Context:
Because
Elihu's speech covers six chapters, we provide this simple overview
to help the reader see where they are in each chapter:
Ch.32:
Introducing Elihu
Ch.33:
God IS a Communicator
Ch.34:
Job has got it wrong!
Ch.35:
Misguided Questions?
Ch.36:
God IS Just
Ch.37:
God IS Supreme
FRAMEWORKS:
Job 37: Elihu – Part 6 of 6: God IS Supreme
[Preliminary
Comments: The previous chapter ended with Elihu extolling
the works of God in the creation [36:26-33] and now to conclude
this speech, he continues that in a way that seems to act as a
prelude to what the Lord is going to say in the following chapters
about His power in creation. Each section and subheading is sufficiently
clear we do not have to add paragraph notes.]
v.1-5
The voice of the Lord is mighty on the earth within creation
v.1
“At this my
heart pounds and leaps from its place.
v.2
Listen! Listen
to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his
mouth.
v.3
He unleashes
his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends
of the earth.
v.4
After that
comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back.
v.5
God's voice
thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
v.6-13
He's only got to bring rain, ice, or snow to bring all activity
to a halt
v.6
He says to
the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty
downpour.'
v.7
So that everyone
he has made may know his work, he stops all people from their
labor.
v.8
The animals
take cover; they remain in their dens.
v.9
The tempest
comes out from its chamber, the cold from the driving winds.
v.10
The
breath of God produces ice, and the broad waters become frozen.
v.11
He loads the
clouds with moisture; he scatters his lightning through them.
v.12
At his direction
they swirl around over the face of the whole earth to do whatever
he commands them.
v.13
He brings
the clouds to punish people, or to water his earth and show his
love.
v.14-16
Do you know, Job, how He does this?
v.14
“Listen
to this, Job; stop and consider God's wonders.
v.15
Do you know
how God controls the clouds and makes his lightning flash?
v.16
Do
you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who
has perfect knowledge?
v.17-20
Can you do this, can you tell Him what to do?
v.17
You
who swelter in your clothes when the land lies hushed under the
south wind,
v.18
can you join
him in spreading out the skies, hard as a mirror of cast bronze?
v.19
“Tell us what
we should say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of our
darkness.
v.20
Should he
be told that I want to speak? Would anyone ask to be swallowed
up?
v.21-24
Like the sun His splendour is too bright to look at; worship Him
v.21
Now no one
can look at the sun, bright as it is in the skies after the wind
has swept them clean.
v.22
Out of the
north he comes in golden splendor; God comes in awesome majesty.
v.23
The
Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power; in his justice
and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
v.24
Therefore,
people revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise
in heart?”
[Concluding
Comments: As an almost perfect transition passage between
the arguments and declarations that went before and the strength
and power of what follows, this chapter prepares the way for us.
As a declaration by this young man to conclude his ‘presentation'
it says to Job what he had declared to Job before: “How
great is God—beyond our understanding!” and
that will be the gist of the following chapters spoken by the
Lord Himself.]