Clouds.

• 2 min. read • grade level: 12

Formed from the sea. 1 Kin. 18:44. Amos 9:6⁶It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The Lord is his name. (Amos 9:6).

Are the garment of the sea. Job 38:9⁹When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it, (Job 38:9).

GOD

Established. Prov. 8:28²⁸When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: (Proverbs 8:28).

Balanced in the air. Job 37:16¹⁶Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? (Job 37:16).

Disposed in order. Job 37:15¹⁵Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? (Job 37:15).

Brings over the earth. Gen. 9:14¹⁴And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: (Genesis 9:14).

Binds up. Job 26:8⁸He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds; and the cloud is not rent under them. (Job 26:8).

Spreads out. Job 26:9⁹He holdeth back the face of his throne, and spreadeth his cloud upon it. (Job 26:9).

Scatters. Job 37:11¹¹Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: (Job 37:11).

Power and wisdom of God exhibited in forming. Psa. 135:6, 7⁶Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. ⁷He causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. (Psalm 135:6‑7). Psa. 147:5, 8⁵Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. (Psalm 147:5)
⁸Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. (Psalm 147:8). Jer. 10:13¹³When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. (Jeremiah 10:13). Jer. 51:16¹⁶When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. (Jeremiah 51:16).

Power and wisdom of God exhibited in condensing. Job 36:27, 28²⁷For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapor thereof: ²⁸Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly. (Job 36:27‑28). Job 37:10, 11¹⁰By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. ¹¹Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: (Job 37:10‑11). Prov. 3:20²⁰By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. (Proverbs 3:20).

Made for the glory of God. Psa. 148:4⁴Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. (Psalm 148:4).

CALLED THE

Clouds of heaven. Deut. 7:13¹³And he will love thee, and bless thee, and multiply thee: he will also bless the fruit of thy womb, and the fruit of thy land, thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep, in the land which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee. (Deuteronomy 7:13). Matt. 24:30³⁰And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. (Matthew 24:30).

Windows of heaven. Gen. 7:11¹¹In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. (Genesis 7:11). Isa. 24:18¹⁸And it shall come to pass, that he who fleeth from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that cometh up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: for the windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do shake. (Isaiah 24:18).

Bottles of heaven. Job 38:37³⁷Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, (Job 38:37).

Chambers of God. Psa. 104:3, 13³Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: (Psalm 104:3)
¹³He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. (Psalm 104:13).

Waters above the firmament. Gen. 1:7⁷And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. (Genesis 1:7).

Dust of God's feet. Nah. 1:3³The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. (Nahum 1:3).

DIFFERENT KINDS OF, MENTIONED

White. Rev. 14:14¹⁴And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (Revelation 14:14).

Bright. Job 37:11¹¹Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: (Job 37:11). Zech. 10:1¹Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field. (Zechariah 10:1).

Thick. Job 22:14¹⁴Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven. (Job 22:14). Job 37:11¹¹Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud: (Job 37:11).

Black. 1 Kin. 18:45.

Swift. Isa. 19:1¹The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. (Isaiah 19:1).

Great. Ezek. 1:4⁴And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. (Ezekiel 1:4).

Small. 1 Kin. 18:44.

Often cover the heavens. Psa. 147:8⁸Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains. (Psalm 147:8).

Often obscure the sun, &c. Job 36:32³²With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt. (Job 36:32). Ezek. 32:7⁷And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. (Ezekiel 32:7).

Often dispersed by the wind. Hos. 13:3³Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. (Hosea 13:3).

USES OF

To give rain. Judg. 5:4⁴Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. (Judges 5:4). Psa. 104:13, 14¹³He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. ¹⁴He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; (Psalm 104:13‑14).

To supply dew. Prov. 3:20²⁰By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew. (Proverbs 3:20). Isa. 18:4⁴For so the Lord said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. (Isaiah 18:4).

To moderate heat. Isa. 25:5⁵Thou shalt bring down the noise of strangers, as the heat in a dry place; even the heat with the shadow of a cloud: the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low. (Isaiah 25:5).

From the west, bring rain. Luke 12:54⁵⁴And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is. (Luke 12:54).

Though small, often bring much rain. 1 Kin. 18:44, 45.

Thunder and lightning come from. Psa. 77:17, 18¹⁷The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. ¹⁸The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. (Psalm 77:17‑18).

The rainbow appears in. Gen. 9:13, 14¹³I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: (Genesis 9:13‑14).

Frequently the instruments of God's judgments. Gen. 7:11, 12¹¹In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. ¹²And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7:11‑12). Job 37:13¹³He causeth it to come, whether for correction, or for his land, or for mercy. (Job 37:13). Psa. 77:17¹⁷The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. (Psalm 77:17).

MAN

Ignorant of the spreading of. Job 36:29²⁹Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle? (Job 36:29).

Ignorant of the disposing of. Job 37:15¹⁵Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine? (Job 37:15).

Ignorant of the balancing of. Job 37:16¹⁶Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? (Job 37:16).

Cannot number. Job 38:37³⁷Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, (Job 38:37).

Cannot cause to rain. Job 38:34³⁴Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee? (Job 38:34).

Cannot stay. Job 38:37³⁷Who can number the clouds in wisdom? or who can stay the bottles of heaven, (Job 38:37).

ILLUSTRATIVE

Of multitudes of persons. Isa. 60:8⁸Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? (Isaiah 60:8). Heb. 12:1¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1).

Of hostile armies. Jer. 4:13¹³Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled. (Jeremiah 4:13). Ezek. 38:9, 16⁹Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. (Ezekiel 38:9)
¹⁶And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. (Ezekiel 38:16).

Of sins of men. Isa. 44:22²²I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22).

Of judgments of God. Lam. 2:1¹How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger! (Lamentations 2:1). Ezek. 30:3³For the day is near, even the day of the Lord is near, a cloudy day; it shall be the time of the heathen. (Ezekiel 30:3). Ezek. 34:12¹²As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. (Ezekiel 34:12). Joel 2:2²A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. (Joel 2:2).

Of unsearchableness of God. 2 Sam. 22:12¹²And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. (2 Samuel 22:12). Psa. 97:2²Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. (Psalm 97:2). Ezek. 1:4⁴And I looked, and, behold, a whirlwind came out of the north, a great cloud, and a fire infolding itself, and a brightness was about it, and out of the midst thereof as the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. (Ezekiel 1:4).

(Riding upon,) of the power and greatness of God. Psa. 104:3³Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind: (Psalm 104:3). Isa. 19:1¹The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it. (Isaiah 19:1).

(Passing away,) of the goodness and prosperity of hypocrites. Hos. 6:4⁴O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness is as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. (Hosea 6:4). Hos. 13:3³Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney. (Hosea 13:3).

(Without water,) of false teachers, Jude 12¹²These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; (Jude 12) v.

(Carried away by a tempest) of false teachers. 2 Peter 2:17¹⁷These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. (2 Peter 2:17).

(Without rain,) of the fraudulent Prov. 25:14¹⁴Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. (Proverbs 25:14).

(A morning without,) of wise rulers. 2 Sam. 23:3, 4³The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. ⁴And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. (2 Samuel 23:3‑4).

(When seasonable,) of the favor of good rulers. Prov. 16:15¹⁵In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain. (Proverbs 16:15).

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The New Topical Textbook

• Children, Good.

• Children, Wicked.

• Christ, Character of.

• Christ Is God.

• Christ, the Head of the Church.

• Christ, the High Priest.

• Christ, the King.

• Christ, the Mediator.

• Christ, the Prophet.

• Christ, the Shepherd.

• Clouds.

• Commandments, the Ten.

• Commerce.

• Communion of Saints.

• Communion of the Lord's Supper.

• Communion With God.

• Compassion and Sympathy.

• Compassion and Sympathy of Christ, the.

• Condemnation.

• Conduct, Christian.