Bible Commentaries
Job 37

Verses 1-24

JOB - CHAPTER 37

ELIHU’S FINAL ADDRESS

Verses 1-24:

God Omnipotent, As Seen In Nature

Verses 1, 2 begin by declaring that "at this," this thunderous sound of the majestic one of nature. It appears that the storm of nature had already begun, out of or from which God was to speak to Job, as He did to Moses through the fire, at the burning bush, and to Israel through the dark cloud at Mount Sinai, Exodus 3:1-5; Exodus 19:16-20; Exodus 20:21. At this majestic, thunderous voice of nature Elihu asserted that his heart was continually caused to be moved to irregular trembling of awe and fear.

Verse 2 therefore recounts the beginning of Elihu’s last extended charge to Job to give attentive heed to the majestic voice of God, as it sounded or rumbled forth to him through nature, Psalms 19:2-4.

Verse 3 adds that the Lord-majestic directs it, the zig-zag lightning and the rolling thunder, by His all-embracing mighty power, to the ends or corners, the overlapping edges of the habitable earth, Job 38:13; Isaiah 11:12; See also Job 11:7; Job 29:5; Revelation 1:8.

Verse 4 continues that "after it," the clap of lightning, and the roll of thunder that follows it, as the roaring voice of Divine eloquence, He will not stay or withhold the blessing or curse of the rain or hail that may then fall upon the earth, v.3; Job 40:9.

Verse 5 certifies that God thunders marvelously with His voice. And the things that He sublimely does with His voice of thunder are great beyond comprehension. Thunder is fearfully terrible to the Arabs, Job 5:9; Job 9:10; Job 36:26; Revelation 15:3; See also Psalms 65:6; Psalms 139:14; Psalm ch. 29.

Verse 6 states that "He;" the Lord, says to the snow, "Be (or exist) thou upon the earth," likewise to the small rain or showers and great rain of strength. He orders and they obey His voice, being or coming to exist when and as He directs, as described, Psalms 147:16-17.

Verse 7 adds that the Lord-majestic one seals up the hand of every man, interrupts his labors at times by freezing rain, falling snow, and sleet, hailstones, storms, and lightning, that bring all men to an interrupting of their activities, to say to them, "there is a Supreme being in control of this universe." This He does "that all men may know, recognize, or comprehend," that He is over all should be obeyed in all that He commands, Psalms 109:27. See also Psalms 48:8; Psalms 64:9; Psalms 92:4; Psalms 111:2.

Verse 8 notes that at the sound of God’s terrible voice of awe and fear, through the lightning and thunder, the beasts retreat from their roaming, into their dens and lairs, to remain in hiding until the storm-fear has gone. During long snow and ice-storms many of these lie torpid, sleeping, using little energy without going out for weeks, needing no food. God has made them for such endurance. And when they obey their instincts they are preserved, Psalms 104:22. Even so, those who have a conscience and a spirit that is called by God’s spirit to obey Him, find eternal life, peace and rest when they obey His voice, Revelation 22:17; Hebrews 3:7-8; Hebrews 4:7.

Verse 9 certifies that the Lord controls and sends or mandates the whirlwinds out of the south, where their chambers of origin exist, Job 9:9; Job 38:22; Psalms 135:7; They drive before them burning sand from February to May in the middle east, Isaiah 21:1; Zechariah 9:14.

And He sends the cold, dry winds out of the north, scattering the clouds.

Verses 10, 11 declare also that frost is spread over the earth by the breath of God, by His icy-breath out of the north, a thing that is so accurate; tho given in ancient times, before the Mosaic law ever existed, Job 38:29-30; Psalms 147:17-18. It is added that the breath of the waters is straitened. He also loads the clouds up with distilling vapor until they are wearied with weight to cause them to fall as drops of rain to the earth. He then scatters or diffuses His bright cloud. His brightness, reflected in the sun, drives the clouds away. He is to be seen everywhere, in the light and in the dark, in the storm, and in the calm, by those who look to Him, Proverbs 15:3.

Verses 12, 13 state that "it," the lightning-cloud, is turned round. about, guided by His counsel or His guidance, like a ship or plane is guided by the pilot, or helmsman, Psalms 148:8. This is done that (in order that) "they," the clouds, may do whatever His majestic Lord command them upon the face of the world in all the earth. Nature is directed by and obeys her majesty, is the lesson. So, much more so, should men, Job 38:26-27; Psalms 118:9. It is the Lord who causes all nature to come by water, by wind, and by sunshine, to visit man, the beasts, and the earth, sometimes to bless, sometimes to curse or correct, is the idea expressed, Exodus 9:18; Exodus 9:23; 1 Samuel 12:18-19; Ezra 10:9.

Verse 14 is a direct appeal from Elihu for Job to listen respectfully, to stand still, and to consider the wondrous works of God, as described here and in Psalms 19:1-4; Psalms 111:2.

Verses 15,18 Inquire whether or not Job knows when or how God laid His orders on the clouds and lightning, to cause His light to explode in the dark clouds, from which the sun was curtained? Elihu asked Job further whether or not he comprehended the balancing of the clouds, as they poised, floated about in the air, rising and falling until emptied of rain; And all of these were in the marvelous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge, Psalms 139:1-18; Psalms 139:23-24.

Verse 17 asks if Job knows how or can explain how his garments are made warm when the Lord-majestic quiets the earth by means of the south wind. He makes the earth to be still and sultry in atmosphere by the south wind, as declared Song of Solomon 4:16.

Verse 18 seems rhetorically to be spoken to Job by Elihu, saying, "you were not with the Lord-majestic when He spread out unrolled, or expanded the sky, which is like a strong, molten looking glass, were you?" Surely he was not, nor did he claim to be so ancient, Genesis 1:6; Job 9:8-9; Job 37:11-13; Psalms 104:2; Psalms 150:1; Proverbs 8:27; Isaiah 40:12-22; Isaiah 44:24; Jeremiah 10:13.

Verse 19 seems also a challenge from Elihu to Job to teach him and the three friends what they should say to the Lord. For he claimed a need of supernatural leadership in directing or using his speech, by reason of ignorance of darkness of mind, without God’s help. But Elihu has made it clear that he believes Job to be blinded by ignorance of the will and purpose of God in his afflictions, 1 Corinthians 2:14.

Verse 20 Inquires further. Elihu wants to know of Job that if he spoke against this mighty God, should it even be told him? Should Jesus, the intercessor, even mention it if I have a complaint or lamentation against God, as Job had done, is the idea. He then concluded that if one spoke to Him as Job had done he would surely be swallowed up of, more afflictions, Job 13:3; Job 13:18-22; Hebrews 4:15-16; Hebrews 7:25.

Verse 21 asserts that now, at this point in time, men see not, realize not, the import or implication, the far-reaching impact of the "bright light," the lightning, electrical power existing in the clouds. This was before electricity, electrical and hydro-power were discovered and chained for human usage. He adds, by inspiration, the revelation, that the wind continually passes or blows and cleanseth, continually purifies the water in the clouds, the most nearly pure of earth’s drinking water; Even so, one day the Lord will one day be seen through and after the clouds of sorrow to be pure and holy and just in all His character and deeds, Psalms 145:17; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8; Hebrews 12:14.

Verse 22 declares that fair weather or golden splendor comes by nature out of the north, from the region- or sanctuary of the north winds. Brightness is associated with that region of the earth, Job 23:9; Proverbs 25:23; Isaiah 14:13; Psalms 48:2; Psalms 104:1-2. It is concluded that with God is "terrible majesty," a garment of majestic splendor or radiant glory.

Verse 23 expands the concept that the Almighty one can not be "found out" because of His excelling power in judgment, that He will not afflict or inflict an unjust, oppressive, rebuttal to Job’s complaint, noted by Bildad, Job 8:2-3; La 3:53.

Verse 24 concludes that in the light of all this, men of sane judgment fear, reverence, or respect Him in both His person and His acts. Or they ought to, Proverbs 1:7; Matthew 10:28. Then Elihu adds his addenda that the Lord majestic respects none who is wise of heart, in his own conceit, who acts moronic saying, "there is no God," or acting as ii none existed, Psalms 14:1; Romans 12:16; 1 Corinthians 3:18-20; Proverbs 3:7; Proverbs 27:11.