Lord — The eternal word, Jehovah, the same who spake from mount Sinai. Answered — Out of a dark and thick cloud, from which he sent a tempestuous wind, as the harbinger of his presence. In this manner God appears and speaks to awaken Job and his friends, to the more serious attention to his words; a... [ Continue Reading ]
Counsel — God's counsel. For the great matter of the dispute between Job and his friends, was concerning God's counsel and providence in afflicting Job; which Job had endeavoured to obscure and misrepresent. This first word which God spoke, struck Job to the heart. This he repeats and echoes to, Job... [ Continue Reading ]
Gird up — As warriors then did for the battle.... [ Continue Reading ]
Where — Thou art but of yesterday; and dost thou presume to judge of my eternal counsels! When — When I settled it as firm upon its own center as if it had been built upon the surest foundations.... [ Continue Reading ]
Measures — Who hath prescribed how long and broad and deep it should be. Line — the measuring line to regulate all its dimensions.... [ Continue Reading ]
Foundations — This strong and durable building hath no foundations but God's power, which hath marvelously established it upon itself. Cornerstone — By which the several walls are joined and fastened together, and in which, next to the foundations, the stability of a building consists. The sense is,... [ Continue Reading ]
Stars — The angels, who may well be called morning — stars, because of their excellent lustre and glory. Sons of God — The angels called the sons of God, because they had their whole being from him, and because they were made partakers of his Divine and glorious image. Shouted — Rejoiced in and bles... [ Continue Reading ]
Doors — Who was it, that set bounds to the vast and raging ocean, and shut it up, as it were with doors within its proper place, that it might not overflow the earth? Break forth — From the womb or bowels of the earth, within which the waters were for the most part contained, and out of which they w... [ Continue Reading ]
The cloud — When I covered it with vapours and clouds which rise out of the sea, and hover above it, and cover it like a garment. Darkness — Black and dark clouds. Swaddling band — Having compared the sea to a new — born infant, he continues the metaphor, and makes the clouds as swaddling — bands, t... [ Continue Reading ]
Break up — Made those hollow places in the earth, which might serve for a cradle to receive and hold this great and goodly infant when it came out of the womb. And set — Fixed its bounds as strongly as if they were fortified with bars and doors.... [ Continue Reading ]
Morning — Didst thou create the sun, and appoint the order and succession of day and night. Since — Since thou wast born: this work was done long before thou wast born. To know — To observe the punctual time when, and the point of the heavens where it should arise; which varies every day.... [ Continue Reading ]
That — That this morning light should in a moment spread itself, from one end of the hemisphere to the other. Shaken — From the face of the earth. And this effect the morning — light hath upon the wicked, because it discovers them, whereas darkness hides them; and because it brings them to condign p... [ Continue Reading ]
It — The earth. Turned — Is changed in its appearance. By the seal — The seal makes a beautiful impression upon the clay, which in itself hath no form, or comeliness. So the earth, which in the darkness of night lies like a confused heap without either form or beauty, when the light arises and shine... [ Continue Reading ]
Withheld — That light which enjoyed by others is withholden from them, either by their own choice, because they chuse darkness rather than light; or by the judgment of God, or the magistrate, by whom they are cut off from the light of the living. Arms — Their great strength which they used to the op... [ Continue Reading ]
Springs — Heb. the tears; the several springs out of which the waters of the sea flow as tears do from the eyes. Walked — Hast thou found out the utmost depth of the sea, which in divers places could never be reached by the wisest mariner? And how then canst thou fathom the depths of my counsels?... [ Continue Reading ]
Death — Hast thou seen, or dost thou know the place and state of the dead; the depths and bowels of that earth in which the generality of dead men are buried. Death is a grand secret? We know not when or by what means we shall be brought to death: by what road we must go the way, whence we shall not... [ Continue Reading ]
Breadth — The whole compass and all the parts of it?... [ Continue Reading ]
Dwelleth — Hath its constant and settled abode. Whether goes the sun when it departs from this hemisphere? Where is the tabernacle and the chamber in which he is supposed to rest? And seeing there was a time when there was nothing but gross darkness upon the face of the earth, what way came light in... [ Continue Reading ]
Take it — Bring or lead it: and this it refers principally to the light, and to darkness, as the consequent of the other. Bound — Its whole course from the place of its abode whence it is supposed to come, to the end of its journey. Know — Where thou mayst find it, and whence thou mayst fetch it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Treasures — Dost thou know where I have laid up those vast quantities of snow and hail which I draw forth when I see fit?... [ Continue Reading ]
Trouble — When I intend to bring trouble upon any people for their sins.... [ Continue Reading ]
Distributed — In the air, and upon the face of the earth. This is variously distributed in the world, shining in one place and time, when it doth not shine in another, or for a longer time, or with greater brightness and power than it doth in another. All which are the effects of God's infinite wisd... [ Continue Reading ]
Overflowing — For the showers of rain which come down orderly, and gradually, as if they were conveyed in pipes or channels; which, without the care of God's providence, would fall confusedly, and overwhelm the earth. Lightning — For lightning and thunder? Who opened a passage for them out of the cl... [ Continue Reading ]
To cause — That the clouds being broken by lightning and thunder might pour down rain. No man — To water those parts by art and industry, as is usual in cultivated places.... [ Continue Reading ]
To bring forth — Hitherto God has put such questions to Job, as were proper to convince him of his ignorance. Now he comes to convince him of his impotence. As it is but little that he can know, and therefore he ought not to arraign the Divine counsels, so it is but little he can do; and therefore h... [ Continue Reading ]
Father — Is there any man that can beget or produce rain at his pleasure?... [ Continue Reading ]
Bind — Restrain or hinder them. Pleiades — The seven stars, which bring in the spring. Bands — By which it binds up the air and earth, by bringing storms of rain and hail or frost and snow. Orion — This constellation rises in November, and brings in winter. Both summer and winter will have their cou... [ Continue Reading ]
Bring forth — Canst thou make the stars in the southern signs arise and appear? Arcturus — Those in the northern. His sons — The lesser stars, which are placed round about them; and attend upon them, as children upon their parents.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ordinances — The laws which are firmly established concerning their order, motion, or rest, and their powerful influences upon this lower world. Didst thou give these laws? Or dost thou perfectly know them? Canst thou — Manage and over rule their influences.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cover thee — Thy land when it needs rain.... [ Continue Reading ]
Mire — By reason of much rain.... [ Continue Reading ]
Hunt — Is it by thy care that the lions who live in desert places are furnished with necessary provisions? This is another wonderful work of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
Raven — Having mentioned the noblest of brute creatures, he now mentions one of the most contemptible; to shew the care of God's providence over all creatures, both great and small. Their young ones are so soon forsaken by their dams, that if God did not provide for them in a more than ordinary mann... [ Continue Reading ]