For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Job 37:1-18

1 ‘At this my heart pounds
    and leaps from its place.
2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,
    to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
    and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
    he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds,
    he holds nothing back.
5 God’s voice thunders in marvellous ways;
    he does great things beyond our understanding.
6 He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth,”
    and to the rain shower, “Be a mighty downpour.”
7 So that everyone he has made may know his work,
    he stops all people from their labour.
8 The animals take cover;
    they remain in their dens.
9 The tempest comes out from its chamber,
    the cold from the driving winds.
10 The breath of God produces ice,
    and the broad waters become frozen.
11 He loads the clouds with moisture;
    he scatters his lightning through them.
12 At his direction they swirl around
    over the face of the whole earth
    to do whatever he commands them.
13 He brings the clouds to punish people,
    or to water his earth and show his love.

14 ‘Listen to this, Job;
    stop and consider God’s wonders.
15 Do you know how God controls the clouds
    and makes his lightning flash?
16 Do you know how the clouds hang poised,
    those wonders of him who is perfect in knowledge?
17 You who swelter in your clothes
    when the land lies hushed under the south wind,
18 can you join him in spreading out the skies,
    hard as a mirror of cast bronze?

A. Find Out

1. Why does Elihu’s heart pound? v.1-4
2. What does he say He does? v.5
3. What example does he give? v.6-8
4. What further does God do and why? v.9-13
5. What does he tell Job to do? v.14
6. What does he ask of Job? v.15-18

B. Think:

1. What aspects of God’s activity is Elihu focusing upon?
2. Why?
3. What do you think should be the outcome?

C. Comment:

Elihu has just been extolling the works of God, and particularly His provision of rain. Now he expounds on God’s works in Creation further. He speaks of God’s voice roaring (v.2) as it is heard through the might of storms (v.3-5), activities we just don’t understand. (We can observe them but not understand them!) He pours out snow or rain (v.6) that brings all our activity to a halt (v.7) so that even the animals dive for cover (v.8). He brings winds (9), ice (v.10) and lightning (v.11) and they do whatever He demands of them (v.12) and whatever the purpose – to discipline or to bless (v.13)

Stop and think about this, Elihu demands of Job, consider God’s wonderful ways (v.14). Put yourself in the frame: do you know how He does these things (v.15), does your knowledge match His perfect knowledge (v.16)? When you swelter in a drought (v.17), do you have any part in what He is doing (v.18)?

The thrust of Elihu’s arguing has become very focused. Job, think about what you see happen in nature and realize it is God’s activity and then be honest – do you understand any of what He does and how He does it? Does your hand play a part in it all? Of course not! Get a proper perspective in all this. Realize His greatness and realize your smallness – and worship Him (implied).

D. Application:

1. Do we worship the Lord for His mighty acts? (See Rom 1:19,20)
2. Do we realize that God does intervene in the work of the world?

Passage: Job 37:19-24

19 ‘Tell us what we should say to him;
    we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.
20 Should he be told that I want to speak?
    Would anyone ask to be swallowed up?
21 Now no one can look at the sun,
    bright as it is in the skies
    after the wind has swept them clean.
22 Out of the north he comes in golden splendor;
    God comes in awesome majesty.
23 The Almighty is beyond our reach and exalted in power;
    in his justice and great righteousness, he does not oppress.
24 Therefore, people revere him,
    for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?

A. Find Out

1. Why does Elihu say we cannot present our case to God? v.19
2. What would we risk? v.20
3. To what does he compare looking at God? v.21,22
4. What does he conclude about God’s greatness? v.23a
5. What does he conclude about his character? v.23b
6. Therefore how should be view him? v.24

B. Think:

1. What does Elihu say we cannot do?
2. Why?

C. Comment:

We draw near to the end of Elihu’s speeches. He has been declaring God’s greatness, His awesome power seen in the works of nature. Now he starts to draw to a conclusion.

He has just reminded us that we really haven’t a clue when it comes to understanding how God works, and so he concludes that we really can’t challenge God because by comparison we are in total darkness (v.19). God understands and knows everything and by comparison we understand and know nothing!  Dare we tiny mortals challenge God (like Job has been doing) and demand to speak to Him? Surely we risk being utterly swallowed up by Him (v.20), is what he concludes about this foolish course.

It’s like, he says, looking at the sun on a clear day (v.21) when God turns up in all of His splendor (v.22). God is utterly beyond us and His splendor is so great and we’ve just got to trust in His perfect righteousness and justice (v.23) that He does no wrong and certainly does not oppress. Those who are wise revere Him (v.24). That is the end of all this!

So we come to the end of Elihu’s speaking and we will see that there is almost a seamless blend with what he has been saying as God continues to speak and chasten Job. He will not give clever answers but will simply remind Job of His greatness.

D. Application:

1. Get a right perspective! Revere the Lord. Worship Him!
2. Hold your tongue on a bad day or you’ll appear foolish.