Job 37 starts with Elihu proclaiming the majesty of God. He uses comparisons to storms (the thunder of His voice (Job 37:2) and his lightning (Job 37: 3)) to describe God’s power. These images continue to be repeated in verses 4-6. With the weather God “seals up the hand of every man” possibly referring to stopping labor in the fields. God causes water to freeze and creates storms according to His commands (Job 37: 10-12). He causes this both for correction of and love for His creation (Job 37: 15).

Elihu then questions Job as to whether He knows how God performs these works (Job 37:14-16). We know get to the point of this passage, that is that God’s wonders are so great that man cannot question God without bringing judgement upon himself (Job 37: 19-20). Like trying to look at the sun, we cannot see His full glory as He is abundant in power, justice and righteousness. Men will either fear God or consider themselves wise due to pride (Job 37: 22-24).

Now the Lord speaks to Job in chapter 38 in a whirlwind. Footnotes indicate the word being used in chapter 38 is Yahweh, the covenant name for God. Only during the prologue back in chapter 1 do we see the word Yahweh used. Throughout the rest of the book of Job, the name for God was El Shaddai, or God the Almighty. This was to show that from the prologue up until this point God had been detached and distant. God is now letting Job know clearly that He is there.

God let’s Job know that his words, as well as those of his friends, only caused confusion. God says that rather than answer Job’s questions He will now question Job (Job 38: 2-3). God goes on to go into detail questioning Job about his activities while God created the universe (Job 38: 4-35). God then questions Job about wisdom, which is the heart of the matter (Job 38: 36-38), as well as about caring for His creation (Job 38: 39 – Job 39: 30). God then asks whether someone seeking to find fault can argue with God (Job 40:2). Job recognizes he was wrong in questioning God where God appeared unjust and was reduced to silence by God’s questioning (Job 40: 3-5).

It is taught in Psalm 19 that the heavens and sky declare the handiwork of God. Each day God speaks his wisdom, and like the sun He brings light to all the ends of the Earth. Like heat from the sun, nothing can hide from God. God’s law is perfect, and His testimony brings wisdom. They are greater than any riches known to man. Men cannot judge their sins. Some are hidden, while others are done out of arrogance. Only God can declare us innocent with God guiding our tongue and our heart.