Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryJob 37

At this also. There is no natural division between chs. 36 and 37. Elihu continues the figure of a thunderstorm as a means of describing God’s power. He says that his heart trembles as he hears the thunder and sees the lightning flash across the sky.

Noise of his voice. Elihu is using a figure of speech. He does not mean that the thunder is actually God’s voice (see Ps. 77:18; 104:7).

Great things. This verse ends the parable of the thunderstorm. In this piece of vivid description Elihu is trying to overwhelm Job with a sense of the majesty and the might of God.

He sealeth up. This may refer to the cessation of out-of-door labor in the wintertime, due to snow, ice, and heavy rains. This pause in man’s activity gives occasion for reflection and thus encourages a clearer knowledge of God.

Go into dens. This verse tends to substantiate the interpretation of v. 7. It is in the wintertime that the beasts hibernate. This, likewise, is to Elihu a proof of the wisdom of God. He provided that the animals might be protected from the cold, and be able to subsist on small quantities of food during the season when food would be scarce.

Out of the south. Literally, “out of the chamber,” that is, the storehouse where God is pictured as keeping His tempests (see Job 38:22; Ps. 135:7). Out of the north. Literally, “out of the scatterers.” These seem to be the violent winds that drive away the clouds and bring a clear, frosty atmosphere. Elihu is emphasizing that all these things are under the control of God, and that these natural phenomena prove His greatness.

Is straitened. Literally, “in constraint,” that is, frozen solid (see Ps. 147:16–18).

He wearieth. Literally, “he burdeneth.” That is, He burdens the cloud with moisture. Rain is one of the chief concerns in these dry countries. It is God who gives the moisture-laden clouds that provide water for the thirsty land. His bright cloud. Literally, “the cloud of his light.” As if, perhaps, lightning were stored up in a cloud. Or the expression may mean, “the clouds on which His sunlight rests.”

It. The “cloud” is the most obvious antecedent. Counsels. Heb. tachbuloth, “guidance,” “direction.” God guides the clouds and the lightnings, turning them round and round, directing them according to His will.

When God disposed. Elihu asks Job if he knows how God gives His orders and arranges for the course and sequence of natural events.

Balancings. The phenomenon of the clouds poised in the sky, heavy with rain yet without support, provoked Elihu’s wonder (see ch. 26:8). Knowledge. Natural phenomena indicate the limitless knowledge of God. The inference is that Job should not be critical of a God who reveals His omniscience by such wonderful works.

Teach us. This sounds like irony. Elihu is saying to Job, If you are so wise, teach us how to approach such a great God, for we are in darkness.

If a man speak. Job had expressed the wish that God would hear him and answer him. Elihu, intending to rebuke this presumption, yet shrinking from doing so directly, puts himself in Job’s place and asks, Would it be fitting that I should demand to speak with God? If not, it cannot be fitting that Job should do so.

Bright light. Probably the sun. Men cannot look at the dazzling sun. How much less would they be able to face God.

Fair weather. Heb. zahab, literally, “gold.”

Fear him. Elihu ends his speech with a parting thrust at Job to the effect that God does not respect conceited men. Wise of heart. That is, conceited. To be sure, what Elihu states as a principle is true. It is folly for a man to think of matching his puny wisdom with that of God. Elihu’s error

is in attempting to apply the principle to Job. The trouble with Elihu and the other protagonists was that they presumed to pass judgment on Job.