mh_parser/vol_split/18 - Job/Chapter 37.xml

<div2 id="Job.xxxviii" n="xxxviii" next="Job.xxxix" prev="Job.xxxvii" progress="18.49%" title="Chapter XXXVII">
<h2 id="Job.xxxviii-p0.1">J O B</h2>
<h3 id="Job.xxxviii-p0.2">CHAP. XXXVII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Job.xxxviii-p1">Elihu here goes on to extol the wonderful power of
God in the meteors and all the changes of the weather: if, in those
changes, we submit to the will of God, take the weather as it is
and make the best of it, why should we not do so in other changes
of our condition? Here he observes the hand of God, I. In the
thunder and lightning, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.1-Job.37.5" parsed="|Job|37|1|37|5" passage="Job 37:1-5">ver.
1-5</scripRef>. II. In the frost and snow, the rains and wind,
<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.6-Job.37.13" parsed="|Job|37|6|37|13" passage="Job 37:6-13">ver. 6-13</scripRef>. III. He
applies it to Job, and challenges him to solve the phenomena of
these works of nature, that confessing his ignorance in them, he
might own himself an incompetent judge in the proceedings of divine
Providence, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.14-Job.37.22" parsed="|Job|37|14|37|22" passage="Job 37:14-22">ver. 14-22</scripRef>.
And then, IV. Concludes with his principle, which he undertook to
make out, That God is great and greatly to be feared, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.23-Job.37.24" parsed="|Job|37|23|37|24" passage="Job 37:23,24">ver. 23, 24</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Job.xxxviii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.37" parsed="|Job|37|0|0|0" passage="Job 37" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Job.xxxviii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.1-Job.37.5" parsed="|Job|37|1|37|5" passage="Job 37:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Job.37.1-Job.37.5">
<h4 id="Job.xxxviii-p1.7">The Address of Elihu. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Job.xxxviii-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1520.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Job.xxxviii-p2">1 At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved
out of his place.   2 Hear attentively the noise of his voice,
and the sound <i>that</i> goeth out of his mouth.   3 He
directeth it under the whole heaven, and his lightning unto the
ends of the earth.   4 After it a voice roareth: he thundereth
with the voice of his excellency; and he will not stay them when
his voice is heard.   5 God thundereth marvellously with his
voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p3">Thunder and lightning, which usually go
together, are sensible indications of the glory and majesty, the
power and terror, of Almighty God, one to the ear and the other to
the eye; in these God leaves not himself without witness of his
greatness, as, in the rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, he
leaves not himself without witness of his goodness (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.14.17" parsed="|Acts|14|17|0|0" passage="Ac 14:17">Acts xiv. 17</scripRef>), even to the most
stupid and unthinking. Though there are natural causes and useful
effects of them, which the philosophers undertake to account for,
yet they seem chiefly designed by the Creator to startle and awaken
the slumbering world of mankind to the consideration of a God above
them. The eye and the ear are the two learning senses; and
therefore, though such a circumstance is possible, they say it was
never known in fact that any one was born both blind and deaf. By
the word of God divine instructions are conveyed to the mind
through the ear, by his works through the eye; but, because those
ordinary sights and sounds do not duly affect men, God is pleased
sometimes to astonish men by the eye with his lightnings and by the
ear with his thunder. It is very probable that at this time, when
Elihu was speaking, it thundered and lightened, for he speaks of
the phenomena as present; and, God being about to speak (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.1" parsed="|Job|38|1|0|0" passage="Job 38:1"><i>ch.</i> xxxviii. 1</scripRef>), these were,
as afterwards on Mount Sinai, the proper prefaces to command
attention and awe. Observe here, 1. How Elihu was himself affected,
and desired to affect Job, with the appearance of God's glory in
the thunder and lightning (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.1-Job.37.2" parsed="|Job|37|1|37|2" passage="Job 37:1,2"><i>v.</i>
1, 2</scripRef>): "For my part," says Elihu, "<i>my heart
trembles</i> at it; though I have often heard it, often seen it,
yet it is still terrible to me, and makes every joint of me
tremble, and my heart beat as if it would move <i>out of its
place.</i>" Thunder and lightning have been dreadful to the wicked:
the emperor Caligula would run into a corner, or under a bed, for
fear of them. Those who are very much astonished, we say, are
<i>thunder-struck.</i> Even good people think thunder and lightning
very awful; and that which makes them the more terrible is the hurt
often done by lightning, many having been killed by it. Sodom and
Gomorrah were laid in ruins by it. It is a sensible indication of
what God could do to this sinful world, and what he <i>will do,</i>
at last, by the fire to which it is reserved. Our hearts, like
Elihu's should tremble at it for fear of God's judgments, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.120" parsed="|Ps|119|120|0|0" passage="Ps 119:120">Ps. cxix. 120</scripRef>. He also calls upon
Job to attend to it (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.2" parsed="|Job|37|2|0|0" passage="Job 37:2"><i>v.</i>
2</scripRef>): <i>Hear attentively the noise of his voice.</i>
Perhaps as yet it thundered at a distance, and could not be heard
without listening: or rather, Though the thunder will be heard, and
whatever we are doing we cannot help attending to it, yet, to
apprehend and understand the instructions God thereby gives us, we
have need to hear with great attention and application of mind.
Thunder is called <i>the voice of the Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.29.3-Ps.29.9" parsed="|Ps|29|3|29|9" passage="Ps 29:3-9">Ps. xxix. 3</scripRef>, &amp;c.), because by it God
speaks to the children of men to fear before him, and it should put
us in mind of that mighty word by which the world was at first
made, which is called thunder. <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.104.7" parsed="|Ps|104|7|0|0" passage="Ps 104:7">Ps.
civ. 7</scripRef>, <i>At the voice of thy thunder they hasted
away,</i> namely, the waters, when God said, <i>Let them be
gathered into one place.</i> Those that are themselves affected
with God's greatness should labour to affect others. 2. How he
describes them. (1.) Their original, not their second causes, but
the first. God directs the thunder, and the lightning is his,
<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.3" parsed="|Job|37|3|0|0" passage="Job 37:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. Their
production and motion are not from chance, but from the counsel of
God and under the direction and dominion of his providence, though
to us they seem accidental and ungovernable. (2.) Their extent. The
claps of thunder roll <i>under the whole heaven,</i> and are heard
far and near; so are the lightnings darted to <i>the ends of the
earth;</i> they come out of the one part under heaven and shine to
the other, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.9" osisRef="Bible:Luke.17.24" parsed="|Luke|17|24|0|0" passage="Lu 17:24">Luke xvii. 24</scripRef>.
Though the same lightning and thunder do not reach to all places,
yet they reach to very distant places in a moment, and there is no
place but, some time or other, has these alarms from heaven. (3.)
Their order. The lightning is first directed, and <i>after it a
voice roars,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.10" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.4" parsed="|Job|37|4|0|0" passage="Job 37:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. The flash of fire, and the noise it makes in a watery
cloud, are really at the same time; but, because the motion of
light is much quicker than that of sound, we see the lightning some
time before we hear the thunder, as we see the firing of a great
gun at a distance before we hear the report of it. The thunder is
here called <i>the voice of God's excellency,</i> because by it he
proclaims his transcendent power and greatness. <i>He sends forth
his voice and that a mighty voice,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.11" osisRef="Bible:Ps.68.33" parsed="|Ps|68|33|0|0" passage="Ps 68:33">Ps. lxviii. 33</scripRef>. (4.) Their violence. <i>He
will not stay them,</i> that is, he does not need to check them, or
hold them back, lest they should grow unruly and out of his power
to restrain them, but lets them take their course, says to them,
<i>Go, and they go—Come, and they come—Do this, and they do
it.</i> He will not stay the rains and showers that usually follow
upon the thunder (which he had spoken of, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.12" osisRef="Bible:Job.36.27 Bible:Job.36.29" parsed="|Job|36|27|0|0;|Job|36|29|0|0" passage="Job 36:27,29"><i>ch.</i> xxxvi. 27, 29</scripRef>), so some, but
will pour them out upon the earth <i>when his voice is heard.</i>
Thunder-showers are sweeping rains, and for them he <i>makes the
lightnings,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.13" osisRef="Bible:Ps.135.7" parsed="|Ps|135|7|0|0" passage="Ps 135:7">Ps. cxxxv.
7</scripRef>. (5.) The inference he draws from all this, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p3.14" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.5" parsed="|Job|37|5|0|0" passage="Job 37:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Does God thunder thus
marvellously with his voice? We must then conclude that his other
works are great, and such as we cannot comprehend. From this one
instance we may argue to all, that, in the dispensations of his
providence, there is that which is too great, too strong, for us to
oppose or strive against, and too high, too deep, for us to arraign
or quarrel with.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Job.xxxviii-p3.15" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.6-Job.37.13" parsed="|Job|37|6|37|13" passage="Job 37:6-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Job.37.6-Job.37.13">
<p class="passage" id="Job.xxxviii-p4">6 For he saith to the snow, Be thou <i>on</i>
the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his
strength.   7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all
men may know his work.   8 Then the beasts go into dens, and
remain in their places.   9 Out of the south cometh the
whirlwind: and cold out of the north.   10 By the breath of
God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened.
  11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he
scattereth his bright cloud:   12 And it is turned round about
by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them
upon the face of the world in the earth.   13 He causeth it to
come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p5">The changes and extremities of the weather,
wet or dry, hot or cold, are the subject of a great deal of our
common talk and observation; but how seldom do we think and speak
of these things, as Elihu does here, with an awful regard to God
the director of them, who shows his power and serves the purposes
of his providence by them! We must take notice of the glory of God,
not only in the thunder and lightning, but in the more common
revolutions of the weather, which are not so terrible and which
make less noise. As,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p6">I. In the snow and rain, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.6" parsed="|Job|37|6|0|0" passage="Job 37:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. Thunder and lightning happen
usually in the summer, but here he takes notice of the
winter-weather. Then <i>he saith to the snow, Be thou on the
earth;</i> he commissions it, he commands it, he appoints it, where
it shall light and how long it shall lie. He speaks, and it is
done: as in the creation of the world, <i>Let there be light,</i>
so in the works of common providence, <i>Snow, be thou on the
earth.</i> Saying and doing are not two things with God, though
they are with us. When he speaks the word <i>the small rain</i>
distils and <i>the great rain</i> pours down as he pleases—<i>the
winter-rain</i> (so the LXX.), for in those countries, when the
winter was past, the rain was over and gone, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Song.2.11" parsed="|Song|2|11|0|0" passage="So 2:11">Cant. ii. 11</scripRef>. The distinction in the Hebrew
between the small rain and the great rain is this, that the former
is called a shower of <i>rain,</i> the latter of <i>rains,</i> many
showers in one; but all are the showers <i>of his strength:</i> the
power of God is to be observed as much in the small rain that soaks
into the earth as in the great rain that batters on the house-top
and washes away all before it. Note, The providence of God is to be
acknowledged, both by husbandmen in the fields and travellers upon
the road, in every shower of rain, whether it does them a kindness
of a diskindness. It is sin and folly to contend with God's
providence in the weather; if he send the snow or rain, can we
hinder them? Or shall we be angry at them? It is as absurd to
quarrel with any other disposal of Providence concerning ourselves
or ours. The effect of the extremity of the winter-weather is that
it obliges both men and beasts to retire, making it uncomfortable
and unsafe for them to go abroad. 1. Men retire to their houses
from their labours in the field, and keep within doors (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.7" parsed="|Job|37|7|0|0" passage="Job 37:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>): <i>He seals up the hand
of every man.</i> In frost and snow, husbandmen cannot follow their
business, nor some tradesmen, nor travellers, when the weather is
extreme. The plough is laid by, the shipping laid up, nothing is to
be done, nothing to be got, that men, being taken off from their
own work, <i>may know his work,</i> and contemplate that, and give
him the glory of that, and, by the consideration of that work of
his in the weather which seals up their hands, be led to celebrate
his other great and marvellous works. Note, When we are, upon any
account, disabled from following our worldly business, and taken
off from it, we should spend our time rather in the exercises of
piety and devotion (in acquainting ourselves with the works of God
and praising him in them) than in foolish idle sports and
recreations. When our hands are sealed up our hearts should be thus
opened, and the less we have at any time to do in the world the
more we should thereby be driven to our Bibles and our knees. 2.
<i>The beasts</i> also <i>retire to</i> their <i>dens and remain in
their</i> close <i>places,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.8" parsed="|Job|37|8|0|0" passage="Job 37:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. It is meant of the wild beasts,
which, being wild, must seek a shelter for themselves, to which by
instinct they are directed, while the tame beasts, which are
serviceable to man, are housed and protected by his care, as
<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.9.20" parsed="|Exod|9|20|0|0" passage="Ex 9:20">Exod. ix. 20</scripRef>. The ass has no
den but his master's crib, and thither he goes, not only to be safe
and warm, but to be fed. Nature directs all creatures to shelter
themselves from a storm; and shall man alone be unprovided with an
ark?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p7">II. In the winds, which blow from different
quarters and produce different effects (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.9" parsed="|Job|37|9|0|0" passage="Job 37:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>Out of the hidden place</i>
(so it may be read) <i>comes the whirlwind;</i> it turns round, and
so it is hard to say from which point it comes but it comes from
<i>the secret chamber,</i> as the word signifies, which I am not so
willing to understand of the <i>south,</i> because he says here
(<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.17" parsed="|Job|37|17|0|0" passage="Job 37:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>) that the
wind out of the south is so far from being a whirlwind that it is a
warming, quieting, wind. But at this time, perhaps, Elihu saw a
whirlwind-cloud coming out of the south and making towards them,
out of which the Lord spoke soon after, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.38.1" parsed="|Job|38|1|0|0" passage="Job 38:1"><i>ch.</i> xxxviii. 1</scripRef>. Or, if turbulent winds
which bring showers come out of the south, cold and drying blasts
come out of the north to scatter the vapours and clear the air of
them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p8">III. In the frost, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.10" parsed="|Job|37|10|0|0" passage="Job 37:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>. See the cause of it: It <i>is
given by the breath of God,</i> that is, by the word of his power
and the command of his will; or, as some understand it, by the
wind, which is the breath of God, as the thunder is his voice; it
is caused by the cold freezing wind out of the north. See the
effect of it: <i>The breadth of the waters is straitened,</i> that
is, the waters that had spread themselves, and flowed with liberty,
are congealed, benumbed, arrested, bound up in crystal fetters.
This is such an instance of the power of God as, if it were not
common, would be next to a miracle.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p9">IV. In the clouds, the womb where all these
watery meteors are conceived, of which he had spoken, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.36.28" parsed="|Job|36|28|0|0" passage="Job 36:28"><i>ch.</i> xxxvi. 28</scripRef>. Three sorts of
clouds he here speaks of:—1. Close, black, thick clouds, pregnant
with showers; and these with watering <i>he wearies</i> (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.11" parsed="|Job|37|11|0|0" passage="Job 37:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), that is, they spend
themselves, and are exhausted by the rain into which they melt and
are dissolved, pouring out water till they are weary and can pour
out no more. See what pains, as I may say, the creatures, even
those above us, take to serve man: the clouds water the earth till
they are weary; they spend and are spent for our benefit, which
shames and condemns us for the little good we do in our places,
though it would be to our own advantage, for <i>he that watereth
shall be watered also himself.</i> 2. Bright thin clouds, clouds
without water; and these <i>he scattereth;</i> they are dispersed
of themselves, and not dissolved into rain, but what becomes of
them we know not. The bright cloud, in the evening, when the sky is
red, is scattered, and proves an earnest of a fair day, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Matt.16.2" parsed="|Matt|16|2|0|0" passage="Mt 16:2">Matt. xvi. 2</scripRef>. 3. Flying clouds, which
do not dissolve, as the thick cloud, into a close rain, but are
carried upon the wings of the wind from place to place, dropping
showers as they go; and these are said to be <i>turned round
about</i> by his counsels, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.12" parsed="|Job|37|12|0|0" passage="Job 37:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>. The common people say that the rain is determined by
the planets, which is as bad divinity as it is philosophy, for it
is guided and governed by the counsel of God, which extends even to
those things that seem most casual and minute, <i>that they may do
whatsoever he commands them;</i> for the stormy winds, and the
clouds that are driven by them, fulfil his word; and by this means
he <i>causes it to rain upon one city and not upon another,</i>
<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p9.5" osisRef="Bible:Amos.4.7-Amos.4.8" parsed="|Amos|4|7|4|8" passage="Am 4:7,8">Amos iv. 7, 8</scripRef>. Thus his
will is done <i>upon the face of the world in the earth,</i> that
is, among the children of men, to whom God has an eye in all these
things, of whom it is said that he <i>made them to dwell on the
face of the earth,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p9.6" osisRef="Bible:Acts.17.26" parsed="|Acts|17|26|0|0" passage="Ac 17:26">Acts xvii.
26</scripRef>. The inferior creatures, being incapable of doing
moral actions, are incapable of receiving rewards and punishments:
but, among the children of men, God causes the rain to come, either
for the correction of his land or for a mercy to it, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p9.7" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.13" parsed="|Job|37|13|0|0" passage="Job 37:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>. (1.) Rain sometimes
turns into a judgment. It is a scourge to a sinful land; as once it
was for the destruction of the whole world, so it is now often for
the correction or discipline of some parts of it, by hindering
seedness and harvest, raising the waters, and damaging the fruits.
Some have said that our nation has received much more prejudice by
the excess of rain than by the want of it. (2.) At other times it
is a blessing. It is <i>for his land,</i> that this may be made
fruitful; and, besides that which is just necessary, he gives
<i>for mercy,</i> to fatten it and make it more fruitful. See what
a necessary dependence we have upon God, when the very same thing,
according to the proportion in which it is given, may be either a
great judgment or a great mercy, and without God we cannot have
either a shower or a fair gleam.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Job.xxxviii-p9.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.14-Job.37.20" parsed="|Job|37|14|37|20" passage="Job 37:14-20" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Job.37.14-Job.37.20">
<p class="passage" id="Job.xxxviii-p10">14 Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and
consider the wondrous works of God.   15 Dost thou know when
God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
  16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous
works of him which is perfect in knowledge?   17 How thy
garments <i>are</i> warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south
<i>wind?</i>   18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky,
<i>which is</i> strong, <i>and</i> as a molten looking glass?
  19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; <i>for</i> we cannot
order <i>our speech</i> by reason of darkness.   20 Shall it
be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be
swallowed up.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p11">Elihu here addresses himself closely to
Job, desiring him to apply what he had hitherto said to himself. He
begs that he would hearken to this discourse (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.14" parsed="|Job|37|14|0|0" passage="Job 37:14"><i>v.</i> 14</scripRef>), that he would pause awhile:
<i>Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.</i> What we
hear is not likely to profit us unless we consider it, and we are
not likely to consider things fully unless we stand still and
compose ourselves to the consideration of them. The works of God,
being wondrous, both deserve and need our consideration, and the
due consideration of them will help to reconcile us to all his
providences. Elihu, for the humbling of Job, shows him,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p12">I. That he had no insight into natural
causes, could neither see the springs of them nor foresee the
effects of them (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.15-Job.37.17" parsed="|Job|37|15|37|17" passage="Job 37:15-17"><i>v.</i>
15-17</scripRef>): <i>Dost thou know</i> this and know that which
are <i>the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?</i>
We are here taught, 1. The perfection of God's knowledge. It is one
of the most glorious perfections of God that he is perfect in
knowledge; he is omniscient. His knowledge is intuitive: he
<i>sees,</i> and does not know by report. It is intimate and
entire: he knows things truly, and not by their
colours—thoroughly, and not by piecemeal. To his knowledge there
is nothing distant, but all near—nothing future, but all
present—nothing hid, but all open. We ought to acknowledge this in
all his wondrous works, and it is sufficient to satisfy us in those
wondrous works which we know not the meaning of that they are the
works of one that knows what he does. 2. The imperfection of our
knowledge. The greatest philosophers are much in the dark
concerning the powers and works of nature. We are a paradox to
ourselves, and every thing about us is a mystery. The gravitation
of bodies, and the cohesion of the parts of matter, are most
certain, and yet unaccountable. It is good for us to be made
sensible of our own ignorance. Some have confessed their ignorance,
and those that would not do this have betrayed it. But we must all
infer from it what incompetent judges we are of the divine
politics, when we understand so little even of the divine
mechanics. (1.) We know not what orders God has given concerning
the clouds, nor what orders he will give, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.15" parsed="|Job|37|15|0|0" passage="Job 37:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. That all is done by
determination and with design we are sure; but what is determined,
and what designed, and when the plan was laid, we know not. God
often <i>causes the light of his cloud to shine,</i> in the rainbow
(so some), in the lightning (so others); but did we foresee, or
could we foretel, when he would do it? If we foresee the change of
weather a few hours before, by vulgar observation, or when second
causes have begun to work by the weather-glass, yet how little do
these show us of the purposes of God by these changes! (2.) We know
not how the clouds are poised in the air, the <i>balancing</i> of
them, which is one of the wondrous works of God. They are so
balanced, so spread, that they never rob us of the benefit of the
sun (even the cloudy day is day), so balanced that they do not fall
at once, nor burst into cataracts or water-spouts. The rainbow is
an intimation of God's favour in balancing the clouds so as to keep
them from drowning the world. Nay, so are they balanced that they
impartially distribute their showers on the earth, so that, one
time or other, every place has its share. (3.) We know not how the
comfortable change comes when the winter is past, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.17" parsed="|Job|37|17|0|0" passage="Job 37:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. [1.] How the weather
becomes warm after it has been cold. We know how our garment came
to be warm upon us, that is, how we come to be warm in our clothes,
by reason of the warmth of the air we breathe in. Without God's
blessing we should clothe ourselves, yet not be warm, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Hag.1.6" parsed="|Hag|1|6|0|0" passage="Hag 1:6">Hag. i. 6</scripRef>. But, when he so orders it,
the clothes are warm upon us, which, in the extremity of cold
weather, would not serve to keep us warm. [2.] How it becomes calm
after it has been stormy: <i>He quiets the earth by the south
wind,</i> when the spring comes. As he has a blustering freezing
north wind, so he has a thawing, composing, south wind; the Spirit
is compared to both, because he both convinces and comforts,
<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Song.4.16" parsed="|Song|4|16|0|0" passage="So 4:16">Cant. iv. 16</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p13">II. That he had no share at all in the
first making of the world (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.18" parsed="|Job|37|18|0|0" passage="Job 37:18"><i>v.</i>
18</scripRef>): "<i>Hast thou with him spread out the sky?</i> Thou
canst not pretend to have stretched it out without him, no, nor to
have stretched it out in conjunction with him; for he was far from
needing any help either in contriving or in working." The creation
of the vast expanse of the visible heavens (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.1.6-Gen.1.8" parsed="|Gen|1|6|1|8" passage="Ge 1:6-8">Gen. i. 6-8</scripRef>), which we see in being to this
day, is a glorious instance of the divine power, considering, 1.
That, though it is fluid, yet it is firm. It <i>is strong,</i> and
has its name from its stability. It still is what it was, and
suffers no decay, nor shall the ordinances of heaven be altered
till the lease expires with time. 2. That, though it is large, it
is bright and most curiously fine: It is a <i>molten
looking-glass,</i> smooth and polished, and without the least flaw
or crack. In this, as in a looking-glass, we may <i>behold the
glory of God</i> and the wisdom of <i>his handy work,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.1" parsed="|Ps|19|1|0|0" passage="Ps 19:1">Ps. xix. 1</scripRef>. When we look up to heaven
above we should remember it is a mirror or looking-glass, not to
show us our own faces, but to be a faint representation of the
purity, dignity, and brightness of the upper world and its glorious
inhabitants.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p14">III. That neither he nor they were able to
speak of the glory of God in any proportion to the merit of the
subject, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.19-Job.37.20" parsed="|Job|37|19|37|20" passage="Job 37:19,20"><i>v.</i> 19,
20</scripRef>. 1. He challenges Job to be their director, if he
durst undertake the task. He speaks it ironically: "<i>Teach
us,</i> if thou canst, <i>what we shall say unto him,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.19" parsed="|Job|37|19|0|0" passage="Job 37:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. Thou hast a mind to
reason with God, and wouldst have us to contend with him on thy
behalf; teach us then what we shall say. Canst thou see further
into this abyss than we can? If thou canst, favour us with thy
discoveries, furnish us with instructions." 2. He owns his own
insufficiency both in speaking to God and in speaking of him: <i>We
cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.</i> Note, The best
of men are much in the dark concerning the glorious perfections of
the divine nature and the administrations of the divine government.
Those that through grace know much of God, yet know little, yea,
nothing, in comparison with what is to be known, and what will be
known, when that which is perfect shall come and the veil shall be
rent. When we would speak of God we speak confusedly and with great
uncertainty, and are soon at a loss and run aground, not for want
of matter, but for want of words. As we must always begin with fear
and trembling, lest we speak amiss (<i>De Deo etiam vera dicere
periculosum est</i>—<i>Even while affirming what is true
concerning God we incur risk</i>), so we must conclude with shame
and blushing, for having spoken no better. Elihu himself had, for
his part, spoken well on God's behalf, and yet is so far from
expecting a fee, or thinking that God was beholden to him for it,
or that he was fit to be standing counsel for him, that (1.) He is
even ashamed of what he has said, not of the cause, but of his own
management of it: "<i>Shall it be told him that I speak?</i>
<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.20" parsed="|Job|37|20|0|0" passage="Job 37:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. Shall it be
reported to him as a meritorious piece of service, worthy his
notice? By no means; let it never be spoken of," for he fears that
the subject has suffered by his undertaking it, as a fine face is
wronged by a bad painter, and his performance is so far from
meriting thanks that it needs pardon. When we have done all we can
for God we must acknowledge that we are unprofitable servants and
have nothing at all to boast of. He is afraid of saying any more:
<i>If a man speak,</i> if he undertake to plead for God, much more
if he offer to plead against him, <i>surely he shall be swallowed
up.</i> If he speak presumptuously, God's wrath shall soon consume
him; but, if ever so well, he will soon lose himself in the mystery
and be over powered by the divine lustre. Astonishment will strike
him blind and dumb.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Job.xxxviii-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.21-Job.37.24" parsed="|Job|37|21|37|24" passage="Job 37:21-24" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Job.37.21-Job.37.24">
<p class="passage" id="Job.xxxviii-p15">21 And now <i>men</i> see not the bright light
which <i>is</i> in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth
them.   22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God
<i>is</i> terrible majesty.   23 <i>Touching</i> the Almighty,
we cannot find him out: <i>he is</i> excellent in power, and in
judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.   24
Men do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any <i>that are</i>
wise of heart.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxxviii-p16">Elihu here concludes his discourse with
some short but great sayings concerning the glory of God, as that
which he was himself impressed, and desired to impress others, with
a holy awe of. He speaks concisely, and in haste, because, it
should seem, he perceived that God was about to take the work into
his own hands. 1. He observes that God who has said that he will
<i>dwell in the thick darkness</i> and <i>make that his
pavilion</i> (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.6.1 Bible:Ps.18.11" parsed="|2Chr|6|1|0|0;|Ps|18|11|0|0" passage="2Ch 6:1,Ps 18:11">2 Chron. vi. 1,
Ps. xviii. 11</scripRef>) is in that awful chariot advancing
towards them, as if he were preparing his throne for judgment,
surrounded with <i>clouds and darkness,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.97.2 Bible:Ps.97.9" parsed="|Ps|97|2|0|0;|Ps|97|9|0|0" passage="Ps 97:2,9">Ps. xcvii. 2, 9</scripRef>. He saw the cloud, with a
whirlwind in the bosom of it, coming out of the south; but now it
hung so thick, so black, over their heads, that they could none of
them <i>see the bright light which</i> just before <i>was in the
clouds.</i> The light of the sun was now eclipsed. This reminded
him of the darkness by reason of which he could not speak
(<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.19" parsed="|Job|37|19|0|0" passage="Job 37:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>), and made
him afraid to go on, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.20" parsed="|Job|37|20|0|0" passage="Job 37:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>. Thus the disciples <i>feared when they entered into
a cloud,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.5" osisRef="Bible:Luke.9.34" parsed="|Luke|9|34|0|0" passage="Lu 9:34">Luke ix. 34</scripRef>.
Yet he looks to the north, and sees it clear that way, which gives
him hope that the clouds are not gathering for a deluge; they are
covered, but not surrounded, with them. He expects that <i>the wind
will pass</i> (so it may be read) <i>and cleanse them,</i> such a
wind as passed over the earth to clear it from the waters of Noah's
flood (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.8.1" parsed="|Gen|8|1|0|0" passage="Ge 8:1">Gen. viii. 1</scripRef>), in
token of the return of God's favour; and then <i>fair weather will
come out of the north</i> (<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.7" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.22" parsed="|Job|37|22|0|0" passage="Job 37:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>) and all will be well. God will not always frown, nor
contend for ever. 2. He hastens to conclude, now that God is about
to speak; and therefore delivers much in a few words, as the sum of
all that he had been discoursing of, which, if duly considered,
would not only clench the nail he had been driving, but make way
for what God would say. He observes, (1.) That <i>with God is
terrible majesty.</i> He is a God of glory and such transcendent
perfection as cannot but strike an awe upon all his attendants and
a terror upon all his adversaries. <i>With God is terrible
praise</i> (so some), for he is <i>fearful in praises,</i>
<scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.15.11" parsed="|Exod|15|11|0|0" passage="Ex 15:11">Exod. xv. 11</scripRef>. (2.) That
when we speak <i>touching the Almighty</i> we must own that <i>we
cannot find him out;</i> our finite understandings cannot
comprehend his infinite perfections, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.9" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.23" parsed="|Job|37|23|0|0" passage="Job 37:23"><i>v.</i> 23</scripRef>. Can we put the sea into an
egg-shell? We cannot trace the steps he takes in his providence.
<i>His way is in the sea.</i> (3.) That <i>he is excellent in
power.</i> It is the excellency of his power that he can do
whatever he pleases in heaven and earth. The universal extent and
irresistible force of his power are the excellency of it; no
creature has an arm like him, so long, so strong. (4.) That he is
not less excellent in wisdom and righteousness, <i>in judgment and
plenty of justice,</i> else there would be little excellency in his
power. We may be sure that he who can do every thing will do every
thing for the best, for he is infinitely wise, and will not in any
thing do wrong, for he is infinitely just. When he executes
judgment upon sinners, yet there is plenty of justice in the
execution, and he inflicts not more than they deserve. (5.) That
<i>he will not afflict,</i> that is, that he will not afflict
willingly; it is no pleasure to him to grieve the children of men,
much less his own children. He never afflicts but when there is
cause and when there is need, and he does not overburden us with
affliction, but considers our frame. Some read it thus: "<i>The
Almighty, whom we cannot find out, is great in power, but he will
not afflict in judgment, and with him is plenty of justice,</i> nor
is he extreme to mark what we do amiss." (6.) He values not the
censures of those who are wise in their own conceit: <i>He
respecteth them not,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.10" osisRef="Bible:Job.37.24" parsed="|Job|37|24|0|0" passage="Job 37:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. He will not alter his counsels to oblige them, nor
can those that prescribe to him prevail with him to do as they
would have him do. He regards the prayer of the humble, but not the
policies of the crafty. No, the foolishness of God is wiser than
men, <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.11" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.1.15" parsed="|1Cor|1|15|0|0" passage="1Co 1:15">1 Cor. i. 15</scripRef>. (7.)
From all this it is easy to infer that, since God is great, he is
greatly to be feared; nay, because he is gracious and will not
afflict, <i>men do therefore fear him,</i> for <i>there is
forgiveness with him, that he may be feared,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxxviii-p16.12" osisRef="Bible:Ps.130.1-Ps.130.8" parsed="|Ps|130|1|130|8" passage="Ps 130:1-8">Ps. cxxx.</scripRef> 4. It is the duty and interest of
all men to fear God. <i>Men shall fear him</i> (so some); sooner or
later they shall fear him. Those that will not fear the Lord and
his goodness shall for ever tremble under the pourings out of the
vials of his wrath.</p>
</div></div2>