Job 36:12

Here, as I see it, this is not a question of bringing the unconverted into God's favour. It is rather the discipline of the converted under His good hand. It is the ways of God, and the righteous government that He maintains with His own. But even such might slip aside. Alas! who does not know it? … The discipline of His saints, then, is the chief subject we find in this chapter. … It is not, of course, that every word of the chapter applies only to His saints. But just as in the New Testament we find warning words about those who deceive in the middle of a record of privileges belonging to His own, so it is found in the Old.

In chapter 36 it is expressly the righteous man who is dealt with.

On the other hand, those who failed the test by refusing to obey the Lord would "perish by the sword." If not by a literal sword, then certainly by "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God." Since they refuse knowledge, they "die without knowledge."

God's object was to lay bare to man the hidden evil of his heart, to open his ear to His warnings, and to turn him from pride. If they bow to this, sooner or later their sufferings will pass — even in this life. If not, they must be chastened right to the end, and be struck as by a swift arrow from His hand.

It is most important not to confuse the believer's standing and salvation in Christ with his walk and discipline at the hands of his Father. As to his standing in Christ, as we have seen, it is established for ever. To make that depend, in the least, on his works would be to deny the grace of God. But how much does depend on his walk with God. Not earthly prosperity — not worldly pleasures. The closer we walk with God, the less we will have of these. Think of the Apostle Paul, and of all who are determined to live a godly life in this present evil world.

Job is warned that persisting in proudly accusing God can only end one way — death. It is a question of the present life. Job is warned against the "sin that leads to death" (1 John 5:16), though of course without the full light of the New Testament. There is clearly a chastening of the people of God that goes on to death, because of their failure to judge themselves.

There are cases where discipline is in progress and might end in death (Job 36:7-12). But the intercession of the saints may be the means of blessing. In the administration of God's government in the church on earth, it may turn aside the threatened evil. Under this government, the sins would be forgiven, the life of the failing person spared, and the soul set right.