View Job 37 in the note window.
Elihu observes the hand of God, in thunder and lighting, ver. 1 - 5.
In frost and snow, rain and wind, ver. 6 - 13.
Challenges Job to account for these, ver. 14 - 22.
Concludes, that God is great and greatly to be feared, ver. 23, 24
2: Hear - It is probable that while Elihu was speaking it
thundered, and that tempest was begun, wherewith God ushered in his
speech. And this might occasion his return to that subject of which
he had discoursed before. Voice - The thunder is called God's voice.
Because by it God speaks to the children of men, to fear before him.
Mouth - That is produced by God's word or command, which is often
signified by his mouth.
3: Directeth - His voice: which he guideth like an arrow to the mark,
that it may do that work for which he sends it.
4: After - After the lightning, which is seen before the thunder is
hard. Them - The lightnings spoken of in the beginning of the verse.
6: Strength - Those storms of rain which come with great force and
irresistible violence.
7: Sealeth - By these snows and rains he drives men out of the
fields, and seals or binds up their hands from their work. That - They
may seriously contemplate on these, and other great and glorious works
of God.
9: Cold - Freezing winds.
10: The waters - The waters which had freely spread themselves
before, are congealed and bound up in crystal fetters.
11: Watering - The earth. They spend themselves and are exhausted
watering the earth, until they are weary. Wearieth - Them with much
water, and making them to go long journeys to water remote parts,
and at last to empty themselves there: all which things make men
weary; and therefore are here said to make the clouds weary by a
common figure. Scattereth - As for the white and lightsome clouds,
he scatters and dissolves them by the wind or sun.
12: Turned - The clouds are carried about to this or that place.
Not by chance (though nothing seems to be more casual than the motions
of the clouds) but by his order and governance.
13: Correction - To scourge or correct men by immoderate showers.
Earth - The whole earth, which is said to be the Lord's,(Ps 24:1,50:12), and so this may denote a general judgment by
excessive rains inflicted upon the earth, and all its inhabitants,
even the universal deluge, which came in great measure out of the
clouds. Mercy - For the benefit of mankind and for the cooling of
the air and improving the fruits of the earth.
14: Consider - If there be so much matter of wonder in the most
obvious works of God, how wonderful must his secret counsels be?
15: Them - The things before mentioned, the clouds, rain, snow,
and other meteors. Did God acquaint thee with his counsels in the
producing and ordering of them? His cloud - Probably the rainbow,
seated in a cloud, which may well be called God's cloud, because
therein God puts his bow, (Ge 9:13).
16: Balancings - How God doth as it were weigh the clouds in
balances, so that although they are full of water, yet they are
kept up by the thin air.
17: Quieteth - The air about the earth. From the south - By the
sun's coming into the southern parts, which makes the air quiet and warm.
18: With him - Wast thou his assistant in spreading out the sky
like a canopy over the earth? Strong - Which though it be very
thin and transparent, yet is also firm and compact and steadfast.
Looking glass - Made of brass and steel, as the manner then was.
Smooth and polished, without the least flaw. In this, as in a glass,
we may behold the glory of God and the wisdom of his handy - work.
19: Teach us - If thou canst. Say unto him - Of these things.
Order - To maintain discourse with him, both because of the darkness
of the matter, God's counsels being a great depth; and because of the
darkness of our minds.
20: Shall - I send a challenge to God, or a message that I am ready
to debate with him concerning his proceedings? Speak - If a man should
be so bold to enter the lists with God. Swallowed up - With the sense of
his infinite majesty.
21: Light - The sun; which is emphatically called light, and here
the bright light: which men cannot behold or gaze on, when the sky is
very clear: and therefore it is not strange if we cannot see God, or
discern his counsels and ways. Them - The sky by driving away those
clouds which darkened it.
22: North - From the northern winds which scatter the clouds, and
clear the sky. Elihu concludes with some short, but great sayings,
concerning the glory of God. He speaks abruptly and in haste, because
it should seem, he perceived God was approaching, and presumed he was
about to take the work into his own hands.
23: Find - We cannot comprehend him: his power, wisdom, justice,
and his counsels proceeding from them are past our finding out.
Power - Therefore as he doth not need any unrighteous action to advance
himself, so he cannot do it, because all such things are acts of
weakness. Judgment - In the just administration of judgment, he never
did, nor can exercise that power unjustly, as Job seemed to insinuate.
Afflict - Without just cause.
24: Fear - Fear or reverence him, and humbly submit to him,
and not presume to quarrel or dispute with him. Wise of heart - Wise in
their own eyes.
