Job 36:26-33. The greatness and unsearchableness of God, seen in His marvellous operations in the skies; and exhortation to Job to allow these wonders duly to impress him, and to bow beneath the greatness of God, who surpasses all comprehension The passage has two sections: First, ch. Job 36:26 to... [ Continue Reading ]
Job 37:1. This verse reads, Yea, at this my heart trembleth, And leapeth up out of its place.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the sound that goeth_ Or, _the muttering_. The thunder is the voice of God, going forth out of His mouth.... [ Continue Reading ]
_he directeth_ Rather, assuming another derivation of the word, HE SENDETH IT FORTH, lets it loose.... [ Continue Reading ]
_with the voice of his excellency_ Rather, WITH HIS VOICE OF MAJESTY. _he will not stay them_ Rather, he STAYETH them not; He restrains not His lightnings. The words describe the play of the lightning, rapidly succeeding the thunder. When God's presence is announced by His terrible voice, there als... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse reads as a whole, For he saith to the snow, Fall thou on the earth; Likewise to the showers of rain, Even to the showers of his mighty rains. The reference in the second and third clauses is probably to the heavy rainfall of the winter season.... [ Continue Reading ]
Another wonder of God's power, snow and frost.... [ Continue Reading ]
_He sealdh up the hand_ Effect of the winter rains and snow on men: all labour in the field is suspended; the hand of man is as it were "sealed up." _that all men may know his work_ The Heb. must be rendered: THAT ALL MEN WHOM HE HATH MADE MAY KNOW, lit. _all men of his workmanship_. The meaning is... [ Continue Reading ]
_their places_ Their coverts or lairs. The reference is to the hibernation of the animals, or to their retreat into their coverts for shelter from the snow and rains.... [ Continue Reading ]
The rendering of this verse in the A.V. is free and in some measure conjectural. _the south_ lit. _the chamber_. In ch. Job 9:9 reference was made to the "chambers of the south," and it has been assumed that the same is the meaning here. There is no reason, however, why the southern heavens should b... [ Continue Reading ]
Frost and ice.... [ Continue Reading ]
_By the breath of God frost_ Rather, ICE. The wind is the breath of God as the thunder is His voice. This cold breath gives ice.... [ Continue Reading ]
The wonderful movements of the clouds directed by the guidance of God, and fulfilling His several behests. These verses read, 11. Also he ladeth the thick cloud with moisture, He spreadeth his lightning-cloud abroad; 12. And it is turned round about by his guidance, That it may do whatsoever he... [ Continue Reading ]
In the second clause the words are lit. "that _they_may do," the _plur_. referring to "cloud" (Job 37:11) collectively. Others make the pronoun _they_refer to men, which is very unnatural. The expression "the whole earth" is lit. _the world of the earth_, Proverbs 8:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
This is the natural rendering of the Heb. If right the words "correction" (rod, ch. Job 21:9) and "mercy" must refer to God's purposes in regard to _men_, while the words "for his earth" refer more to the inanimate world, as God "causeth it to rain on the earth, where no man is," ch. Job 38:26. Many... [ Continue Reading ]
Elihu's own imagination kindles at the thought of the wonders which he is unfolding, and he beseeches Job to observe them with a reverent awe, and learn from them the unsearchableness of Him who is their Author.... [ Continue Reading ]
_when God disposed them_ Rather, HOW GOD LAYETH HIS COMMAND UPON THEM, AND CAUSETH, &c.?... [ Continue Reading ]
_the balancings_ That is, how the clouds are poised in the heavens (comp. ch. Job 26:8), which Elihu regards as an unspeakable marvel.... [ Continue Reading ]
_how thy garments are warm_ Rather perhaps, THOU WHOSE GARMENTS ARE WARM, WHEN THE EARTH IS STILL BECAUSE OF THE SOUTH WIND. Job 37:15 referred to the storm cloud; Job 37:16 refer rather to the sultry summer cloud. The words express how feeble man has no part in causing these wonders, but only passi... [ Continue Reading ]
The present tense is better in this verse, Canst thou with him spread out the skies, Strong, as a molten mirror? "With Him" may mean "along with Him," or rather _like_Him. The comparison of the clear, dry, burnished summer skies of the East to "brass" is made in other parts of Scripture. The East... [ Continue Reading ]
This thought of the strong expanse of heaven stretched out by God suggests to Elihu His unspeakable greatness and unsearchableness, and he demands of Job with what words of man such a Being is to be addressed, if one sought to contend with Him. _by reason of darkness_ That is, of understanding in p... [ Continue Reading ]
The verse means, Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or shall a man wish that he should be swallowed up? Elihu recoils from the thought of going into God's presence to strive with Him; such daring presumption would be voluntarily to court destruction. The words "shall a man wish?" are lit. _... [ Continue Reading ]
The natural meaning of this verse is, And now men cannot look upon the light, When it is bright in the skies, And the wind hath passed and cleansed them. The "light," here the sunlight, is too great to look upon, it dazzles the beholder, when the wind has passed over and cleared the heavens. Oth... [ Continue Reading ]
_fair weather_ lit. _gold_, that is, probably, GOLDEN BRIGHTNESS or splendour, the reference being to the _light_(Job 37:21). This is said to come from the North because the north wind (Job 37:21) clears away the clouds and reveals it. With this sense the verse carries on the thought of Job 37:21, a... [ Continue Reading ]
According to the original the members of the verse stand thus; The Almighty! we cannot find him out; who is great in power, And in justice and fulness of righteousness: he will not afflict. The connexion shews that _afflict_has the sense of afflict _unjustly_, or _oppress_. Taken thus the verse h... [ Continue Reading ]
Elihu sums up his teaching regarding the greatness of God, which is ever conjoined with righteousness. It is befitting men, therefore, not to judge Him, but to fear Him, for He regards not them that are wise in their own understanding.... [ Continue Reading ]
_wise of heart_ That is, wise in their own thoughts. God has respect unto the humble a final exhortation to Job to abstain from presumptuous complaints of God, and to unite with mankind everywhere in fearing Him.... [ Continue Reading ]