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Job Thirty Seven
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
Job 37:1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.
Job 37:2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth.
Job 37:3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth.
Job 37:7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.
Job 37:8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places.
Job 37:9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north.
Job 37:10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
Job 37:11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
wearieth the thick cloud. Although the language is figurative, the meteorology is accurate. The mystery of the “balancing of the clouds,” keeping them aloft against the force of gravity, is mentioned in Job 26:8 and 37:16. This mystery has been solved by modern science, so that it is now understood that the droplets of liquid water in the clouds are kept aloft by the force exerted by updrafts of wind. When the droplets coalesce to form large drops of water, however, then their weight can overcome these forces and the drops will fall to the ground as rain or snow. That is, by increased “watering,” the clouds become thick and can no longer maintain their stability, being “wearied,” so to speak. Note also Job 36:27, 28. The condensation of water vapor into droplets and then into raindrops or snowflakes is apparently facilitated by electrical discharges in the atmosphere—the lightning, then thunder, then rain or snow. Note Job 37:3-6.
his counsels. The Hebrew word here actually means “steering” or “guidance,” in that God “steers” the storm in such a way as to accomplish His purpose. This purpose could be threefold (Job 37:13) as follows: (1) correction, calling people back to acknowledge His sovereign power; (2) land, providing cleansing and nourishment for regions needing it; (3) mercy, sending water to those people meriting and praying for it.
Job 37:13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
Job 37:14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Job 37:15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
Dost thou know. Elihu's challenge to Job could still be posed today. The phenomena of the water cycle (winds, clouds, lightning, rainfall, run-off, evaporation, etc.) had been studied in detail and are understood in part. Nevertheless they are so vast and so complex that weather forecasting is still largely statistical, as much art as science.
Job 37:17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind?
Job 37:18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
Job 37:19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
Job 37:20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
Job 37:22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
out of the north. The word translated “fair weather” (Hebrew zahab) is used over 175 times in the Old Testament, but is translated “gold” in every instance except here. Thus it probably should read: “Gold cometh out of the north.” Almost certainly this refers to the “northern lights,” or Aurora Borealis, suggesting the “terrible majesty” of their Creator.
Job 37:24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.