12 Hast thou commanded morning since thy days? Causest thou the dawn to know its place? 13 To take hold on the skirts of the earth, And the wicked are shaken out of it, 14 It turneth itself as clay of a seal And they station themselves as clothed. 15 And withheld from the wicked is their light, And the arm lifted up is broken. 16 Hast thou come in to springs of the sea? And in searching the deep Hast thou walked up and down? 17 Revealed to thee were the gates of death? And the gates of death-shade dost thou see? 18 Thou hast understanding, Even unto the broad places of earth! Declare—if thou hast known it all. 19 Where 'is' this—the way light dwelleth? And darkness, where 'is' this—its place? 20 That thou dost take it unto its boundary, And that thou dost understand The paths of its house. 21 Thou hast known—for then thou art born And the number of thy days 'are' many! 22 Hast thou come in unto the treasure of snow? Yea, the treasures of hail dost thou see? 23 That I have kept back for a time of distress, For a day of conflict and battle. 24 Where 'is' this, the way light is apportioned? It scattereth an east wind over the earth.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 38:12-24
Commentary on Job 38:12-24
(Read Job 38:12-24)
The Lord questions Job, to convince him of his ignorance, and shame him for his folly in prescribing to God. If we thus try ourselves, we shall soon be brought to own that what we know is nothing in comparison with what we know not. By the tender mercy of our God, the Day-spring from on high has visited us, to give light to those that sit in darkness, whose hearts are turned to it as clay to the seal, 2 Corinthians 4:6. God's way in the government of the world is said to be in the sea; this means, that it is hid from us. Let us make sure that the gates of heaven shall be opened to us on the other side of death, and then we need not fear the opening of the gates of death. It is presumptuous for us, who perceive not the breadth of the earth, to dive into the depth of God's counsels. We should neither in the brightest noon count upon perpetual day, nor in the darkest midnight despair of the return of the morning; and this applies to our inward as well as to our outward condition. What folly it is to strive against God! How much is it our interest to seek peace with him, and to keep in his love!