Because there is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee.Wrath — Conceived by God against thee.Then — If once God's wrath take hold of thee, no ransom will be accepted for thee. read more
Will he esteem thy riches? no, not gold, nor all the forces of strength.Thy riches — If thou hadst as much of them as ever.Forces — The strongest forces. read more
Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place.The night — The night of death, which Job had often desired, for then, thou art irrecoverably gone: take heed of thy foolish and often repeated desire of death, lest God inflict it upon thee in anger. read more
Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.Chosen — Thou hast chosen rather to quarrel with God, and censure his judgments, than quietly to submit to them. read more
Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?Behold — God is omnipotent; and therefore can, either punish thee far worse, or deliver thee, if thou dost repent. He is also infinitely wise; and as none can work like him, so none can teach like him. Therefore do not presume to teach him how to govern the world. None teacheth with such authority and convincing evidence, with such condescension and compassion, with such power and efficacy as God doth, he teaches by the bible, and that... read more
Remember that thou magnify his work, which men behold.Remember — Call to mind this thy duty.Magnify — Every work which he doth; do not condemn any of his providential works, but adore them as done with admirable wisdom, and justice.Behold — With admiration and astonishment. read more
Every man may see it; man may behold it afar off.It — The power, and wisdom, and greatness of God are so manifest in all his works, that all who are not stupid, must see and acknowledge it.Afar off — The works of God are so great and conspicuous, that they may be seen at a great distance. Hence Elihu proceeds to give some instances, in the works of nature and common providence. His general aim is to shew, 1. That God is the first cause and supreme director of all the creatures; whom therefore... read more
Behold, God is great, and we know him not, neither can the number of his years be searched out.Neither — He is eternal, as in his being, so in all his counsels; which therefore must be infinitely above the comprehension of short-lived men. read more
For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:For — Having affirmed that God's works are incomprehensibly great and glorious, he now proves it from the most common works of nature and providence. And hence he leaves it to Job to consider how much more deep and inconceivable the secret counsels of God must be.Water — He orders matters so wisely, that the waters which are in the clouds, do not fall down at once in spouts, which would be pernicious to... read more
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes - Job 36:17
But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked: judgment and justice take hold on thee.The judgment — Or, the sentence, thou hast justified the hard speeches which wicked men utter against God.Therefore — Therefore the just judgment of God takes hold on thee. Thou hast maintained their cause against God, and God passes against thee the sentence of condemnation due to wicked men. read more