Out of the north comes golden splendor; God is clothed with awesome majesty.
Elihu is the last man to speak before God does, and he ends with a storm passing over: the wind clears the clouds, and gold breaks from the north. That is the sky God will speak from, so the picture asks what a person can see of God, and what he should say when he sees it.
Gold out of the north
The word behind "golden splendor" is gold, used here for the colour of the light. Older renderings call God's majesty here "terrible" — the word means awe-inspiring, not evil. William Kelly translates the closing lines himself:
William KellyBut a wind passes by, and clears them away. From the north comes forth gold — that is, golden brightness. With God is terrible splendour. The Almighty! We do not find Him out; great in power and judgment, and great in righteousness, He will not give answer. Therefore men fear Him: He looks not on all the wise of heart.
A brightness that was always there
Clouds hide the light; they do not put it out. The gold from the north is that same light, uncovered:
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 awe-inspiring presence, a golden glow from the unknown, hidden north. "As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal" (Ezekiel 1:4). It is the Almighty; we cannot fathom 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 think themselves wise.
The direction of mystery
The north is not just scenery. Elihu points to a God whose greatness we cannot search out:
Leslie M. GrantEven though the light is bright, men often cannot see it because of the clouds, as was the case with Job. God comes from the north, the direction of mystery, yet in golden splendour. His majesty is awesome and His greatness unsearchable. His power surpasses anything that could be put forward from any direction. His judgment is supremely wise, and His justice is pure, never swayed by anything doubtful.
The storm-cloud that speaks
The next chapter opens with God answering from inside that same cloud:
Samuel RidoutOut of that whirlwind, or golden storm-cloud (Job 37:22), Jehovah answers Job's empty questions and complaints. Elihu had been God's spokesman, leading up to God's own appearing, which is now upon us. "My desire is that the Almighty would answer me," was Job's closing word. He is now to have his wish granted; but how different the effect! "Like a prince I would approach Him," he had declared. "I am vile" is what he has to say when he hears His voice.
Majesty and justice together
Elihu joins God's majesty to His justice, and draws a lesson for all of us:
F. B. HoleJob did not know, and none of us know, how God exerts His supreme power. The Lord Jesus displayed His Godhead power when He stilled the wind and waves on the Lake of Galilee. He did so in mercy. Elihu ended his words by saying that with God, the Almighty, is "terrible majesty," and yet everything He does is just. So however wise any of us may think we are — Job included — we should not come to Him with criticism and questions, but with fear.
Kelly also puts that majesty all around God, and adds where a person must look to face Him:
William KellyFrom the north comes the golden light, and around God is terrible majesty… Whoever does not gaze on the Son cannot face God.
Summary
- Cloud — the light was shining all along. Clouds hid it from men, and Job's case was the same.
- Wind — God clears His own sky. In due time the mists blow away, and the hidden brightness shows.
- Gold — the word means the colour of the light itself. It breaks from the north, the direction of mystery, and no one can search out His greatness.
- Majesty — awesome splendour and pure justice belong to the same God. His uprightness is as great as His power.
- Fear — the right response is not criticism or argument but worship. Job asked for an answer, got one out of that same storm-cloud, and could only say, "I am vile."