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Job 37

1 “At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4 After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour.’
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their labor.[a]
8 The animals take cover; they remain in their dens.
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.
10 The breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
12 At his direction they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever he commands them.
13 He brings the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his love.
14 “Listen to this, Job; stop and consider God’s wonders.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?
17 You who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
19 “Tell us what we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
24 Therefore, people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?[b]

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.

Cross References 46

  • 1. Psalms 38:10; Isaiah 15:5; Jeremiah 4:19; Habakkuk 3:16
  • 2. S Job 32:10
  • 3. ver 5
  • 4. Psalms 18:13; Psalms 29:3-9
  • 5. S 2 Samuel 22:13; Psalms 18:14
  • 6. S Job 36:32; Matthew 24:27; Luke 17:24
  • 7. S 1 Samuel 2:10
  • 8. S Exodus 20:19
  • 9. S 1 Samuel 2:10; John 12:29
  • 10. S Job 36:33
  • 11. S Job 5:9; S Job 11:7-9; S Job 36:4
  • 12. Deuteronomy 28:12; Job 38:22
  • 13. S Genesis 7:4; S Job 5:10; S Job 28:26; Job 36:27
  • 14. Psalms 109:27
  • 15. Psalms 104:19-23; Psalms 111:2; Job 12:14
  • 16. S Job 28:26
  • 17. Job 38:40; Psalms 104:22
  • 18. Psalms 50:3
  • 19. Psalms 147:17
  • 20. Job 38:29-30; Psalms 147:17
  • 21. S Job 26:8
  • 22. S Job 36:30
  • 23. S Job 28:26; Job 36:27,29
  • 24. S ver 3; Psalms 147:16; Psalms 148:8
  • 25. S Genesis 7:4; Exodus 9:22-23; S 1 Samuel 12:17
  • 26. Exodus 9:18; S 1 Kings 18:45; S Job 5:10; S Job 36:31; Job 38:27
  • 27. S Job 32:10
  • 28. S Job 5:9
  • 29. S Job 36:30
  • 30. S Job 36:32
  • 31. S Job 36:29
  • 32. S Job 5:9; S Job 36:4
  • 33. Acts 27:13
  • 34. S Genesis 1:1,8; S Job 22:14; Job 9:8; Psalms 104:2; Isaiah 44:24
  • 35. Deuteronomy 28:23
  • 36. Romans 8:26
  • 37. S Job 13:18
  • 38. S Job 9:3
  • 39. S Judges 5:31; Acts 22:11; Acts 26:13
  • 40. Psalms 19:5
  • 41. Exodus 24:17
  • 42. S Job 5:9; Job 9:4; S Job 36:4; Romans 11:33; 1 Timothy 6:16
  • 43. S Job 8:3
  • 44. S Job 4:17; Psalms 44:1; Isaiah 63:9">Isaiah 63:9; Jeremiah 25:5; Lamentations 3:33; Isaiah 63:9">Isaiah 63:9; Ezekiel 18:23,32
  • 45. S Genesis 22:12; Job 28:28; Ecclesiastes 12:13; Micah 6:8; Matthew 10:28
  • 46. S Job 5:13; Ephesians 5:15; Matthew 11:25

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or "work," / "he fills all people with fear by his power"
  • [b]. Or "for he does not have regard for any who think they are wise."

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.

Job 37 Commentaries

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