ELIHU had declared that God does deliver the poor in his affliction, curd that He opens the ears of the afflicted in their trials so that they might turn to Him. Now he applies this to Job telling him that God would have removed him “out of the jaws of distress into a broad place,” and brought him into a place of blessing; “the supply of thy table would be full of fatness.” This was exactly what happened, but Job was not yet right in his soul, He was still full of questions as to God’s judgment and justice in dealing with him the way He had, Now Elihu says, “judgment and justice take hold on thee,” and he warns Job: “Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke; then a great ransom cannot deliver thee. Will He esteem thy riches? No, not gold, nor all the forces [resources] of strength.” And in the New Testament God sets forth through the Apostle Peter this same truth: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,... but with the precious blood of Christ.” 1 Pet. 1:18, 1918Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Peter 1:18‑19). It is only in this life that a soul can prepare to meet God. Redemption is only to be had in Christ, and to die without Him is to be taken away to certain judgment.
Elihu goes on and tells Job to take heed and not to turn to iniquity as in his spirit he had done by not taking his affliction from the hand of God. Then he calls on Job to consider God’s greatness and to magnify His works. “Lo, God is exalted in His power; who teacheth as He?” He is infinitely above our thoughts. “He maketh small the drops of water.” If He is so interested in the little things of His creation, how much more so great a thing as the soul of man, into whom He had breathed the breath of life.
Elihu speaks of how God supplied man with rain, and this passage as given, in J.N.D.’s Translation is very remarkable, “For He draweth up the drops chi, water: they distil in rain from the vapor which He formeth, which the skies pour down and drop upon man abundantly.” How marvelous are the, wonders of God’s creation when received in faith as His provision for man. “His hands He covereth with lightning, and commandeth it where it is to strike.” How few men realize that God even directs the path of the lightning, “His thundering declareth concerning] Him; the cattle even, concerning its coming.” Cattle even have more sense than some men for they are greatly concerned when there is a thunderstorm. But when God speaks to men in a voice of thunder there are those who only harden themselves against it.
In chapter 37 Elihu continues his discourse on the ways of God with man in His control of the weather. Ile dwells on the thunder, “the roar of His voice,” “He sendeth it forth under the whole heaven, and His lightning unto the end of the earth.” “God thundereth marvelously with His voice, doing great things which we do not comprehend.” He speaks of the fall of snow, the pouring rains, “and by the breath of God ice is given.” “Also with plentiful moisture He loadeth the thick clouds, His light dispels the cloud; and they are turned every way by His guidance, that they may do whatsoever He commandeth them” upon the earth, whether they be sent in mercy or in judgment.
When we read such wonderful things as these, we are reminded of the words of the Psalmist: “Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” (Psa. 107.)
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