Should He be told that I want to speak? Would a man ask to be swallowed up? Should He be told that I want to speak?This phrase reflects the humility and reverence one should have when approaching God. In the context of Job, Elihu is speaking, emphasizing the majesty and sovereignty of God. The rhetorical question suggests that it is presumptuous for a human to demand an audience with the Almighty. This echoes the broader biblical theme of God's transcendence and the appropriate posture of humility before Him, as seen in Isaiah 55:8-9, where God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours. The cultural context of the Ancient Near East often depicted gods as distant and unapproachable, yet the God of Israel invites relationship, though with reverence and awe. Would a man ask to be swallowed up? Persons / Places / Events 1. JobThe central figure in the Book of Job, a man of great faith and patience who undergoes severe trials and suffering. 2. Elihu A young man who speaks to Job and his friends, offering a perspective on God's majesty and justice. Job 37 is part of Elihu's discourse. 3. God The Almighty Creator, whose wisdom and power are beyond human understanding. Elihu speaks of God's greatness in this chapter. 4. The Heavens Often referenced in Job 37, symbolizing God's majesty and the natural order He controls. 5. The Whirlwind A symbol of God's presence and power, which will later be the medium through which God speaks to Job. Teaching Points The Majesty of GodRecognize that God's wisdom and power are beyond our comprehension. We should approach Him with humility and reverence. Human Limitations Understand that our perspective is limited. We should trust in God's greater plan, even when we do not understand our circumstances. The Importance of Listening Before speaking or questioning God, we should listen and seek to understand His will and purpose. The Role of Suffering Consider how suffering can lead us to a deeper understanding of God's character and our dependence on Him. Approaching God with Reverence When we desire to speak to God, we should do so with a heart of submission, acknowledging His sovereignty. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Elihu's perspective on God's majesty in Job 37:20 challenge our understanding of God's nature?2. In what ways can we apply the humility demonstrated in Job 37:20 to our prayer life and relationship with God? 3. How do the themes in Job 37:20 relate to God's response to Job in the subsequent chapters? 4. What other biblical figures demonstrate a similar reverence and humility before God as seen in Job 37:20? 5. How can we find comfort in God's incomprehensible nature during times of personal suffering or uncertainty? Connections to Other Scriptures Job 38-41These chapters follow Elihu's speech and contain God's response to Job, emphasizing His omnipotence and the limitations of human understanding. Isaiah 55:8-9 This passage highlights the difference between God's thoughts and ways and those of humans, similar to Elihu's message about God's incomprehensibility. Psalm 8:3-4 Reflects on the majesty of God and the humility of man, echoing the themes of God's greatness and human smallness found in Job 37. Romans 11:33-36 Paul speaks of the depth of God's wisdom and knowledge, paralleling Elihu's emphasis on God's unsearchable ways.
People JobPlaces UzTopics Declared, Desire, Destruction, Speak, Spoken, Surely, Swallowed, Talk, WishDictionary of Bible Themes Job 37:19Library Whether the Heavens Should have Been Opened unto Christ at his Baptism?Objection 1: It would seem that the heavens should not have been opened unto Christ at His baptism. For the heavens should be opened unto one who needs to enter heaven, by reason of his being out of heaven. But Christ was always in heaven, according to Jn. 3:13: "The Son of Man who is in heaven." Therefore it seems that the heavens should not have been opened unto Him. Objection 2: Further, the opening of the heavens is understood either in a corporal or in a spiritual sense. But it cannot be understood … Saint Thomas Aquinas—Summa Theologica Whether by Reason of this Subtlety a Glorified Body is Able to be in the Same Place with Another Body not Glorified? Whether those to whom Christ's Birth was Made Known were Suitably Chosen? The Justice of God Concerning Salutations and Recreations, &C. The Knowledge of God A Treatise of the Fear of God; Job Links Job 37:20 NIVJob 37:20 NLT Job 37:20 ESV Job 37:20 NASB Job 37:20 KJV Job 37:20 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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