What is the context?
Elihu emphatically denies that God acts wickedly or perverts justice. He describes the world as God’s own charge, with no superior who appointed Him to govern it.
All living flesh depends on the Spirit and breath God gives; if withdrawn, humanity would return to dust. The speech places moral confidence beside radical creaturely dependence.
This account of God’s greatness still needs to be distinguished from proving the particular conclusions Elihu draws about Job. The fact that God sustains everyone does not give the speaker exhaustive knowledge of every act of providence.
How is this passage commonly understood?
Wesley understands the life and breath as showing God’s sovereign relation to all creatures. He reads justice as belonging to God’s perfection, rather than authority delegated by another ruler. The argument concerns divine government without furnishing a new factual charge against Job.
What is our position?
We don't have a position on this passage yet. When our study reaches a conclusion the text supports, it will appear here.
Where can I study this further?
No deeper study linked yet.