A storm close over the gray ash heap: two tiny figures below, dust streaming past them, lightning and rain on the far plain, and one smooth dark sheet of cloud above.

The Book of

Job 37

Elihu finishes his last speech. The thunder is getting closer, and his heart is pounding.

24 verses≈ 3 min2 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–3The testBlameless, stripped of everything, and his cry
4–14Round oneThe friends speak; Job answers
15–21Round twoMy Redeemer lives
22–31Round threeThen wisdom, and Job's last defense
32–37ElihuA younger voiceChapter 37
38–41The LORD speaksOut of the whirlwind
42The endJob prays and is restored

Elihu Proclaims God’s Majesty

Elihu

A great bolt of lightning joins cloud and rock far across the plain, and a small young man stands with his back to us, one hand pressed to his chest.

“At this my heart also pounds

and leaps from its place.

Listen closely to the thunder of His voice

and the rumbling that comes from His mouth.

He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky

and sends it to the ends of the earth.

Then there comes a roaring sound;

He thunders with His majestic voice.

He does not restrain the lightning

when His voice resounds.

God thunders wondrously with His voice;

He does great things we cannot comprehend.

0:29

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Elihu

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Elihu

Elihu

He loads the clouds with moisture;

He scatters His lightning through them.

They swirl about,

whirling at His direction,

accomplishing all that He commands

over the face of all the earth.

Elihu

Whether for punishment or for His land,

He accomplishes this in His loving devotion.

Reflect

Punishment or His land

Elihu says the same storm may come “for punishment or for His land.” What has come into your life this year that you cannot yet read? Write it down, and trust Him with what it was for.

Elihu

Do you know how God dispatches the clouds

or makes the lightning flash?

Do you understand how the clouds float,

those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge?

Elihu

Elihu

You whose clothes get hot

when the land lies hushed under the south wind,

can you, like Him, spread out the skies,

as strong as a mirror of bronze?

Question

Quick question

After four speeches, Elihu’s last request is a short one.

What does Elihu tell Job to do?

Elihu

Teach us what we should say to Him;

we cannot draw up our case because of our darkness.

Should He be told that I want to speak?

Would a man ask to be swallowed up?

Elihu

Elihu

Now no one can gaze at the sun

when it is bright in the skies

after the wind has swept them clean.

Out of the north He comes in golden splendor;

awesome majesty surrounds Him.

Elihu

The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.

Job 37:23

Elihu

Therefore, men fear Him,

for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”

Pray

Before He speaks

Ask for the grace to “stand still” before Him. Ask to be kept from answering for God. Ask to fear Him, and to wait for His voice and not your own.

You’ve experienced

Job 37

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A verse to carry with you

The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress.

Job 37:23

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