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The Book of Job

Chapter Thirty-seven: God Approaches

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God Approaches

Job: chapter 37
1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5 God thundereth marvelously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.

Why doesn't Elihu shut up? God's majestic storm is piling up all around, while Elihu continues to jabber. He describes the majesty of God's approach, he talks of the power and mystery of God and he continues to scold Job. In fairness, if he remained silent, we would not have this wonderful description of what is happening.

Listen to the Roar of His Voice

Job does remain silent. Elihu and the three friends feel that God is comfortable with them, so they are unconcerned for themselves, but marvel at the awesome presence: “my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place” (37:1). Job knows that he is the center of God's attention. He doesn't know why he is afflicted and he doesn't know what God will do, so he fears this approach. His silence is a dread silence. He has never experienced the fear of the Lord like this.

“Hear attentively the noise of his voice” (37:2), thunder booms across the sky (37:2-5), “God thundereth marvelously.” Lightning rakes the horizon, “unto the ends of the earth” (37:3). Animals scurry for shelter (37:8), as sleet, rain and torrential downpours begin (37:6). God breathes and freezing winds approach from the north, while whirlwinds appear from the south (37:9-10). The winds shift about at God's command (37:12).

“He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work” (37:7). This conveys the idea of closing a box or letter and securing it with a wax seal. We might say that the force of God's tempest boxes us in, where we must wait, witnessing the power of God to work miracles of life or destruction.

Elihu ruminates on the gathering storm from the standpoint of an observer: God's rains may be “for correction, or for His land, or for mercy” (37:13). The rains may fall to nourish the plants and streams, or for mercy, as in the case of Elijah's prayers which relieved a punishing drought (1 Kings 18:41-45). But in this case, everyone assumes God is coming for correction.

Would You Ask to be Swallowed?

“Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God” (37:14). Elihu returns to scolding. “Teach us what we shall say to Him; We cannot arrange our case because of darkness” (37:19), (i.e. ignorance). How can we argue with God, when we don't know what the charges are, what the facts are, or what God will accept?

Elihu returns to his most important theme: it is better to stand still and wait. “Should He be told that I want to speak? Would any man ask to be swallowed” (37:20)? If a man speaks out of turn, in ignorance, “he shall be swallowed up” (37:20) by God. Elihu is not his best disciple.

Suddenly the winds cease, the clouds clear and a golden light pours down (37:21-22). Verse 22 literally says, “From the north cometh gold; with God is terrible majesty” (37:22, Darby's New Translation). In this silence and awesome splendor, Elihu, unable to stay silent, lays down a final dart: “he respecteth not any that are wise of heart” (37:24).

Elihu is brushed aside, as God comes to speak directly to Job.


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*All Bible quotes are from the King James Version unless otherwise indicated.



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Copyright © 2003 Wm W Wells.