Silence and a Voice
George Hutcheson. Job 4:16 It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before my eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, 1. God's humbling dispensations toward His people will all come to a good issue, and the close of all His dealings will still be sweet. For after all his humbling and fear, preparing Eliphaz for the vision, and assuring him that God was present, the voice cometh. 2. The composing of our spirits, from the confusions and tumultuous disorders incident to them, is a necessary antecedent to God's revealing of His mind. For when "there was silence, I heard a voice." 3. As for this way of the Lord's speaking by a still, or calm voice, albeit we need inquire after no reason why He makes use of it, who doth all things after the counsel of His own will, yet without wresting we may observe these in it. (1) The Lord hereby did teach that these supernatural truths were mysteries, not blazed abroad throughout the world, but whispered among some few believers. (2) The Lord hereby did press attention on those to whom He revealed His mind, while He spake not so loud as might reach them whether they attended or not, but in a still voice, which might excite them seriously to hearken. (3) Hereby also the Lord declared that He will not be a terror to such as delight to converse with Him in His Word, for to such He would not appear as wind, earthquake, or fire, but in a still sweet voice. (4) However men ought to speak the truths of God so audibly as they may be heard, and with that zeal and fervency that becometh; yet, it is not the clamorous voice that makes the word effectual, but the weight and importance of the matter seriously pressed home by the Spirit of God. For even by this "still voice," God communicated His will, and made it to be obeyed in the world. (George Hutcheson.) Parallel Verses KJV: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying, WEB: It stood still, but I couldn't discern its appearance. A form was before my eyes. Silence, then I heard a voice, saying,