_Hear attentively the noise of His voice._ WHAT IS ELIHU’S MESSAGE What he really contributes to the main argument of the book is, that suffering may be medicinal, corrective, fructifying, as well as punitive. The friends had proceeded on the assumption, an assumption abundantly refuted by Job, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_He sealeth up the hand of every man._ GOD KNOWN BY THE SEALING UP OF MAN’S HAND The primary reference to this statement is to the season of winter. Then the earth is hard With frost, and perhaps covered with snow. This brings to man a diminution of power. Scope for his usual activity is cut off.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God._ GOD’S WONDROUS WORKING The teaching of Scripture, both in the Old Testament and in the New, impresses upon us a recognition of the most intimate connection between God and all the forces and events of nature and provi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds?_ CLOUDS Note, in the address of Elihu, his close observation of God’s works in nature, and the admirable use he makes of them. I. The fact in nature. Wonderful creations of God are the clouds, well deserving our admiration and our study. What a beauti... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hast thou with Him spread out the sky?_ THE SKY For beauty, for inspiration, for health and refreshment, for a sense of freedom and enlargement, is there anything like the sky when the earth does not bury it out of sight by her vapours, nor foul and tarnish it by her smoke? Or again, for teaching... [ Continue Reading ]
_Teach us what we shall say unto Him._ MAN AND GOD I. Suggestions concerning man. 1. The sublimest act, speaking to God. “Teach us what we shall say unto Him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Shall it be told Him that I speak? If a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.”... [ Continue Reading ]
_And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds._ LIGHT IN THE CLOUDS Faith can see light when to human sense all is dark and dismal; can distinguish stars in the darkest night, sunbeams in the blackest clouds. I do not profess accurately to determine the meaning of our text. Possibly... [ Continue Reading ]
_Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty._ THE TESTIMONY OF NATURE TO THE TERRIBLE MAJESTY OF GOD These words occur towards the close of that remonstrance of Elihu which he addressed to Job his friend, and is immediately followed by the answer of the Lord Himself out of t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out._ AN UNKNOWN QUANTITY It is well that there should be an immeasurable and unknown quantity in life and in creation. Even the unknown has its purposes to serve; rightly received, it will heighten veneration; it will reprove unholy ambition; it will teac... [ Continue Reading ]