Job 37
Elihu completes his discourse today. He again extols God’s great power proclaimed in creation and in His command of the weather. (Job 37:1-13) Whether for correction or for His land or for love, He causes it to happen. (v. 13) I find it very interesting that Elihu would list love as one of God’s motivations for causing various weather events. We may know that love is primary with God, but it is not intuitively obvious from observing extreme weather…
Elihu goes on to say, Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. (v. 14) Elihu challenges Job to recognize his own limitations and that he is no match for God. (Job 37:14-20)
Elihu has taken quite a few words to get here, but he summarizes and concludes his argument rather succinctly:
The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
Job 37:23-24
He is great in power;
justice and abundant righteousness He will not violate.
Therefore men fear Him;
He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.
John’s first comment/citation is exactly what jumped off the page at me – that God’s weather patterns are “…for correction or for His land or for love…”. I, too, was taken by God’s LOVE for His creation – all of it, not just humanity! Interesting!
My more “academic” Study Bible pointed out that at the end of Job 36 and the beginning of Job 37 Elihu is tracing the seasonal pattern of the weather. The one clue for autumn in Chapter 36 is Job 36:31b, where “…He…provides food in abundance.” Winter is clearly covered in the first half of today’s reading, then we see summer peeking through in Job 36:17 where “…clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind…”. Something else I would not have seen without Study Bible guidance!
So now we’re through with Elihu. He has spoken a lot of good words and not much with which we find fault, except possibly in his arrogance – but maybe even we are misinterpreting that. I find it interesting that his very name speaks of God, “El…”. The Hebrew translation is “…my God is He…”. Also interesting!!
Elihu’s last words are a wonderful picture of God and his power!
My translation of Job 37:13 is a bit different in that it gives two reasons for God bringing the rain, not three: “He brings the clouds to punish men, or to water the earth and show His love.”
On an aside, at the end of the chapter, the two versions I’m reading give a very different take on Job 37:24:
“Therefore men fear Him; He does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.” (RSV)
This seems to contradict Elihu’s sense of himself. He seems pretty sure of his own wisdom!
However, my NIV said this:
“Therefore, men revere Him, for does He not have regard for all the wise in heart?” (NIV)
Rather different!