Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 22 · Verses 24-25 – Verse 26
Verſ. 24. Then ſhalt thou lay up gold as duſt, and the gold of Ophir as the ſtones of the brooks.
25. Yea, the Almighty ſhall be thy defence, and thou ſhalt have plenty of ſilver.
Follow the Encouragements that are ſubjoyned to theſe Exhortations; whereof the firſt (in theſe verſes) is, That he ſhall have abundance of proſperity; Even the beſt of Gold (as the firſt word ſignifieth, and the gold of Ophir is commended as excellent in Scripture, Job 28.16. Jſa. 13.12.) in as great abundance as duſt, (or, lying upon the duſt▪ no Coffers being able to contain it) and as common Stones in a brook; and plenty of ſilver alſo, or, ſtrength of Silver (as the word alſo ſignifieth) to ſupport him in all neceſſities. And, in order to all this, It is promiſed that the Almighty ſhall be his defence, or, his Gold (for it is the ſame word that is uſed v. 24.) to rain out of his Alſufficiency, to make him proſperous, and ſecure him in it.
This encouragement is founded upon their common Errour, concerning the proſperity of Godly men. Yet it ſeems theſe godly men ſpake ſo much of this lot of proſperity, not out of love to it, or becauſe they placed their happineſs in it; but be cauſe this promiſe had been ſo frequently verified to godly men in their time, that they could not notice the Doctrine or few Experiences that ſpake otherwiſe of the lot of godly men.
We may from it, Learn,
1. It is not that petty meaſure of Proſperity for which wicked men ſell their Souls, but moſt rich abundance of it; which the Lord can give to his People as they need it, and to which they have right, as it is for their good: For, ſo much may be gathered from this large Promiſe.
2. The Lord alſo hath given proofs and experiences of his bounty to his own Children, to bear witneſs unto the truth of his Promiſes, and that we need not queſtion either his Power or his Good-will, when it is otherwiſe; For, in their days there were many experiences of proſpering Saints, which made them ſpeak ſo much to this point.
3. That the Lord dealt thus with his People in the infancy of the World (though not always, and with every godly man, even then as Job teacheth) may teach, how the Lord trains on his People, and deals tenderly with them, when they are weak, that they may the more cheerfully endure hardſhips when they are ſtronger. Thus alſo d…d Chriſt deal with his Diſciples, Matth 9.14, 15, 16, 17.
4. It is not eaſie to keep men from …ll principles, when they are bred with proſperity, but they will readily ſleight the Word; and, if there be a change of their condition, they are apt to take it ill, and to ſtumble at it, and be unwilling to ſubmit; For, by reaſon of the many experiences they had of the proſperity of godly men, they not only call it, the ſtrength of ſilver, but they cannot endure to look on a contrary diſpenſation as conſiſtent with true Piety and the favour of God.
5. It may diſcover the emptineſs and vanity of all outward proſperity, and that it is not the portion and happineſs deſigned for the godly, that the more men enjoy of it, it is the leſs eſteemed; For, then it becomes as duſt, and as the ſtones of the Brooks, not only for abundance, but becauſe, when it abounds, it is little eſteemed. So was it in Solomon's days, 1 Kings 10.21, 27 We need no more to point out the emptineſs of the things of time, but abundance of them.
6. Proſperity is nothing worth, in the judgment of a right diſcerner, unleſs we have God to be ours with it; Therefore it is p… in the boſom of this Promiſe, yea, the Almighty ſhall be thy Defence, or, Gold. Which imports,
1. That we muſt have God to be our Friend and Portion, which is greater wealth even in poverty, then any abundance of Silver and Gold.
2 That we muſt have him for our defence, to protect us in our proſperity, without which it lieth open to many hazards.
3. That we muſt have him for our Gold, not only in ſtead of gold, when we want it, but to keep the treaſure and ſtream of our wealth running, without whoſe bleſſing we we may ſoon waſte never ſo much.
Verſ. 26. For then ſhalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and ſhalt lift up thy face unto God.
The Second Encouragement, to v. 29. is taken from ſpiritual advantages to be reaped by turning unto God: Theſe are the true and real priviledges of godly men, allowed upon them by God; yet they muſt be underſtood alſo with needful cautions, that godly men may miſtake their own condition, & think they are deprived of theſe priviledges, when they really enjoy them; and that God may really deſert his own Children, and, at ſometimes, deprive them of the ſenſible comforts that flow from theſe priviledges.
This Encouragement may be taken up in three Branches, according to the number of the verſes; whereof, the firſt (in this verſe) is, that if he return to God, he ſhall attain to delight in him, and to lift up his face to him with cheerfulneſs and confidence.
Whence Learn,
1. God, eſpecially in his Chriſt, is a delectable and deſirable object, fitted to refreſh and make them up who find grievances everywhere elſe; Therefore is he propounded as the Object of delight to Job.
2. As God is deſirable and refreſhful; ſo it is the duty of men, and eſpecially of Saints, to delight much in him, his fellowſhip, comforts and ſervice, which will compoſe their minds as to other things; For, it is propounded here, as a thing to be purſued after, to have delight in the Almighty. See Pſal. 37.4.
3. It is both the Touchſtone and evidence of mens Converſion, when they delight themſelves in God, and his favour, in oppoſition to other things, Pſal. 4.6, 7. and are much in his company; and it is their reward alſo, that they are allowed to delight in God, if they could follow it forth and improve it; For, it is here propounded as an encouragement, For, then ſhall thou have thy delight in the Almighty.
4. It contributes to the heightening of our ſatiſfaction in God, that he is Almighty, or, Alſufficient, as here he is deſigned. Which imports that it is comfortable that the terrour of his Almighty power needs not affright us, Jer. 17.17. and that his Infinite fulneſs, and free communications thereof, as the Alſufficient God, may ſatisfie and refreſh us, and comfort us over all our ſorrows.
5. It is alſo the great and inriching advantage of godly men, that they may look up to God, in all extremities, with humble confidence, without bluſhing, and running away from him, as Adam did; And that they may confidently make their addreſſes, and pour out their hearts before him in all their diſtreſſes: For, thou ſhalt lift up thy face unto God. See Job 33.26.