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I. THE SNOW IN ITS INTERESTING PHENOMENON. The snow falls in beautiful showers almost every year, and covers the face of nature. Multitudes admire its beauties, but few understand its singular formation, important uses, and varied design. These things ought not so to be. We should make ourselves acquainted with the works of God, especially such common gifts as the rain, and wind, and snow. This would lead our thoughts from nature to nature's God; and then His wisdom, and power, and goodness as seen therein would excite our admiration. The snow, this wonderful creature of God, has been thus described — "Snow is a moist vapour drawn up from the earth to, or near the middle region of the air, where it is condensed, or thickened into a cloud, and falls down again like carded wool, sometimes in greater and sometimes in lesser flakes. The snow and the rain are made of the same matter, and are produced in the same place, only they differ in their outward form, as is obvious to the eye, and in their season. Rain falls in the warmer seasons, the clouds being dissolved into rain by heat; snow falls in the sharper seasons, the clouds being thickened by the cold. The place where the snow is generated is in the air, from thence it receives a command to dispatch itself to the earth, and there to abide." Three things respecting the snow may just be noticed.

1. Its whiteness. The whiteness of snow, observe naturalists, is caused by the abundance of air and spirits that are in transparent bodies. "The whiteness of snow," says Sturm, "may be accounted for thus — it is extremely light, and thin, consequently full of pores, and these contain air. It is further composed of parts more or less thick and compact, and such a substance does not admit the sun's rays to pass, neither does it absorb them: on the contrary, it reflects them very powerfully, and thus gives it that white appearance which we see in it" (Isaiah 1:18).

2. Form. "The little flakes," observes the pious author just named, "generally resemble hexagonal stars; sometimes, however, they have eight angles, and at others ten, and some of them are of quite an irregular shape. The best way of observing them is to receive the snow upon white paper, but hitherto little has been said of the cause of these different figures."

3. Abundance. "Hast thou," said God to Job, "entered into the treasures of snow?"

II. THE SNOW IN ITS EFFICIENT SOURCE. The philosopher may explain its secondary, or instrumental causes, but the Christian recognises and acknowledges its first and original cause. Elihu, in the text, and in other parts of this chapter, traces, or notices, the thunder and the lightning, the snow and the rain, the whirlwind and the cold, the frost and the clouds, to their Divine source. "For He saith" (i.e., He commands) "to the snow, Be thou on the earth." The source from whence the snow proceeds, illustrates —

1. God's power. When the Almighty Maker wills a thing, He has only to speak, and it is done.

2. God's sovereignty. The sovereignty of God means His power and right of dominion over His creatures, to dispose and determine them as seemeth Him good. The snow affords an instance of the exercise of this attribute — on God's will depends the time, the quantity, and the place.

3. God's justice. The text itself refers to this very attribute. "For He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for His land, or for mercy." And Elihu, in the end of the chapter, where he closes his conversation with Job, on the attributes of God, as seen in His works, gives prominence to His justice. "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find Him out: He is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: men do therefore fear Him." And the Almighty Himself, in the next chapter, tells Job that He sometimes sends His snow and hail in justice, that sinners may be punished for their sins (Job 38:22, 23).

4. God's goodness.

5. God's providence.

III. THE SNOW IN ITS VARIED PURPOSES. "He causeth it," i.e., "the cloud, with whatever is its burden, to unladen and disburden itself" — "for correction, or for His land, or for mercy." We must here observe —

1. The Lord sometimes sends the snow in the way of correction. The Hebrew is, for a rod — so we put it in the margin. Thunder and rain is the rod (1 Samuel 12:17-19). And who can tell but God may send His snow, and wind, and cold, to punish us for our unmindfulness of His mercies, and opposition to His laws?

2. The snow may be sent for the benefit of God's land. "For His land" (ver. 13). "The world is His, and the fulness thereof." The clouds, therefore, drop down their moisture for the benefit of God's land, that the beasts may have pasture; plants, nourishment; and that there may be provision for all God's offspring (Psalm 104:10-14, 27, 28; Psalm 65:9-13).

3. The design of God in sending the snow may be merciful.

IV. OUR DUTY AS IMPLIED IN ELIHU'S ADDRESS TO JOB. "Hearken unto this, O Job: stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God" (ver. 14). The works of God are wonderful — wonderful in their magnitude, variety, beauty, usefulness, and order — these are to be considered. Consider them, therefore; many see them, who never consider them. Consider them reverently. Patiently. Calmly. Closely. God's works will bear inspection. Frequently. Devoutly. Not merely that your minds may be informed, but your heart drawn out towards God, in pious affections. We learn from this subject —

1. The generality of men pay little attention to the wondrous works of God, that such indifference is very criminal, and that it is the duty of ministers to awaken the attention of their people to the subject.

2. Special and particular providences demand special and particular attention. "Hearken unto this."

3. The perfect ease with which God can punish the wicked, and hurl them to destruction.

4. The present time affords a fine opportunity for the exercise of Christian benevolence.

5. The precious privileges of those who are interested in the favour of God.

(The Pulpit.)

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KJV: At this also my heart trembleth, and is moved out of his place.

WEB: "Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.