Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 15 · Verse 21
Verſ. 21. A dreadful ſ…und is in his ears; in proſperity the deſtroyer ſhall come upon him.
Followeth in this verſe another branch of the wicked, or oppreſſours, miſery, and a ſpecial cauſe and part of his vexations pain; to wit, his perpetual terrour of Conſcience, every thing putting him in a fright, as Cain was, and his Conſcience ſuggeſting the dreadfulneſs and terrour of deſerved vengeance, as if the ſound of its approach were daily …inging in his ears. As for that which is ſubjoyned in the end of the verſe it may be underſtood thus, with a reflection upon Job's caſe; That the wicked man is not only ſurrounded with fears and terrours, but God makes his fear prove real, and ſends unexpected ruine upon him when he is in the height of his proſperity (as b…fel Job;) Whereas the godly are, oft-times, mercifully diſappointed, and are not made to feel what they fear. This Interpretation, though it hold out that which oft-times (though not univerſally) proves true; yet it agrees better with the ſcope here, (where he is ſpeaking, eſpecially, of the wickeds inward vexation) to underſtand it as as a further amplification of that terrour upon the wicked, mentioned in the former part of the verſe, That his terrour is ſo great, that, notwithſtanding his preſent proſperity, he is ſtill apprehending that deſtruction will come upon him in the midſt of it.
From this verſe according to the former Rules and Cautions, Learn,
1. The end of a wicked courſe, and particularly of oppreſſion, is very terrible; even that which is dreadful (or, the matter of many fears or terrours, as the word is in the plural number, in the Original) and deſtruction and ruine from the hand of ſome deſtroyer. So much are we here taught; that the Conſciences of many of them do ſometime ſuggeſt this unto them. Which ſhould be well conſidered by themſelves, and by others alſo, that they ſtumble not at their proſperity.
2. This end of wicked men is not only dreadful when it cometh, but the very apprehenſion thereof, by a wakened Conſcience, is an Hell upon Earth; For it is a dreadful ſound, or, voice of terrours, in the midſt of proſperity, and like the ſight of an armed and cruel deſtroyer.
3. Whatever be the temper and condition of particular wicked and impenitent men; yet, they have ſo little fence and ſecurity againſt this ſtorm of terrour, that when their Conſciences are not alarmed with it, it is an evidence they are dead and deluded; For, that a dreadful ſound it in the ears of any of them, it ſhews that this is the deſerving of all, and the nature of their condition tends to it; and that they are but mad and ſtupid who continue impenitent in ſin, and yet are not at this exerciſe; and that ſo much the more is owing them that they are forborne for the preſent. And accordingly there is a ſtanding ſentence in the Law concerning this, Levit. 26.36. Deut. 28.65, 66, &c.
4. Whatever be the exerciſes which God may ſend upon godly men, for their correction, humiliation and tryal? and whatever may be their fits of fear, through the power of tentation: Yet diſtracting and tormenting fears and terrours are none of their allowance: For, it is the wickeds lot only, to have a dreadful ſound in his ears. See Matth. 28.4, 5. Pſal. 112.7.
5. The proſperity of wicked men, who do not repent nor ſeek to be at peace with God, is neither a ſufficient ſecurity againſt their fears, nor againſt their actual deſtruction; For, ſo both the Interpretations of the latter part of the verſe may agree in one; In proſperity the deſtroyer ſhall come upon him. As he will not always get his heart kept free of the fears of ruine, ſeeing he hath no better fence then his outward proſperity (and nothing of the Peace of God, Phil. 4.7.) to keep his heart and mind; So neither will proſperity hold off actual vengeance, Pſal. 92.7. 1 Theſſ. 5.3.
6. Whatever be the fears and apprehenſions of the wicked; yet that produceth no preparation for what they fear, but they are ſtill ſurprized, even with the judgments they apprehend; For, in this reſpect it holds true, the deſtroyer ſhall come upon him, not only doth he ſeiz upon him, but ſurprizeth him.