Job 37

Elihu continues to speak, emphasizing God's awe-inspiring power manifested in natural phenomena like thunder, lightning, snow, and rain. He asserts that God controls all these elements for His own purposes, whether for correction, the land's benefit, or mercy. Elihu challenges Job to consider God's incomprehensible works, concluding that humanity cannot fully understand or appropriately address the Almighty, who is excellent in power and justice. Therefore, men ought to fear Him.

Elihu expresses profound awe and trembling at God's voice, particularly the thunder and lightning that God directs across the entire earth. He describes God's marvelous control over natural elements, commanding snow and various forms of rain, and giving frost by His breath, which also straitens the waters. These divine acts cause men to cease their work, acknowledging God's hand, and serve God's specific counsels, whether for correction, for the land's sustenance, or for mercy. Elihu then directly challenges Job, urging him to consider the wondrous works of God, such as the balancing of clouds and the spreading of the sky, which are beyond human comprehension. He admits humanity's inability to order speech before God due to profound ignorance. Elihu concludes by affirming God's terrible majesty and excellent power, judgment, and justice, stating that the Almighty cannot be fully understood and does not afflict unjustly, thus demanding fear from all men.

Elihu begins by expressing his heart's trembling and awe at the sound of God's voice, particularly the thunder and lightning that God directs across the entire heaven and to the ends of the earth. He describes how God's voice roars and thunders marvellously, performing great and incomprehensible things. Elihu elaborates on God's absolute control over natural phenomena, stating that God commands snow to fall upon the earth and sends both small and great rains. He notes that God "sealeth up the hand of every man" during these events, causing beasts to retreat to their dens, thereby ensuring that all men recognize His work. Elihu further explains that whirlwinds come from the south and cold from the north, and by God's breath, frost is given, and the breadth of waters is straitened. He describes how God wearies thick clouds with watering and scatters bright clouds, turning them about by His counsels. These meteorological events are precisely directed by God to accomplish His will upon the earth, whether for correction, for the benefit of His land, or as an act of mercy. Elihu then directly addresses Job, urging him to stand still and consider these wondrous works of God. He challenges Job's understanding, asking if he knows how God disposes light, balances the clouds, or spread out the sky, which is strong and like a molten looking glass. Elihu humbly admits humanity's inability to teach God or even order speech before Him due to their inherent darkness and the danger of speaking presumptuously. He concludes by observing that men cannot fully see the bright light in the clouds, yet fair weather comes from the north, revealing God's terrible majesty. Elihu affirms that the Almighty is beyond human discovery, being excellent in power, judgment, and abundant justice, and that He does not afflict without cause. Therefore, men ought to fear God, for He does not regard those who are merely wise in their own hearts.