5 The shades in the underworld are shaking; the waters and those living in them. 6 The underworld is uncovered before him, and Destruction has no veil. 7 By his hand the north is stretched out in space, and the earth is hanging on nothing. 8 By him the waters are shut up in his thick clouds, and the cloud does not give way under them. 9 By him the face of his high seat is veiled, and his cloud stretched out over it. 10 By him a circle is marked out on the face of the waters, to the limits of the light and the dark. 11 The pillars of heaven are shaking, and are overcome by his sharp words. 12 By his power the sea was made quiet; and by his wisdom Rahab was wounded. 13 By his wind the heavens become bright: by his hand the quickly moving snake was cut through. 14 See, these are only the outskirts of his ways; and how small is that which comes to our ears about him! But the thunder of his acts of power is outside all knowledge.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 26:5-14
Commentary on Job 26:5-14
(Read Job 26:5-14)
Many striking instances are here given of the wisdom and power of God, in the creation and preservation of the world. If we look about us, to the earth and waters here below, we see his almighty power. If we consider hell beneath, though out of our sight, yet we may conceive the discoveries of God's power there. If we look up to heaven above, we see displays of God's almighty power. By his Spirit, the eternal Spirit that moved upon the face of the waters, the breath of his mouth, Psalm 33:6, he has not only made the heavens, but beautified them. By redemption, all the other wonderful works of the Lord are eclipsed; and we may draw near, and taste his grace, learn to love him, and walk with delight in his ways. The ground of the controversy between Job and the other disputants was, that they unjustly thought from his afflictions that he must have been guilty of heinous crimes. They appear not to have duly considered the evil and just desert of original sin; nor did they take into account the gracious designs of God in purifying his people. Job also darkened counsel by words without knowledge. But his views were more distinct. He does not appear to have alleged his personal righteousness as the ground of his hope towards God. Yet what he admitted in a general view of his case, he in effect denied, while he complained of his sufferings as unmerited and severe; that very complaint proving the necessity for their being sent, in order to his being further humbled in the sight of God.