Westminster Annotations, Job · Chapter 22 – Chapter 23
CHAP. XXII.
Vers. 2. CAn a man be profitable unto God] Chap. 35. 7, 8. Psal. 16. 2. Luke 17. 10. Though man were just, yet God could have no profit thereby. Why then doest thou talk so much of thy righteousnesse?
as he that is wife may be profitable unto himself?] Or, if he may be profitable, doth his good successe depend there…n: Or, but he that is wise, may be profitable to himself? Prov. 9. 12.
V. 3. Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous?] Canst thou adde any joy, or profit to God by being righteous?
V. 4. Will he reprove thee for fear of thee?] Dost thou think that God punisheth thee for being religious, or for fearing God? no, it is for thy wickednesse, as vers. 5. or, because he is asraid of thee; or, if thou didst fear him, would he reprove thee, or quarrell with thee?
for fear of thee] Or, for thy religion.
enter with thee into judgement] Psal. 143. 2.
V. 6. For thou hast taken a pledge from thy brother for nought] Thou hast been cruell, and wouldst do nothing for the poor, but for thy own advantage.
stripped the naked of their clothing] Heb. stripped the clothes of the naked.
V. 7. water to the weary to drink] Isai. 21. 14.
and] Or, yea.
bread from the hungry] Isai. 58. 7.
V. 8. the mighty man] Heb. the man of drm] When thou wast in authority, thou didst wrong the poor, to please the mighty and honourable.
honourable] Heb. emminent, or, accepted for countenance.
V. 9. Thou hast sent widows away emptie] Whereas thou shouldst have defended the widows and fatherlesse by thy authority, and relieved them with thy wealth, thou hast not shewed pitty, but opprest them.
the arms of the fatherlesse have been broken] Thou tookest from them all power to defend themselves.
V. 10. Therefore snares are round about thee] God hunts thee like a wilde beast that spoils the countrey, chap. 18. 8, &c.
V. 11. Or darknesse that thou canst not see] Confusion of minde, that thou knowest not how to get out of trouble, Isai. 8. 22.
and abundance of waters cover thee] Of afflictions that overwhel… thee.
V. 12. Is not God in the height of heaven?] If thou passe not for men, yet consider …e height of Gods majestie.
behold the height of t…tarres] That so much the more thou mayest fear God, and reverence him.
the height of the starres] Heb. the head of the starres.
V. 13. And] Or, But.
How] Or, What.
How doth God know?] Psal. 10. 11. and 73. 11. and 94. 7. He reproveth Job as though he denyed Gods providence, and affitmed, That God could not fee the things that were done in this world.
V. 14. he walketh in the circuit of heaven] Enjoyes his own felicitie, not regarding what is done below.
V. 15. Hast thou marked the old way] How God hath punished wicked men from the beginning.
V. 16. Which were cut down out of time] Before they need to die by the course of nature, chap. 15. 32. Psal 55. 23. and 102. 24. Eccles. 7. 17.
whose foundation was overflown with a floud] Heb. a floud was powed upon their foundation.
with a floud] It is likely he alludeth to Noahs floud, 2 Pet. 2. 5.
V. 17. Which said unto God] Chap. 21. 14.
for them] Or, to them.
V. 18. Yet he filled their houses with good things] They had no cause to say so, for he had filled their houses with good.
the counsel of the wicked far from me] Chap. 21. 16. Job said so in words, chap. 21. 16. but I and other godly men say so in truth.
V. 19. The righteous see it] Psal. 107. 42.
and are glad] The just rejoyce at the fall of the wicked, because God gets the glory of his justice, and shews his love to them in destroying their enemies. It may be he means, Noah and his did laugh at them that perished in the deluge. See notes on vers. 16. Psal. 58. 10.
V. 20. Whereas our substance is not …ut down] God spared the good: but the wicked he destroyed by fire also, as in Sodom, 2 Pet. 2. 6, 7, 9.
substance] Or, estate.
the remnant of them] Or, their excellency.
V. 21. A…quaint now thy self with him] He exhorteth Job to repent, and to return to God.
with him] That is, with God.
V. 22. lay up his words in thine heart] Psal. 119. 11. Luke 2. 19.
V. 23. If thou return to the Almighty] Chap. 8. 5, 6. and 11. 13.
thou shalt be built up] God will restore thee to all thy substance.
thou] Or, if thou.
V. 24. as dust] Or, on the dust. Which shall be in abundance like dust, 2 Chron. 1. 15.
the gold of Ophir] Most precious gold. See 1 King. 9. 28. and 10. 11.
V. 25. the Almightie shall be thy defence] Yea, thou shalt have God for thy protection in all perils, who is better then gold.
defence] Or, gold.
plentie of silver] Heb. silver of strength.
V. 26. and shalt lift up thy face unto God] Chap. 11. 15. Thou shalt boldly call upon God, and expect help from him, 1 Joh. 3. 21, 22.
V. 27. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him] Psal. 50. 14, 15.
thou shalt pay thy vows] Psal. 116. 14, 18. God will give thee thy desire, that thou mayest have occasion to pay thy vows.
V. 28. the light shall shine upon thy wayes] Gods favour will direct thee to right wayes, and blesse thee in them.
V. 29. When men are cast down] God will deliver his, when the wicked are destroyed round about them: as in the floud, and in Sodom.
and he shall save the humble person] Jam. 4. 6. 1 Pet. 5. 5.
the humble person] Heb. him that hath low eyes.
V. 30. He shall deliver the island of the innecent] Or, the innocent shall deliver the island: or, he shall deliver him that is not innocent. One good man may save a whole countrey, Jere. 5. 1. Or, even those that are wicked may be saved for a good mant sake, Gen. 18. 26, &c.
CHAP. XXIII.
Vers. 2. MY stroke] Heb. my hand.
my stroke is heavier then my greaning] I do not complain so much as I have cause.
V. 3. O that I knew where I might finde him] Chap. 13. 3. and 31. 35. I would clear my cause before God, but he will not be found to reason with me.
V. 6. with his great power] He would not deal with me with his absolute power, as with an enemy: but with fatherly affection, as with a childe, Isai. 27. 4, 8. Jere. 10. 24.
but he would put strength in me] Of his mercy he would give me power to answer him.
V. 7. There the righteous might dispute with him] When he of his mercy hath given them strength to maintain their cause.
from my judge] Or, by my judge: That is, by Gods sentence
V. 8. Behold, I go forward, but he is not there] Why do I desire that which cannot be had. God will not reason with us when we will, but when he will.
V. 10. the way that I take] Heb. the way that is with me.
I shall come forth as gold] God tries me for my profit. As gold comes pure out of the fire, so shall I appear loyall before God, when I come out of affliction, Psal. 66. 10. Isai. 48. 10. Mal. 3. 3.
V. 11. My foot hath held his steps] Psal. 44. 17, 18. and 18. 21. He denies Eliphaz his bitter charge, chap. 22. 5.
V. 12. I have esteemed] Heb. I have hid, or, laid up.
I have esteemed the words of his mouth] His word is more precious unto me, then the meat appointed daily to feed my body, Joh. 4. 34.
my necessary food] Or, my appointed portion.
V. 13. But he is in one minde] Though I be innocent, and know God will clear me in the end, yet if he will afflict me in the mean while, I cannot avoid it.
in one] Or, against one: That is, me.
who can turn him?] Chap. 9. 12, 13.
his soul desireth] Psal. 115. 3.
V. 14. many such things are with him] In many things man is not able to attain to the cause of Gods judgements: and he deals so with others, as well as with me.
V. 15. Therefore am I troubled at his presence] I am troubled with my present calamities, and afraid of future.
V. 16. God maketh my heart soft] Fearfull, and unable to bear these calamities.
V. 17. Because I was not cut off before the darknesse] If God had cut me off before these afflictions, I had not been so fearfull.