(1) В¶ But Job answered and said, (2) How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength? (3) How hast thou counselled him that hath no wisdom? and how hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is? (4) To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?
The chief purport of Job's reply, in these words, seems to be directed to convince Bildad, that he had not answered, because he could not contradict what Job had advanced. And if Bildad thought, by what he had said, that he had benefitted GOD'S cause, he was grossly mistaken. But, beside this Job intimated also, that had Bildad been directed of GOD'S SPIRIT, in this discourse, he would not only have taken notice of GOD'S power, but of his grace; and especially as needed so much to be shown to a poor afflicted creature, like Job. Now, said Job (for that seems the subject of his reply) if the SPIRIT of the LORD came to thee on this occasion, thou wouldest have seen how needful it is to comfort an afflicted soul, with spreading before him sweet views of GOD'S love and grace; and not so much of his power, when the heart is before so dreadfully alarmed in the contemplation of his greatness. See a sweet precept to this purport, Isaiah 40:1-2.