381 And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said: 2 "Why do you confuse the issue? Why do you talk without knowing what you're talking about? 3 Pull yourself together, Job! Up on your feet! Stand tall! I have some questions for you, and I want some straight answers.
4 Where were you when I created the earth? Tell me, since you know so much! 5 Who decided on its size? Certainly you'll know that! Who came up with the blueprints and measurements? 6 How was its foundation poured, and who set the cornerstone, 7 While the morning stars sang in chorus and all the angels shouted praise? 8 And who took charge of the ocean when it gushed forth like a baby from the womb? 9 That was me! I wrapped it in soft clouds, and tucked it in safely at night. 10 Then I made a playpen for it, a strong playpen so it couldn't run loose, 11 And said, 'Stay here, this is your place. Your wild tantrums are confined to this place.'
12 "And have you ever ordered Morning, 'Get up!' told Dawn, 'Get to work!' 13 So you could seize Earth like a blanket and shake out the wicked like cockroaches? 14 As the sun brings everything to light, brings out all the colors and shapes, 15 The cover of darkness is snatched from the wicked - they're caught in the very act! 16 "Have you ever gotten to the true bottom of things, explored the labyrinthine caves of deep ocean? 17 Do you know the first thing about death? Do you have one clue regarding death's dark mysteries? 18 And do you have any idea how large this earth is? Speak up if you have even the beginning of an answer. 19 "Do you know where Light comes from and where Darkness lives 20 So you can take them by the hand and lead them home when they get lost? 21 Why, of course you know that. You've known them all your life, grown up in the same neighborhood with them!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Job 38:1-21
Commentary on Job 38:1-3
(Read Job 38:1-3)
Job had silenced, but had not convinced his friends. Elihu had silenced Job, but had not brought him to admit his guilt before God. It pleased the Lord to interpose. The Lord, in this discourse, humbles Job, and brings him to repent of his passionate expressions concerning God's providential dealings with him; and this he does, by calling upon Job to compare God's being from everlasting to everlasting, with his own time; God's knowledge of all things, with his own ignorance; and God's almighty power, with his own weakness. Our darkening the counsels of God's wisdom with our folly, is a great provocation to God. Humble faith and sincere obedience see farthest and best into the will of the Lord.
Commentary on Job 38:4-11
(Read Job 38:4-11)
For the humbling of Job, God here shows him his ignorance, even concerning the earth and the sea. As we cannot find fault with God's work, so we need not fear concerning it. The works of his providence, as well as the work of creation, never can be broken; and the work of redemption is no less firm, of which Christ himself is both the Foundation and the Corner-stone. The church stands as firm as the earth.
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!