Job observes, that Bildad's discourse was foreign to the matter,
ver. 1 - 4.
Enlarges on the power and greatness of God, which yet are unsearchable,
ver. 5 - 14.
4: To whom - For whose instruction hast thou uttered these things?
For mine? Dost thou think I do not know, that which the meanest persons
are not unacquainted with; that God is incomparably greater and better
than his creatures? Whose spirit - Who inspired thee with this
profound discourse of thine?
5: Dead things - Job having censured Bildad's discourse,
proceeds to shew how little he needed his information in that
point. Here he shews that the power and providences of God reaches
not only to the things we see, but also to the invisible parts of
the world, not only to the heavens above and their inhabitants, and
to men upon earth, of which Bildad discoursed, (Job 25:2,3),
but also to such persons or things as are under the earth, or under
the waters; which are out of our sight and reach; yet not out of the
ken of Divine providence. These words may be understood;
either,
of dead, or lifeless things, such as amber, pearl,
coral, metals, or other minerals, which are formed or
brought forth; by the almighty power of God, from under
the waters; either in the bottom of the sea, or within
the earth, which is the lowest element, and in the scripture
and other authors spoken of as under the waters; this being
observed as a remarkable work of God's providence, that the
waters of the sea, which are higher than the earth, do not
overwhelm it. Or,
of dead men, and of the worst of them, such as died in their
sins, and after death were condemned to farther miseries; for
of such this very word seems to be used, (Pr 2:18,9:18),
who are here said to mourn or groan from under the waters;
from the lower parts of the earth, or from under those
subterranean waters, which are supposed to be within and under
the earth; (Ps 33:7),
and from under the inhabitants thereof; either of the
waters or of the earth, under which these waters are, or
with the other inhabitants thereof; of that place under
the waters, namely, the apostate spirits.
So the sense is, that God's dominion is over all men, yea, even the
dead, and the worst of them, who though they would not own God, nor
his providence, while they lived, yet now are forced to acknowledge
and feel that power which they despised, and bitterly mourn under the
sad effects of it in their infernal habitations.
6: Hell - Is in his presence, and under his providence. Hell
itself, that place of utter darkness, is not hid from his sight.
Destruction - The place of destruction.
7: North - The northern part of the heavens, which is put for the
whole visible heaven, because Job and his friends lived in a northern
climate. Nothing - Upon no props or pillars, but his own power and
providence.
9: Holdeth - From our view, that his glory may not dazzle our sight;
he covereth it with a cloud. Throne - The heaven of heavens, where he
dwelleth.
11: Pillars - Perhaps the mountains which by their height and
strength seem to reach and support the heavens. Astonished - When
God reproveth not them, but men by them, manifesting his displeasure
by thunders, or earthquakes.
14: Parts - But small parcels, the outside and visible work.
Portion - Of his power and wisdom, and providence. His Power - His
mighty power, is aptly compared to thunder; in regard of its
irresistible force, and the terror which it causes to wicked men.
