Job 42

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:1-6

Contrition. Job, chastened with severe afflictions, harassed by the biting words of incompetent teachers, and now by the Divine voice humbled into the very dust, makes his lowly confession unto Almighty God, and casts himself upon the Divine forbearance and mercy. The confession of this truly humble, lowly, contrite, and obedient heart embraces— I. A JUST APPREHENSION OF THE DIVINE POWER . The ability of God to work all in all—to do whatsoever he pleaseth. "Now I know that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:1-17

This concluding chapter divides into two parts. In the first part ( Job 42:1-6 ) Job makes his final submission, humbling himself in the dust before God. In the second (verses 7-17) the historical framework, in which the general dialogue is set, is resumed and brought to a close. God's approval of Job is declared, and his anger denounced against the three friends, who are required to expiate their guilt by a sacrifice, and only promised forgiveness if Job will intercede on their behalf... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:1-17

The conclusion of the drama. I. THE SETTLEMENT OF THE THIRD CONTROVERSY BETWEEN JEHOVAH AND JOB . ( Job 42:1-6 .) This controversy, it will be remembered, arose out of the intensity of Job's sufferings and the perplexity of Job's spirit, which caused him on the one hand to form too favourable an opinion of his own, and on the other hand too unfavourable an opinion of God's, righteousness; to misinterpret the facts of providence almost as egregiously as, though in an... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:1-17

Commentators have generally recognized that this psalm is introductory and prefatory. Jerome says that many called it "the Preface of the Holy Ghost." Some of the Fathers did not even regard it as a psalm at all, but as a mere preface, and so reckoned the second psalm as the first (in many manuscripts of the New Testament, the reading is "first psalm" instead of "second psalm" in Acts 13:33 ). The composition is, as Hengstenberg observes, "a short compendium of tile main subject of the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:3

Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? As these are nearly the words of God in Job 38:2 , some suppose that they must be his words again here, and imagine a short dialogue in this place between Job and the Almighty, assigning to Job verse 2, the latter half of verse 8, and the whole of verses 5 and 6, while they assign to God verse 4 and the first clause of verse 8. But it is far more natural to regard Job as bringing up the words which God had spoken to him, to ponder on them... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:4

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak; I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me , Job refers to God's words in Job 38:3 and Job 40:7 , and realizes the humbling effect which they had had on him. They made him feel how little he knew on the subject of God's works and ways, and how little competent he was to judge them. Hence he bursts into the confession- read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:5

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear . Hitherto, i.e; I have had nothing but hearsay knowledge of thee; I have not known thee in any true sense; but now —now that thou hast revealed thyself— mine eye seeth thee; my spiritual eye is opened, and 1 begin to see thee in thy true might, thy true greatness, thy true inscrutableness. Now I recognize the distance which separates us, and feel how unreasonable it is that I should contend with thee, argue with thee, assume myself to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:5

The soul's experience of God. This is a grand experience for Job to attain to. It is worth all the agony and mystery of his bitter affliction. Suddenly the black clouds break open and the glorious vision of God appears beyond them. Job now contrasts his new, direct seeing of God with his former hearsay knowledge. I. A HEARSAY KNOWLEDGE OF GOD . This is what Job possessed in the old days. Not that he was without any religious experience in those prosperous times. But the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:5-6

Hearsay and vision. I. HEARSAY IS NOT VISION . Hearsay may be distinguished from vision two ways. 1 . In respect of its nature. Hearsay, as the term signifies in common speech, is information received at second hand, by report, in contrast to that derived from personal observation and experience, which it is usual to describe as seeing. When applied to our knowledge of Divine things* the former may be understood as signifying all that instruction which comes to us from without,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Job 42:6

Wherefore I abhor myself ; or, I loathe my words (see the Revised Version). And repent in dust and ashes. Job was still sitting on the ash-heap on which he had thrown himself when his disease first smote him ( Job 2:8 ). He had thrown himself on it in grief and de, pair; he will remain seated on it in compunction and penitence. His self-humiliation is now complete. He does not retract what he has said concerning his essential integrity, but he admits that his words have been... read more

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