Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Job
Book: Job
Chapter: 37
Overview:
Elihu observes the power of
God.
(1-13) Job required to
explain the
Works of nature.
(14-20) God is great, and is to be
feared.
(21-24)
1-13 The changes of the weather are the subject of a great
Deal
of our thoughts and common talk; but how seldom do we think and
speak of these things, as
Elihu, with a regard to
God, the
director of them! We must notice the
Glory of
God, not only in
the
Thunder and
Lightning, but in the more common and less awful
changes of the weather; as the
Snow and
Rain. Nature directs all
creatures to shelter themselves from a storm; and shall
Man only
be unprovided with a
Refuge? Oh that men would listen to the
voice of
God, who in many ways warns them to flee from the wrath
to come; and invites them to accept his
Salvation, and to be
happy. The ill opinion which men
Entertain of the Divine
direction, peculiarly appears in their murmurs about the
weather, though the whole result of the
Year proves the folly of
their complaints. Believers should avoid this;
No days are bad
as
God makes them, though we make many bad
By our sins.
14-20 Due thoughts of the
Works of
God will help to reconcile
us to all his providences. As
God has a powerful, freezing north
wind,
So he has a thawing, composing
South wind: the
Spirit is
compared to both, because he both convinces and comforts,
So
4:16. The best of men are much in the dark concerning the
glorious perfections of the Divine nature and the Divine
government. Those who, through
Grace, know much of
God, know
nothing, in comparison with what is to be known, and of what
will be known, when that which is perfect is come.
21-24 Elihu concludes his discourse with some great sayings
concerning the
Glory of
God.
Light always is, but is not always
to be seen. When clouds come between, the
Sun is darkened in the
clear
Day. The
Light of
God's favour shines ever towards his
Faithful servants, though it be not always seen. Sins are
clouds, and often hinder us from seeing that bright
Light which
is in the
Face of
God. Also, as to those thick clouds of sorrow
which often darken our minds, the
Lord hath a wind which passes
and clears them away. What is that wind? It is his Holy
Spirit.
As the wind dispels and sweeps away the clouds which are
gathered in the
Air,
So the
Spirit of
God clears our souls from
the clouds and fogs of ignorance and unbelief, of
Sin and
Lust.
From all these clouds the Holy
Spirit of
God frees us in the
work of
Regeneration. And from all the clouds which trouble our
consciences, the Holy
Spirit sets us free in the work of
consolation. Now that
God is about to speak,
Elihu delivers a
few words, as the sum of all his discourse. With
God is terrible
majesty. Sooner or later all men shall fear him.