Psa 1:1

Among all the saints whose lives are recorded in the Bible, David possesses an experience of the most striking, varied, and instructive character. In his history we meet with trials and temptations not to be discovered, as a whole, in other saints of ancient times, and hence he is all the more expressive a type of our Lord. David knew the trials of all ranks and conditions of men. Kings have their troubles, and David wore a crown; the lowly worker has his cares, and David handled a shepherd’s rod; the wanderer has many hardships, and David abode in the caves of Engedi; the leader of men has his difficulties, and David found the sons of Zeruiah too hard for him. The psalmist was also tried in that his friends, his counselor Ahithophel forsook him: “He that eateth bread with me, hath lifted up his heel against me.” His worst foes were they of his own household: his children were his greatest affliction. The temptations of poverty and wealth, of honor and reproach, of health and weakness, all tried their power upon him. He had temptations from without to disturb his peace, and from within to mar his joy. David no sooner escaped from one trial than he fell into another; no sooner emerged from one season of depression and fear, than he was again brought into the lowest depths, and all God’s waves and billows rolled over him. It is probably from this cause that David’s psalms are so universally the delight of experienced Christians. Whatever our frame of mind, whether on the heights or in the depths, David has exactly described our emotions. He was an able master of the human heart, because he had been tutored in the best of all schools — the school of heartfelt, personal experience. As we are instructed in the same school, as we grow matured in grace and in years, we increasingly appreciate David’s psalms, and find them to be “green pastures” where the weary lamb may lie down for a moment in peace.

“The Psalms are the heartbeat of the Scriptures, containing the delightful songs of David. The Psalms present the harmony of faith, guiding emotions and feelings along the channel of divine Truth. The book opens with the picture of the Garden of Eden in parable, but affected by the impulses of wickedness. The man is blessed when he seeks the obedience and the glory of unity with the Creator. The wicked seek an alternative pathway, and refuse to submit to the divine requirement” (GEM).

Psa 1: Only two ways: that of death, and that of life; Spirit/flesh; sheep/goats; good fish/bad fish; vessels to honor/vessels to dishonor. The character of God and the character of man (Isa 55:8,9). The narrow way and the broad way (Mat 7:13,14). No title. Written specially as a formal introduction to the Psalms.

Outline: Vv 1-3: The godly Vv 4,5: The ungodly V 6a: The godly V 6b: The ungodly.

Notice 3 triple parallels in v 1: walk/stand/sit; counsel/way/seat; wicked/sinners/mockers. Note the progressive nature of the 3 parallels.

Historical allusions: (a) Korah and his company (Num 16:18-27)? (b) The exhortation to Joshua (Jos 1:7,8).

Messianic reference: The perfect man (singular)!

BLESSED: “Happy” (NEB), not in the sense of aimless frivolity, but in the sense of spiritual contentment. Cp beginning of Psa 41. And see also Psa 2:12. The “Beatitudes” in the Psalms: Psa 1:1; 2:12; 32:1,2; 33:12; 34:8; 40:4; 41:1; 65:4; 84:4,5,12; 89:15; 94:12; 106:3; 112:1; 118:26; 119:1,2; 128:1,4.

THE MAN: “Ish”, a strong vigorous man, ie Christ. Blessed because of his actions, in ct to the man (“adam”) of Psa 32:1,2, who is blessed, derivatively, because his sins are forgiven. In fact, the “adam” is forgiven his sins only because of the “ish”!

WHO DOES NOT WALK: “Live fish swim against the stream. Dead ones go with it.” Ct of light and darkness in 2Co 6:14-18, and note the positive sequence in Isa 40:31.

THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED: “Counsel” is similar to Heb for “tree” (v 3) and to “chaff” (v 4). Consider Luk 23:51; Psa 119:63; 26:3-5.

WALK… STAND… SIT: Three stages of retrogression in Peter’s experience: Mat 26:58,70-73. A steady descent from casual contact to close cooperation. See the Psalmist’s response to this: I did not walk/sit/stand: Psa 26:3,4,12.

Psa 1:2

DELIGHT: Heb “inclination”. Esp true of Jesus: Psa 40:8; Heb 10:7-9; cp Psa 19:8a; Joh 7:17.

ON HIS LAW HE MEDITATES: Cp 1Ti 4:15. Heb “meditate” is related to speech, not just thoughts (Psa 37:30; 35:28; 71:24; Isa 59:3,13). Note the bad use of sw in Psa 2:1.

DAY AND NIGHT: Thus covering an entire day.

Psa 1:3

A TREE PLANTED BY STREAMS OF WATER: Like the tree of life in the garden: Gen 49:22; Rev 22:1,2.

See Editorial, “As the days of a tree…”.

PLANTED: The tree does not plant itself. It has to be put there; it is transplanted (Psa 80:8; Isa 60;21; Mat 15:13; Eph 3:17). Christ the perfectly righteous man is like a tree — or cross — “planted” in a hole on Golgotha. The dead cross on which his body was impaled becomes a “tree” of life (Act 5:30; 13:29; 1Pe 2:24). “Cursed” is the man who dies on a tree (Gal 3:13; Deu 21:23), yet “blessed” is the man who, dying, becomes a tree of life — sending forth rivers of healing waters (Joh 7:37,38; 19:34; 1Jo 5:6; 1Co 10:4; Zec 13:1).

STREAMS OF WATER: Irrigation? Allusion to the Garden of Eden (Gen 2:10,15)? Cp Psa 36:8.

WHICH YIELDS ITS FRUIT IN SEASON: Joh 15:5,8,16 suggests that the “fruit” are converts. Jude 12 speaks of trees with “withered (useless) fruit, and without (good) fruit”. The Judaizing element in the early ecclesia; cp the cursed fig tree of Israel (Mat 21:19,20). And see also Pro 11:30; Mat 12:33; Gal 5:22,23.

WHOSE LEAF DOES NOT WITHER: Hard seasons may come, but no permanent damage. Even in heat of persecution or trial, this “tree” will still be green and fruitful (Psa 63:1; Jer 17:7,8; Amo 8:11).

WHATEVER HE DOES PROSPERS: Gen 39:3,23 — a link with Joseph. 3Jo 1:2: the well-loved Gaius.

Psa 1:4

LXX: “Not so, the ungodly, not so!” Very emphatic.

LIKE CHAFF THAT THE WIND BLOWS AWAY: A repeated figure for the spiritually lightweight and worthless wicked: Psa 35:5; Job 21:18; Isa 29:5; Dan 2:35; Hos 13:3; Mat 3:12; Luk 3:17; 1Co 3:12,13. The chaff is only for the passing benefit of the seed, and at the harvest is disposed of without regret or loss.

Psa 1:5

THE WICKED WILL NOT STAND: Without a leg to stand on! “Stand” = “stand approved” (“stand firm”: NEB), as in Luk 21:36. LXX uses the NT word for resurrection. Sw also used of the Israelites who could not “stand” or “rise up” before their enemies (Jos 7:12,13; cp Nah 1:6; Mal 3:2), but being defenseless were put to flight.

IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE RIGHTEOUS: Just as the righteous has no wish to share the fellowship of the ungodly (v 1), so the ungodly will not be allowed in the fellowship of the righteous. “Not all Israel, which are of Israel” (Rom 9:6).

Psa 1:6

THE LORD WATCHES OVER THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS: He understands, and supervises (Phil 2:13), their way, for they are His (2Ti 2:19; Num 16:5. Pro 3:6). Everything is directed by God for their ultimate benefit (Rom 8:28,31). “He knows my way; when he has tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

THE WAY OF THE RIGHTEOUS: Name given to the Christian movement in the Acts (Act 9:2; 19:9,23; 22:4; etc.).

THE WAY OF THE WICKED WILL PERISH: Also, their “desire” shall perish (Psa 112:10), and they shall have an “end” (Psa 73:3,5,16,17,19).

Psa 2:1

Author? David (Act 4:25).

See Act 4:23-28, where vv 1,2 are interpreted: “nations” = Gentiles; “people” = Israel; “kings of the earth” = Herod; “rulers” = Pilate; “his Anointed One” = Jesus. (So Herod and Pilate were made “friends together”: Luk 23:12.)

Outline: Vv 1-3: Aggressive nations and their purpose Vv 4,5: God’s reaction V 6: His purpose through His Son Vv 7-9: Messiah declares God’s purpose with him Vv 10-12: Exhortation to the rebels.

Background: 2Sa 8: After David took Jerusalem, the nations round about rose up against him: Philistia, Moab, Zobah, Syria, Ammon, Amalek, Edom. But David defeated them all.

Christ’s 2nd coming: So quoted in Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15.

CONSPIRE (RAGE): “Tumultuously assemble” (AV mg). “Are in turmoil” (NEB).

PEOPLES: Heb “leom” is mostly used of Arab nations.

PLOT: Sw Psa 1:2, but how different! Cp Eze 38:10.

Psa 2:2

KINGS OF THE EARTH: “Eretz” = the Land.

TAKE THEIR STAND: A military expression: “to take up stations”. Sw 2Sa 7:16 — but so different!

THE RULERS GATHER TOGETHER: Rev 19:19. But all in vain: Psa 20:6; 45:5.

GATHER: Coming together as by appointment: Mat 22:34; 27:1,7; 28:12; Mar 15:1; Luk 20:20; Joh 11:47; 18:14.

TOGETHER: LXX has “homothumadon” = “one mind” (Act 1:14; 2:1,46; 4:24; 5:12).

AGAINST THE LORD: Fighting to defend their “gods” from the godly enthusiasm of David!

Psa 2:3

LET US BREAK THEIR CHAINS: A lunatic determination: Luk 8:29.

CHAINS: Or “cords”, for the offering of sacrifice (Psa 118:27; cp Psa 116:3). Why plural? (a) God and His Messiah? (b) Messiah and Israel? (c) Messiah and his saints?

Psa 2:4

LAUGHS: “The place was shaken” (Act 4:31) with God’s contemptuous laugh! The derision of both Jews and Gentiles (Mat 27:29,42) against the Lord’s Christ now has its counterpart in His derision against them. Cp Psa 115:3; 1Co 1:20-31.

Psa 2:5

Was a prophet of God made an emissary to the nations, to bring them this message?

Psa 2:6

INSTALLED: The Heb (“nacak”) means to “pour out” or “anoint”. But David, though anointed 3 times (once at Bethlehem and twice at Hebron) was not anointed at Jerusalem! So this psalm would have its truest and most complete fulfillment in the promised Messiah: cp v 7 with 2Sa 7:14. And Jesus was “anointed” AND “poured out” (ie his blood in crucifixion).

ZION, MY HOLY HILL: Already dedicated to holiness in 2Sa 6.

Psa 2:7

TODAY I HAVE BECOME YOUR FATHER (BEGOTTEN YOU): Applied in Heb 1:5 to Christ when he was glorified to be made a high priest; so “today” = resurrection, not birth. Cp also Heb 5:5; Rom 1:3,4; Isa 55:3; Act 13:33,34.

Psa 2:8

ASK OF ME, AND I WILL…: It was a custom among great kings to give to favored ones whatever they might ask (Est 5:6; Mat 14:7). When Stephen was stoned, the Lord stood (Act 7:55) to grant him his request: “Give me the Gentiles”? And so he set about to convert Stephen’s chief persecutor, Saul, who became the apostle to the Gentiles — and so vv 10-12 here are about Paul the apostle.

THE NATIONS…THE ENDS OF THE EARTH YOUR POSSESSION: For David, a temporary (and partial) fulfillment of the promises to Abraham: Gen 13:14,15; 15:18-21; 22:17.

YOUR INHERITANCE: Christ’s parable of the vineyard in Luk 20:9-20 seems to be based on Psa 2: Enemies taking counsel together against the heir, plotting to overthrow their master, yet God will laugh at them, and they will be destroyed.

Psa 2:9

Fulfilled in 1st century in Mat 22:6,7; Jer 19:11.

RULE THEM (BREAK THEM) WITH AN IRON SCEPTER: The Heb is ambiguous: the LXX has “shepherd them” (cp Rev 2:27). The response in each case decides the attitude of Christ: either the firm but kind rule of the shepherd, or the smashing of the rebellious. (“Scepter” = “shebet”, the shepherd’s rod, which both protects the sheep and smites the marauders: Lev 27:32; Eze 20:37; cp Psa 23:4 — thus becoming a symbol of government: Gen 49:10.)

LIKE POTTERY: Made of the miry clay of Daniel’s image (Dan 2:43,44). This material, when hardened, is very brittle and easily broken (Isa 30:14; Jer 18:6; 19:11; Rom 9:21-23).

Psa 2:10

Vv 10-12: Relevance to Saul/Paul: one of the “rulers”, or “judges” (Act 8:1; 26:10). “Trembling” of Act 9:6. “Blessed are all who take refuge in him”: Paul’s short stmt of the gospel!

V 10: The counsel of rebellion (v 2) is interrupted by a warning which only fools would neglect: “Be wise…be warned.”

BE WARNED: Or “instructed” (AV). This sounds like Gamaliel’s advice: “Let them alone… why fight against God?” (Act 5:38,39).

Psa 2:11

SERVE THE LORD: Men like Hiram of Tyre did just this. Initially the worship of Melkort (the god of Tyre) was modeled on the worship of Jehovah.

Psa 2:12

KISS: Along with anointing and inheritance, all features of Saul’s coronation (1Sa 10:1). But a sharp contrast with the Messianic king here described.

BLESSED ARE ALL WHO TAKE REFUGE IN HIM: “Asher” (blessed) are all who flee for refuge to Christ (sw Psa 57:1-3) — the “Rock” of salvation! There is no refuge FROM Christ, but only refuge IN him! Psa 2 closes as Psa 1 began, with “asher”. One man sits alone in silent meditation (Psa 1), while another dwells among fierce enemies in a world on the edge of holocaust (Psa 2). But both ways of life, at one time or another, belong to Christ.

Job 32:1

The narrator of the book states that Job is self-righteous at this point. God echoes this same condemnation in Job 40:8.

Job 32:2

ELIHU: Sig “God himself”, as Jesus, the “Immanuel” (God with us): cp Job 33:6: a mediator for God.

BARAKEL: “Blessed of God”.

BUZITE: Buz = son of Nahor, Abraham’s brother (Gen 22:21).

RAM: Aram, or Ram = son of Kemuel, and nephew of Buz (Gen 22:21). Prob Elihu is related to Job (see note re Uz, Job 1:1).

BECAME VERY ANGRY WITH JOB FOR JUSTIFYING HIMSELF RATHER THAN GOD: Unlike the three friends Elihu sees the same character flaw that the narrator has declared (v 1).

Job 32:3

Later, God echoes Elihu’s assessment of the three friends and condemns their words, but he does not condemn Elihu.

Job 32:4

ELIHU HAD WAITED BEFORE SPEAKING: Showing remarkable restraint and discipline for a young man, consistent with the wisdom he displays elsewhere.

Job 32:6

Vv 6-22: Elihu addresses the 3: His reasons for intervention.

God’s endorsements of Elihu’s words:

Job 33:1

Job 33: God is neither arbitrarily hostile, nor silent.

Job 33:6

JUST LIKE YOU BEFORE GOD (IN GOD’S STEAD): Elihu takes the place of God — he is now the inspired bearer of His words (Job 32:8). He is the “daysman” (AV) or “someone to arbitrate”, whom Job had sought (Job 9:33).

I TOO HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM CLAY: This refers back to Job 10:9; 13:12, suggesting that Elihu has been a mute observer of the proceedings all along. Here he states his position from the outset as being different from the proud judgmental approach that the older men have taken.

Job 33:9

Elihu and Zophar (Job 11:4) are both paraphrasing words of Job, such as Job 9:20, “Though I am righteous, my mouth will condemn me; though I am guiltless, He will declare me guilty.” Cp also Job 10:7; 13:18,19; 16:17.

Job 33:10

HE CONSIDERS ME HIS ENEMY: Cp Job 13:24; 27:1-6; 6:2-4; 16:7-14; 19:11,12.

Job 33:11

Cp Job 13:27; 12:18.

Job 33:14

Vv 14-28: Elihu’s inspired words re God’s righteousness and man’s salvation (see esp vv 23-28).

Job 33:17

TO TURN MAN FROM WRONGDOING AND KEEP HIM FROM PRIDE: Unlike the friends who see suffering as punishment, Elihu sees it as discipline.

Job 33:18

PRESERVE HIS SOUL FROM THE PIT: This could be “from the grave” (Sheol), or “from the sword” (salah), or “from the river” (Akkadian salhu = a water channel) (see NIV mg). The last of these is used in Mesopotamian mythology with ref to the “river of death” (NETn). Used in Job 33:18; 36:12.

Job 33:19

Important principle: God also “speaks” to man through pain and suffering.

Job 33:23

Vv 23-28: Elihu understands the role of a mediator, and he uses words which are highly suggestive of Christ. The intervention of a divine interpreter (Elihu… or Christ) — or messenger (Mal 3:1) to explain to the sufferer what his duty was, how God might pardon him. Cp with Romans (“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”: Rom 3:23-26.): Ruin, Ransom, Regeneration, Resurrection, Reconciliation, Rest, Righteousness.

ONE OUT OF A THOUSAND: Heb 2:14; Rom 8:3; 2Co 5:18-21.

Job 33:27

I SINNED: Man must confess past sins and acknowledge salvation only by the mercy of God.

Job 33:29

Vv 29-33: The object of God’s dealings with man.

Job 33:32

Elihu has Job’s interest at heart. He wants to guide Job to wisdom and salvation. And God does accept Job at the end (the word in Job 42:9 is often translated “forgive”) after his confession of unworthiness and repentance. Elihu invites Job to refute his words, if he can. But, no response. (Note: Job has systematically answered all arguments of his 3 “friends”.)

Job 34:1

Job 34: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen 18:25). In short, God is not incomprehensible, but man in uncomprehending.

Job 34:5

“As surely as God lives, who has denied me justice, the Almighty, who has made me taste bitterness of soul” (Job 27:2). Cp also Job 9:15; 10:15; 23:6.

Job 34:6

Vv 6-9: “It was natural that, with all his reverence for Job, Elihu should be offended by the heat and passion of his words, by the absence of moderation and self-restraint, and tell him that ‘this strained passion did him wrong.’ No doubt it is easier for a friend on the bank to maintain his composure, than it is for the man who has been swept away by the stream of calamity, and is doing instant battle with its fierce currents and driving waves. Job is not to be overmuch blamed if, under the stress of calamity, and stung by the baseless calumnies of the friends, he now and then lost composure, and grew immoderate both in his resentments and his retorts. Remembering the keen agony he had to endure, we may well pardon an offence for which it is so easy to account; we may cheerfully admit, as Jehovah Himself admitted, that in the main he spoke of God aright; we may even admire the constancy and patience with which, on the whole, he met the provocations and insults of the friends; and yet we cannot but feel that he often pushed his inferences against the Divine justice and providence much too far: as, indeed, he himself confessed that he had, when at last he saw Jehovah face to face, and carried his just resentment against the friends to excess. There are points in the progress of the story where he seems to revel in his sense of wrong, and to lash out wildly against both God and man. With fine moral tact, Elihu had detected this fault in his tone and bearing, and had discovered whither it was leading him” (Samuel Cox).

Cp Job 9:17-21; 6:4-10.

Job 34:8

In his implication of v 9, Job was advocating the same position as wicked men.

Job 34:9

A fair summary of Job’s words in Job 9:22,23: “It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’ When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.” And Job 9:29: “Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?”

Job 34:13

The point of this rhetorical question is driven home by God in Job 38:4, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.”

Job 34:15

Man is merely natural matter, whose life is sustained by God’s spirit: Gen 2:7; 8:19; Psa 104:29,30.

Job 34:34

Vv 34-37: Job’s ill-considered words condemned.

Job 34:36

Satan wanted to try Job because he considered Job’s faith shallow, but Elihu because Job failed to uphold the righteousness of God. Elihu desires Job be tested until his character is fully refined, as it is after Job endures the ordeal of meeting the Almighty. Job’s trial (Job 23:10) would prove wrong the answers of the three. Job — like Christ — is tried for the benefit of all wicked men. His end, an example for us.

Job 34:37

Cp Job 23:2: “Even today my complaint is rebellion; His hand is heavy despite my groaning.” And Job 40:1,2: Then the LORD said to Job, “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Let him who reproves God answer it.” And Job 42:5-6: “I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees Thee; Therefore I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes.”

Later, and perhaps as the final part of his test, Job acts as intercessor for his companions (as Moses and Abraham also had occasion to do) and God restores him.

Job 35:2

Cp Job 13:15-18; 9:21-29; 21:7-15,29-33; 24:12.

Job 35:3

Summarizing Job’s argument of Job 24.

Job 35:6

Man’s righteousness is of no personal profit to God.

Job 35:7

At the best, we are still unprofitable servants (Luk 17:10).

Job 35:9

Vv 9-13: Many seek God only when in pain or danger.

Job 35:10

BUT NO ONE SAYS, ‘WHERE IS GOD MY MAKER…?’: “Why is God silent? Men cry for help, but God knows that what they are crying for is merely relief, that is all. They want to be taken out of the harmful, painful effects of their selfish ways and then allowed to go right back to being selfish. Nobody is concerned about God’s glory and about being taught by God and learning at his hand and at his feet. Rather, they are simply crying out for deliverance, they want to use God, and to that kind of an appeal God is silent. I think this is why our prayers are often unanswered. Our selfishness has produced agony in our life and all we want is to escape the penalty; we are not at all concerned about God himself. And that is one reason for God’s silence” (RS).

WHO GIVES SONGS IN THE NIGHT: “Let all things go well, I can weave songs, fashioning them wherever I go out of the flowers that grow upon my path; but put me in a desert, where no green thing grows, and wherewith shall I frame a hymn of praise to God? How shall a mortal man make a crown for the Lord where no jewels are? Let but this voice be clear, and this body full of health, and I can sing God’s praise: silence my tongue, lay me upon the bed of languishing, and how shall I then chant God’s high praises, unless He Himself give me the song? No, it is not in man’s power to sing when all is adverse, unless an altar-coal shall touch his lip. It was a divine song, which Habakkuk sang, when in the night he said, ‘Although the fig-tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation’ [Hab 3:17,18]. Then, since our Maker gives songs in the night, let us wait upon Him for the music” (CHS).

Job 35:12

ARROGANCE: Elihu now suggests that Job is seeking to understand God’s purpose because of his offended pride (which is never a good reason).

Job 35:14

Vv 14-16: If you change your attitude (“Trust in him”), God will explain Himself to you. Cp Job 23:1-9; 13:3; 9:11,12; 24:12; 21:1-28; 24:1.

Job 35:16

A masterful summary of Job’s one weakness; the very charge God brings (Job 38:2: “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge?”).

Job 36:1

Job 36; 37: Suffering is disciplinary, for moral improvement, to bring man to God.

Job 36:3

I WILL ASCRIBE JUSTICE TO MY MAKER: By pointing out that in all His dealings God is right.

Job 36:4

ONE PERFECT IN KNOWLEDGE IS WITH YOU: Elihu does not mean himself — as a first reading might suggest. No! He means that God Himself is with them, and will reveal Himself to them — as begins to happen here, and culminates in God’s direct message in the last chapters.

Job 36:5

Vv 5-15: God’s design: Man’s moral improvement and discipline.

BUT DOES NOT DESPISE MEN: Not even the weakest of His creatures.

Job 36:12

PRESERVE HIS SOUL FROM THE PIT: This could be something like “in the grave” (Sheol), or “by the sword” (salah), or “in the river” (Akkadian salhu = a water channel) (see NIV mg). The last of these is used in Mesopotamian mythology with ref to the “river of death” (NETn). Used in Job 33:18; 36:12.

Job 36:14

MALE PROSTITUTES OF THE SHRINES: ” ‘Qadhesh’ denotes properly a male temple prostitute, one of the class attached to certain sanctuaries of heathen deities, and ‘consecrated’ [the Heb rt word means lit, and sarcastically, ‘holy’!] to the impure rites of their worship. Such gross and degrading practices in Yahweh’s land could only be construed as a flagrant outrage; and any association of these with His pure worship was abhorrent (Deu 23:17,18): The presence of Sodomites is noted as a mark of degeneracy in Rehoboam’s time (1Ki 14:24). Asa endeavored to get rid of them (1Ki 15:12), and Jehoshaphat routed them out (1Ki 22:46). Subsequent corruptions opened the way for their return, and Josiah had to break down their houses which were actually “in the house of the Lord” (2Ki 23:7). The feminine ‘qedheshah’ is translated ‘prostitute’ in Gen 38:21,22; Hos 4:14; Deu 23:17 (the KJV mg has ‘sodomitess’; the RV mg simply transliterates). The English word is, of course, derived from Sodom, the inhabitants of which were in evil repute for unnatural vice” (ISBE).Those who resist the chastisement of God will be cut off quickly, like Sodom.

Job 36:16

Vv 16-25: Purification through suffering.

Job 36:26

Job 36:26 – Job 37:13: God’s power and mystery revealed in nature.

Job 36:30

Elihu recognizes the coming of God in the storm, and over the rest of his discourse he prepares Job for the presence of the Almighty.

Job 37:1

The thunder of the approaching storm (v 2) is more than just nature at work. Elihu recognizes the approaching presence of God.

Job 37:6

HE SAYS TO THE SNOW, ‘FALL ON THE EARTH’: “The snow falls in beautiful showers almost every year, and covers the face of nature. Multitudes admire its beauties, but few understand its singular formation, important uses, and varied design. These things ought not so to be. We should make ourselves acquainted with the works of God, especially such common gifts as the rain, and wind, and snow. This would lead our thoughts from nature to nature’s God; and then His wisdom, and power, and goodness as seen therein would excite our admiration. The snow, this wonderful creature of God, has been thus described — ‘Snow is a moist vapour drawn up from the earth to, or near the middle region of the air, where it is condensed, or thickened into a cloud, and falls down again like carded wool, sometimes in greater and sometimes in lesser flakes. The snow and the rain are made of the same matter, and are produced in the same place, only they differ in their outward form, as is obvious to the eye, and in their season. Rain falls in the warmer seasons, the clouds being dissolved into rain by heat; snow falls in the sharper seasons, the clouds being thickened by the cold. The place where the snow is generated is in the air, from thence it receives a command to dispatch itself to the earth, and there to abide’ ” (HW Beecher).

Job 37:14

STOP: Or “stand still”: “Stand still and see the salvation of God” (Exo 14:13; 2Ch 20:17). “Stand still and hear God’s commandments” (Num 9:8). “Stand still that I may show you the word of God” (1Sa 9:27). “Stand still that I may reason with you” (1Sa 12:7). “Stand still and consider the works of God” (Job 37:14).

Job 37:21

See Geog 49.

Job 37:23

The final declaration before God himself speaks: “He is Righteous and He is Mighty, and so we revere him.”

Job 37:24

When Job finishes, neither Job nor his 3 friends reply.

Job 38:1

Job 38 – Job 42:6: The Voice of the Almighty. A commentary on the Creation. “Revelation is a mystery, but so is nature.”

Job 38 — 41: Job 38 deals with the first four days of creation by making repeated reference to light, stars, clouds and waters. The later chapters — Job 39; 40; 41 — deal with days five and six by looking at the wonders of the animal kingdom.

Job 38: “Now that Elihu has addressed Job’s complaints, God declares His mightiness and power, and makes it clear He cannot be called to account.

“This chapter introduces the final section of the book of Job. It opens with a dramatic, sudden, startling interruption. It was to be an answer to Job (v 1), and a conclusion to the address of Elihu (v 2). So the voice of Heaven revealed that the supreme authority and wisdom of the Almighty was beyond the knowledge of created man, and therefore beyond that of Job. It constitutes Yahweh’s challenge to mankind (Job 38:1-42:6). Job 38 shows: [1] Job’s ignorance in relation to the wonders of the earth: vv 1-7. [2]. The glory of the oceans: vv 8-11. [3] The hidden realms beyond normal experience: vv 12-17. [4] Divine instruction in relation to the heavens; its light and ark: vv 19-21. [5] The elements of creation: vv 22-30. [6] The heavenly bodies: vv 31,32. [7] The powerful laws of nature: vv 33-38. [8] Divine declaration concerning living Creatures; the beasts and birds of prey: vv 39-41.

“The glory and greatness of the Divine Architect is brought to attention as Elihu grows silent, and Job required to heed the instruction. The earth was created to be inhabited (Isa 45:18). Careful planning was thus used to that end (Pro 8:27-30). The earth rotates on its axis at approx 1,000 miles per hour; if it were 100 mph, our days and nights would be 10 times as long, and the hot sun would likely burn up the vegetation, whilst surviving sprouts would freeze or die in the long night. Every part of the creation is in harmony with the work of the Creator, and performs its remarkable work. Job was being taught that as he could not plummet the mysteries of creation, nor understand the way in which all nature works — so he was unable to understand the purpose of trial, and the reason for suffering. That great mystery is about to be revealed to him, and by which he will see ‘the end of Yahweh’ (Jam 5:11)” (GEM).

Job 38; 39: ” ‘O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder Consider all the works thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder — Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

” ‘When through the woods and forest glades I wander, And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze…

” ‘Then sings my soul, my Saviour, God, to thee: How great thou art, how great thou art! Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to thee: How great thou art, how great thou art.”

“If we ever begin to downsize God and think that He is not much more than us, we need to re-read these chapters. The power and glory of God leaps off the pages — displaying His awesome majesty and creative works. What hope does any man have of answering His questions? All we can do is bow in humility and worship, giving honour and praise to our creator.

“O Lord my God, how great thou art!” (RP).

God waits until Elihu has prepared Job’s mind for this onslaught (out of the whirlwind) before He presents it. God organizes our lives the same way. We need to be prepared by circumstances — perhaps over years — before He might finally makes a move on a particular issue. Let us be sure to remain open to God’s working with us.

Job 38:2

Job understands this as a condemnation of himself, and repents in Job 42:3, “‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”

Job 38:3

As Elihu has been pointing out, Job had set himself up as superior to God: Job 13:18,19, “Behold now, I have prepared my case; I know that I will be vindicated. Who will contend with me? For then I would be silent and die.” Job 23:6, “Would He contend with me by the greatness of {His} power? No, surely He would pay attention to me.”

Job 38:7

STARS: Sym saints in kingdom: Mat 13:43; Dan 12:3; 1Co 15:41.

THE ANGELS: Lit, as mg, “sons of God”. But here, esp, the “sons of God” is a name for ALL the wonders of the Creation — including the stars and sun, and clouds, and light: see figures of vv 8,9,28,29. “This is simply part of the poetic language of the LORD that gives to His creation a personality where even lightning can talk (v 35). By comparing God’s ancient creation, born so long ago, to the comparably recent birth of Job (v 21), the argument drives home Job’s own inadequate council.

Although the creation is nowhere else spoken of as a ‘son of God’ there are two areas that draw close connections in other scriptures. First it will be noted that God’s creation is put in terms of birth [Pro 8:23-29; Psa 90:1,2]. Secondly that these inanimate works of his hands can give him praise, sing and speak as if they had a personality [Isa 44:23; 49:13; Isa 35:1,2; Psa 19:1-6; 65:8,11-13; 148:1-5]” (TY). This same language is appropriated in the NT, and applied to the spiritual “creation” by Paul (Rom 8:19-23).

“If there weren’t enthusiasm in creation, it would soon run down. Everything is made of atoms, protons, neutrons and electrons, things you can’t keep still — not for a second! They dash in all directions at tremendous speeds, and the heavenly bodies move the same way. The old Greeks called the movement they made as they passed through space ‘the music of the spheres.’ I don’t think they’ve missed it by very much at all. I believe that God sang when He created things. The motion and speed of the heavenly bodies, the working of little creatures in the earth to make the soil soft, the working of the sun on the earth — all this is God joyously working in His creation.

“Enthusiasm is seen in creation; it’s seen in light. Did you ever stop to think what it would be like if there were no light? If God Almighty were to put a lead sack around all the heavenly bodies and suddenly shut out all the light there is, I wouldn’t want to be alive… Some people are afraid of color. They think that spirituality consists in being drab. But God made color! He made all shades of colors. Look at the sunset — what is it, just something scientific? Do you think that God splashed the lovely, beautiful sky with rose, cerise, blue and white and wasn’t smiling when He did that? Is that just an accident of nature, scientifically explained? Then you’ve got too much learning for your own good! Go empty your head and get your heart filled and you’ll be better off. The Holy Spirit wrote 150 psalms and in those psalms God celebrates the wonders of His creation.

“In my state of Pennsylvania the money-greedy scoundrels have bought the coal rights in certain sections of the state. There were beautiful hills there that I grew up to see and love, beautiful sun-kissed hills sometimes mystic blue in the setting of the sun. And the creeks ran below out to the rivers and down to the sea. It was all very beautiful. But I went back to my old place years later, and I found that these money-hungry fellows didn’t dig a hole to get the coal; they took bulldozers and dragged the top off the earth — trees, grass, everything — to get down to the coal. The result was that thousands and thousands of acres — whole hills that used to go up with their green to meet heaven’s blue — lay gashed like one vast, gaping grave. The state of Pennsylvania said, ‘You’ve got to fill them all in or we’ll fine you $3,000.’ And the mining people looked at each other and grinned and paid the $3,000. They left it as it was, and I went away grief-stricken to see my beautiful hills now great ugly sand pits. I went back in a few more years, and do you know what nature had done? Dear old busy, enthusiastic, fun-loving, joyous Mother Nature began to draw a green veil over that ugly gash. And now if you go back you will see it has cured itself. It’s God Almighty in that!

“We ought to stop thinking like scientists and think like psalmists. This infinite God is enjoying Himself. Somebody is having a good time in heaven and earth and sea and sky. Somebody is painting the sky. Somebody is making trees to grow where only gashes were a year ago. Somebody is causing the ice to melt out of the river and the fish to swim and the birds to sing and lay their blue eggs and build their nests and hatch their young. Somebody’s running the universe… And I believe I know who it is” (AWT).

Job 38:8

See Lesson, Leviathan — esp the “Creation” myth.

Job 38:9

AND WRAPPED IT IN THICK DARKNESS: “When I made… thick darkness a swaddlingband for it” (AV) — carrying on the figure of childbirth, from v 8. This is the blanket reserved for wrapping up the newborn child (Eze 16:4).

Job 38:11

See Act 17:26.

Job 38:14

“Or didst thou take clay of the ground, and form a living creature, and set him with the power of speech upon the earth?” (LXX).

Job 38:19

The eternal struggle between light and darkness: Gen 1:4,18; 2Co 6:14.

Job 38:20

Only God knows: Dan 2:22.

Job 38:31

CAN YOU BIND…?: “If inclined to boast of our abilities, the grandeur of nature may soon show us how puny we are. We cannot move the least of all the twinkling stars, or quench so much as one of the beams of the morning. We speak of power, but the heavens laugh us to scorn. When the Pleiades shine forth in spring with vernal joy we cannot restrain their influences, and when Orion reigns aloft, and the year is bound in winter’s fetters, we cannot relax the icy bands. The seasons revolve according to the divine appointment, neither can the whole race of men effect a change therein. Lord, what is man?” (CHS).

BEAUTIFUL: “Sweet influences” (AV)? “Cluster” (RV), referring to the constellation (or group of stars).

PLEIADES: “Head” or “cluster”. Appeared in spring, at the time of planting (Sh 85:3:23).

Job 38:32

CONSTELLATIONS: “Mazzaroth” (AV), “12 signs” (AV mg). The 12 signs of the Zodiac, answering to the 12 months of the year (Sh 85:3:23).

THE BEAR: “Arcturus” (AV). In Heb, “ayish” = assembly “Can you guide the great assembly of northern stars which follow their courses around the pole?” (Sh 85:3:23).

Job 38:35

Cherubim, like “lightning”, run to and fro.

Job 38:41

The raven eats the food left by the lion (vv 39,40). God provides for both together.

Job 39:1

Job 39,40: These chapters illustrate a great principle of nature: The innocent (ie, the wild goat, kid) often suffer and die so that the cruel (ie, the lion, eagle) might live. God cares and provides for all His creatures.

God especially cares and provides for all men — He is not willing that any should perish (2Pe 3:9; Joh 3:16,17). Sometimes the innocent (Job) must suffer, that others (the three friends, and perhaps “Satan”) might learn and live. Job’s experiences were but a shadow of Christ’s sufferings on behalf of sinners (Jam 5:10,11; Act 2:22-24; 8:13-15).

Also, contrast the present age (here) with future kingdom — when the lion and the lamb will be at peace together (Isa 11:6-9).

MOUNTAIN GOATS: “Yael”, from root “ya’al” = to ascend. The “ibex”, one of the loveliest, most agile, and most secretive animals (BAR 5:6:50,51).

Job 39:5

GO FREE… UNTIED HIS ROPES: Implanting in that species its deep, instinctive love of freedom.

Job 39:7

HE DOES NOT HEAR A DRIVER’S SHOUT: The very opposite of his tame brother.

Job 39:9

WILD OX: “Unicorn” (AV), “wild ox” (RV), or rhinoceros (?) (LB 252). From rt “re’em”, “to rise up, as a horn”. Sym “exalted ones”. Same word in Deu 33:17; Num 23:22; 24:8; Psa 22:21; 29:6; 92:10; Isa 34:7. A figure of great strength, embodying the power of death, closing in on Jesus in Psa 22:21.

Job 39:15

A picture of the foolish Pharisees, who do not care for young ones, but “cast them out” (Joh 9:22,34). In ct to the wise eagle — ie Christ (vv 27-30).

Job 39:26

TOWARD THE SOUTH: In Mideast, the hawks go north in pairs or straggling, at odd times. But they return south in great flocks, and so are easily noticed (LB 326).