Job 38:41

_WHO PROVIDETH FOR THE RAVEN HIS FOOD? WHEN HIS YOUNG ONES CRY UNTO GOD, THEY WANDER FOR LACK OF MEAT._ (Luke 12:24.) Transition from the noble lioness to the croaking raven. Though man dislikes it, as of ill-omen, God cares for it, as for all His creatures. "He giveth (his food) to the young ravens which cry" (Psalms 147:9). Remarks: (1) When men in affliction wish to enter into controversy with God respecting His dealings, they little know how foolhardy is their desire. They could not answer one of a thousand questions which God might put to them. Their "words without knowledge" only "darken counsel," instead of shedding light on God's infinite wisdom in the ordering and governing of the world (Job 38:2)

25-41 Hitherto God had put questions to Job to show him his ignorance; now God shows his weakness. As it is but little that he knows, he ought not to arraign the Divine counsels; it is but little he can do, therefore he ought not to oppose the ways of Providence. See the all-sufficiency of the Divine Providence; it has wherewithal to satisfy the desire of every living thing. And he that takes care of the young ravens, certainly will not be wanting to his people. This being but one instance of the Divine compassion out of many, gives us occasion to think how much good our God does, every day, beyond what we are aware of. Every view we take of his infinite perfections, should remind us of his right to our love, the evil of sinning against him, and our need of his mercy and salvation....

Verse Job 38:41. _WHO PROVIDETH FOR THE RAVEN_] This bird is chosen, perhaps, for his voracious appetite, and general hunger for prey, beyond most other fowls. He makes a continual cry, and the cry is that of hunger. He dares not frequent the habitations of men, as he is considered a bird of ill omen, and hated by all. This verse is finely paraphrased by Dr. YOUNG: - "Fond man! the vision of a moment made! Dream of a dream, and shadow of a shade! What worlds hast thou produced, what creatures framed, What insects cherish'd, that thy God is blamed? When pain'd with hunger, the wild raven's

WHO PROVIDETH FOR THE RAVEN HIS FOOD? - The same thought is expressed in Psalms 147:9, He giveth to the beast his food, And to the young ravens which cry. Compare Matthew 6:26. Scbeutzer (_in loc_.) suggests that the reason why the raven is specified here rather than other fowls is, that it is an offensive bird, and that God means to state that no object, however regarded by man, is beneath his notice. He carefully provides for the needs of all his creatures. WHEN HIS YOUNG ONES CRY UNTO GOD, THEY WANDER FOR LACK OF MEAT - Bochart observes that the raven expels the young from the

CLOSE OF THE CONTROVERSY BY THE INTERFERENCE OF THE ALMIGHTY. EXPOSITION The discourse, by which the Almighty answers Job and rebukes his "friends," occupies four chapters (ch. 38-41.). It is broken into two parts by the interposition of a-short confession on Job's part (Job 40:3). Job 38:1 and Job 39:1 are closely connected, and form a single appeal—a sort of _argumentum ad verecundiam—_to_ _Job's profound ignorance of God's natural government, which incapacitates him from passing judgment upon what is far more incomprehensible and myste

WHO PROVIDETH FOR THE RAVEN HIS FOOD?.... Not man, but God; he feeds the ravens, creatures very voracious, mean, and useless, Luke 12:24; WHEN HIS YOUNG ONES CRY UNTO GOD; cry for want of food; which is interpreted by the Lord as a cry unto him, and he relieves them, Psalms 147:9; when deserted by the old ones; either left in their nests through forgetfulness, as some z; or because they are not, till fledged, black like them, as others a; when God feeds them, as some say b, with a kind of dew from heaven, or with flies that fly about them, and fall into their mouths; or with worms bred out of their dung but these things are not to be depended on; it may rather respect them when cast out of the nest by the old ones, when able to fly, which is testified by naturalists

CHAPTER S 38:39--39:30 _ 1. The beasts of prey (Job 38:39)_ 2. The wild goats, the ass, the unicorn and the ostrich (Job 39:1) 3. The horse, the hawk and the eagle (Job 39:19) Job 38:39. God's own wisdom and power in nature, as witnessed to by Himself, is followed by His witness as to the sustenance of His creatures, how mercifully He provides for their need. This section begins with the query, “Knowest thou?” Could he hunt the prey of the lion, or fill the ravenous appetite of their young? God considers the young, even so unclean a bird as the raven has its food provided by God. Wonderful it is to read that the young rave

JOB 38:39 TO JOB 39:30. THE WONDERS OF THE ANIMATE CREATION. In Job 38:39 f. God first names the lion. Man would rather hunt and destroy the lion than feed him. But God cares for the lion as well as for man. So also for the raven (Job 38:41); but perhaps as the raven seems out of place here among the beasts, we should read, Who provideth at evening its food? In this case Job 38:41 continues the description of God's care of the lion....

Job 38:39 Ch. Job 39:30. The manifoldness of the Divine Mind as displayed in the world of animal life The instances chosen are the lion and the raven (Job 38:39); the wild goats and the hinds (ch. Job 39:1-4); the wild ass (Job 38:5; the wild ox (Job 38:9); the ostrich (Job 38:13); the war horse (Job 38:19); the hawk and the eagle ...

WHO PROVIDETH FOR THE RAVEN HIS FOOD?— The reason given why the raven is particularly mentioned as an object of the care of Providence, is, because by his clamorous and importunate voice he particularly seems always calling upon him; thence κορασσω from _corax,_ a _raven,_ signifies to _ask earnestly,_ Elian, lib. ii. c. 48. See Dr. Young's Notes on his Paraphrase of the Book of Job. REFLECTIONS.—1st, Behold the present Deity! what mortal but must tremble before him, with deep silence bow into the dust, and hear with solemn attention what GOD is about to speak! 1. The person who appears is the Almighty Jehovah, probably the eternal Son, visible in human form. See chap. Job 42:5. Out of the whirlwind, in terrible majesty, he utters his voice, and, as Job had so earnestly requested, directs his speech to him. _Note;_ (1.) God hath various ways of speaking to the