Job 37:1-24 | Elihu’s Final Speech on God’s Majesty

The Verses

“At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
Listen closely to the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that goes out from His mouth.
Under the whole heaven He lets it loose,
And His lightning travels to the ends of the earth.
After it, a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain the lightning when His voice is heard.
God thunders wondrously with His voice,
Doing great things which we do not comprehend.

For He says to the snow, “Fall on the earth,”
And to the downpour and the rain, “Be strong.”
He seals the hand of every person,
So that all people may know His work.
Then the animal goes into its lair,
And remains in its den.
From the south comes the storm,
And from the north wind, the cold.
From the breath of God, ice is made,
And the expanse of the waters is frozen.
He also loads the clouds with moisture;
He disperses the cloud of His lightning.
It changes direction, turning around by His guidance,
That it may do whatever He commands it
On the face of the inhabited earth.
Whether for correction, or for His world,
Or for goodness, He causes it to happen.

Listen to this, Job;
Stand and consider the wonders of God.
Do you know how God establishes them,
And makes the lightning of His clouds to shine?
Do you know about the hovering of the clouds,
The wonders of One who is perfect in knowledge,
You whose garments are hot
When the land is still because of the south wind?
Can you, with Him, spread out the skies,
Strong as a cast metal mirror?

Teach us what we should say to Him;
We cannot present our case because of the darkness.
Will it be told to Him that I would speak?
Or should a man say that he would be swallowed up?
Now people do not see the light which is bright in the skies;
But the wind has passed and cleared them.
Out of the north comes golden splendor;
Around God is awesome majesty.
The Almighty—we cannot find Him;
He is exalted in power,
And He will not violate justice and abundant righteousness.
Therefore people fear Him;
He does not regard any who are wise of heart.’”

Context and Meaning

In Job 37, Elihu gives his final speech, emphasizing God’s overwhelming power over creation. He urges Job to recognize God’s majesty and submit to His wisdom rather than demanding explanations.

Key Themes:

God’s Power in Creation: Elihu describes thunder, lightning, rain, snow, and storms as demonstrations of God’s authority over the world (v. 1-13).
God’s Control Over Natural Events: Weather patterns serve His purposes—whether for correction, blessing, or sustaining the earth (v. 12-13).
Job’s Lack of Understanding: Elihu challenges Job: Can you comprehend God’s wonders? Can you control the skies? (v. 14-18).
God’s Justice is Beyond Question: Elihu concludes by asserting that God is perfect in justice and power, and therefore deserving of fear and reverence (v. 23-24).

Elihu’s final words emphasize that God is beyond human understanding, urging Job to humble himself before God’s greatness.

Reflection and Impact

Elihu’s speech contains powerful truths about God’s majesty, but his application to Job’s suffering remains flawed:

God’s Power is Undeniable: Elihu rightly exalts God’s authority over creation, showing that He is greater than all human knowledge (Psalm 19:1).
Suffering Must Be Seen in Light of God’s Sovereignty: Elihu implies that Job should accept his suffering without questioning, but he does not fully grasp that Job’s suffering is a test, not just discipline.
True Wisdom is Humility Before God: Elihu is correct that human wisdom is limited, and that we must approach God with humility rather than presumption (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Application

Stand in Awe of God’s Majesty: Take time to reflect on God’s power in creation and how it reveals His wisdom and control (Romans 1:20).
Trust God Even When You Don’t Understand: Like Job, we may not always see God’s purposes, but faith means trusting Him anyway (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Let God’s Greatness Lead to Worship, Not Just Debate: Elihu reminds us that wisdom is not just about answers—it’s about revering and worshiping God (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

Closing Thought

Elihu’s final speech prepares the way for God’s direct response to Job in the next chapter. His words remind us that God’s power is limitless, His justice is perfect, and His wisdom is beyond human reach. The proper response is not to demand explanations, but to trust and worship Him.

TIME FOR PROVIDENCE