Job 37:14-24

2. Man should realize his insignificant position and fear God. (Job 37:14-24)

TEXT 37:14-24

14 Hearken unto this, O Job:

Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.

15 Dost thou know how God layeth his charge upon them,

And causeth the lightning of his cloud to shine?

16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds,

The wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?

17 How thy garments are warm,

When the earth is still by reason of the south wind?

18 Canst thou with him spread out the sky,

Which is strong as a molten mirror?

19 Teach us what we shall say unto him;

For we cannot set our speech in order by reason of darkness.

20 Shall it be told him that I would speak?

Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?

21 And now men see not the light which is bright in the skies;

But the wind passeth, and cleareth them.

22 Out of the north cometh golden splendor:

God hath upon him terrible majesty.

23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out:

He is excellent in power;
And in justice and plenteous righteousness he will not afflict.

24 Men do therefore fear him:

He regardeth not any that are wise of heart.

COMMENT 37:14-24

Job 37:14Elihu turns from his hymn of praise to directly addressing Job once again. Can Job be brought submissively to God? This will be Elihu's last effort. He presents polarized imagery of darkness and light as coming from the North, the traditional source of theophanyIsaiah 14:13; Ezekiel 1:4. Now, Job, will you consider the wonderful works of God? The ensuing questions are raised in hopes of exposing Job's ignorance of how God works in His creation.

Job 37:15Like Yahweh in Chapter s 38ff, Elihu asks Job, Do you know how Godlit. puts upon them, i.e., lays charge upon them, probably the clouds? The antecedent is not clear.[365] Lightning is no longer a mystery; it is the direct activity of God, not the inanimate Laws of Nature.

[365] For possibilities, see G. R. Driver, Vetus Testamentum, Supplement, 1967, pp. 61ff.

Job 37:16God's precision in the balancing of the clouds is wonderful testimony of His control of nature. The word balancing is from the same root as balance in Proverbs 16:11 and Isaiah 40:12. In Job 36:4 b Elihu uses the same expression as applied to himself rather than Godtemim de-'im, i.e., the perfect in knowledge, which Blommerde takes as representing the divine title. He renders this verse Do you recognize the Most High by His outspread cloud, by his wonderful acts, the Perfect in Knowledge?

Job 37:17Elihu ironically emphasizes the smallness of man. During the sirocco, i.e., hot east or south winds, clothes feel dry and hot. W. M. Thomson, in his work The Land and The Book (Baker reprint, p. 536) gives a most striking description of the type of experience pictured in this verse. All the birds, animals, and men hide from the scorching heat, and wait for the clouds bearing the promise of cooling rain. Elsewhere the sirocco are called east wind.

Job 37:18The verb rendered spread out means beat outGenesis 1:6. Can you do that, Job?Exodus 28:8 and Deuteronomy 28:23. The shimmering heat of the day was compared with burnished copperDeuteronomy 28:23. Ancient mirrors were made of molten metal. The word rendered strong as in A. V. means hard or solid massJob 37:10. The verb means pour out or cast metals.

Job 37:19Job, what will you say in face of all these awesome facts? With biting sarcasm, Elihu challenges him to get his case ready, doubtless in reference to Job's desire to encounter God in a court of lawJob 13:8; Job 23:4; Job 32:14; and Job 33:5. How can you prepare or order your case out of such ignorance, i.e., darknessEccl. 43:2ff.

Job 37:20Elihu finds it quite incredible that insignificant Job would think of confronting an incomprehensibly great God. Anyone so foolish is merely asking to be destroyed, i.e., swallowed up. Only an arrogant madman would conceive of such a thing.

Job 37:21Elihu returns to natural phenomena. Man cannot even look at the sun when the wind has drawn away the clouds. How would you imagine that you could possibly look upon the creator in all glory? Looking upon the dazzling majesty of His presence is beyond you, Job.

Job 37:22It is not impossible that this refers to the Aurora Borealis. The text has only gold, and the A. V. renders it golden splendor. At least this would make sense in light of the northern phenomena; the mysterious blazing golden beams could suggest the presence of God, so avers Driver.[366] Pope attempts to demonstrate an illusion to mythology associated with the North and gold, but the reference has nothing to do with the metal itself.

[366] See A. Guillaume, Annual of the Leeds University Oriental Society, Supplement II, 1968, 129, where he emends and obtains the translation out of the North comes golden splendour.

Job 37:23Elihu reasserts his conviction that God cannot perpetrate injustice, either directly or indirectlyJob 9:20-24; Job 11:7; and Job 23:8-9. God will not violate, afflict, or oppress. We cannot understand God, but He has abundant righteousness (Heb. lit. greatness of righteousness); and in His righteousness He is too inflexible to violate justice. Job completely misunderstands; he has no case against his creator. If he would but acknowledge it, he could be healed and restored to prosperity.

Job 37:24Even the wisest of men cannot see God. Men stand in awe before God because of His greatness and goodness. But all men are beneath God's notice, even the wisest. The Hebrew phrase the wise in heart is found in Job 9:4 with a non-pejorative significance. Here it is clearly pejorative. This conclusion seems to be at variance with Elihu's claim throughout his speeches. If God does not notice anyone, great or small, what does He have to do with punishment of the wicked, or the prosperity of the pious? With these words, Elihu disappears from the drama as abruptly as he first appeared.