Hiob 37

1 Ja, darüber erzittert mein Herz und bebt auf von seiner Stelle.

2 Höret, höret das Getöse seiner Stimme und das Gemurmel, das aus seinem Munde hervorgeht!

3 Er sendet es aus unter den ganzen Himmel, und seinen Blitz bis zu den Säumen der Erde.

4 Nach dem Blitze brüllt eine Stimme; er donnert mit seiner erhabenen Stimme, und hält die Blitze nicht zurück, wenn seine Stimme gehört wird.

5 Gott donnert wunderbar mit seiner Stimme; er tut große Dinge, die wir nicht begreifen.

6 Denn zum Schnee spricht er: Falle zur Erde! und zum Regengusse und den Güssen seines gewaltigen Regens.

7 Er lähmt die Hand eines jeden Menschen, damit alle Menschen sein Werk kennen lernen.

8 Und das Wild geht in sein Versteck und bleibt in seinen Höhlen.

9 Aus der Kammer des Südens kommt Sturm, und von den Nordwinden Kälte.

10 Durch den Odem Gottes entsteht Eis, und die Breite der Wasser zieht sich zusammen.

11 Auch beladet er mit Wasserfülle das Gewölk, breitet weithin aus seine Blitzwolken.

12 Und unter seiner Leitung wenden sie sich ringsumher zu ihrem Werke, zu allem, was er ihnen gebietet, über die Fläche des Erdkreises hin,

13 sei es, daß er sie zur Geißel, oder für seine Erde, oder zur Erweisung seiner Gnade sich entladen läßt.

14 Nimm dieses zu Ohren, Hiob; stehe und betrachte die Wunder Gottes!

15 Weißt du, wie Gott sie beladet, und leuchten läßt den Blitz seines Gewölks?

16 Verstehst du dich auf das Schweben der Wolke, auf die Wundertaten des an Wissen Vollkommenen?

17 Du, dessen Kleider heiß werden, wenn das Land schwül wird von Süden her,

18 kannst du, gleich ihm, das Himmelsgewölbe ausbreiten, fest wie ein gegossener Spiegel?

19 Tue uns kund, was wir ihm sagen sollen! Wir können vor Finsternis nichts vorbringen.

20 Soll ihm gemeldet werden, daß ich reden wolle? Wenn jemand zu ihm spricht, er wird gewiß verschlungen werden.

21 Und jetzt sieht man das Licht nicht, welches leuchtet am Himmelsgewölbe; aber ein Wind fährt daher und reinigt dasselbe.

22 Aus dem Norden kommt Gold: um Gott ist furchtbare Pracht;

23 den Allmächtigen, den erreichen wir nicht, den Erhabenen an Kraft; und das Recht und der Gerechtigkeit Fülle beugt er nicht.

24 Darum fürchten ihn die Menschen; er sieht keine an, die weisen Herzens sind.

Hiob 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.