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2015 January 27



White Frost (1873)
Camille Pissarro (1830-1903)
Impressionist Style; contributed to Neo-Impressionism and Post-Impressionism Elements
Musee d'Orsay, Paris, France
Image Source: Web Gallery of Art


     Explanation: In Job 37 Elihu concludes his criticism of Job and further exalts God. The painting above depicts various elements mentioned by Elihu as revealers of God, particularly the frost, the clouds, and the seasonally diminished labor.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Job 32. Job 33. Job 34. Job 35. Job 36. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

     Elihu said that his heart trembled and was moved out of its place at the sound of God's voice which is heard under heaven and by his lightning which is seen from one end of the earth to the other. God thunders with the voice of excellency. He does great things which cannot be comprehended. He commands the snow, the rain, and the downpour to be on the earth (1-6). By these natural agents God "seals up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work." In other words, God stops their labor that they might see his labor. The beasts go into their dens and stay. From the south comes the whirlwind; from the north comes the cold. The breath of God gives the frost (or ice) which freezes the waters. The rain wears away the thick cloud; and it is scattered by the light. It accomplishes God's decrees, bringing correction or mercy (7-13). Having said these things about God's works and decree, Elihu calls on Job to stand still and to consider the wondrous works of God. He asks Job "Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?" (ESV). He asks him if he knows the balancing of the clouds -- the wondrous works of God who is perfect in knowledge -- how he brings warmth with the south wind, or how he spread out the sky which is as fixed and bright as a polished bronze mirror. He then challenges Job to provide an answer to God about how these mysteries operate. And he warns Job that the very effort to declare these mysteries will swallow Job up (14-20). Elihu then says that men see the bright light in the clouds; but the wind passes and cleanses them (i.e., cleanses the sky of them by driving them away, or creates gaps in them which reveal the sun). Fair weather, he says, comes from the north; and God comes in awesome majesty. We cannot fully understand God because his excellencies -- his power, his judgment, his justice, and his mercy -- are too great. Therefore men fear him, because he is not impressed by any who are wise in heart (21-24). Many commentators think that the various references to God's connection with the storm and the like are references to the approach of God as he came to speak to Job and the others when he spoke out of the whirlwind in Job 38:1.


Job 37

     1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place. 2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice, and the sound that goeth out of his mouth. 3 He directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the ends of the earth. 4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when his voice is heard. 5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. 6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength. 7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work. 8 Then the beasts go into dens, and remain in their places. 9 Out of the south cometh the whirlwind: and cold out of the north. 10 By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. 11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: 12 And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth. 13 He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.
     14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God. 15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? 16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? 17 How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind? 18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? 19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. 20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
     21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them. 22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty. 23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict. 24 Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.




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