Job 9

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:1-35

Job, in answer to Bildad, admits the truth of his arguments, but declines to attempt the justification which can alone entitle him to accept the favourable side of Bildad's alternative. Man cannot absolutely justify himself before God. It is in vain to attempt to do so. The contest is too unequal. On the one side perfect wisdom and absolute strength (verse 4); on the other, weakness, imperfection, ignorance. guilt (verses 17-20). And no "daysman," or umpire, between them; no third party to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:2

The problem of justification. It is very doubtful how far Job conceived of this great problem as it has presented itself to us since the time of St. Paul. The whole question was confused to his apprehension by the inexplicable perplexity of his situation and the grossly unfair insinuations of his friends. It appeared as though God were his Adversary, and it seemed hopeless to attempt to set himself right with One whose power was so vastly greater than his own. We have not Job's peculiar... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:2-20

God viewed as absolute and arbitrary Power. I. THE HELPLESSNESS OF MAN IN PRESENCE OF HIS OMNIPOTENCE . ( Job 9:1-3 .) What avails right on one's side against him who has all heaven's artillery at his command? "It is idle to argue with the Master of thirty legions." Out of a thousand questions with which the Almighty might overwhelm my mind, there is not one which I could answer with the chance of a fair hearing. Indeed, this in a sense is true, as the thirty-eighth... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:3

If he will contend with him ; rather, if he should desire to contend with him ; i.e. if, notwithstanding his knowledge of his own weakness and guilt, he should nevertheless be mad enough to desire to contend with God, then he will find that he cannot answer him one of a thousand . Of the charges which God might in his omniscience bring against him, he could not make a satisfactory reply to one in a thousand. It is not that Job admits any special guilt in himself; but such he feels to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:4

He is wise in heart, and mighty in strength . The sense is strengthened if we omit "he is," and render, Wise in heart, and mighty in strength , who hath hardened ' etc.? God's combination of perfect wisdom with infinite strength renders it hopeless for any man to contend with him. Who hath hardened himself against him; and hath prospered? Job fully admits the wisdom of all that Eliphaz ( Job 4:17 ) and Bildad ( Job 8:3-6 ) have said, or hinted, with respect to his inability... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:5

Which removeth the mountains, and they know not; which overturneth them in his anger . Earthquakes are common in all the countries adjoining Syria and Palestine, and must always have been among the most striking manifestations of God's power. There are several allusions to them in the Psalms ( Psalms 8:8 , Psalms 104:32 ). and historical mention of them in Numbers 16:32 ; 1 Kings 19:1 ; Amos 1:1 ; Zechariah 14:4 , Zechariah 14:5 ; Matthew 24:7 . Josephus speaks of one which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:5-10

Job to Bildad: 2. The majesty of God depicted. I. IN TERRESTRIAL PHENOMENA . 1 . Overturning mountains. "Which removeth," i.e. . uprooteth or overtumeth, "the mountains, and they know not: which overturneth them in his anger" (verse 5). Whatever be the allusion intended, whether to the convulsions of nature which occurred at the Flood, or to those usually associated with earthquakes, the language suggests the absoluteness of God's control over nature, and in particular: 2 .... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:5-13

A magnificent description of the might and majesty of God, transcending anything in the Psalms, and comparable to the grandest passages of Isaiah (see especially Isaiah 40:21-24 ; Isaiah 43:15-20 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:6

Which shaketh the earth out of her place . This is a still more startling figure of speech; but comp. Psalms 46:2 ; Psalms 68:16 ; Psalms 114:4 , Psalms 114:6 . And the pillars thereof tremble . The earth is conceived of, poetically, as a huge edifice, supported on pillars (comp. Psalms 75:3 ), which in an earthquake are shaken, and impart their motion to the entire building. Rosenmuller's quotation of Seneca, 'Nat. Quaest.,' 6:20—" Fortasse ex aliqua parle terra veluti columnis... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 9:7

Which commandeth the sun, and it riseth not . A magnificent idea of God's power, and, of course, quite true. All the movements of the earth and of the heavenly bodies are movements which God causes, and could at any moment suspend. The sun only rises upon the earth each day because God causes it to rise. If he were once to intermit his hand, the whole universe would fall into confusion. And sealeth up the stars . Either covers them with a thick darkness, which their rays cannot penetrate,... read more

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