Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 15 · Verse 22 – Verse 24
Verſ. 22. He believeth not that he ſhall returne out of darkeneſs, and he is waited for of the ſword.
Followeth yet more of the wickeds miſery, in this verſe. The firſt part whereof, concerning darkneſs, is not to be underſtood, properly, of the darkneſs of the night; which a wicked affrighted man (as he is deſcribed, v. 21.) thinks never to put over, or to ſee day-light; ſomewhat like unto which is threatned, Deut. 28.67, But it is to be taken improperly, of the darkneſs of trouble. And ſo the meaning is; That a wicked man, not only before he enter in any trouble, but eſpecially when he is in it, is hopleſs ever to ſee an iſſue of it, or to get out of it. As for the other part of the verſe, it amplifieth and addeth to this his hopeleſs condition, that not only he hath preſent deſpair under what he ſuffers (as is ſaid in the former part of the verſe.) but is tormented with a fear of yet greater troubles, like a Sword in an Enemies hand, ready to cut him off.
From this verſe Learn,
The Lord ſeeth it fit, ſometimes, to give the wicked ſome taſte of trouble, as an earneſt of what they deſerve, and will get in end; For, here it is ſuppoſed ſome of them are in darkneſs. And albeit this ſhould not alway be expected, that it will come upon all the wicked; Yet both themſelves and the godly ought wiſely to conſider ſuch a diſpenſation, when it cometh.
2. Trouble will prove a very ſad and dreery condition, eſpecially to the wicked; For, it is darkneſs, wherein they will want comfort, and light whereby they might be directed to any thing for their own eaſe or relief. And albeit the godly may have ſad eſſays of ſuch a condition Iſai. 50.10. Yet their ſaddeſt caſe is really (whatever their apprehenſion be) an out-gate, in compariſon of this, when it comes upon the wicked.
3. Hopleſneſs, and deſpair of favour or an iſſue, under trouble, is the ſting of it, and more bitter then the real preſſure; For, this is the vexation, not that he is in darkneſs, but that he believeth not that he ſhall return out of darkneſs. And therefore the godly do take the contrary Antidote of Hope for their cure, Pſal. 42.5, 11.
4. The wickeds preſumption in proſperity (which is their uſual frame, when they are free of the terrour of God, mentioned in the former verſes) is juſtly plagued with dejection and deſpaire in adverſity; For, this is his plague and torture, he believeth not that he ſhall return out of darknes. It is true, they may ſtill preſume, even when ſome troubles are come upon them, as the wicked Jews, did; Jer. 12.4. Yet trouble will drive them from their confidences at laſt, and ſink them as deep in deſpair; as the ſame Jews ſound, Ezek. 37, 11. Nor have they any promiſe to warrant them to expect an iſſue from trouble, nor any bleſſing with it, though they get it. And therefore they cannot but be in a deſperate condition, if they ſaw it. And however it may ſucceed with them, as to this, in Gods Patience and long-ſuffering; Yet it is certain the godly ſhould leave hopleſs deſpair in trouble to the wicked, as their portion: ſeeing themſelves have the Promiſe of a bleſſed iſſue, one way or other. And if the Godly, at any time, be troubled with diffidence of this kind, they ought (among other things to be conſidered) look upon it as a fruit of their indulging themſelves too much in their ſecure preſumption, and ſo walking too like the wicked; which makes them, for a time, ſhare with them in ſome meaſure of their plague. Only this is to be marked, that it is no evidence of deſpair (though it may be a miſtake) that a godly man lay his reckoning never to ſee an iſſue, in this life, of ſome outward tryal, provided he be not cruſhed therewith, as the wicked are, all whoſe hope is gone, if outward proſperity, or hope of reſtitution to it, be loſt. For Job, in his weakneſs, never looked to be delivered, from this affliction upon him, in this life (and Eliphaz reflects upon that here) and yet he was far from the deſpair of the wicked; ſeeing his heart was filled with the hope of eternal happineſs with God, which made him long ſo earneſtly for it.
5. Whatever outward temporary trouble the wicked be under; Yet they ought not to harden themſelves as if they could not be worſe, ſeeing God can make their condition yet ſadder: For, he hath a Sword after darkneſs, or, a ſharp Scourge after a diſconſolate condition, to ſend upon them. See Lev. 26.21, 23, 24, &c.
6. Albeit it be moſt ſafe, eſpecially when in trouble, to be looking out for all poſſible afflictions that may come upon us; providing we be not anxious and diffident about them, but do only ſtudy to prepare for what may probably come, truſting God for furniture in a time of need; Math. 6.34. Heb 4.16. Yet it is a judgement upon the wicked, that their preſent diſpair is joyned with future fears: For, here they are conjoyned, to torment him. He not only believeth not, that he ſhall not return out of darkneſs, but his fear tells him, he is waited for of the Sword. In this, their condition is far different from the godlies lawful ſolicitudes, and their allowance under them. For,
1. The Lord, by theſe ſlaviſh fears, doth break the ſtout hearts of the wicked, which puffed at trouble. Whereas God may humble his people, but doth not cruſh them, though ſometimes they wrong themſelves that way.
2. Seeing there are ſo many troubles incident to men, beſide what a wicked man preſently ſuffers; and ſeeing he hath no ſecurity againſt any of them in God; It is no wonder if, when God begins to reckon with him, he be vexed with daily looking for all he can imagine, or doth deſerve. Whereas the godly man may be aſſured that, even in wrath, God will remember mercy, and will not reward him according to his iniquities.
3. Thoſe fears and apprehenſions cannot but be a torment to the wicked man, who cannot go to God, nor caſt his cares and burdens upon him; as is the allowance, and (in ſome meaſure) the practice of the godly man.
Verſ. 23. He wandreth abroad for bread, ſaying, Where is it? he knoweth that the day of darkneſs is ready at his hand.
Yet more of the wickeds miſery and vexation is held out in this verſe. The firſt part whereof (concerning his wandering abroad for bread, &c.) is to be underſtood, not ſo much of the wicked mans anxiety, when he is oppreſſed with poverty, as before it come upon him. And if we compare the end of the verſe with the beginning of it, we will find the ſenſe to be this; That the wicked mans Conſcience cauſing him every day to fear approaching want and diſtreſs, as if it were ready to take hold of him; He takes a poor, impatient, heartleſs and hopeleſs ſhift, to provide and heap up againſt ſuch a time. So that, although he be not preſently poor, yet he can never get enough provided, to ſecure him againſt his fears that he may die a beggar.
From this verſe Learn,
1. Albeit ſome wicked men may be plagued with Security and Preſumption, becauſe of their proſperous condition; as Luke 12.19. Yet it is ordinary with many of them, that plentiful enjoyments do not ſecure them againſt fear of want: And therefore they wander abroad for bread; that is, for their livelyhood, which is comprehended under the name of bread, becauſe it is the ſtaffe of a mans life, Iſai. 3.1. and becauſe a man ought to be content, if he get ſo much as bread, to ſuſtain his life. And all mens endevours to acquire the things of the world, are called endevours to get bred, becauſe they who purchaſe moſt, will get no more of it but their meat, Eccl. 5.10, 11.
2. It is a ſad Plague upon men, when their faithleſs fears are let looſe upon them; and their imagination gets leave to multiply vexations without end: For, this is the wicked mans plague, that he wandereth abroad for bread, out of an apprehenſion of a day of darkneſs or trouble and want, which he knoweth, or, aſſureth himſelf, is ready at his hand. Such faithleſs fears are more tormenting then many real croſſes.
3. Wicked men, through want of contentment in their lot, and of truſt in God, are juſtly driven upon heartleſs, anxious, ſinful and hopeleſs ſhifts; For, ſo is imported in his wandering abroad for bread, and in the queſtion ſubjoyned, Where is it? Which ſignifieth that he is reſtleſs and impatient in ſeeking, doubtful to find or ſee what he ſeeks, and ready to take any ſhift, good or bad, and to go any where to find it.
4. Albeit wicked men do, ordinarily, put an evil day far away, Amos 6.2. yet they will not ſtill get it done; but their Conſciences will be ſet on work to prognoſticate their own miſeries, and repreſent their miſeries as near approaching, that ſo they may be tormented befor the time: For, here are ſome wicked men who have miſery and want ſtill before their eyes, He knoweth that the day of darkneſs is ready at his hand.
Verſ. 24. Trouble and anguiſh ſhall make him afraid; they ſhall prevail againſt him, as a king ready to the battel.
In this verſe the wicked mans inward miſery is ſummed up in this, That trouble and anxiety ſhall not only affright him, but ſhall aſtoniſh and prevail over him as eaſily as a King with his Royal Army (being well provided when he is in the Field in Perſon, and ready to joyn in battel, will prevail over an inferiour ſubject, or ſingle perſon.
Whence Learn,
1. However the wicked, when they are at eaſe, think lightly of anxieties and vexations of Conſcience; Yet, as thoſe are ſad and heavy in themſelves, ſo, God can make them find by experience that they are ſo: Therefore is their exerciſe here called trouble and anguiſh: The words in the Original ſignifie that which ſtraitens men, and cloſeth them up from all comfort, as when they are beſieged in a City; and that which, being painful, cleaveth to men, however they would, and do, endevour to ſhift it.
2. Anguiſh and trouble of mind is very affrighting to them who are not at peace with God; and that both in it ſelf, and in that it begets fears of more and greater trouble: Therefore it is ſaid, Trouble and anguiſh ſhall make him afraid.
3. However the wicked may think to ſhake off their affrighting perplexities, and to encourage themſelves again, after they are borne down with them; Yet, if God purſue, they will be forced at laſt to ſuccumb under the preſſure: For, they ſhall prevail againſt him, whereas the godly may fall and riſe again.
4. The terrour of God, or anxiety inflicted by him as a Plague, is too hard a party for weak man, and as irreſiſtible as it is impoſſible for a weak ſubject to reſiſt a King with his Army; For, They ſhall prevail againſt him as a king ready to the battle. It points both at the force and ſtrength, and at the numerous variety, of terrours (like ſo many ſeveral Troops or Souldiers) which God hath in readineſs, to overwhelm him thereby.