For I am full of matter
Or "full [of] words" F25; not of mere words, such that have
nothing solid and substantial in them; this is the character of a
fool, ( Ecclesiastes 10:14 )
; nor was Elihu a loquacious talkative man, as Job is charged to
be, a man full of talk, ( Job 11:2 ) ; but he was
full of words, which had fulness of matter in them, which were to
the purpose, and contained strong reasonings and solid arguments;
his mind was full of them, and he could easily fill his mouth
with them, and was not easy until he had uttered them: so an able
minister of the word may be said to be full of words, of the
wholesome words of our Lord Jesus, of useful doctrines, when the
word of Christ dwells richly in him, and he has a rich treasure
in an earthen vessel, is full of the blessing of the Gospel of
Christ; has a large knowledge of Gospel truths, a real experience
of them in the heart, great gifts to express them to others, and
is full of power and of the Spirit of God to declare them, as
this good man was:
the spirit within me constraineth me,
or "the spirit of my belly" F26; alluding to wind pent up
therein, which, unless expelled, gives great uneasiness and pain:
he either means the Spirit of God within him, as in ( Job 32:8 ) , by whom the
prophets were inspired and spoke, by whom ordinary ministers of
the word are qualified for their work, and by whom they are led
into all truth, and who presses and obliges them to speak what
they know; there is a necessity upon them to preach the Gospel
wholly and faithfully, and a woe unto them if they do not: or
else his own spirit, influenced and actuated by the Spirit of
God; as the spirit of the Apostle Paul was stirred up in him to
speak, when he saw the idolatry and superstition of the people of
Athens, ( Acts 17:16 ) ; so love
to God and Christ, and the souls of men, the honour of God, and
interest of religion, constrain the ministers of Christ to speak
in his name, notwithstanding all the opposition made unto them,
and reproach cast upon them.
F25 (Mylm ytlm) "plenus sum sermonibus", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Beza, Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.
F26 (ynjb xwr) "spiritus ventris mei", Beza, Junius & Tremellius, Cocceius, Schultens.