Job 21:22

“Shall [any] teach God knowledge? etc.] Who is a God of knowledge, and knows all things, that teaches men knowledge; will any one take upon him to teach him the path of judgment, and the way of understanding, how he shall govern the world, and dispose of men and things in it? (see <234013>Isaiah 40:13,14). Will anyone be so bold and audacious as to pretend to direct and instruct him whom he shall afflict, and whom not, and when he shall do it, and in what manner? should not these things be left to him, who does all things after the counsel of his own will? shall his dealings with men in an outward way of providence be the criterions of the characters and estates of men, as if love and hatred…”

“Reply of Job, "In all these assertions you try to teach God how He ought to deal with men, rather than prove that He does in fact so deal with them. Experience is against you. God gives prosperity and adversity as it pleases Him, not as man's wisdom would have it, on principles inscrutable to us" (Isa 40:13; Rom 11:34). those . . . high--the high ones, not only angels, but men (Isa 2:12-17).”

“Shall any teach God knowledge? - This commences the reply of Job to the sentiments of his friends to which he had just adverted. The substance of the reply is, that no one could prescribe to God how he should deal with people, and that it; was not a FACT that people were treated as they had supposed. Instead of its being true, as they maintained, that wicked people would all be cut down in some fearful and violent manner, as a punishment for their sins, Job goes on Job 21:23-26 to show that they died in a great variety of ways - one in full age and prosperity, and another in another manner. This, he says, God directs as he pleases. No one can teach him knowledge; no one can tell him what he…”

“Teach - How to govern the world? For so you do, while you tell him that he must not afflict the godly, nor give the wicked prosperity. That he must invariably punish the wicked, and reward the righteous in this world. No: he will act as sovereign, and with great variety in his providential dispensations. High - The highest persons, on earth, he exactly knows them, and gives sentence concerning them, as he sees fit. Job 21:25”

“21:22 The rhetorical answer is that no one can teach a lesson to God (Isa 40:13-14; 45:9; Rom 11:34; 1 Cor 2:16). • The most powerful might refer to angels or demons (1 Cor 6:3; 2 Pet 2:4; Jude 1:6; Rev 20:1-3) or, more likely, to the powerful on earth (Job 34:17-19).”

“teach: Job 40:2; Isa 40:13, Isa 40:14, Isa 45:9; Rom 11:34; Co1 2:16 he judgeth: Job 34:17-19; Psa 113:5, Psa 113:6; Ecc 5:8; Isa 40:22, Isa 40:23; Co1 6:3; Pe2 2:4; Jde 1:6; Rev 20:1-3, Rev 20:12-15 Job 21:23”

“22 Shall one teach God knowledge, Who judgeth those who are in heaven? 23 One dieth in his full strength, Being still cheerful and free from care. 24 His troughs are full of milk, And the marrow of his bones is well watered. 25 And another dieth with a sorrowing spirit, And hath not enjoyed wealth. 26 They lie beside one another in the dust, And worms cover them both. The question, Job 21:22, concerns the friends. Since they maintain that necessarily and constantly virtue is rewarded by prosperity, and sin by misfortune, but without this law of the divine order of the world which is maintained by them being supported by experience: if they set themselves up as teachers of God, they will…”