Job
Chapter 37
This is why my heart pounds and leaps from its place.
Listen to the thunder of his voice as it rumbles from his mouth.
Under the heavens, he hurls his lightning, sending it to the ends of the earth.
Then comes the sound of God’s roar– the majestic peal of his thunder. He doesn’t check his thunderbolts until his voice has completely echoed.
God thunders, and His voice performs wonders; He does great things beyond our understanding.
He commands the snow: “Fall on the earth,” and the showers: “Be a strong downpour!”
So he keeps people undercover to get them to acknowledge his work.
Wild beasts retreat to their lairs and stay quietly in their dens.
The storm emerges from its chamber and the cold from the driving winds.
The breath of God forms ice, and the vast waters freeze.
With thunderbolts, he charges the clouds and sends his lightning through them.
At his command, they carry out their rounds, on the surface of the inhabited world,
whether for punishment or mercy, as he directs.
Listen to this, O Job: pause and think about God’s wonders.
Do you know how he controls the clouds, how he makes his lightning flash?
Do you know how the clouds remain suspended, all these wonders created by his perfect knowledge?
You who sweat in your clothes when the earth remains quiet under the south wind,
can you, like him, stretch out the skies, as hard as a mirror of molten bronze?
Teach us what we should say to him; we cannot present our case because of the darkness.
Does it take an angel to bring this to God’s attention?
A while ago, we couldn’t see the light and the clouds darkened the sky, but now the storm has just cleared them away.
A blaze comes from the north, a dreadful glory around God.
The Almighty is beyond our reach; exalted in power, great in judgment; the Master of justice oppresses no one.
Therefore, people revere him; the wise are nothing in his sight.
Commentaries
Elihu’s Speeches.
Job ends his defense by asking for a response from God. What will happen now? When least expected, an intruder named Elihu appears. He is an angry young man who has apparently been listening to the debate and can no longer contain himself. Irritated by what he has just heard, he interjects himself into the matter (32:19). He does so with four speeches that, although they say nothing new, reveal his conviction, his passion, and his abundant verbiage.
Elihu’s Fourth Speech.
The first part of the speech (36:1-21) continues the debate from previous sessions. It reviews the fates of the righteous and the wicked. The second part (36:22-37:13) praises the greatness of the Creator. His power, wisdom, and knowledge surpass our ability to understand (36:26). Elihu emphasizes the divine gift of rain (36:27-37:13): Does Job consider the wondrous works of God? (37:14). Elihu asks Job a series of questions, to which Job consistently answers “No” (37:15-21). No matter how wise we are, we can never call God to account. All we can do is “fear”—worship and revere—God, and this is the beginning of wisdom (28:28). Elihu is a supporting character, a transitional figure. His earlier remarks address Job and his friends’ discussions; now he shifts focus more on God, ending with a description of the storm and a series of questions meant to humble Job. The Lord will speak from the storm with a list of similar questions.