job 37 and 38

Read Job 37 and 38 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions for each man’s speech are like the divisions in the Psalms that we studied in 2014. There is an understood {s} division at the end of each numbered line, with an {n} marking where a new line begins within a numbered line.

Job 37:1-23 {s} Division at the end of each numbered line; with these {n} divisions within lines:
Job 37:4a, After it a voice roars; He thunders with His majestic voice, {n}
Job 37:6a, For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; {n}
Job 37:12a, And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do {n}
Job 37:21a, Even now men cannot look at the light when it is bright in the skies, {n}
Job 37:24 {p} God shows no partiality. (Elihu’s speech ends.)
Job 38:1-42 {s} Division at the end of each numbered line; with these {n} divisions within lines:
Job 38:41a, Who provides food for the raven, {n}

We will look at the Lord’s speech tomorrow. Elihu ends his speech today, and I believe his argument at least forms a chiastic structure:

1a) Job 33:8-33, The graciousness of God;

1b) Job 34:1-9, Job has charged God with injustice because of his suffering;

1c) Job 34:10-33, Far be it from God to pervert justice, for He deals with all men impartially;

central axis) Job 35:1-8, Does a man’s righteousness profit God? No, righteousness benefits others;

2c) Job 35:9-16, Justice is always before God, and if you do not see it yet, you must wait on Him;

2b) Job 36:1-4, Elihu will yet ascribe righteousness to God;

2a) Job 36:5-37:24, The greatness of God;

1a) Job 36:5, God is mighty but despises no one;

1b) Job 36:6-15, He executes judgment for the wicked + justice for the oppressed;

1c) Job 36:22-23, God is exalted by His power;

1d) Job 36:24-26, Magnify Him / He is great + we cannot discover Him:
— 1) Job 36:24-25, Remember to magnify His work;
— 2) Job 36:26, God is great / we do not know Him + cannot discover the number of His years;

1e) Job 36:27-29, Can anyone understand the spreading of the clouds;

1f) Job 36:30a, Look, He scatters His light upon it;

1g) Job 36:30b, He covers the depths of the sea;

1h) Job 36:31-33, By these He judges the peoples;

central axis) Job 37:1-5, God thunders with His majestic voice;

2h) Job 37:6-13, He commands the weather for correction, or His land, or mercy;

2g) Job 37:14, Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God;

2f) Job 37:15, He causes the light of His cloud to shine;

2e) Job 37:16-21, Do you know how the clouds are balanced;

2d) Job 37:22-23a, God is awesome in majesty / we cannot find Him:
— 1) Job 37:22, He comes as golden splendor; with God is awesome majesty;
— 2) Job 37:23a, As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him;

2c) Job 37:23b, He is excellent in power;

2b) Job 37:23c, In judgment and justice He does not oppress;

2a) Job 37:24 {p} Men fear Him, for He shows no partiality to any.

Who is Elihu? I don’t know if anyone has answered that. He is like Melchizedek in that he appears on the scene on God’s behalf without introduction. His speech has the thumbprint of the Holy Spirit upon it, just as Job’s speeches do, but which is lacking in the friends’ speeches. Moreover, as we get into the Lord’s speech, we see that Elihu mirrored many of the things the Lord says.