Matthew Henry Commentary Job 26:5-14

"They that are deceased tremble Beneath the waters and the inhabitants thereof. Sheol is naked before [God], And Abaddon hath no covering. He stretcheth out the north over empty space, And hangeth the earth upon nothing. He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; And the cloud is not rent under them. He incloseth the face of his throne, And spreadeth his cloud upon it. He hath described a boundary upon the face of the waters, Unto the confines of light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble And are astonished at his rebuke. He stirreth up the sea with his power, And by his understanding he smiteth through Rahab. By his Spirit the heavens are garnished; His hand hath pierced the swift serpent. Lo, these are but the outskirts of his ways: And how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?" — Job 26:5-14 (ASV)

Many striking examples are given here of the wisdom and power of God in the creation and preservation of the world. If we look around us, to the earth and waters here below, we see his almighty power. If we consider hell beneath, though out of our sight, we can still perceive the manifestations of God's power there. If we look up to heaven above, we see displays of God's almighty power.

By his Spirit, the eternal Spirit that moved upon the face of the waters, the breath of his mouth (Psalms 33:6), he has not only made the heavens but beautified them. By redemption, all the other wonderful works of the Lord are eclipsed; and we may draw near, taste his grace, learn to love him, and walk with delight in his ways.

The ground of the controversy between Job and the other disputants was that they unjustly thought from his afflictions that he must have been guilty of heinous crimes.

They appear not to have properly considered the evil and just consequences of original sin; nor did they take into account the gracious designs of God in purifying his people. Job also darkened counsel by words without knowledge. But his views were more distinct. He does not appear to have alleged his personal righteousness as the ground of his hope toward God.

Yet what he admitted in a general view of his case, he effectively denied while he complained of his sufferings as unmerited and severe; that very complaint proving the necessity for them to be sent, so that he might be further humbled in the sight of God.