Job 37 - ESV - Bible Reading / Study Notes

Job 37

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

37:1   “At this also my heart trembles
    and leaps out of its place.
2   Keep listening to the thunder of his voice
    and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3   Under the whole heaven he lets it go,
    and his lightning to the corners of the earth.
4   After it his voice roars;
    he thunders with his majestic voice,
    and he does not restrain the lightnings¹ when his voice is heard.
5   God thunders wondrously with his voice;
    he does great things that we cannot comprehend.
6   For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
    likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.
7   He seals up the hand of every man,
    that all men whom he made may know it.
8   Then the beasts go into their lairs,
    and remain in their dens.
9   From its chamber comes the whirlwind,
    and cold from the scattering winds.
10   By the breath of God ice is given,
    and the broad waters are frozen fast.
11   He loads the thick cloud with moisture;
    the clouds scatter his lightning.
12   They turn around and around by his guidance,
    to accomplish all that he commands them
    on the face of the habitable world.
13   Whether for correction or for his land
    or for love, he causes it to happen.
14   “Hear this, O Job;
    stop and consider the wondrous works of God.
15   Do you know how God lays his command upon them
    and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
16   Do you know the balancings² of the clouds,
    the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,
17   you whose garments are hot
    when the earth is still because of the south wind?
18   Can you, like him, spread out the skies,
    hard as a cast metal mirror?
19   Teach us what we shall say to him;
    we cannot draw up our case because of darkness.
20   Shall it be told him that I would speak?
    Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?
21   “And now no one looks on the light
    when it is bright in the skies,
    when the wind has passed and cleared them.
22   Out of the north comes golden splendor;
    God is clothed with awesome majesty.
23   The Almighty—we cannot find him;
    he is great in power;
    justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate.
24   Therefore men fear him;
    he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”³

Footnotes

[1] 37:4 Hebrew them
[2] 37:16 Or hoverings
[3] 37:24 Hebrew in heart

Commentary

v1-13: Continuing his meditation from 36.24; this section is perhaps the wisest words spoken by any of Job's friends, as it centres on God and His character.

As Elihu meditates on God's power, his heart leaps (v1); these things speak to us, even though our mind might not fully grasp them. Elihu describes the voice of God like thunder and lightning; such things are "beyond our understanding", but make animals flee in fear. All things are subject to His word, doing "whatever He commands", yet not in caprice, but for His purpose.

v14-18: Elihu challenges Job to a response. Consider what God does; consider His character, that He does wonderful things, that He knows all things, that all creation is subject to Him; stand in awe of Him, but do not think of yourself as like Him.

v19-24: Elihu's conclusion; we dare not speak to God; we are weak and sinful, and He is majestic, powerful, and just.

Yet Elihu's words about God's power do not give Job an answer. He needs to know about God's purposes.