Job 37

These are the words of Elihu about his God. These are the words of a man who believes that God is King, that He made all things, knows all things, deserves all the praise. These are the words of a herald, a messenger who broadcasts the coming of the King. Over a thousand years later, another messenger will proclaim Jesus’ coming. He is “the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,” John the Baptist (John 1:23). John also heralds the King of kings. Of Jesus, he says, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Elihu, like John, understands he is not worthy of this King. Chapter thirty-seven begins with Elihu’s declaration of humility, “At this also my heart trembles and leaps out of its place.” He is overwhelmed at the voice and power of God in the thunder, the lightning, the snow, the driving rain, beasts of the earth, the cold – the breath of God – ice, all of God’s wondrous works. He exhorts Job to consider all this, to consider the power of God in creation, to consider the purpose of God in his care and correction of His own creation. He points Job to the sovereignty and power of God:

“Teach us what we shall say to him; we cannot draw up our case because of darkness. Shall it be told him that I would speak? Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up?”

Job 37:19-20

We aren’t even able to look at the blazing sun that God has created (v. 21); how could we expect to face the sovereign King in His glory (v. 22-24)?

I am brought back to the Lamb of God. John heralds His arrival, proclaims the coming King who would be the perfect Lamb, slain for us. A spotless lamb, without blemish. Jesus is our humble Savior, afflicted, pierced, a man of sorrows (Isaiah 53). And He is the “Lamb who was slain,” worthy of all worship (Revelation 5).

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Revelation 5:12

It’s lambing season. The sheep farm down the road from us will soon have tiny, adorable lambs skipping around the farm yard. They are Tunis sheep, brown faced with creamy wool, bred mainly for their meat. That’s the hard part – the thoughts of the sale barn and impending slaughter have to be pushed back in my mind. I’ll pretend for awhile that they get to stay with their flock, growing fat on the grass over the summer. Then, the day comes, when I notice there are far less lambs in the fields.

Jesus wasn’t this kind of Lamb, small and helpless. He was silent before his accusers, yes, calmly taking the blows, the thorns, the weight of the cross. But His purpose was clear in front of Him; He walked in authority to His death, laying down His own life. When John the Apostle sees Him in Heaven in the revelatory vision, he sees a slain Lamb that is worthy of worship. Meek, mild, gentle, and powerful beyond our comprehension. This is hard for us to imagine. Hear John’s description:

“…and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals. And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain…”

Revelation 5:4-6a

Stand with me for a moment in your mind, eyes riveted on Jesus, the Lamb of God. Do you see the King? He is God Himself, wrapped in glory, awesome in might, the only One worthy to open the scroll, worthy of our worship – our focused, un-distracted worship. Pause for one moment as you consider the glory of our King. We can say with Elihu:

“God thunders wondrously with his voice; he does great things that we cannot comprehend.” “The Almighty – we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceits.”

Job 37:5, 23-24

There is none like our God. He is beyond our understanding; He is glorious in might and in holiness. Paul says of Him,

“who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”

I Timothy 6:16

And so, with Job and Elihu, and the rest of creation, we wait. We wait for the appearing of the King. Job and his friends are about to hear the voice of God Himself, the voice that thunders from unapproachable light. The voice of the King, of the Lamb, of the Beloved Son. Hear Him (Luke 9:35).