The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 82

Ver. 12--ch. v. i.-The orac'le in a dream of the night. Here we have the narration_ of one of those revelations in visions of the night, through which man so frequently learned in the elder time to know the will of the Eternal Every line of the description is significant and impressive. .. I. 'l'HE ASSOCIATIONS oF THE l.'IGB'L L It is the season of solitude. In the daytime we have many to keep us company, to encourage us, it may be, in false or -idle thoughts, or divert us from those that are serious. Now at last we are alone, and must stand face to fa.cewitk self, with truth, with God. 2. It is the season of silence. There is no noise, no confusion, drowning the b"till, small voices which otherwise might be beard. 3. It is the time of darkness. The eye is no longer filled with sights that divert the fancy and unbend the fixity of the mind's direction. Pascal says that the reason why men pursne field sports and other amusements with so much eagerness is that they may fly from themselves, which is a night that noDe can bear. But the darkness, throwing a veil above the bright outer world, flings tbe man back upon himself, forces him into the inDer chamber of cow.cience. Happy those who have learned to employ the wakeful hours in self-communion and in communioll with God, and who find that "night visions do befriend, while waking dreams a.re fatal" II. THE STILLNESS OF Goo's VOICE. This is a thought made very prominent in the description, as in the revelation to Elijah on Horeb-tbe calmness and gentleDess of the voice of the Unseen and the Divine. Eliphaz says the word "stole" upon him, aDd it was a "geotle sound" bis ear received (ver. 12). It was a "whispering voice" (ver. 16), like the 11tu1W"rw, or rustling of .the leaves of a tree in the quiet air of night. For all who willingly listen, the voice of the great Father of spirits is calm, quiet, gentle, though stroDg and awful. Only upon the stubborn ear and obdurate heart does it peal in the end with thunder and menace. lH. THE EFFECT UPON THE HUJUB HEART OF Goo's VOICE. (Ver. 14.) It cannot be heard without awe and without terror. One tone of that voice vibrating through the whole consciousne811 awakens iDetantly all the aense of our weakness, our ignorance, and anr sin. And here we have all the physical symptons faithfully desoribed which testif1 OD. ll', 1-21.] THE BOOK OF JOB. 77