Job 37King James Version
A beautiful nature hymn. Hearken, O Job, stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. The thunder, the lightning, the snow, the whirlwind. As Elihu finishes speaking, a storm is gathering on the horizon.
Elihu delivers a thunderstorm poem: God's voice thunders, snow and rain come at his command, the animals crouch down, out of the south comes the golden splendor. God comes in awesome majesty. Can you understand how God does all this? Can you spread the skies? Stand still and see the wonders of God. God is great in power and justice; he will not answer those who think themselves wise.
Elihu's final speech ends with an invitation to be overwhelmed by God's power in nature, pointing toward the whirlwind that is about to begin.
22: "Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty." The sentence that ends Elihu's monologue and opens the sky for the divine speech. The majesty is real. What God will say from it will be different from what Elihu expected.
Storms in the ancient Near East, especially the seasonal thunderstorms of the Levant, were the most direct natural experience of divine power available to ancient people. The sound of thunder was the voice of God. Elihu is standing in a tradition stretching back through Sinai and forward through the Psalms of the storm theophany.
Elihu alone, addressing Job and calling him to attention before the natural world's testimony to God's greatness. His speech ends and God speaks in the next verse.
Elihu's creation poetry anticipates the divine speech so closely that some scholars believe he was added to the book as a literary introduction to chapters 38 to 41. Others see him as a separate and independent voice. Either way, his final chapter narrows the gap between human speech and divine speech.
There is something humbling about the shift from argument to weather. All the debate about justice and suffering and retribution, and then a storm arrives and changes everything. Elihu is pointing to it before it begins.
1At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
2Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
3He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
4After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard.
5God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.
6For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.
7He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
8Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
9Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
10By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
11Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
12And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth.
13He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
14Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
15Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
18Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.
22Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.