1“At this my heart also pounds and leaps from its place. 2Listen closely to the thunder of His voice and the rumbling that comes from His mouth. 3He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole sky and sends it to the ends of the earth. 4Then there comes a roaring sound; He thunders with His majestic voice. He does not restrain the lightning when His voice resounds. 5God thunders wondrously with His voice; He does great things we cannot comprehend. 6For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the gentle rain, ‘Pour out a mighty downpour.’ 7He seals up the hand of every man, so that all men may know His work. 8The wild animals enter their lairs; they settle down in their dens. 9The tempest comes from its chamber, and the cold from the driving north winds. 10By the breath of God the ice is formed and the watery expanses are frozen. 11He loads the clouds with moisture; He scatters His lightning through them. 12They swirl about, whirling at His direction, accomplishing all that He commands over the face of all the earth. 13Whether for punishment or for His land, He accomplishes this in His loving devotion. 14Listen to this, O Job; stand still and consider the wonders of God. 15Do you know how God dispatches the clouds or makes the lightning flash? 16Do you understand how the clouds float, those wonders of Him who is perfect in knowledge? 17You whose clothes get hot when the land lies hushed under the south wind, 18can you, like Him, spread out the skies to reflect the heat like a mirror of bronze? 19Teach us what we should say to Him; we cannot draw up our case when our faces are in darkness. 20Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up? 21Now no one can gaze at the sun when it is bright in the skies after the wind has swept them clean. 22Out of the north He comes in golden splendor; awesome majesty surrounds Him. 23The Almighty is beyond our reach; He is exalted in power! In His justice and great righteousness He does not oppress. 24Therefore, men fear Him, for He is not partial to the wise in heart.”
Matthew Henry's Commentary
Elihu observes the power of God. (1-13) Job required to explain the works of nature. (14-20) God is great, and is to be feared. (21-24) 1-13 The changes of the weather are the subject of a great deal of our thoughts and common talk; but how seldom do we think and speak of these things, as Elihu, with a regard to God, the director of them! We must notice the glory of God, not only in the thunder and lightning, but in the more common and less awful changes of the weather; as the snow and rain. Nature directs all creatures to shelter themselves from a storm; and shall man only be unprovided with a refuge? Oh that men would listen to the voice of God, who in many ways warns them to flee from the wrath to come; and invites them to accept his salvation, and to be happy. The ill opinion which men entertain of the Divine direction, peculiarly appears in their murmurs about the weather, though the whole result of the year proves the folly of their complaints. Believers should avoid this; no days are bad as God makes them, though we make many bad by our sins. 14-20 Due thoughts of the works of God will help to reconcile us to all his providences. As God has a powerful, freezing north wind, so he has a thawing, composing south wind: the Spirit is compared to both, because he both convinces and comforts, #So 4:16|. The best of men are much in the dark concerning the glorious perfections of the Divine nature and the Divine government. Those who, through grace, know much of God, know nothing, in comparison with what is to be known, and of what will be known, when that which is perfect is come. 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 Spirit sets us free in the work of consolation. Now that God is about to speak, Elihu delivers a few words, as the sum of all his discourse. With God is terrible majesty. Sooner or later all men shall fear him.