(5) В¶ Dead things are formed from under the waters, and the inhabitants thereof. (6) Hell is naked before him, and destruction hath no covering. (7) He stretcheth out the north over the empty place, and hangeth the earth upon nothing. (8) He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. (9) He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it. (10) He hath compassed the waters with bounds, until the day and night come to an end. (11) The pillars of heaven tremble and are astonished at his reproof. (12) He divideth the sea with his power, and by his understanding he smiteth through the proud. (13) By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his hand hath formed the crooked serpent. (14) Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?
Beautiful as this relation is, concerning GOD and his glorious attributes, yet certainly it was nothing but what might have been as well discoursed, without an eye to the dispute between Job and his friends, as with it. It forms a grand subject in the display of GOD'S power. His omnipotency in creating; his omniscience in beholding. Hell naked before him, is a solemn description, in few words, of everything awful and alarming. But these things, read in a spiritual point of view also, as referring to his gracious power in re-creating the souls of his people, observing the sorrows of hell in their struggles with the kingdom of darkness; holding back the face of his throne, when dark seasons oppress them; spreading his cloud upon it, when there seemeth no answer to prayer: these are beautiful illustrations of GOD'S ways, though, as Job saith, these are but parts of his ways: and how little a portion, after all, can the wisest discover of him. Reader! it is profitable to eye these things with reference to ourselves. Beautiful and instructive as all scriptures are, when seen as exemplified in the history of others, yet, to our own experience, those come home nearest and closest to the heart, which speak to a man's own mind. David hath made a very striking and just observation on this ground when he saith, I will never forget thy precepts, for with them thou hast quickened me. Psalms 119:93.