The Pulpit Commentary — Job — Section 409

HOMILETICS. Vere. 1-6.-Bi1dad to Job: The greatness of God and the littleness of man: an old 1e1·mon • reproduced. I. THE GREATNESS OF Goo. 'l'o impress Job with suitable conceplions of the ineffable majesty of that Divine Being before whom he desired so confidently and, as it appeared to the speaker, so irreverently to come (eh. xxiii. 3-5), Bildad depicts God's dominion as : 1. .dbsolute in its character. "Dominion is with him" (ver. 2); i.e. as it is with no other. Earthly potentates derive their sovereignty from him (Prov. viii. 15; 1 Pet. ii. 14). Ho also is the Fountain of authority for whatever principalities and powers exist in the heavenly places (Col. i. 16). But dominion exists in God essentially, absolutely, permanently. The uncreated, unde- rived, and governmental supreD11Lcy of God is exhibited in Scripture with singular lucidity o.nd folness (Gen. xiv. 19; Dent. x. 14; 2 Kings xix. 15; 1 Chron. xxix. 11; Ps. xcv. 3; Matt. xi. 25; Rev. xix. 6). 2. .Awe-inspiring in its influence. "Dominion and fear are with him" (ver. 2), the term "fear" defining the effect produced npou the creaturely -imagination by the sublime majesty of the unnamed Deity, Bildad's omission of that Deity's name being a striking illustration of the precise import of his words. Reverential awe is the proper attitude for a creature to assume in presence of God (Detit. v. 29; x. 12; Josh. xxiv. 14; 2 Kings xvii. 36; Ps. ii. 11); who should be feared by the inhabitants of earth generally (Ps. miii. 8), by hi11 redeemed ones especially (Exod. xv. 11; Ps. lxxxix. 17), by such as would serve him acceptably (Heb. xii. 28), by those who would dwell with him continually (Rev. :ri. 18), by angelic hosts (Isa. vi. 2) and glorified saints (Rev. xv. 4). This fear should be based on the majesties\ government of God, as Lord of heaven and earth. 3. Peaceful in its efficiency. "He maketh peace in bis high places" (ver. 2), i.e. "among the celestial beings immediately surroundiug him" (Delitzsch); produciug: (1) harmony instead of discord, quenching all symptoms of internal dissension, and, where internecine warfare may have broken out, restoring the contending combatants to a state of tranquil amity; (2) reconciliation instead of estrangement, pointing probably to some sublime act of mediation by which the holy angels were confirmed in obedience (e.g. the enthronement of Christ as Mediator: Candlish, ''l'he F,itherhood. of God,' p. 279); and (3) subjuga.• Uon·instead of revolt, exhibiting his power so effectively against the rebel angels that  THE BOOK OF JOB. (OR, XXV, 1-8.