Job 37 Study Notes: Elihu Describes God's Majesty in the Storm
Elihu describes thunder, lightning, snow, rain and ice as God's works, sent to punish or to benefit His land, out of His loving devotion. He presses Job to consider wonders he cannot explain, and closes by picturing God coming in radiant majesty, mighty and just, beyond human reach and worthy of fear.
General
What does Elihu call Job to do in Job 37:14-18?
Answer: Stop and think about God's wonders, which he can neither explain nor match
Elihu tells Job to pause and reflect on God's wonders (37:14). He asks whether Job knows how God sends out the clouds and causes the lightning to flash, or how the clouds hang in the sky, the wonders of the One whose knowledge is perfect (37:15-16). He asks whether Job, whose clothes grow hot when the south wind leaves the land still, can stretch out the sky like God, hard as a bronze mirror (37:17-18). These questions are similar in form to the ones the LORD Himself asks Job from the whirlwind soon afterward, such as where Job was when the earth's foundations were laid, and whether he can order the clouds or send out the lightning (38:4; 38:34-35).
- Job 37:14-18 (BSB)“Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God. Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash? Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge? You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind, can you, like Him, spread out the skies, as strong as a mirror of bronze?”Elihu calls Job to consider God's wonders and asks whether he understands or can match them.
- Job 38:4 (BSB)“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.”The LORD's speech opens with a question about where Job was at the earth's founding.
- Job 38:34-35 (BSB)“Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you? Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?”The LORD asks Job whether he can command the clouds or send out the lightning.
Theological
What does Elihu summon Job to do in Job 37:14-18?
Answer: Stop and think about God's wonders, which he can neither explain nor match
Elihu summons Job to pause and reflect on God's wonders (37:14), pressing him with questions he cannot answer: how God sends forth the clouds and flashes the lightning, how the clouds hang suspended, the works of the One whose knowledge is perfect (37:15-16), and whether Job, sweltering when the south wind blows, can stretch out the sky like God, firm as a bronze mirror (37:17-18). These questions resemble in form those the LORD Himself puts to Job from the whirlwind, about the earth's foundations and about ordering clouds and lightning (38:4; 38:34-35).
- Job 37:14-18 (BSB)“Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God. Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash? Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge? You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind, can you, like Him, spread out the skies, as strong as a mirror of bronze?”Elihu calls Job to consider God's wonders and asks whether he understands or can match them.
- Job 38:4 (BSB)“Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.”The LORD's speech opens with a question about where Job was at the earth's founding.
- Job 38:34-35 (BSB)“Can you command the clouds so that a flood of water covers you? Can you send the lightning bolts on their way? Do they report to you, ‘Here we are’?”The LORD asks Job whether he can command the clouds or send out the lightning.
General
How does Elihu describe God as he ends his speeches (Job 37:21-24)?
Answer: God appears in golden majesty, out of reach, just, and worthy of fear
Elihu notes that no one can look straight at the bright sun once the wind has cleared the sky (37:21). Then he says God comes from the north in golden splendor, with awesome majesty around Him (37:22). We cannot reach the Almighty; He is lifted high in power, and being just and greatly righteous, He never oppresses (37:23). That is why people fear Him: He shows no favoritism toward the wise of heart (37:24). These statements are true in themselves, and Scripture elsewhere affirms them: God lives in light no one can approach (1 Tim 6:16), He shows no partiality (Deut 10:17), and fearing the Lord is wisdom (28:28). Right after Elihu says no one can reach the Almighty, the LORD Himself speaks to Job from the whirlwind (38:1).
- Job 37:21-24 (BSB)“Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean. Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him. The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress. Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.””Elihu ends by describing God's splendor, power, justice and the fear due Him.
- 1 Timothy 6:16 (BSB)“He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”Paul says God lives in light no one can approach.
- Deuteronomy 10:17 (BSB)“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.”Moses says the great and awesome God shows no partiality.
- Job 28:28 (BSB)“And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’””The poem on wisdom says that fearing the Lord is wisdom.
- Job 38:1 (BSB)“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:”Immediately after Elihu's words, the LORD speaks to Job from the whirlwind.
Theological
What portrait of God closes Elihu's speeches in Job 37:21-24?
Answer: God appears in golden majesty, out of reach, just, and worthy of fear
Elihu observes that the sun is too bright to look at once the wind has cleared the sky (37:21), and he describes God coming from the north in golden splendor, clothed in awesome majesty (37:22). The Almighty is out of our reach, lifted high in power, and in justice and abundant righteousness He never oppresses (37:23); that is why people fear Him: He shows no favoritism toward the wise of heart (37:24). These affirmations are true in themselves and echoed elsewhere: God lives in light no one can approach (1 Tim 6:16), shows no partiality (Deut 10:17), and fearing Him is wisdom (28:28). Directly after Elihu calls the Almighty unreachable, the LORD Himself speaks to Job from the whirlwind (38:1).
- Job 37:21-24 (BSB)“Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean. Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him. The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress. Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.””Elihu ends by describing God's splendor, power, justice and the fear due Him.
- 1 Timothy 6:16 (BSB)“He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.”Paul says God lives in light no one can approach.
- Deuteronomy 10:17 (BSB)“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awesome God, showing no partiality and accepting no bribe.”Moses says the great and awesome God shows no partiality.
- Job 28:28 (BSB)“And He said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’””The poem on wisdom says that fearing the Lord is wisdom.
- Job 38:1 (BSB)“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:”Immediately after Elihu's words, the LORD speaks to Job from the whirlwind.
General
What does Elihu say about anyone presenting a case to God (Job 37:19-20)?
Answer: Our darkness keeps us from arranging a case, and speaking risks ruin
Elihu asks Job to teach them what to say to God, because their darkness leaves them unable to set out a case (37:19). He asks whether God should be told that he wants to speak, since no one would ask for his own destruction (37:20). This answers Job's repeated wish to argue his case before God (13:3; 23:3-4); Job had closed his own words by asking the Almighty to answer him (31:35). In the very next chapter, the LORD does speak to Job from the whirlwind (38:1).
- Job 37:19-20 (BSB)“Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness. Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?”Elihu says human darkness leaves no one able to lay out a case before God.
- Job 13:3 (BSB)“Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.”Job had said he longed to speak to the Almighty and argue his case.
- Job 23:3-4 (BSB)“If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.”Job had wished he could find God's seat and plead his case there.
- Job 31:35 (BSB)“(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.”Job closed his own words by asking the Almighty to answer him.
- Job 38:1 (BSB)“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:”In the next chapter the LORD does answer Job from the whirlwind.
Theological
How does Elihu assess the possibility of presenting a case before God in Job 37:19-20?
Answer: Our darkness keeps us from arranging a case, and speaking risks ruin
Elihu invites Job to teach them what to say to God, since human darkness makes it impossible to set out a case (37:19), and he asks whether anyone would request a hearing with God at the cost of his own destruction (37:20). This answers Job's repeated desire to argue his case before God (13:3; 23:3-4), which closed with his demand that the Almighty answer him (31:35). In the next chapter the LORD does speak to Job from the whirlwind (38:1).
- Job 37:19-20 (BSB)“Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness. Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up?”Elihu says human darkness leaves no one able to lay out a case before God.
- Job 13:3 (BSB)“Yet I desire to speak to the Almighty and argue my case before God.”Job had said he longed to speak to the Almighty and argue his case.
- Job 23:3-4 (BSB)“If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat. I would plead my case before Him and fill my mouth with arguments.”Job had wished he could find God's seat and plead his case there.
- Job 31:35 (BSB)“(Oh, that I had one to hear me! Here is my signature. Let the Almighty answer me; let my accuser compose an indictment.”Job closed his own words by asking the Almighty to answer him.
- Job 38:1 (BSB)“Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:”In the next chapter the LORD does answer Job from the whirlwind.
General
According to Elihu, why does God send snow and heavy rain that halt people's work (Job 37:6-7)?
Answer: So that every person may recognize the work that God does
Elihu says God orders the snow to come down on the ground and the gentle rain to become a heavy downpour (37:6). He stops every person's work so that all people may know what He has done, while the wild animals go into their dens (37:7-8). The storm leaves its storeroom, and the north winds bring cold; ice forms and waters freeze at God's breath, and the clouds swirl at His bidding to carry out His orders across the whole earth (37:9-12). Scripture elsewhere affirms that snow, clouds and wind carry out God's word (Ps 148:8; Ps 147:16-18), and the LORD Himself soon asks Job about where snow and hail are stored (38:22-23).
- Job 37:6-12 (BSB)“For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’ He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work. The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens. The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds. By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them. They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth.”Elihu describes snow, rain, cold and clouds all moving at God's command.
- Psalm 148:8 (BSB)“lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word,”A psalm calls on lightning, snow, clouds and wind, which carry out God's word.
- Psalm 147:16-18 (BSB)“He spreads the snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts forth His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast? He sends forth His word and melts them; He unleashes His winds, and the waters flow.”A psalm describes God sending snow, frost and cold, then melting them by His word.
- Job 38:22-23 (BSB)“Have you entered the storehouses of snow or observed the storehouses of hail, which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?”The LORD Himself soon asks Job about where snow and hail are stored.
Theological
What purpose does Elihu give in Job 37:6-7 for the snow and downpours that halt human labor?
Answer: So that every person may recognize the work that God does
God commands snow and downpour (37:6) and so brings human labor to a halt, Elihu says, so that all people may recognize His work, while the beasts retreat to their dens (37:7-8). The tempest issues from its storeroom, and the north winds bring cold; ice forms at God's breath, and the clouds circle at His bidding to carry out His orders over the whole earth (37:9-12). Scripture elsewhere ascribes snow, clouds and wind to the fulfilling of God's word (Ps 148:8; Ps 147:16-18), and the LORD's own speech soon questions Job about where snow and hail are stored (38:22-23).
- Job 37:6-12 (BSB)“For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’ He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work. The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens. The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds. By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen. He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them. They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth.”Elihu describes snow, rain, cold and clouds all moving at God's command.
- Psalm 148:8 (BSB)“lightning and hail, snow and clouds, powerful wind fulfilling His word,”A psalm calls on lightning, snow, clouds and wind, which carry out God's word.
- Psalm 147:16-18 (BSB)“He spreads the snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts forth His hail like pebbles. Who can withstand His icy blast? He sends forth His word and melts them; He unleashes His winds, and the waters flow.”A psalm describes God sending snow, frost and cold, then melting them by His word.
- Job 38:22-23 (BSB)“Have you entered the storehouses of snow or observed the storehouses of hail, which I hold in reserve for times of trouble, for the day of war and battle?”The LORD Himself soon asks Job about where snow and hail are stored.
General
True or False: Elihu says God sends the clouds and storms for only one purpose, which is to punish the wicked (Job 37:13).
Answer: False
This is false. Elihu names more than one purpose. God may send the storms to punish or to benefit His land, and Elihu says God carries this out from His loving devotion, which means His faithful, covenant kindness (37:13). The same storms can serve as judgment or as care for the earth. Elihu had said something similar earlier, that by the storms God both judges nations and supplies food (36:31). Scripture elsewhere affirms God's kindness in rain: Jesus teaches that the Father gives sun and rain to the wicked and the good alike (Matt 5:45), and a psalm praises God for watering the mountains so the earth yields food (Ps 104:13-14).
- Job 37:13 (BSB)“Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.”Elihu names several purposes for which God sends the clouds and storms.
- Job 36:31 (BSB)“For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.”Elihu had already said God uses the storms both to judge nations and to provide food.
- Matthew 5:45 (BSB)“that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Jesus teaches that the Father gives sun and rain to the evil and the good alike.
- Psalm 104:13-14 (BSB)“He waters the mountains from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His works. He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth:”A psalm praises God for watering the mountains so that the earth yields food.
Theological
True or False: Elihu assigns a single purpose to God's storms in Job 37:13, namely the punishment of the wicked.
Answer: False
This is false. Elihu names more than one end for the storms, punishment or the good of God's land, and says God accomplishes this in keeping with His loving devotion (37:13). The same providence may serve judgment or blessing. He had already spoken of the storms as means both of judging nations and of supplying food (36:31). Scripture elsewhere affirms God's common kindness in rain to evil and good alike (Matt 5:45) and His watering of the earth to bring forth food (Ps 104:13-14).
- Job 37:13 (BSB)“Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.”Elihu names several purposes for which God sends the clouds and storms.
- Job 36:31 (BSB)“For by these He judges the nations and provides food in abundance.”Elihu had already said God uses the storms both to judge nations and to provide food.
- Matthew 5:45 (BSB)“that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Jesus teaches that the Father gives sun and rain to the evil and the good alike.
- Psalm 104:13-14 (BSB)“He waters the mountains from His chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of His works. He makes the grass grow for the livestock and provides crops for man to cultivate, bringing forth food from the earth:”A psalm praises God for watering the mountains so that the earth yields food.
General
How does Elihu respond to the thunder he describes at the start of chapter 37 (Job 37:1-5)?
Answer: His heart pounds, and he urges all to listen to the roar of God's voice
Elihu says his heart pounds and leaps at the thunder, and he urges his hearers to pay close attention to the thundering of God's voice and the rumble from His mouth (37:1-2). God sends His lightning under the whole sky to the farthest edges of the world, and then His majestic voice thunders (37:3-4). Elihu concludes that God's voice thunders wondrously and that He works wonders past our understanding (37:5). Job himself had said earlier that God's great deeds cannot be searched out (9:10), and a psalm likewise hears the glory of God in the thunder over the waters (Ps 29:3).
- Job 37:1-5 (BSB)““At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place. Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth. Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds. God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.”Elihu describes his own trembling at the thunder and lightning he attributes to God's voice.
- Job 9:10 (BSB)“He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.”Job himself had said earlier that God's great deeds and wonders are beyond counting.
- Psalm 29:3 (BSB)“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters.”A psalm likewise hears the glory of God in thunder over the waters.
Theological
What is Elihu's response to the storm at the opening of Job 37 (Job 37:1-5)?
Answer: His heart pounds, and he urges all to listen to the roar of God's voice
Elihu confesses that his heart pounds at the thunder and calls his hearers to attend to the thundering of God's voice (37:1-2). The lightning flies to the farthest edges of the world and His majestic voice follows (37:3-4), and Elihu concludes that God's voice thunders wondrously and that His works exceed our comprehension (37:5). Job had earlier confessed the same unsearchable greatness (9:10), and a psalm likewise hears divine glory in the thunder over the waters (Ps 29:3).
- Job 37:1-5 (BSB)““At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place. Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth. Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds. God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend.”Elihu describes his own trembling at the thunder and lightning he attributes to God's voice.
- Job 9:10 (BSB)“He does great things beyond searching out, and wonders without number.”Job himself had said earlier that God's great deeds and wonders are beyond counting.
- Psalm 29:3 (BSB)“The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is heard over many waters.”A psalm likewise hears the glory of God in thunder over the waters.