Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 15 · Verses 17-19
Verſ. 17. I will ſhew thee, hear me, and that which I have ſeen, I will will declare;
18. Which wiſe men have told from their fathers, and have not hid …:
19. Ʋnto wh…m alone the earth was given, and no ſtranger paſſed among them.
Followeth the ſecond part of the Chapter wherein Eliphaz having taxed Job for ſo many faults in his diſcourſes and carriage; he proceedeth (in proſecution of the laſt charge, that Job was erroneo…s in aſſerting his own righteouſneſs) to prove the point in Controverſie betwixt them, that Job was a wicked man, becauſe none but wicked men were afflicted as he was; where though he ſpake to the point in general terms, yet in many things he reflects upon Job.
This part of the Chapter conſiſts,
1. Of a Preface, v. 17, 18, 19
2. Of a Narration concerning the miſerable eſtate of the wicked, wherein he labours to prove his Opinion, v. 20.—30.
3. of a Concluſion drawn from this Narration, v. 31.—35.
In the preface (in theſe verſes)
1, He excites Job to attend to what he had to ſay, v. 17.—
2. He informs him how he would prove his point; Namely, not only by telling him what himſelf had learned by Obſervation and Experience, v.—17. but alſo what was the invariable experience of all ages. For, what he was to ſpeak, wiſe men before them had not only inculcated it upon their Children from their own obſervation and experience, but had it before inculcated upon themſelves from their Fathers, v 18. As for what is added to the commendation of theſe who taught this Doctrine, that to them alone the Earth was given, and no ſtranger paſſed among them, v. 19. It may be underſtood, either of the Fathers of theſe wiſe men, v. 18, ſuch as Noah, Shem, &c. who lived in the moſt Primitive age after the floud, and who there alone were the firſt Planters of the Earth, and were free of the moleſtation of ſtrangers and en…mies, people being then but few and well known one to another; and ſo they had the experience of all men then living known to them, which, from them and their ſucceſſours, he is now to communicate to Job. Or it may rather be underſtood both of theſe Wiſe men and their Fathers, from whom he had this Doctrine; who, in what Age ſoever they lived, were …o eminent for wiſdom, that they had the Earth given them; Or, were advanced to govern in theſe Countreys where they lived; and did ſo manage their government, as they had the Earth alone, or lived in peace and quiet, keeping off (as it is after added) all Foreigners who might be ready to invade or moleſt them; and were free of all ſtrangers who might b…ing in idolatrous Opinions, to corrupt the ſound Doctrine that was among them. By all which commendations of his own doctrine, and of the Patrons thereof, he would faſt…n upon Job, that he was a man condemned by the verdict of all the godly-wiſe in all ages, whoſe experience led them to conclude that ſuch afflictions as he ſmarted under, were proper only to the wicked.
As to the validity of this way of Probation, by Experience, much hath been ſpoken on Chap. 4.7. & Chap. 8.8, 9, 10. and elſewhere. Communication of experiences from Generation to Generation was indeed a ſpecial mean of knowledge in theſe days, and in the times before them. Nor could they then call for Scripture-proofs in matters controverted, ſeeing it was not then written; and what they knew of the mind of God (beſide the Law written in their hearts, and obſervations and remarks upon Providences of God) was by extraordinary Revelations, thus tranſmitted from one to anoth…r. Yet this his way of Probation is defective,
1. Becauſe he produceth no Revelation for his Opinion (ſave only that one, Chap. 4.17. which he miſtook) but only the Obſervations of wiſe and godly men.
2. Though theſe Wiſe men and their Fathers told all the experiences they had learned; yet in their time they could not have all experiences, of all things, and conditions of men; For, the world had not continued ſo long (eſpecia…ly ſince the Floud) as that all things could have readily occurred, which God might be pleaſed to do in after-ages of the world.
3. It is not certain they did obſerve all they ſaw, or might have known; and ſo could not tell it. For it is certain ſome godly men were afflicted at the very beginning, as witneſs Abel.
4. Their Poſterity could not undertake that they had remembered all was told them; but hearing ſo much of the ſad lots of the wicked, they might readily forget any thing they heard of the ſuffering of ſome of the godly, whereof (probably) there were ſo few experiences in that infancy of the world.
5. Neither is it certain that Poſterity underſtood what was told them, in the true ſenſe of it.
For the Truth in this Narration ſeems to be this, That ſome particular wicked perſons and Societies had been dealt with as is here recorded; and the Fathers having tranſmitted the knowledge of this, to warn and deter their Poſterity from ſin; their Poſterity did hence conclude, that all and only the wicked were ſo dealt with. Whereas the Lord may ſee it fit to make ſome to be Examples and Beacons to warn others, and yet not always ſtrive with others who fall in the like faults; for ſo the world ſhould ſoon be deſtro…ed, which the Lord is pleaſed to preſerve, as for other ends, ſo, that he may gather in his Elect, many of whom do ſpring out of the loins of ſuch wicked tranſgreſſours. And as the Lord may thus ſpare the wicked; So he may let the godly taſte of the outward lot that befals ſome wicked men, that none may know love or hatred by theſe outward things. The conſideration of all this may Teach us,
1. It is a great mercy we have the ſure rule of the written Word; ſeeing the Obſervatio…s and inculcated Doctrine of the godly-wiſe were miſtaken without it.
2. A Child of God may ſeem to have all godly men, and … their experiences, on his top, when yet he is in the …ight; as here it was with Job.
Having obſerved theſe Cautions, if we lay aſide miſtakes and miſ-applications, the General Doctrine, here held …orth, may teach,
1. Such as take pains to inſtruct others in matters of importance, eſpecially in the matter of Truth and Errour, ought to be hearkened unto carefully, and nor deſpiſed, providing what they ſay be examined by the Word; For, ſaith he, I will ſhew thee, hear me.
2. Men ſhould take heed that they ſpeak not any thing in the matters of God, or to mens ſouls and ſpiritual conditions, but what they certainly know; For, ſo much doth Eliphaz yield to he his duty, while he profeſſeth that only that which he hath ſeen (or punctually obſerved) will he declare, in this grand Queſtion in debate. And though even ſuch as are thus moſt accurate may err, as he did; yet others are more likely to err. See 2 Cor. 4.13.
3. Such as truly obſerve and underſtand ſpiritual things, will not diſdain to take help of the knowledge of others, for their own furtherance and confirmation; For, Eliphaz (who thinks himſelf ſure in th…s matter) profeſſeth that he not only had ſeen it himſelf, but wiſe men have told it, &c.
4. It is the duty of men, in their ſtations, not to hide what they know of God and his way; but they ſhould be careful to have Truth perpetuated in their Families, and among their Poſterity: For, wiſe men have told this from their Fathers; they had it from their Fathers, and did communicate it to others, who were to ſucceed after them. This their care, before the Scriptures were written, may exceedingly condemn our negligence.
5. It ſhould cauſe Truths be the more ſeriouſly pondered and imbraced, that ſpiritually wiſe men are frequent in inculcating and preſſing thereof; For, by this woold he commend his Doctrine, that wiſe men have told, and not hid it, or, have been earneſt and frequent in inculcating of it. Much more ought that to be ſeriouſly pondered which the Spirit of God doth frequently inculcate upon us, in the Scriptures.
6. It is not talking of wiſdom, but proofs thereof in mens actings, that proves them wiſe; For, he proves they were wiſe men, v. 18. by their being advanced, and by their good and ſucceſsful government, To whom alone the Earth was given, &c. v. 19. And albeit wiſe men, i… Gods righteous judgment, may be over-powered and become fools, or even godly wiſe men may be ſlighted, Eccl. 9 15. or their affairs not ſucceed, for their tryal and exerciſe; Yet, it is a certain rule, that Wiſdom is not to be tryed by words or diſcourſes only.
7. Invaſions of Enemies, eſpecially ſtrangers in Religion, is a ſpecial mean to corrupt ſound Doctrine; For, this (as hath been explained) commends the Doctrine of theſe Wiſe men, that no ſtranger paſſed among them, they were not invaded by others who were Idolaters who might have adulterated their Principles, and corrupted their Religion.