In Suffering, Fear the Lord - Job 37

Job 37:24
Therefore men fear him;
he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit.”

In Suffering, Fear the Lord!

After many thoughts and verses directed toward Job and his three friends, Elihu ends his declaration with the above conclusion.  The "therefore" in the passage is to assist us in the understanding that this is the culmination of his words.   After Elihu tells us of God's great justice and His awesome majesty, power and evidentiary statements via creation, that the only conclusion left for Job, his friends and us (the readers) is to "fear" God.   The concept of "fearing" God is not in the context of being afraid of God, because He can destroy us with His mere breath (although such fear would be part of the overall concept).  The use of the word is often translated "reverence" and indicates that we see God as the only thing we need and that, without Him, we are completely lost and undone.   We so revere God that we honor Him with all that we have and that we realize He sustains us ... His power consumes us in our understanding of Him ... it overwhelms us.   The more we understand God and get to know Him the more and more we revere Him.   Elihu adds one last line to his words for Job by saying that God does not regard those who are wise in their own eyes.  God is not revered by the proud.  The proud think they can handle life and circumstances without God.    Peter tells us that God resist the proud and gives grace to the humble.   Humility is the door we must walk through to have true reverence for God.  Through-out his defense toward his friends, Job continued to tell them he was not guilty in regard to this pain and suffering.   He told them so many times and in so many ways that we hear pride in his words.   Elihu is giving us all a reminder that God is not pleased with the proud and even resists them.   Humility is necessary for reverence.

Elihu wants us all to know that suffering is an avenue to this humiliation and learned reverence for God. We know, based upon God’s own words, that Job was a righteous man.  He already feared God.   But, through this suffering he may have lost sight of that reverence (based upon what we read in his statements).  Elihu is a great friend.  He gives his a solid word ... fear the Lord ... even in your suffering.

Note Peter’s words to the early church during their greatest trials:

1 Peter 3:13-16 (ESV Strong's)
13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

We are have reverence for God and not fear the suffering.   That brings about a blessing from God.