5 “Those who are deceased tremble,
those beneath the waters and all that live in them. 6 Sheol [1] is naked before God,
and Abaddon [2] has no covering. 7 He stretches out the north over empty space,
and hangs the earth on nothing. 8 He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,
and the cloud is not burst under them. 9 He encloses the face of his throne,
and spreads his cloud on it. 10 He has described a boundary on the surface of the waters,
and to the confines of light and darkness. 11 The pillars of heaven tremble
and are astonished at his rebuke. 12 He stirs up the sea with his power,
and by his understanding he strikes through Rahab. 13 By his Spirit the heavens are garnished.
His hand has pierced the swift serpent. 14 Behold, these are but the outskirts of his ways.
How small a whisper do we hear of him!
But the thunder of his power who can understand?”
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.