Job 38:13
That it might take hold of the ends of the earth
As when the morning light springs forth, it quickly does, reaching in a short time the extreme part of the hemisphere; which, and what goes before, may be applied to the light of the Gospel, and the direction of that under divine Providence in the several parts of the world, and unto the ends of it; see (
Psalms 19:4-6 ) (
Romans 10:18 ) ;
that the wicked might be shaken out of it?
the earth, by means of the light; which may be understood either of wicked men who have been all night upon works of darkness, and be take themselves on the approach of light to private lurking places, like beasts of prey, so that the earth seems to be, as it were, clear of them; or of their being taken up in the morning for deeds done in the night, and brought to justice, which used to be exercised in mornings, (
Jeremiah 21:12 ) (
Psalms 101:8 ) ; and so the earth rid of them: thus wicked men shun the light, of the Gospel, and are condemned by it; and in the latter day light and glory they will cease from the earth; see (
John 3:19 John 3:20 ) (
Psalms 10:16 ) (
104:35 ) .
-------
Job 38:14
It is turned as clay [to] the seal
As the clay receives a different form by the impress of the seal upon it, so the earth appears in a different manner by the spring of morning light upon it; in the darkness of the night nothing of its form and beauty is to be seen; it is a mere "tohu" and "bohu", like the chaos, (
Genesis 1:2 ) ; its rising hills, and spreading dales, and beautiful landscapes, cannot be observed with pleasure; but when the light breaks forth in the morning, it is seen in all its beauty and glory: of the change the light of the Gospel makes in men, see (
2 Corinthians 3:18 ) ;
and they stand as a garment;
or things stand upon it as a garment, as Mr. Broughton renders the words; herbs, plants, and trees, unseen in the night, stand up like a vesture to the earth in the morning light; and as they are clothed themselves, they are a garment to that, which now puts on another and beautiful habit; the pastures are clothed with flocks, and the valleys covered with corn, and the whole earth with light itself, as with a garment: and as beautifully do men made light in the Lord appear; see (
Isaiah 41:10 ) (
Revelation 3:4 Revelation 3:5 ) (
12:1 ) .
-------
Job 38:15
And from the wicked their light is withholden
Whose light is darkness, and whose day is the night, of which they are deprived when the morning light breaks forth; see (
Job 24:17 ) ; it may be figuratively understood of the light of prosperity being removed from them, or the light of life, when they shall be sent into utter darkness;
and the high arm shall be broken;
their power weakened and made useless; even the power of such wicked men who have had a large share of it, and have used it in a tyrannical manner; and especially this will be their case at death; see (
Isaiah 14:10 Isaiah 14:12 ) .
