Job 37

1 At this also my heart is troubled, and moved out of its place.

2 Hear thou a report by the anger of the Lord's wrath, and a discourse shall come out of his mouth.

3 His dominion is under the whole heaven, and his light is at the extremities of the earth.

4 After him shall be a cry with a voice; he shall thunder with the voice of his excellency, yet he shall not cause men to pass away, for one shall hear his voice.

5 The Mighty One shall thunder wonderfully with his voice: for he has done great things which we knew not;

6 commanding the snow, Be thou upon the earth, and the stormy rain, and the storm of the showers of his might.

7 He seals up the hand of every man, that every man may know his own weakness.

8 And the wild beasts come in under the covert, and rest in lair.

9 Troubles come on out of the secret chambers, and cold from the mountain-tops.

10 And from the breath of the Mighty One he will send frost; and he guides the water in whatever way he pleases.

11 And a cloud obscures precious , his light will disperse the cloud.

12 And he will carry round the encircling by his governance, to their works: whatsoever he shall command them,

13 this has been appointed by him on the earth, whether for correction, for his land, or if he shall find him for mercy.

14 Hearken to this, O Job: stand still, and be admonished of the power of the Lord.

15 We know that god has disposed his works, having made light out of darkness.

16 And he knows the divisions of the clouds, and the signal overthrows of the ungodly.

17 But thy robe is warm, and there is quiet upon the land.

18 Wilt thou establish with him for the ancient strong as a molten mirror.

19 Wherefore teach me, what shall we say to him? and let us cease from saying much.

20 Have I a book or a scribe my me, that I may stand and put man to silence?

21 But the light is not visible to all: it shines afar off in the heavens, as that which is from him in the clouds.

22 From the come the clouds shining like gold: in these great are the glory and honour of the Almighty;

23 and we do not find another his equal in strength: him that judges justly, dost thou not think that he listens?

24 Wherefore men shall fear him; and the wise also in heart shall fear him.

Job 37 Commentary

Chapter 37

Elihu observes the power of God. (1-13) Job required to explain the works of nature. (14-20) God is great, and is to be feared. (21-24)

Verses 1-13 The changes of the weather are the subject of a great deal of our thoughts and common talk; but how seldom do we think and speak of these things, as Elihu, with a regard to God, the director of them! We must notice the glory of God, not only in the thunder and lightning, but in the more common and less awful changes of the weather; as the snow and rain. Nature directs all creatures to shelter themselves from a storm; and shall man only be unprovided with a refuge? Oh that men would listen to the voice of God, who in many ways warns them to flee from the wrath to come; and invites them to accept his salvation, and to be happy. The ill opinion which men entertain of the Divine direction, peculiarly appears in their murmurs about the weather, though the whole result of the year proves the folly of their complaints. Believers should avoid this; no days are bad as God makes them, though we make many bad by our sins.

Verses 14-20 Due thoughts of the works of God will help to reconcile us to all his providences. As God has a powerful, freezing north wind, so he has a thawing, composing south wind: the Spirit is compared to both, because he both convinces and comforts, So. 4:16 . The best of men are much in the dark concerning the glorious perfections of the Divine nature and the Divine government. Those who, through grace, know much of God, know nothing, in comparison with what is to be known, and of what will be known, when that which is perfect is come.

Verses 21-24 Elihu concludes his discourse with some great sayings concerning the glory of God. Light always is, but is not always to be seen. When clouds come between, the sun is darkened in the clear day. The light of God's favour shines ever towards his faithful servants, though it be not always seen. Sins are clouds, and often hinder us from seeing that bright light which is in the face of God. Also, as to those thick clouds of sorrow which often darken our minds, the Lord hath a wind which passes and clears them away. What is that wind? It is his Holy Spirit. As the wind dispels and sweeps away the clouds which are gathered in the air, so the Spirit of God clears our souls from the clouds and fogs of ignorance and unbelief, of sin and lust. From all these clouds the Holy Spirit of God frees us in the work of regeneration. And from all the clouds which trouble our consciences, the Holy Spirit sets us free in the work of consolation. Now that God is about to speak, Elihu delivers a few words, as the sum of all his discourse. With God is terrible majesty. Sooner or later all men shall fear him.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JOB 37

Elihu in this chapter proceeds to show the greatness of God as it appears in other of his works of nature, which greatly affected him, and to an attention to which he exhorts others, Job 37:1,2; particularly thunder and lightning, the direction, extent, and order of which he observes, Job 37:3,4; and then suggests that besides these there are other great things done by him, incomprehensible and unknown in various respects; as the snow, and rain, lesser and greater, which come on the earth at his command, and have such effect on men as to seal up their hands, and on the beasts of the field as to cause them to retire to their dens, and there remain, Job 37:5-8; and then he goes on to take notice of wind, and frost, and the clouds, and dispersion of them; their use and ends, whether in judgment or mercy, Job 37:9-13; and then calls on Job to consider these wondrous works of God, and remark how ignorant men are of the disposition of clouds for the rainbow; of the balancing of them; of the heat and quietness that come by the south wind, and of the firmness of the sky, Job 37:14-21; and from all this he concludes the terrible majesty, unsearchable nature of God, the excellency of his power and justice; and that men therefore should and do fear him, who is no respecter of persons, Job 37:21-23.