Job 37:23 Commentary and Bible Study

God himself, in his essential glory, is so far beyond us that his majesty is unsearchable. How does a finite mind begin to grapple with infinite truth? Where does it begin? We cannot organize our thoughts when we have so vast a subject. Furthermore he is inaccessible to us. We would know nothing about him if he did not tell us either in the book nature or in the Scriptures. How great a blessing that he has spoken in such a way that our minds can grasp hold of him in truth. He has revealed those chief attributes that we need to understand in order to know him: his love, holiness, power, mercy, justice, goodness and truth. From Scripture and by the instruction of the Spirit of God we have true knowledge of him so that we can say that we know him and he confirms this, yet in comparison to what he is in his pure essence, we cannot find him out. Certainly we could not know him by any search of our own, but by the Spirit’s help we can and should constantly search the revelation he has given of himself. He is excellent in power so that it far exceeds anything that we are capable of imagining, and even the universe shows only a small part of it.Contrary to your suspicions, Job, God does not oppress or take advantage of his superior power to hurt his creatures. He does not enjoy bringing trouble on them unnecessarily, for his merciful nature makes him do the opposite and nurture all under his care – ‘Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.’The last phrase is treated in two opposite ways by the translators. Some put a positive construction on it and translate along the lines of the NIV which introduces a question: ‘Therefore, men revere him, for does he not have regard for all the wise in heart?’ Others like the ESV use an obviously negative construction, ‘Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.’ The KJV and NKJ leave the meaning slightly open so that it is up to the interpreter to judge whether the wise in heart are those who are genuinely wise, or those who are wise in their own eyes. If the latter interpretation is right then the verse carries a warning against failing to fear him. Any who think like this are in danger of becoming wise in their own conceits, and if so they will not be regarded by the Lord. If the former is right then there is still a warning, but the warning is addressed even to those who are wise in heart; they too have reason to be afraid if they depart from true reverence towards God. This seems to be a more relevant warning for Job who had already been accounted a genuinely wise man by Elihu. To depart from that reverence for God is to cross a boundary which is extremely significant and carries with it great danger.Elihu leaves Job with this final warning given in the hope that he will come to his senses and realise that even though he has suffered the most extreme trial and has not completely turned away from God, yet his response has not been perfect. He has abandoned that reverence towards God which is the only safe response to every trial, and has raised questions about God’s providence which unworthily call into question God’s goodness, wisdom and justice. This he must repent of if he is to be restored to fellowship with the Lord.