Job 37:1–8

This closing part begins with a summing up along the lines already followed. But it ends with a description of God's workings in nature, and for grandeur it has no equal. At the beginning he speaks in a plain teaching way, aiming at the judgment and the conscience. The close is so vivid that it has rightly been thought to describe an actual storm, whose approach announced the presence of God — a most fitting prelude to Jehovah's word from the whirlwind.

Having warned Job in this way, Elihu turned again to the greatness of God as shown in creation. The rest of his speech stays on this theme. He thought above all of how the Creator controls what lies wholly outside man's control — the clouds, the winds, the thunder, the lightning, the rain, the snow, the frost. As these things came before his mind, he had to confess that his heart trembled and was deeply moved.

"At this also my heart" — that is a very different thing from the mere instinct of the cattle — "my heart trembles." … Even the beasts have more sense than some men.

As the storm breaks on them, Elihu himself trembles (v.1). … Here before Job's eyes was an object lesson about the spiritual storm he had been through. He certainly could not stop the storm, yet God would allow it only for a time. He knows how to make the storm a calm (Ps. 107:29), as the Lord Jesus did when His disciples were torn with fear (Mark 4:38-39).

Elihu calls on Job to hear God's voice in it all. And may we not well believe that he calls him to hear His voice also in the storm of sorrow that has fallen on him? It came blow upon blow — the sharp lightning stroke of affliction, the awful thunder of God's discipline. God has been doing marvellous things, things beyond our understanding — but it is God. "Be still, and know that I am God."

Job 37 … finally turns our eyes to the wonderful works of God in the outward world. … I admit these are very far indeed from the depth of truth that the doctrine of Christ or His grace gives. It is not the unseen, but the visible. Here we can understand that we are in the infant days of even God's saints. They spelled out the vast letters of heaven and earth they could see, before the Scriptures were read. … For that very reason, because Christ was not here, God used the outward world to show His majesty, faithfulness and gracious power in all that surrounded man.

Snow may cover the earth like a burial cloth. Winter may lay its icy hand on man and stop all his activity. It is still His snow, His hand, teaching man His supreme power. The beast goes into its shelter; let us too enter into the "cleft of the rock" until these troubles have passed. Whether the storm comes in the whirlwind of the south, or from the frozen north, it is only His breath. How good then to humble ourselves under His mighty hand!

Hear, O hear, the roar of His voice, and the rumbling that goes forth out of His mouth.

The storm is upon them now, and Elihu trembles. He calls Job to hear God's voice in it all — and we may well believe he calls him to hear God's voice in the storm of sorrow that has fallen on him too. It has come blow upon blow: the sharp lightning stroke of affliction, the awful thunder of God's chastening. God has been doing marvellous things, things beyond our understanding, but it is God.

In Psalm 29 we discern the voice of the Lord in the mighty peals of thunder that follow the lightning's flash, and in the damage the thunderstorm leaves behind. Then we read, "and in His temple does everyone speak of His glory" (verse 9, older translation). Only those who know the presence of the Lord can understand how His glory is to be seen in all His works. The awesome thunderings are indeed God's voice to men, calling them to listen to Him. But if we are to understand God's will, and to discern His glory, we must know what it is to be found in the secret of His presence.

The heavens are arched overhead like a tent of endless space, glorious by day and by night. The draped clouds, the greatness of the mountains, the beauty of forest, field and sea — what do these tell to one who does not hear the Voice? The idol-worshipper makes his image, or bows to sun and moon. The scientist sweeps the heavens with his telescope, and searches the hidden depths of earth with his microscope. He talks with learning and interest about "laws of nature," about "principles of physics and of chemistry," about gravitation, cohesion and affinity. But unless he has heard the Voice of Jehovah, he knows Him no more than the poor deluded idol-worshipper bowing low before his hideous idol.

The chapter before turned our ears to the ways of God in providence. His ways are clearly righteous and good, mighty as He is, and especially so in corrective blessing, where men do not rebel to their own shame and ruin. Job 37 now turns our eyes to the wondrous works of God in the outward world… Here we can understand that we are in the infant days of even God's saints, when they spelled out the vast letters of heaven and earth seen before the Scriptures were read… For that very reason, because Christ was not here, the outward world shows God's majesty, faithfulness, and gracious power in all that surrounded man.

Here before Job's eyes was an object lesson about the spiritual storm he had been through. He had no power to stop the storm, yet God would allow it only for a time. He knows how to make the storm a calm (Ps. 107:29), as the Lord Jesus did when fear tore at His disciples (Mark 4:38-39).

There is every reason to connect Job 37 with what goes before, not to separate it. "At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place." And what could be finer than the description of the thunder and lightning that follows? It is so vivid that quite a few think Elihu sees a storm in progress, with its roar and rumble, followed by snow or rain falling in varying amounts. What can man do, faced with God's awe-inspiring voice, but seek to learn?

As the storm breaks upon them, Elihu himself trembles (v. 1). The thunder of God's voice calls for man's close attention. His lightning spreads over the whole visible area (vv. 2-3)… Here before Job's eyes was an object lesson about the spiritual storm he had been through. He certainly could not stop the storm, yet God would allow it only for a time. He knows how to make the storm a calm (Ps. 107:29), as the Lord Jesus did when His disciples were torn with fear (Mark 4:38-39).

Having warned Job in this way, Elihu turned again to the greatness of God as seen in creation. The rest of his speech stays on this theme. Above all he thought about the Creator's control over what no man can control: the clouds, the winds, the thunder, the lightning, the rain, the snow, the frost. As these things came into his mind, he had to admit that his heart trembled and was deeply moved.

He shows the absolute sovereignty of God. And if that is true about natural things, is it not still more necessary in spiritual things?

He carries on his thought from the previous section about God's uprightness. He rises quickly into the heavens and there sees Him in the clouds, the rain, the lightning and the storm. These show the wisdom and goodness of God… In all of it we see the almighty power and majesty of God, and man's feebleness. Yet all of it serves the purposes of wise government in mercy and blessing. Let Job think it all over: is he like God?

The storm is upon them now, and Elihu trembles. He calls on Job to hear God's voice in it all. And may we not well believe that Job is to hear His voice in the storm of sorrow that has fallen on him too? Blow upon blow it has come — the sharp lightning stroke of affliction, the awful thunder of God's chastening. God has been doing marvellous things, things beyond our understanding, but it is God. "Be still, and know that I am God."

This closing part begins with a summing up along the lines already followed. But it ends with a description of the workings of God in nature, and for grandeur that description is unmatched. At the start he speaks in a simple, teaching way, addressing the judgment and the conscience. The close is so vivid that it has rightly been thought to describe an actual storm whose approach announced the presence of God. It is a most fitting prelude to the Lord's word out of the whirlwind.

As the storm breaks upon them, Elihu himself trembles (v.1). The thunder of God's voice calls for man's close attention. His lightning spreads over the whole visible area (vv.2-3). Here before Job's eyes was an object lesson about the spiritual storm he had been through. He certainly could not stop the storm, yet God would allow it only for a time. He knows how to make the storm a calm (Ps. 107:29), as the Lord Jesus did when His disciples were torn with fear (Mark 4:38-39).

One cannot trace Him, though His voice is heard.

And what could be finer than the description that follows of the thunder and lightning? It is so vivid that quite a few think Elihu is watching a storm in progress, with its roar and rumble, followed by the fall of snow or rain in varying amounts. What can man do, in the presence of God's awful voice, but seek to learn? Even the wild beast retires to cover and keeps to his den.

"At this also my heart" — that is a very different thing from the mere instinct of the cattle — "my heart trembles" (Job 37:1-8). Even the beasts have more sense than some men.

Job 37, after turning our ears in the chapter before to the ways of God in providence... finally turns our eyes to the wonderful works of God in the outward world... These, I admit, fall very far short of the depth of truth that the doctrine of Christ or His grace gives. It is not the unseen, but the visible. Here we can understand that we are in the infant days even of God's saints. They spelled out the vast letters of heaven and earth, seen before the Scriptures were read... For that very reason, because Christ was not here, God takes up the outward world to show His majesty, faithfulness and gracious power in all that surrounded man.

And if He is so wonderful in nature, His ways there past finding out, how much more in His providential dealings. Yet whether in nature or in providence, His ways are perfect.

As he goes on, Elihu passes from teaching into description. He sets out the wisdom and greatness of God as seen in His great creation. The storm descriptions grow so vivid that we can only think of the storm as actually coming on. The lightning flashes, and the terrific peals of thunder fill him with dread, while the trembling herds show their fear.

That blaze of lightning is only the garment He covers Himself with. The rolling thunder is only the voice of Him who sits as King over the flood. From His hand comes food for the needy and judgment for the proud. The light from His presence strikes to the very depths of the sea. Both His hands of power wield the bolt like a dart sure of its aim... His thunder is the mighty voice announcing His presence, and the trembling cattle declare that He is near!

Here before Job's eyes was an object lesson about the spiritual storm he had been through. He certainly could not stop the storm, yet God would allow it only for a time. He knows how to make the storm a calm (Ps. 107:29), as the Lord Jesus did when His disciples were torn with fear (Mk. 4:38-39).

The storm is upon them now, and Elihu trembles. He calls on Job to hear God's voice in it all. And surely he calls him to hear that voice in the storm of sorrow that has fallen on him too. It has come blow upon blow, the sharp lightning stroke of affliction, the awful thunder of God's chastening. God has been doing marvellously, things beyond our comprehension, but it is God. "Be still, and know that I am God."

He is infinitely above our thoughts. "For he makes small the drops of water." Elihu illustrates it by God's power over outward things. And if that is true of something as small as the rain, how much more of something as great as the soul of man? That soul comes from the inbreathing of God Himself.

We are in these early seasons. Back then God was pleased to illustrate things by the speech that day after day pours out. He did not use the gospel preached to every creature, or the Son who had come down from heaven to show us the Father in Himself. For that very reason, because Christ was not here, God takes up the outward world. It shows His majesty, faithfulness, and gracious power in everything that surrounded man.

He is God, and Almighty, as the closing verses of Job 37 declared. He is also Jehovah, and He spoke out of the whirlwind, which Elihu had also mentioned.

For to the snow He says, Fall to the earth, and to the small rain, and to the rains of strength. The hand of every man He seals up, that all mortals may come to know His work.

All the forces of nature act according to divine laws. "Laws of nature" are but laws of God, the manner in which all things are upheld by the word of His power. He has not given up His rights as the God of providence any more than His place as Creator.

He tells the snow or the rain when to fall on the earth, sometimes a gentle rain, sometimes a fierce rainstorm. Men have tried in many ways to control the weather. It is a foolish, useless effort, because they do not want to let God have His way. All this was meant to speak to Job about the hard circumstances he was going through. Would Job not allow God to have His way?

And if snow covers the earth like a burial cloth, and winter's icy hand stops all man's work — it is His snow, His hand, to teach man His supreme power. The beast goes into its shelter; let us too enter into the "cleft of the rock" until these troubles have passed. How good then to humble ourselves under His mighty hand!

Those storehouses of mercy and of judgment are in the hand of God. His word produces them — the snow, to protect the grass in winter and to cool and refresh in summer; the hail, in striking plagues and sweeping judgments. Cold acting on vapour makes snow, we are told, turning its molecules into crystals of lovely and varied form. Who planned those forms?

Here we can understand that we are in the infant days even of God's saints. They spelled out the vast letters of heaven and earth, seen before anyone read the Scriptures. We are in these early seasons. God chose to teach by the speech that day after day utters. He did not teach by the gospel preached to every creature, or by the Son who had come down from heaven to show us the Father in Himself.

The storm is upon them now, and Elihu trembles. He calls on Job to hear God's voice in it all. We may well believe he was to hear that voice in his own storm of sorrow too. It has come blow upon blow, the sharp lightning stroke of affliction, the awful thunder of God's chastening. God has been doing marvellous things, things beyond our understanding — but it is God. "Be still, and know that I am God."

The chapter before turned our ears to the ways of God in providence. Those ways are clearly righteous and good, mighty as He is, and especially so in corrective blessing. Job 37 now turns our eyes to the wonderful works of God in the outside world... It is not the unseen, but the visible. Here we can see that we are in the early days of even God's people. They spelled out the vast letters of heaven and earth, which could be seen before the Scriptures were read.

And if the fall of snow covers the earth like a burial cloth, and the icy hand of winter is laid upon man, checking all his activities — it is His snow, His hand, to teach man His supreme power... How good then to humble ourselves under His mighty hand!

Whatever man tries to do about it, God sends weather that seals the hand of every man. Then everyone will know His work as infinitely greater than theirs (v.7).

He seals up the hand of every man, so that all mortals may come to know His work.

It is sad when we reduce everything to impersonal nature, as if these things simply must happen, with no connection to anything in particular. But these verses show that God is actively and intelligently behind what men call nature.

Men have tried in many ways to control the weather. It is a foolish, useless effort, because they do not want to let God have His way.

He causes the rain to fall for three express reasons — for correction, which man often needs; for His land, which needs rain if it is to bear fruit; or for mercy, at times when His creatures suffer from drought.

The storm is upon them now, and Elihu trembles. He calls on Job to hear God's voice in it all. And surely we may believe he also calls him to hear that voice in the storm of sorrow that has fallen on him. Blow upon blow it has come: the sharp lightning stroke of affliction, the awful thunder of God's discipline. God has been doing wonderful things, things beyond our understanding — but it is God. "Be still, and know that I am God."

That is, he shows the absolute sovereignty of God. And if that is true about natural things, is it not still more necessary in spiritual things?

Whatever man tries to do about it, God sends weather that seals the hand of every man. Then everyone knows His work is far greater than theirs (v. 7). The beasts take refuge in dens, whether to hide from the wind or the thunder and lightning (v. 8).

Having warned Job, Elihu turned again to the greatness of God as seen in creation, and the rest of his speech stays on that theme. He looked above all at the control the Creator holds over what lies wholly outside man's control — the clouds, the winds, the thunder, the lightning, the rain, the snow, the frost. As these things came before his mind, he had to confess that his heart trembled and was deeply moved.

Job 37 … finally turns our eyes to the wonderful works of God in the outward world… Here we can understand that we are in the infant days of even God's saints, when they spelled out the vast letters of heaven and earth, seen before anyone read the Scriptures… For that very reason, because Christ was not here, the outward world serves to show God's majesty, faithfulness, and gracious power in all that surrounded man.

"At this also my heart" — that is a very different thing from the mere instinct of the cattle — "my heart trembles," etc. (Job 37:1-8). Even the beasts have more sense than some men… He shows the absolute sovereignty of God. And if that is true about natural things, is it not still more necessary in spiritual things?

When snow covers the earth like a burial cloth, and winter lays its icy hand on man, all his activity stops. Yet it is His snow and His hand, teaching man His supreme power. The beast retires into its shelter; let us too enter into the "cleft of the rock," until these calamities have passed over. Whether the storm comes in the whirlwind of the south, or from the frozen north, it is only His breath. How good then to humble ourselves under His mighty hand!

What can man do, in the presence of God's awful voice, but seek to learn? Even the wild beast retires to shelter and keeps to his home, while the whirlwind comes out of its chamber, and out of the north the cold. But God's breath also works wonderful change… Turn about as it may, it still carries out what He commands across the face of the earth. Whether it comes as a rod to correct, or is meant for His earth, or comes in kindness, it is God who causes it to come to them.