Job 37:24

_MEN DO THEREFORE FEAR HIM: HE RESPECTETH NOT ANY THAT ARE WISE OF HEART._ Do - rather, ought. WISE - in their own conceits. Remarks: (1) None of the operations in nature are haphazard-they are all under God's immediate direction (Job 37:3). The lightning flash has its appointed destination, and fulfils God's pleasure, in perfect obedience to His 'guidance' (Job 37:12). Nor is it only in the more awful phenomena of nature that God's glory is to be discerned, but also in the more ordinary and quiet changes of the weather, frost or snow, showers and rain: all of which God uses as instruments either of chastisement or of mercy (Job 37:13). (2) We can explain perfectly not one of God's wonderful do

21-24 Elihu concludes his discourse with some great sayings concerning the glory of God. Light always is, but is not always to be seen. When clouds come between, the sun is darkened in the clear day. The light of God's favour shines ever towards his faithful servants, though it be not always seen. Sins are clouds, and often hinder us from seeing that bright light which is in the face of God. Also, as to those thick clouds of sorrow which often darken our minds, the Lord hath a wind which passes and clears them away. What is that wind? It is his Holy Spirit. As the wind dispels and sweeps away the clouds which are gathered in the air, so the Spirit of God clears our souls from the clouds and fogs of ignorance and unbelief, of sin and lust. From all these clouds the Holy Spirit of God frees us in the work of regeneration. And from all the clouds which trouble our consciences, the Holy Spi...

Verse Job 37:24. _MEN DO THEREFORE_] Therefore men, אנשים _anashim_, wretched, miserable, ignorant, sinful men, _should fear him_. _HE RESPECTETH NOT ANY_] No man is valuable in his sight on account of his wisdom; for what is his wisdom when compared with that of the _Omniscient_? Whatever good is in man, God alone is the author of it. Let him, therefore, that glorieth, glory in the Lord. THUS ends the speech of _Elihu_; a speech of a widely different description, on the whole, from that of the three friends of Job who had spoken so largely before him. In the speeches of Eliphaz, Zophar, and Bildad, there is little besides a tissue of borrowed _wise sayings_, and _ancient proverbs_ and _maxims_, relative to the nature of God, and his moral government of the world. In the speech of Elihu every thing appears to be

MEN DO THEREFORE FEAR HIM - There is reason why they should fear him, or why they should treat him with reverence. HE RESPECTETH NOT ANY THAT ARE WISE OF HEART - He pursues his own plans, and forms and executes his own counsels. He is not dependent upon the suggestions of people, and does not listen to their advice. In his schemes he is original and independent, and people should therefore regard him with profound veneration. This is the sum of all that Elihu had to say - that God was original and independent; that he did not ask counsel of people in his dealings; that he was great, and glorious, and inscrutable in his plans; and that people therefore should bow before him with profound submission and adoration. It was to be presumed that he was wise and good in all that he did, and to this independent and almighty Sovereign man ought to submit his understanding and his heart. Having ill...

EXPOSITION JOB 37:1 It has been already remarked that there is no natural division between Job 36:1 and Job 37:1.—the description of the thunderstorm and its effects runs on. From its effect on cattle, Elihu passes to its effect on man (Job 37:1); and thence goes on to speak of other natural manifestations of God's power and marvellousness—snow, violent rain, whirlwind, frost, and the like (Job 37:6). He then makes a final appeal to Job to acknowledge his own weakness and God's perfection and unsearchableness, and to bow down in wonder and adora

MEN DO THEREFORE FEAR HIM,.... Or should, because of his greatness in power, judgment, and justice; and because of his goodness, in not afflicting for his pleasure's sake, but for the profit of men; and therefore they should reverence and adore him, submit to his will, patiently bear afflictions, serve him internally and externally, with reverence and godly fear; HE RESPECTETH NOT ANY [THAT ARE] WISE OF HEART; that are wise in a natural sense: these are not always regarded by God, or are his favourites; neither temporal blessings, nor special grace, or the knowledge of spiritual things, are always given to the wise and prudent, Ecclesiastes 9:11. Or that are wise in their own conceit; there is a woe to such; and there is more hope of a fool than of him, Isaiah 5:21. Or he is not "a

CHAPTER S 36:22--37:24 _ 1. God's power and presence in nature (Job 36:22)_ 2. The thunderstorm (Job 37:1) 3. The snow and the rain (Job 37:6) 4. Elihu's concluding remarks (Job 37:17) Job 36:22. The chapter division in the Authorized Version is at fault. These concluding verses of the thirty-sixth chapter begin the final section of Elihu's testimony. Unspeakably great in every way, in diction and reverence, is this man's witness to the ways of God in creation's work. They show that he speaks not of himself, but the One who is perfect in

How can he, whose mind is dark, address God? Shall I invite Him to converse and court destruction? (Job 37:19 f.). In Job 37:21 follow _mg._ And now men cannot look on the light when it is bright in the skies when the wind hath passed and cleansed them (_i.e._ when it has cleared away the clouds). But if man cannot look on the light in the skies how much less can he look on God? (Job 37:22). The north was conceived by the post-exilic Jews as the home of God (_cf._ Isaiah 14:13). The golden splendour is therefore the radiance streaming from God's throne. The Almighty is unsearchable, He is great in power, yet not unjust ...

Job 36:26-33. The greatness and unsearchableness of God, seen in His marvellous operations in the skies; and exhortation to Job to allow these wonders duly to impress him, and to bow beneath the greatness of God, who surpasses all comprehension The passage has two sections: First, ch. Job 36:26 to Job 37:13, the incomprehensible greatness of God, seen in the phenomena of the atmosphere: in the formation of the rain-drops (ch. Job 36:26-28); in the thunder-storm (ch. Job 36:29 to Job 37:5

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