Job 37

1 "At the sound of his thunder, my heart pounds as if it will jump out of my chest.

2 Listen! Listen to the thunder of God's voice and to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.

3 He turns his lightning loose under the whole sky and sends it to the farthest parts of the earth.

4 After that you can hear the roar when he thunders with a great sound. He does not hold back the flashing when his voice is heard.

5 God's voice thunders in wonderful ways; he does great things we cannot understand.

6 He says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth,' and to the shower, 'Be a heavy rain.'

7 With it, he stops everyone from working so everyone knows it is the work of God.

8 The animals take cover from the rain and stay in their dens.

9 The storm comes from where it was stored; the cold comes with the strong winds.

10 The breath of God makes ice, and the wide waters become frozen.

11 He fills the clouds with water and scatters his lightning through them.

12 At his command they swirl around over the whole earth, doing whatever he commands.

13 He uses the clouds to punish people or to water his earth and show his love.

14 "Job, listen to this: Stop and notice God's miracles.

15 Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?

16 Do you know how the clouds hang in the sky? Do you know the miracles of God, who knows everything?

17 You suffer in your clothes when the land is silenced by the hot, south wind.

18 You cannot stretch out the sky like God and make it look as hard as polished bronze.

19 Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot get our arguments ready because we do not have enough understanding.

20 Should God be told that I want to speak? Would a person ask to be swallowed up?

21 No one can look at the sun when it is bright in the sky after the wind has blown all the clouds away.

22 God comes out of the north in golden light, in overwhelming greatness.

23 The Almighty is too high for us to reach. He has great strength; he is always right and never punishes unfairly.

24 That is why people honor him; he does not respect those who say they are wise."

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.