“And now no one looks on the light when it is bright in the skies, when the wind has passed and cleared them.
Elihu ends his last speech with a thunderstorm overhead, pointing Job to a sky no one can look at until the wind clears it. If God's light never dims, why can a suffering man see nothing of it?
Why Elihu Argues from the Weather
The chapter turns from God's dealings with people to His works in the visible world. One writer explains why the argument ran that way in Job's day.
William KellyJob 37... turns our eyes to the wondrous works of God in the outward world... It is not the unseen, but the visible. These were the infant days of even God's saints, when they spelled out the vast letters of heaven and earth, seen before people read the Scriptures... For that very reason, because Christ was not here, the outward world is taken up to show God's majesty, faithfulness, and gracious power in all that surrounded man.
The Wording of the Verse
One writer gives his own translation of the verse. It keeps both halves of the picture: the eye that cannot bear the glare, and the wind that clears the sky. He then draws a sharp conclusion about seeing God.
William KellyYet now people do not see the light that flashes brightly in the skies; but a wind passes and clears them. From the north comes the golden light: around God is awesome majesty. Job had spoken carelessly like this, and such talk is rejected. He who does not gaze on the Son cannot face God.
Bright Light, Hiding Cloud
Nothing has gone wrong with the light itself.
Leslie M. GrantEven though the light is bright, often men cannot see it because of the clouds, as was the case with Job.
The same writer draws a general rule from the sky. Cloud above our heads reminds us how little we can trace of God's reasons.
Leslie M. GrantThe clouds that dim the sky should make us realise this: no mere man can work out why God deals as He does. His ways are hidden from human sight.
When the Wind Passes
The verse does not end in cloud. The wind passes and the sky opens, which is comfort for anyone still waiting in the dark.
Samuel RidoutIf we do not see the sunlight behind the clouds, it is still there, and in due time the mists will be blown away. Here comes an awesome presence, a golden glow from the unknown hidden north... It is the Almighty. We cannot grasp His greatness, but we know His uprightness is as great as His power. Let us bow in worship before Him: He does not listen to those who are wise in their own eyes.
Darkness and Silence
Elihu had already said he could not arrange his words because of darkness. Rather than pressing his case, he lets that admission set the order of the conversation.
Leslie M. GrantFor God's ways are enshrouded in darkness until He reveals Himself. In other words, let God speak first before I dare to lift my voice.
By the close of the speech, Elihu is no longer arguing with Job at all but standing beside him.
Samuel RidoutAs he goes on, Elihu becomes the spokesman for all the lowly. We have dared to speak, though we are only dust and ashes. We cannot put our words in order because of the darkness. Let us hush our voices and listen to Him!
What Job Had to Learn
One writer asks what Job would gain once the lesson was learnt. The gain was not information, but a changed view of himself and of God.
W. H. WestcottHis lesson was that he was part of a vast scheme of order and government which depended on God. That scheme had God at its centre and circumference, not Job. Once he had learnt it, would he not from then on have new thoughts of the majesty and unerring goodness of God? That goodness knew how to bring order out of chaos, and good out of evil. Would he not also learn to distrust himself, and the reasonings and conclusions of his own mind, as well as those of his friends? Would he not discover the wisdom of waiting on God until he could see the bright light in the cloud?
Summary
- Light. The light in the sky never dims. The verse says nothing against God's goodness — only something about human eyesight.
- Cloud. What blocks the view is the cloud of God's ways. No mere man can work out why God deals as He does.
- Silence. We cannot put our words in order in the dark. So we hush our voices and listen to God.
- Wind. The cloud is temporary. In due time the mists are blown away, and the golden splendour that was always there becomes visible.
- Trust. Job's gain was not an explanation. It was the wisdom of waiting on God until he could see the bright light in the cloud.