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Job Chapter
Thirty-seven
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JOB 37
Elihu
in this chapter proceeds to show the greatness of God as it appears in other of
his works of nature
which greatly affected him
and to an attention to which
he exhorts others
Job 37:1;
particularly thunder and lightning
the direction
extent
and order of which
he observes
Job 37:3; and then
suggests that besides these there are other great things done by him
incomprehensible and unknown in various respects; as the snow
and rain
lesser
and greater
which come on the earth at his command
and have such effect on
men as to seal up their hands
and on the beasts of the field as to cause them
to retire to their dens
and there remain
Job 37:5; and then
he goes on to take notice of wind
and frost
and the clouds
and dispersion of
them; their use and ends
whether in judgment or mercy
Job 37:9; and then
calls on Job to consider these wondrous works of God
and remark how ignorant
men are of the disposition of clouds for the rainbow; of the balancing of them;
of the heat and quietness that come by the south wind
and of the firmness of
the sky
Job 37:14; and from
all this he concludes the terrible majesty
unsearchable nature of God
the
excellency of his power and justice; and that men therefore should and do fear
him
who is no respecter of persons
Job 37:21.
Job 37:1 At
this also my heart trembles
And leaps from its place.
YLT
1Also
at this my heart
trembleth
And it moveth from its place.
At this also my heart trembleth
.... At the greatness and
majesty of God
not only as displayed in those works of his before observed
but as displayed in those he was about to speak of: such terrible majesty is
there with God
that all rational creatures tremble at it; the nations of the
world
the kings and great men of the earth
and even the devils themselves
Isaiah 64:2. Good
men tremble in the worship of God
and at the word of God; and even at the
judgments of God on wicked men
and at the things that are coming on the
churches of Christ. But Elihu has a particular respect to thunder and
lightning
which are very terrible to many personsF19 κραδιη δε μοι εξω
&c.
Homer. Il. 10. v. 94
95.
both good and badF20As it was to
Augustus Caesar
who always carried about with him the skin of a sea calf
as a
preservative; and
on suspicion of a storm rising
would betake himself to some
secret and covered place: and to Tiberius
who wore his laurel to secure him
from it: and to Caligula
who
on hearing it
would get out of bed and hide
himself under it. Sueton. Vit. August. c. 90. Tiber. c. 69. & Caligul. c.
51. Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 15. c. 30. Vid. Virgil. Georgic. l. 1. v. 330
331. .
At the giving of the law
there were such blazes of lightning and claps of
thunder
that not only all the people of Israel in the camp trembled
but Moses
himself also exceedingly feared and quaked
Exodus 19:16. It is
very probable
that at this time Elihu saw a storm gathering
and a tempest
rising; some flashes of lightning were seen
and some murmursF21"Tonitruorum
unum genus grave murmur----aliud genus est acre quod crepitum magis
dixerint". Senecae Quaest. Nat. c. 2. c. 27. of thunders heard
which
began to affect him; since quickly after we read that God spoke out of the
whirlwind or tempest
Job 38:1;
and is moved out of his place; was ready to leap out of
his body. Such an effect had this phenomenon of nature on him; as is sometimes
the case with men at a sudden fright or unusual sound
and particularly thunderF23"Attonitos
quorum mentes sonus ille coelestis loco pepulit". Ibid. .
Job 37:2 2 Hear attentively the
thunder of His voice
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
YLT
2Hearken diligently to the
trembling of His voice
Yea
the sound from His mouth goeth forth.
Hear attentively the noise of his voice
.... Of the
voice of God in the clouds; and of thunder
which is his voice
Job 40:9. Elihu
being affected with it himself
exhorts the company about him to hearken and
listen to it
and learn something from it;
and the sound that goeth out of his mouth: as the former
clause may have respect to loud thunder
a more violent crack or clap of it; so
this may intend some lesser whispers and murmurs of it at a distance; or a
rumbling noise in the clouds before they burst; since the word is sometimes
used for private meditation. Now the voice of God
whether in his works of
nature
or in the dispensations of his providence
or in his word; whether in
the thunder of the law
or in the still sound of the Gospel
is to be
attentively hearkened to; because it is the voice of God
the voice of the God
of glory
majestic and powerful
and is attended with various effects; of which
see Psalm 29:3.
Job 37:3 3 He sends it forth under
the whole heaven
His lightning to the ends of the earth.
YLT
3Under the whole heavens He
directeth it
And its light [is] over the skirts of the earth.
He directeth it under the whole heaven
.... His voice
of thunder
which rolls from one end of the heaven to the other: he charges the
clouds with it
and directs both it and them where they shall go and discharge;
what tree
house
or man
it shall strike; and where the rain shall fall when
the clouds burst: yet PlinyF24Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 43. atheistically
calls thunder and lightning chance matters. Thus the ministers of the word
who
are compared to clouds
Isaiah 5:6
are
charged with it by the Lord: they are directed by him what they shall say
where they shall go and declare it
and he directs where it shall fall with
power and weight; yea
he directs it into the very hearts of men
where it
pierces and penetrates
and is a discerner and discoverer of their thoughts and
intents;
and his lightning unto the ends of the earth: it cometh out
of the east
and shineth to the west
Matthew 24:27; and
swiftly move to the further parts of the earth: and such a direction
motion
and extent
has the Gospel had; the glorious light of it
comparable to
lightning
it first broke forth in the east
where Christ
his forerunner and
his disciples
first preached it
and Christian churches were formed; and from
thence it spread into the western parts of the world
and before the
destruction of Jerusalem it was preached unto all nations; it had a free
course
ran
and was glorified; the sound of the voice of it went into all the
earth
and the words and doctrines of the apostles unto the ends of the world.
Job 37:4 4 After it a voice roars; He
thunders with His majestic voice
And He does not restrain them when His voice
is heard.
YLT
4After it roar doth a voice
-- He thundereth with the voice of His excellency
And He doth not hold them
back
When His voice is heard.
After it a voice roareth
.... After the lightning
comes a violent crack or clap of thunder
which is like the roaring of a lion.
Such is the order of thunder and lightning
according to our sense and
apprehension of them; otherwise in nature they are together: but the reasons
given why the lightning is seen before
and so the same in the flash and report
of a gun
are
because the sense of seeing is quicker than the sense of hearingF25Senec.
Nat. Quaest. l. 2. c. 12. so Aristot. Meteorolog. l. 2. c. 9. ; and the motion
of light is quicker than that of sound; which latter is the truest reasonF26The
noise is commonly about seven or eight seconds after the flash
that is
about
half a quarter of a minute; but sometimes much sooner
in a second or two
or
less than so
and almost immediately upon the flash: this is when the explosion
is very near us. Philosoph. Transact. abridged
vol. 2. p. 183. see vol. 4. p.
398. . The roaring voice of thunder may be an emblem of the thunder of the law;
its dreadful volleys of curses
vengeance
and wrath on the breakers of it
as
delivered out by Boanergeses
sons of thunder
Mark 3:17
or the
loud proclamation of the Gospel
made by the ministers of it; and the alarming
awakening sound of the word
when attended with the Spirit and power of God
to
sinners asleep and dead in trespasses and sins; upon which they awake
hear
and live;
he thundereth with the voice of his excellency: that is
God
thunders with such a voice
an excellent and majestic one; for his voice of
thunder is full of majesty
Psalm 29:4. So is
the voice of Christ in the Gospel; he spake when on earth as one having
authority
and he comes forth and appears in it now with majesty and glory; and
speaks in it of the excellent things which he has done
of the excellent
righteousness he has wrought out
of the excellent sacrifice he has offered up
and of the excellent salvation he is the author of;
and he will not stay them when his voice is heard; either the
thunder and the lightning
as some; which he does not long defer after he has
given out the decree concerning them
the order and disposition for them: or
rather the rain and hail; these are not stayed
but quickly follow the flash of
lightning and clap of thunder: "for when he utters his voice of thunder
there is a multitude of waters in the heavens"; and these quickly come
down and are not stopped
Jeremiah 10:13. The
word for "stay" signifies "to supplant"
or "act
deceitfully"; the name of Jacob is derived from this root
because he
supplanted his brother
Genesis 25:26; and
so it may be rendered here
"he will not supplant"
or "deceive
themF1ולא יעקבם
"non supplantabit ea"
Munster; so Schmidt
Michaelis
Gussetius
p.
633.
when his voice is heard": that is
either he does not subvert them
the heavens and earth
but preserves them; though he makes them to tremble with
his voice of thunderF2So Schmidt. : or he does not act the part of a
secret
subtle
and deceitful enemy
when he thunders; but shows himself openly
as a King
executing his decrees with authorityF3So Gussetius. : or
rather he deceives none with his voice; none can mistake it; all know it to be
the voice of thunder when it is heard: so Christ's sheep know his voice in the
Gospel
and cannot be deceived; the voice of a stranger they will not follow
John 10:4.
Job 37:5 5 God thunders marvelously
with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend.
YLT
5God thundereth with His
voice wonderfully
Doing great things and we know not.
God thundereth marvellously with his voice
.... Or
"marvels"F3נפלאות
"mirabilia"
Pagninus
Montanus.
or marvellous things
which may
respect the marvellous effects of thunder and lightning: such as rending rocks
and mountains; throwing down high and strong towers; shattering to pieces high
and mighty oaks and cedars
and other such like effects
mentioned in Psalm 29:5; and
there are some things reported which seem almost incredible
were they not well
attested facts; as that an egg should be consumed thereby
and the shell
unhurt; a cask of liquor
the liquor in it spoiled
and the cask not touched;
money melted in the purse
and the purse whole; the fetus in the womb killed
and the woman preserved; with other things of the like kind mentioned by
various writersF4Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 51. Senec. Nat. Quaest.
l. 2. c. 31. ; and which are to be accounted for only by the swift motion and
piercing and penetrating nature of lightning. So the voice of God in the Gospel
thunders out and declares many wonderful things; as the doctrines of the
trinity of Persons in one God; of the everlasting love of the three Persons; of
the Person of Christ
and the union of the two natures in him; of his
incarnation
of redemption and salvation by him; of regeneration by the spirit
of God; of union to Christ
and communion with him; and of the resurrection of
the dead: and it produces marvellous effects
attended with a divine power; as
quickening sinners dead in trespasses and sins; enlightening those who are
darkness itself; bearing down all opposition before it; casting down the strong
holds of sin and Satan
and reducing the most stubborn and obstinate to the
obedience of Christ;
great things doth he
which we cannot comprehend; or
"know"F5ולא נרע
"et nesciemus"
Pagninus
Montanus; so Schultens. : great things in
creation
the nature and causes of which lie greatly out of the reach of man;
and which he rather guesses at than knows
and still less comprehends. Great
things in providence; in sustaining all creatures and providing for them; and
in the government of the world
and in his dispensations in it; his judgments
being unsearchable
and his ways past finding out: and great things in grace;
as the salvation of sinners by Christ
and the conversion of their souls by his
Spirit; and even what is known of them is known but in part and very
imperfectly. This is a transition to other great things done by the Lord
besides those before mentioned
and particular instances follow.
Job 37:6 6 For He says to the snow
‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of
His strength.
YLT
6For to snow He saith
`Be
[on] the earth.' And the small rain and great rain of His power.
For he saith to the snow
be thou on the earth
.... In the
original it is
be thou earth: hence one of the Rabbins formed a notion
that
the earth was created from snow under the throne of glory
which is justly
censured by MaimonidesF6Moreh Nevochim
par. 2. c. 26. ; for there
is a defect of the letter ב
as in 2 Chronicles 34:30;
as Aben Ezra observes; and therefore rightly supplied by us
on the earth. This
is one of the great and incomprehensible things of God. What is the cause of
it
how it is generated
what gives it its exceeding whiteness and its form
we
rather guess at than certainly know; and there are some things relative to it
not easy to be accounted for: as that it should be generated in the lower
region of the air
so near us
and yet be so cold; and be so cold in its own
nature
yet be like a blanket warming to the earth; and that being so cold
it
should fall in hot countries
as in many parts of Africa
as Leo Africanus
assertsF7Descriptio Africae
l. 1. c. 27
28. l. 2. c. 27
46
69. ;
and though so easily melted
yet lies continually upon the top of a burning
mountain
Mount Etna
as observed by Pineda and others. God has his treasures
of it
and he brings it forth from thence; it is at his command
it goes at a
word speaking; it is one of the things that fulfil his word
Psalm 148:8. And if
what PlinyF8Nat. Hist. l. 2. c. 103. says is true
that snow never
falls upon the high seas or main ocean
the expression here is
with great
exactness and propriety
be thou on the earth. However
this is certain
that
to the earth only it is useful
warming
refreshing
and fructifying; it has a
wonderful virtue in it to fatten the earth. Olaus MagnusF9De Ritu
Gent. Septentr. l. 19. c. 15. reports
that in the northern countries
where it
falls in great plenty
the fields are more fruitful than any others
and sooner
put forth their fruits and increase than other fields prepared and cultivated
with the greatest labour and diligence: and that they are often obliged to
drive off the cattle from them
lest they should eat too much and burst
the
fields and meadows becoming so luxurious by it; and frequently they mow off the
tops of herbs and grass with their scythes
to prevent their growing too thick.
The word of God
as for its purity
so for its warming
refreshing
and
fructifying nature
is compared unto it
Isaiah 55:10;
likewise to the small rain
and to the great rain of his strength: that is
God
says to these as to the snow
be upon the earth; and they presently are
whether lesser or larger showers: the lesser or more gentle
according to
SenecaF11Nat. Quaest. l. 4. c. 4.
fall in
the winter
and the
larger in spring; the former when the north wind blows
the latter when the
south; but whenever they come
they fall by the direction of God
and at his
command. He and he only gives rain
the vanities of the Gentiles cannot; and
these are sent to water and refresh the earth
and make it fruitful; for which
reason also the word of God is compared thereunto
Deuteronomy 32:12.
The Targum is
"to
the rain after rain in summer
to ripen the fruits; and to the rain after the
rain
to cause the grass to bud in winter in his strength.'
So
a shower of rain in the singular number signifies rain that falls in summer;
and a shower of rain in the plural what falls in winter.
Job 37:7 7 He seals the hand of every
man
That all men may know His work.
YLT
7Into the hand of every man
he sealeth
For the knowledge by all men of His work.
He sealeth up the hand of every man
.... That is
by deep
snows and heavy rains being on the earth; where
as travellers are stopped in
their journeys
and cannot proceed
so various artificers are hindered from
their work
and husbandmen especially from their employment in the fields; so
that their hands are as it were shut up and sealed
that they cannot work with
them. Sephorno interprets this of the fruits and increase of the earth being
produced and brought to perfection by means of the snow and rain
and so
gathered by and into the hands of men; whereby they are led to observe the work
of God and his goodness herein
and so to love and fear him; which he takes to
be the sense of the following clause
that all men may know his work; either their own work;
what they have to do at home when they cannot work abroad; or that they may
have leisure to reflect upon their moral ways and works
and consider how
deficient they are: or rather the work of God; that they may know and own the
snow and rain are his work
and depend upon his will; or that they may have
time and opportunity of considering and meditating on the works of God
in
nature
providence
and grace. Some choose to read the words
"that all
men of his work may know"F12מעשהו כל אנשי "omnes homines
operis ipsius"
Schmidt
Michaelis; so Schultens. ; may know him the
author of their beings
and the God of their mercies. For all men are the work
of his hands; he has made them
and not they themselves; and the end of all God's
dealings with them is
that they may know him
fear
serve
and glorify him.
Job 37:8 8 The beasts go into dens
And
remain in their lairs.
YLT
8And enter doth the beast
into covert
And in its habitations it doth continue.
Then the beasts go into dens
.... When snow and rains
are on the earth in great abundance
then the wild beasts of the field
not
being able to prowl about
betake themselves to dens; where they lie in wait
lurking for any prey that may pass by
from whence they spring and seize it;
and remain in their places; until the snow and rains
are finished. As for other beasts
Olaus MagnusF13Ut supra. (De Ritu
Gent. Septentr. l. 19. c. 15.) observes
that when such large snows fall
that
trees are covered with them
and the tender branches bend under the weight of
them
they will come and abide under them
as in shady places
in great
security
sheltered from the cold wind. The former may put us in mind of great
personages
comparable to beasts of prey for their savageness and cruelty
who
when the day of God's wrath and vengeance is come
will flee to rocks and
mountains
dens and caverns
there to hide themselves from it; Revelation 6:15.
Job 37:9 9 From the chamber of the
south comes the whirlwind
And cold from the scattering winds of the
north.
YLT
9From the inner chamber
cometh a hurricane
And from scatterings winds -- cold
Out of the south cometh the whirlwind
.... Or
"from the chamber"F14מן החדר "de penetali"
Montanus; so Junius and
Tremellius
Piscator
Cocceius
Schultens. ; from the chamber of the cloud
as
Ben Gersom
from the inside of it; or from the treasury of God
who bringeth
the wind out of his treasures; alluding to chambers where treasures are kept;
or from the heavens
shut up and veiled around with clouds like a pavilion: but
because we read of the chambers of the south
Job 9:9; and the
southern pole was like a secret chamber
shut up
unseen
and unknown very much
to the ancients; hence we render it
and others interpret it
of the south;
from whence in these countries came whirlwinds. Hence we read of the whirlwinds
of the south
Isaiah 21:1;
and cold out of the north; cold freezing winds from
thence; or "from the scatterers"F15ממזרים
"a dispergentibus"
Montanus
Vatablus
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator; "a sparsoribus"
Schultens. : Aben Ezra interprets them of
stars
the same with the "Mazzaroth"
Job 38:32; stars
scattered about the Arctic or northern pole
as some: or rather the northern
winds are designed which scatter the clouds
drive away rain
Proverbs 25:23; and
bring fair weather
Job 37:22.
Wherefore Mr. Broughton renders the word
"fair
weather winds;'
and
in a marginal note
"the
scatterers of cloudsF16So David de Pomis
Lexic. fol. 7. 3. .'
Job 37:10 10 By the breath of God ice
is given
And the broad waters are frozen.
YLT
10From the breath of God is
frost given
And the breadth of waters is straitened
By the breath of God frost is given
.... By the word of God
as the Targum; at his command it is
at his word it comes
and at his word it
goes
Psalm 147:15; or by
his will
as Ben Gersom interprets it
when it is his pleasure it should be
it
appears; it may be understood of a freezing wind from the Lord
for a wind is
sometimes expressed by the breath of his nostrils
Psalm 18:15; and as
the word "God" added to things increases the signification of them
as mountains of God are strong mountains; so the breath of God may signify a
strong wind
as Sephorno notes
the north windF17"Induroque
nives"
&c. Ovid. ;
and the breadth of the waters is straitened; by the frost
they are reduced and brought into a narrower compass; or made hard
as Mr.
Broughton renders it; so hard as to walk upon
to draw carriages on
and lay
weights and burdens very great upon; or become compact or bound together
like
metal melted
poured out
and consolidated; though some think it refers to the
thawing of ice by the south windsF18"----cum vere reverso
Bistoniae tepuere nives"
&c. Statii Theb. l. 2.
when the waters
return to their former breadth; which is done by the breath or commandment of
God
as appears from the place before quoted from the psalmist
Psalm 18:15; for it
may be rendered
"and the breadth of the waters is pouring out"
so
the Targum
when thawed; or through the pouring down of rain
so the Syriac and
Arabic versions
"he sends forth plenty of water".
Job 37:11 11 Also with moisture He
saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds.
YLT
11Yea
by filling He doth
press out a cloud
Scatter a cloud doth His light.
Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud
.... By
filling it with a multitude of water
it is as it were loaded and made weary
with it; and especially by sending it about thus loaded from place to place
before discharged
when it becomes as a weary traveller; and then by letting
down the water in it
whereby it spends itself like one that is weary; an
emblem of ministers that spend and are spent for the good of men: some render
it by serenity or fair weather
and so Mr. Broughton
"by
clearness he wearieth the thick vapours;'
by
causing a clear sky he dispels them;
he scattereth his bright cloud; thin light clouds that
have nothing in them
and are soon dispersed and come to nothing
and are seen
no more; all emblem of such as are clouds without water
Judges 1:12; see Zechariah 11:17; or
"he scatters the cloud by his light"F19יפיץ
ענן אורו "dispellit
nubem luce sua"
Munster. ; by the sun
which dispels clouds and makes a
clear sky; an emblem of the blotting out and forgiveness of sins
and of
restoring the manifestations of divine love
and the joys of salvation; see Isaiah 44:22.
Job 37:12 12 And they swirl about
being turned by His guidance
That they may do whatever He commands them On the
face of the whole earth.[a]
YLT
12And it is turning itself
round by His counsels
For their doing all He commandeth them
On the face of
the habitable earth.
And it is turned round about by his counsels
.... The cloud
is
and that by the wind
which is turned about to all points of the compass
according to the will of God; by the counsels of him who sits at the helm
as
the word signifies
and orders all things according to the counsel of his own
will: to which owing every shifting of the wind
and the various motions of the
clouds;
that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of
the world in the earth; as all his creatures do; the several meteors in the air
clouds
stormy wind
fire
hail
snow
and vapour
all fulfilling his word; and which
they do everywhere in the several parts of the world whither they are sent
Psalm 107:25. So
ministers of the word drop down or withhold the rain of Gospel doctrine
and
carry it into the several places of the world
as the Lord directs them; see Isaiah 5:6.
Job 37:13 13 He causes it to come
Whether
for correction
Or for His land
Or for mercy.
YLT
13Whether for a rod
or for
His land
Or for kindness -- He doth cause it to come.
He causeth it to come
.... The cloud
and rain
by it;
whether for correction; for the reproof and
chastisement of men for their sins
by suffering such quantities to fall as
wash away
or corrupt and destroy
the fruits of the earth: or "for a
tribe"F20לשבט "in una
tribu"
V. L. "uni tribui"
Tigurine version.
as the word
sometimes signifies; the rain is sent
and comes only to a particular part or
spot of ground
to one city and not to another
Amos 4:7;
or for his land; some particular land he has a favour for
as the land of Canaan he cared for from one end of the year to another
and
therefore sent on it rain in due season
though as yet it did not appear to be
the object of his peculiar regard; or for the whole earth
which is his; and
wherever rain comes seasonably and in proper quantity
it is for the benefit of
it; though some think the land which no man has a property in but the Lord is
meant
even the wilderness where no man is
Job 38:26;
or for mercy; to some particular spot
and to some
particular persons; and indeed it is a kindness and benefit both to good and
bad men; hereby the earth is watered and made fertile and fruitful
to bring
forth seed to the sower and bread to the eater
see Matthew 5:45; the
word of God is for the correction of some
and for the comfort of others
2 Timothy 3:16;
yea
the savour of death unto death to some
and the savour of life unto life to
others
2 Corinthians 2:16.
The Targum paraphrases the words
"either
a rain of vengeance on the seas and deserts
or an impetuous rain on the trees
of the mountains and hills
or a still rain of mercy on the fruitful fields and
vineyards.'
Job 37:14 14 “Listen to this
O Job; Stand
still and consider the wondrous works of God.
YLT
14Hear this
O Job
Stand and
consider the wonders of God.
Hearken unto this
O Job
.... Either to the
present clap of thunder then heard; or rather to what Elihu had last said
concerning clouds of rain coming for correction or mercy; and improve it and
apply it to his own case
and consider whether the afflictions he was under
were for the reproof and correction of him for sin
or in mercy and love to his
soul and for his good
as both might be the case; or to what he had further to
say to him
which was but little more
and he should conclude;
stand still; stand up
in order to hear better
and in reverence of what
might be said; and with silence
that it might be the better received and
understood:
and consider the wondrous works of God; not prodigies
and extraordinary things
which are out of the common course of nature
such as
the wonders in Egypt
at the Red sea
in the wilderness
and in the land of
Canaan
but common things; such as come more or less under daily observation
for of such only he had been speaking
and continued to speak; such as winds
clouds
thunder
lightning
hail
rain
and snow; these he would have him
consider and reflect upon
that though they were so common and obvious to view
yet there were some things in them marvellous and beyond the full comprehension
of men; and therefore much more must be the works of Providence
and the hidden
causes and reasons of them.
Job 37:15 15 Do you know when God
dispatches them
And causes the light of His cloud to shine?
YLT
15Dost thou know when God
doth place them
And caused to shine the light of His cloud?
Dost thou know when God disposed them?.... The
clouds
that part of the wondrous works of God he was speaking of; when he
decreed concerning them that they should be
when he put into them and stored
them with rain
hail
snow
&c. disposed of them here and there in the
heavens
and gave them orders to fall on this and the other spot of ground;
wast thou present at all this
and knew what God was doing secretly in the
clouds
and before heard what would break out of them
or fall from them? and if
thou art ignorant of these things
canst thou imagine that thou shouldest be
made acquainted with the secret springs of God's providential dealings with the
children of men?
and caused the light of his cloud to shine; either the
lightning to break through the cloud
or rather the light of the sun to shine
upon his cloud
prepared to receive the light reflected on it
and form the
rainbow; which
as it is called his bow
the cloud in which it is may be called
his cloud; which is one of the wondrous works of God
and is called by the
Heathens the daughter of wonderF21Apollodorus
l. 1. p. 5. ; formed
in a semicircle
with various colours
and as a token that God will drown the
earth no more; an emblem of the covenant of peace
and of Jesus Christ
said to
be clothed with a cloud
and with a rainbow about his head
Revelation 10:1.
Job 37:16 16 Do you know how the clouds
are balanced
Those wondrous works of Him who is perfect in knowledge?
YLT
16Dost thou know the
balancings of a cloud? The wonders of the Perfect in knowledge?
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds?.... How those
ponderous bodies
as some of them are very weighty
full of water
are poised
and hang in the air
without turning this way or the other
or falling on the
earth;
the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge; of God
who
is a God of knowledge
of knowledges
1 Samuel 2:3; who
knows himself and all his works
all creatures and things whatever
see Job 36:4; and this
is another of his wondrous works
which none but he
whose knowledge is
perfect
and is the author and giver of knowledge
can know
even the poising
and balancing of the clouds in the air; we see they are balanced
but we know
not how it is done.
Job 37:17 17 Why are your
garments hot
When He quiets the earth by the south wind?
YLT
17How thy garments [are]
warm
In the quieting of the earth from the south?
How thy garments are warm
when he quieteth the earth by
the south wind? One should think there is no great difficulty in accounting for
this
that a man's clothes should be warm
and he so hot as not to be able to
bear them
but obliged to put them off in the summer season
when only the
south wind blows
which brings heat
a serene sky
and fine weather
Luke 12:55; and yet
there is something in the concourse of divine Providence attending these
natural causes
and his blessing with them
without which the garment of a man
will not be warm
or at least not warming to him
Haggai 1:6; or
"how
thy garments are warm when the land is still from the south
'
as
Mr. Broughton renders the words; that is
how it is when the earth is still
from the whirlwinds of the south; or when that wind does not blow which brings
heat
but northerly winds in the winter time; that then a man's garments should
be warm
and keep him warm.
Job 37:18 18 With Him
have you spread
out the skies
Strong as a cast metal mirror?
YLT
18Thou hast made an expanse
with Him For the clouds -- strong as a hard mirror!
Hast thou with him spread out the sky?.... Wast thou
concerned with him at the first spreading out of the sky? wast thou an
assistant to him in it? did he not spread it as a curtain or canopy about
himself
without the help of another? verily he did; see Job 9:8
Isaiah 44:24;
which is strong: for though it
seems a fluid and thin
is very firm and strong
as appears by what it bears
and are contained in it; and therefore is called "the firmament of his
power"
Psalm 150:1;
and as a molten looking glass; clear and
transparent
like the looking glasses of the women
made of molten brass
Exodus 38:8; and
firm and permanentF21 χαλκεος
ουρανος. Pindar. Nem. Ode 6. ; and a glass this is in which the
glory of God
and his divine perfections
is to be seen; and is one of the
wondrous works of God
made for the display of his own glory
and the benefit
of men
Psalm 19:1. Or this
may respect the spreading out a clear serene sky
and smoothing it after it has
been covered and ruffled with storms and tempests; which is such a wonderful
work of God
that man has no hand in.
Job 37:19 19 “Teach us what we should
say to Him
For we can prepare nothing because of the darkness.
YLT
19Let us know what we say to
Him
We set not in array because of darkness.
Teach us what we shall say unto him
.... To this wonder
working God
of whose common works of nature we know so little; how we should
reason with him about his works of Providence
when we know so little of these:
for we cannot order our
speech by reason of darkness; by reason of darkness in
themselves
which is in all men naturally
and even in the saints in this state
of imperfection; and by reason of the clouds and darkness which are about the
Lord himself
who is incomprehensible in his nature and perfections; and by
reason of the darkness cast about his providential dealings with men
so that
they are unsearchable and past finding out; and the best of men are at a loss
how to order their speech
or discourse with God concerning these things.
Job 37:20 20 Should He be told that I wish
to speak? If a man were to speak
surely he would be swallowed up.
YLT
20Is it declared to Him that
I speak? If a man hath spoken
surely he is swallowed up.
Shall it be told him that I speak?.... And what I speak?
there is no need of it
since he is omniscient
and knows every word that is
spoken by men; or is anything I have said concerning him
his ways
and his
works
worthy relating
or worthy of his hearing
being so very imperfect? nor
can the things I have spoken of
though common things
be fully explained to
any; or should it be told him
the Lord
that he
Elihu
had spoke as Job had
done
and arraigned his justice
and complained of his dealings? God forbid; he
would not have it said they were spoken by him for all the world: or
"shall it be recorded unto him what I speak?" as Mr. Broughton
or
that I speak; shall it be recorded in a book
and that sent to God; that I will
speak in thy cause
and be an advocate for thee
and endeavour to justify thee
in all thou hast said? no
by no means;
if a man speak
surely he shall be swallowed up; if he speaks
of the being and perfections of God
he is soon lost; his essence
and many of
his attributes
are beyond his comprehension; if he speaks of his works of
nature and providence
he is presently out of his depth; there is a bathos
a
depth in them he cannot fathom: if he speaks of his love
and grace
and mercy
in the salvation of man
he is swallowed up with admiration; he is obliged to
say
what manner of love is this? it has heights he cannot reach
depths he
cannot get to the bottom of
lengths and breadths immeasurable: or should he
undertake to dispute with God
to litigate a point with him concerning his
works
he could not answer him in one thing of a thousand; and particularly
Elihu suggests
was he to undertake Job's cause
it would soon be lost and all
over with him; so Mr. Broughton renders the words
"would any plead
when
he should be undone?" who would engage in a cause he is sure would be
lost
and prove his utter undoing?
Job 37:21 21 Even now men cannot
look at the light when it is bright in the skies
When the wind has
passed and cleared them.
YLT
21And now
they have not seen
the light
Bright it [is] in the clouds
And the wind hath passed by and
cleanseth them.
And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds
.... Here
Elihu returns to his subject
it may be
occasioned by black clouds gathering
in the heavens
as a preparation for the whirlwind
storm
and tempest
out of
which the Lord is said to speak in the next chapter. And this is to be
understood
not of the lightning in the cloud
which is not to be seen until it
breaks out of it; nor the rainbow in the cloud
formed by the rays of light
from the sun
which disappears when the wind passes and clears the sky of the
cloud in which it is; nor of the Galaxy
or Milky Way
as Sephorno
which is
not to be seen in a cloudy night; but of the sun
which is the great light and
a bright one
and shines brightly; yet sometimes not to be seen by men
because
of interposing clouds
until they are cleared away by winds. Though rather this
respects the sun shining in its brightness
and in its full strength
in the
skies or ethereal regions
in a clear day
when men are not able to look full
at it: and how much less then are they able to behold him who is light itself
and in whom is no darkness at all
nor shadow of turning; who dwells in light
which no mortal can approach unto; into whose nature and perfections none can
fully look
or behold the secret springs of his actions
and the reasons of his
dispensations towards men?
but the wind passeth and cleanseth them; the clouds
and clears the air of them
which obstruct the light of the sun: or "when
a wind passeth and cleareth it"; the air
as Mr. Broughton
then the sun
shines so brightly that it dazzles the eye to look at it.
Job 37:22 22 He comes from the north as
golden splendor; With God is awesome majesty.
YLT
22From the golden north it
cometh
Beside God [is] fearful honour.
Fair weather cometh out of the north
.... Or
"gold"F24זהב "aurum"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c.
which some understand literally; this being found
in northern climates as well as southern
as Pliny relatesF25Nat.
Hist. l. 6. c. 11. & l. 33. c. 3
4. ; particularly in Colchis and Scythia
which lay to the north of Palestine and Arabia; and is thought by a learned manF26Reland.
de Paradiso
s. 9
10. p. 22
23
24. And
in the countries farthest north were
mines of gold formerly
as Olaus Magnus relates
though now destroyed. De Ritu
Gent. Septent. l. 6
11. Vid. l. 3
5. to be here intended: though to
understand it figuratively of the serenity of the air
bright and pure as gold
or of fair weather
which is golden weather
as Mr. Broughton renders it
"through
the north the golden cometh
'
seems
best to agree with the subject Elihu is upon; and such weather comes from the
north
through the north winds
which drive away rain
Proverbs 25:23;
with God is terrible majesty; majesty belongs to him
as he is King of kings
whose the kingdom of nature and providence is; and he
is the Governor among and over the nations of the world. His throne is prepared
in the heavens; that is his throne
and his kingdom ruleth over all: and this
majesty of his is "terrible"
commanding awe and reverence among all
men
who are his subjects; and especially among his saints and peculiar people;
and strikes a terror to others
even to great personages
the kings and princes
of the earth; to whom the Lord is sometimes terrible now
and will be
hereafter; see Psalm 76:12
Revelation 6:15;
and to all Christless sinners
especially when he comes to judgment; see Isaiah 2:19. Or
"terrible praise"F1נורא הוד φοβερος
αινος
Symmachus
"formidolosa laudatio"
V. L.
"terribilem laude"
Vatablus. ; for God is "fearful in
praises"
Exodus 15:11; which
may respect the subject of praise
terrible things
and the manner of praising
him with fear and reverence
Psalm 106:22.
Job 37:23 23 As for
the Almighty
we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power
In
judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress.
YLT
23The Mighty! we have not
found Him out
High in power and judgment
He doth not answer! And abundant in
righteousness
Touching the Almighty
.... Or with
respect to God
who is almighty; with whom nothing is impossible; who can do
and does do all things he pleases
and more than we can ask or think; and who
is all sufficient
as this word is by some rendered; has enough of every thing
in himself and of himself to make him happy; and needs not any of his
creatures
nor anything they can do or give him
but has a sufficiency for
himself and them;
we cannot find him out; found he may be in his
works
and especially in his Son
the express image of his person; in whom he
makes himself known as the God of grace: but he is not to be found out to
perfection; neither by the light of nature
which is very dim
and by which men
grope after him
if haply they may find him; nor even by the light of grace in
the present state: and there are many things in God quite out of the reach of
man
and ever will be
fully to comprehend; as the modes of the subsistence of
the three Persons in the Godhead; the eternity and immensity of God; with all
secret things
which belong not to us to inquire curiously into;
he is excellent in
power; or great and much in it; which is displayed in the works of
creation and sustentation of the world; in the redemption and conversion of his
people; in the support
protection
and preservation of them; and in the destruction
of his and their enemies;
and in judgment; in the government of the world in so
righteous a manner; in the judgments he executes on wicked men; and as he will
appear to be in the general judgment of the world
at the great day
which will
be a righteous one;
and in plenty of justice; being most just
righteous in all his ways
and holy in all his works; distributing justice to
all
acting according to the rules of it
in all things and towards all
persons; so that though he is great in power
he does not abuse that power
to
do things that are not just;
he will not afflict; without a just cause and
reason for it; nor willingly
but with reluctance; nor never beyond deserts
nor more than he gives strength to bear; and only for the good of his people
and in love to them. Some render it
"he will not answer"F2לא יעגה "non
respondebit"
Tigurine version; so some in Mercerus and Drusius. ; or give
an account of his matters
or the reason of his dealings with men.
Job 37:24 24 Therefore men fear Him; He
shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.”
YLT
24Therefore do men fear Him
He seeth not any of the wise of heart.
Men do therefore fear him
.... Or should
because
of his greatness in power
judgment
and justice; and because of his goodness
in not afflicting for his pleasure's sake
but for the profit of men; and
therefore they should reverence and adore him
submit to his will
patiently
bear afflictions
serve him internally and externally
with reverence and godly
fear;
he respecteth not any that are wise of heart; that are wise
in a natural sense: these are not always regarded by God
or are his
favourites; neither temporal blessings
nor special grace
or the knowledge of
spiritual things
are always given to the wise and prudent
Ecclesiastes 9:11.
Or that are wise in their own conceit; there is a woe to such; and there is
more hope of a fool than of him
Isaiah 5:21. Or he
is not "afraid" of themF3לא יראה "non timebit"
Osiander.
as some choose to
render the word; he fears not to reprove them and correct them for their
faults
or the schemes they form to counterwork him; for he can take them in
their craftiness
and carry their counsel headlong. Or "every wise in
heart shall not see him"F4"Non videbit eum omuis sapiens
corde"; so some in Drusius. : the world by wisdom knows him not; nor can
any look into his heart
his thoughts
purposes
and designs
and into the
causes and reasons of his actions; nor have those that are truly wise perfect
vision and knowledge of him now
1 Corinthians 13:9.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)