Job 37

1 At this my heart is shaking; it is moved out of its place.

2 Give ear to the rolling noise of his voice; to the hollow sound which goes out of his mouth.

3 He sends it out through all the heaven, and his thunder-flame to the ends of the earth.

4 After it a voice is sounding, thundering out the word of his power; he does not keep back his thunder-flames; from his mouth his voice is sounding.

5 He does wonders, more than may be searched out; great things of which we have no knowledge;

6 For he says to the snow, Make the earth wet; and to the rain-storm, Come down.

7 He puts an end to the work of every man, so that all may see his work.

8 Then the beasts go into their holes, and take their rest.

9 Out of its place comes the storm-wind, and the cold out of its store-houses.

10 By the breath of God ice is made, and the wide waters are shut in.

11 The thick cloud is weighted with thunder-flame, and the cloud sends out its light;

12 And it goes this way and that, round about, turning itself by his guiding, to do whatever he gives orders to be done, on the face of his world of men,

13 For a rod, or for a curse, or for mercy, causing it to come on the mark.

14 Give ear to this, O Job, and keep quiet in your place; and take note of the wonders worked by God.

15 Have you knowledge of God's ordering of his works, how he makes the light of his cloud to be seen?

16 Have you knowledge of the balancings of the clouds, the wonders of him who has all wisdom?

17 You, whose clothing is warm, when the earth is quiet because of the south wind,

18 Will you, with him, make the skies smooth, and strong as a polished looking-glass?

19 Make clear to me what we are to say to him; we are unable to put our cause before him, because of the dark.

20 How may he have knowledge of my desire for talk with him? or did any man ever say, May destruction come on me?

21 And now the light is not seen, for it is dark because of the clouds; but a wind comes, clearing them away.

22 A bright light comes out of the north; God's glory is greatly to be feared.

23 There is no searching out of the Ruler of all: his strength and his judging are great; he is full of righteousness, doing no wrong.

24 For this cause men go in fear of him; he has no respect for any who are wise in heart.

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.