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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Job 33:14-18

Job had complained that God kept him wholly in the dark concerning the meaning of his dealings with him, and therefore concluded he dealt with him as his enemy. ?No,? says Elihu, ?he speaks to you, but you do not perceive him; so that the fault is yours, not his; and he is designing your real good even in those dispensations which you put this harsh construction upon.? Observe in general, 1. What a friend God is to our welfare: He speaketh to us once, yea, twice, Job 33:14. It is a token of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:14

For God speaketh once, yea, twice ,.... Or, "but God speaketh" F9 כי "sed", Beza, Piscator. ; though he is not bound to give an account of his matters, and the reasons of his proceedings in a way of providence or grace; yet such is his condescension and goodness, that he makes use of various ways and means to make known his mind and will in his dispensations, if men were but attentive to them; he speaks once, in dreams and visions, as in Job 33:15 ; and twice, or a second time, by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Job 33:15

In a dream, in a vision of the night ,.... That is, God speaks to men in this way, and which in those times was his most usual way; see Job 4:12 ; sometimes he spake to a prophet, a person in public office, and made known his mind and will in this manner to him, that he might deliver it to others, Numbers 12:6 ; and sometimes directly and immediately to persons themselves, as he did to Abimelech and Laban, Genesis 20:3 ; when deep sleep lieth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed ;... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 33:14

For God speaketh once - Though he will not be summoned to the bar of his creatures, nor condescend to detail the reasons of his conduct, which they could not comprehend, yet he so acts, in the main, that the operation of his hand and the designs of his counsel may sufficiently appear, provided men had their eyes open upon his ways, and their hearts open to receive his influence. Elihu, having made the general statement that God would not come to the bar of his creatures to give account of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Job 33:15

I. In a Dream In a Dream - when deep sleep falleth upon men - Many, by such means, have had the most salutary warnings; and to decry all such, because there are many vain dreams, would be nearly as much wisdom as to deny the Bible, because there are many foolish books, the authors of which supposed they were under a Divine influence while composing them. II. In a Vision read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:1-33

In this chapter Elihu, turning away from the "comforters," proceeds to address Job himself, offering to reason out the matter in dispute with him, in God's stead. After a brief exordium (verses 1-7), he takes exception which (he says) are unjust. He next brings forward his theory of God-inflicted sufferings being, in the main, chastisements proceeding from a loving purpose, intended to purify, to strengthen, to purge out faults, to "save from the pit," to improve, and to enlighten... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:8-33

Elihu's first discourse: the guilt of man in the sight of God. I. JOB 'S CONFIDENCE IN HAS INNOCENTS CENSURED . ( Job 33:8-11 .) Elihu gathers up in brief some of those sayings of Job which had shocked his ear and scandalized his spiritual conscience. Job had asserted his own purity, and had accused God of enmity against his person (compare Job's words, Job 9:21 ; Job 10:7 ; Job 16:17 ; Job 23:10 ; Job 27:5 , Job 27:6 ; Job 10:13 , seq.; Job 19:11 ; Job 30:21 ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14

For God speaketh once, yea twice . God has his own ways of speaking to man, which are not those that Job has been expecting. He speaks silently and secretly, not in thunders and lightnings, as at Sinai ( Exodus 19:16-20 ), not by extraordinary theophanies, but nevertheless quite as effectually. Yet man perceiveth it not. Man often does net recognize God's action in this silent teaching of his. Man wants something more startling, more sensational. In our Lord's time, the Jews demanded "a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14-17

Divine voices. I. THE ADVENT OF THE DIVINE VOICES . Elihu reminds us of Eliphaz, yet with a difference. Both men believe in superhuman influences, in God-sent messages, But Eliphaz tells of a stately vision, an awful and overwhelming apparition; Elihu, on the other hand, is satisfied with dream-voices. God approaches man in various ways. The most awe-inspiring is not necessarily the most instructive. Dreams have been continually recognized among the channels of Divine... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 33:14-33

Elihu's first address to Job: 2. The philosophy of Divine instruction. I. THE METHODS OF DIVINE INSTRUCTION . 1 . Through the medium of dreams. The dreams, or visions, referred to were supernatural revelations in early times imparted to men, when the spirit, probably wrapt in meditation on Divine things, was cast into a deep sleep, such as fell on Adam at the creation of Eve ( Genesis 2:21 ). That nocturnal dreams usually find their psychological basis in the mental... read more

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