Job 37

1 »Cuando pienso en esto, mi corazón late con fuerza;
tiembla dentro de mi pecho.

2 Escucha con atención el estruendo de la voz de Dios
cuando retumba de su boca.

3 Resuena por todo el cielo
y sus relámpagos brillan en todas direcciones.

4 Después llega el rugido del trueno,
la tremenda voz de su majestad;
él no la retiene cuando habla.

5 La voz de Dios es gloriosa en el trueno.
Ni siquiera podemos imaginar la grandeza de su poder.

6 ȃl ordena que caiga la nieve en la tierra
y le dice a la lluvia que sea torrencial.

7 Hace que todos dejen de trabajar
para que contemplen su poder.

8 Los animales salvajes buscan refugio
y se quedan dentro de sus guaridas.

9 El viento tormentoso sale de su cámara,
y los vientos impetuosos traen el frío.

10 El aliento de Dios envía el hielo
y congela grandes extensiones de agua.

11 Él carga las nubes de humedad
y después salen relámpagos brillantes.

12 Las nubes se agitan bajo su mando
y hacen por toda la tierra lo que él ordena.

13 Él hace que estas cosas sucedan para castigar a las personas
o para mostrarles su amor inagotable.

14 »Job, presta atención a esto,
¡detente y considera los maravillosos milagros de Dios!

15 ¿Sabes cómo Dios controla la tormenta
y hace que los relámpagos salgan de las nubes?

16 ¿Entiendes cómo él mueve las nubes
con maravillosa perfección y destreza?

17 Cuando te sofocas de calor dentro de tus ropas
y el viento del sur pierde su fuerza y todo se calma,

18 él hace que los cielos reflejen el calor como un espejo de bronce.
¿Puedes tú hacer eso?

19 »Entonces, enséñanos qué decirle a Dios.
Somos demasiado ignorantes para presentar nuestros propios argumentos.

20 ¿Se debe avisar a Dios que quiero hablar?
¿Puede una persona hablar cuando está confundida?

21 No podemos mirar al sol,
porque brilla con fuerza en el cielo
cuando el viento se lleva las nubes.

22 También el esplendor dorado proviene del monte de Dios;
él está vestido de deslumbrante esplendor.

23 No nos podemos imaginar la potencia del Todopoderoso;
pero aunque él es justo y recto,
no nos destruye.

24 Por eso en todas partes la gente le teme;
todos los sabios le muestran reverencia».

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.