knowledge, according to Wis. 7:17: The Lord "hath given
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether the Judicial Power Corresponds to Voluntary Poverty?
Objection 1: It would seem that the judicial power does not correspond to voluntary poverty. For it was promised to none but the twelve apostles (Mat. 19:28): "You shall sit on twelve seats, judging," etc. Since then those who are voluntarily poor are not all apostles, it would seem that the judicial power is not competent to all. Objection 2: Further, to offer sacrifice to God of one's own body is more than to do so of outward things. Now martyrs and also virgins offer sacrifice to God of their
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether Hypocrisy is the Same as Dissimulation?
Objection 1: It seems that hypocrisy is not the same as dissimulation. For dissimulation consists in lying by deeds. But there may be hypocrisy in showing outwardly what one does inwardly, according to Mat. 6:2, "When thou dost an alms-deed sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do." Therefore hypocrisy is not the same as dissimulation. Objection 2: Further, Gregory says (Moral. xxxi, 7): "Some there are who wear the habit of holiness, yet are unable to attain the merit of perfection.
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

The Great Teacher
Teaching was the great business of the life of Christ during the days of his public ministry. He was sent to teach and to preach. The speaker in the book of Job was thinking of this Great Teacher when he asked--"Who teacheth like him?" Job xxxvi: 22. And it was he who was in the Psalmist's mind when he spoke of the "good, and upright Lord" who would teach sinners, if they were meek, how to walk in his ways. Ps. xxv: 8-9. And he is the Redeemer, of whom the prophet Isaiah was telling when he said--He
Richard Newton—The Life of Jesus Christ for the Young

"That which was from the Beginning,"
1 John i. 1.--"That which was from the beginning," &c. Things are commended sometimes, because they are ancient, especially doctrines in religion, because truth is before error, and falsehood is but an aberration from truth and therefore there is so much plea and contention among men, about antiquity, as if it were the sufficient rule of verity. But the abuse is, that men go not far enough backward in the steps of antiquity, that is, to the most ancient rule, and profession, and practice of truth
Hugh Binning—The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning

Whether Hypocrisy is Always a Mortal Sin?
Objection 1: It seems that hypocrisy is always a mortal sin. For Jerome says on Is. 16:14: "Of the two evils it is less to sin openly than to simulate holiness": and a gloss on Job 1:21 [*St. Augustine on Ps. 63:7], "As it hath pleased the Lord," etc., says that "pretended justice is no justice, but a twofold sin": and again a gloss on Lam. 4:6, "The iniquity . . . of my people is made greater than the sin of Sodom," says: "He deplores the sins of the soul that falls into hypocrisy, which is a greater
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Whether those to whom Christ's Birth was Made Known were Suitably Chosen?
Objection 1: It would seem that those to whom Christ's birth was made known were not suitably chosen. For our Lord (Mat. 10:5) commanded His disciples, "Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles," so that He might be made known to the Jews before the Gentiles. Therefore it seems that much less should Christ's birth have been at once revealed to the Gentiles who "came from the east," as stated Mat. 2:1. Objection 2: Further, the revelation of Divine truth should be made especially to the friends of God,
Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica

Divine Grace.
GRACE, LOYE, AND MERCY. I FIND that the goodness of God to his people is diversely expressed in his word, sometimes by the word grace, sometimes by the word love, and sometimes by the word mercy. When it is expressed by that word grace, then it is to show that what he doeth is of his princely will, his royal bounty, and sovereign pleasure. When it is expressed by that word love, then it is to show us that his affection was and is in what he doeth, and that he doeth what he doeth for us with complacency
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

Messiah's Easy Yoke
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. T hough the influence of education and example, may dispose us to acknowledge the Gospel to be a revelation from God; it can only be rightly understood, or duly prized, by those persons who feel themselves in the circumstances of distress, which it is designed to relieve. No Israelite would think of fleeing to a city of refuge (Joshua 20:2.
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

Epistle v. To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor.
To Theoctista, Sister of the Emperor. Gregory to Theoctista, &c. With how great devotion my mind prostrates itself before your Venerableness I cannot fully express in words; nor yet do I labour to give utterance to it, since, even though I were silent, you read in your heart your own sense of my devotion. I wonder, however, that you withdrew your countenance, till of late bestowed on me, from this my recent engagement in the pastoral office; wherein, under colour of episcopacy, I have been brought
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great

The Greatness of the Soul,
AND UNSPEAKABLENESS 0F THE LOSS THEREOF; WITH THE CAUSES OF THE LOSING IT. FIRST PREACHED AT PINNER'S HALL and now ENLARGED AND PUBLISHED FOR GOOD. By JOHN BUNYAN, London: Printed for Benjamin Alsop, at the Angel and Bible in the Poultry, 1682 Faithfully reprinted from the Author's First Edition. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. Our curiosity is naturally excited to discover what a poor, unlettered mechanic, whose book-learning had been limited to the contents of one volume, could by possibility know
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

Job
The book of Job is one of the great masterpieces of the world's literature, if not indeed the greatest. The author was a man of superb literary genius, and of rich, daring, and original mind. The problem with which he deals is one of inexhaustible interest, and his treatment of it is everywhere characterized by a psychological insight, an intellectual courage, and a fertility and brilliance of resource which are nothing less than astonishing. Opinion has been divided as to how the book should be
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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