Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 19 · Verse 15-16
Verſ. 15. They that dwell in my houſe, and my maids count me for a ſtranger: I am an an aliant in their ſight.
16. I called my ſervant, and he gave me no anſwer: I intreated him with my mouth.
The Second Branch of this complaint and inſtance, is, That he was ſleighted in his own houſe, by his domeſticks, maids and ſervants; who took no more notice of him, than if he had been a ſtranger and alien, v. 15. nor would ſo much as anſwer him, when he called for their help; even though he laid aſide his authority, and did not command, but uſed intreaties, v. 16. As for thoſe who dwell in his houſe, whom he mentions with his maids and ſervants, it is not needful to underſtand by thoſe any Widows and Orphans, whom he entertained, (and it ſeems, ſome of them, in his own family) Chap. 31.16, 17, 18. nor yet any of them who made ordinary reſort to his houſe. But (if we make a difference at all betwixt thoſe and his other maids and men-ſervants) thoſe dwellers in his houſe, ſeem to have been ſojourning hired ſervants (to which ſort of ſervants he alludes, Chap. 7.1, 2. and ſo it ſeems he had ſome of them, and they made uſe of ſuch in that Country, as well as of Bond-ſlaves) who ſleighted him, together with his other Bond-ſervants, men and women, who perpetually attended him, as being bought with his money, or otherwiſe purchaſed.
Doct. 1. In the ſharpeſt tryals of Saints, God may yet reſerve ſomewhat to them, which ought to be acknowledged as a mercy in it ſelf; For, notwithſtanding all that befel Job, Chap. 1. Yet he hath ſtill an houſe and ſervants, and ſo had a ſhelter where to ſtay. And this was a mercy in it ſelf, that he had a houſe and ſome proviſion and ſervants to attend him, and ſo needed not wander abroad for his meat, though ſome of thoſe proved not comfortable to him.
2. Whatever moderation the Lord uſe in afflicting, yet a tryal may be expected even in that, till Saints be throughly tryed; For, though it was a mercy in it ſelf, that Job had ſervants and maids, and thoſe that dwelt in his houſe, yet he hath an exerciſe from that, and it is a part of his complaint that they ſleight him.
3. Tryals within a mans houſe and doors, were it even from ſervants, are very ſharp and grievous: For, though he reſerve the loſs of ſome friends, v. 19. as the laſt and ſaddeſt part of this complaint; yet he ſubjoyns this tryal from his ſervants, to the loſs of his common friends and acquaintance, v. 13, 14. as being a ſadder tryal then that. They have a great mercy, who have domeſtick peace and content, amidſt other tryals; and they are very cruel who diſturb the quiet of a godly man within his own doors.
4. Though it be the duty of Servants to reſpect their Maſters in affliction, and to anſwer at their call; Yet, oft-times, their inſolency is a great tryal, and an addition to other tryals; For, ſo Job found from his ſervants, who counted him for a ſtranger and alien, or, noticed him no more than if they had not known him, or he had no power in that houſe, and when he called, gave him no anſwer. Servants will have this undutifulneſs, eſpecially when their Maſters are in affliction, to anſwer for unto God. And when God begins to try Saints, they ſhould arm themſelves againſt tryals from all relations, even from ſlaves that are bound to them. Withal, though Job's experience do witneſs, that there may be ungodly ſervants, (notwithſtanding all mens caution) in a godly family, at leaſt ſuch as may prove undutiful in a day of tryal; Yet, it ſhould be our endeavour to prevent this tryal all we can, by chooſing ſuch ſervants as will reſpect us in well and wo. And when we find ſervants dutiful in affliction, we ought to acknowledge God in it, who ſpares us in that wherewith others have been tryed before us.
5. It may be a part of the tryal of Saints, to which they ſhould breed themſelves, to be brought to a neceſſity to ſtoop to intreat their inferiours, whom they have right to command; For, Job was put to this, and ſtooped to do it, I intreated him with my mouth; he did it himſelf with his own mouth, being preſent, and ſent not a meſſage by another, and he did but intreat, and not command. This practice is much better than fretting at what we cannot help; and it argueth a ſubdued ſpirit thus to ſtoop when God calls us to it.
6. As no endeavour, nor ſtooping diſpoſition of the afflicted, will hold off needful tryal: So mens ſins are very hainous, when they ſin not only in neglecting a commanded duty, but do this notwithſtanding the condeſcendence of thoſe who call for the duty; For, here it was Job's tryal, and his ſervants great ſin, that they gave no anſwer, when he but intreated. And if it heighten the ſin of ſervants, that they are undutiful, when well and lovingly intreated by their Maſters; much more will Gods condeſcendence to beſeech us to do our duty, 2 Cor. 5.20. and the warm incouragements and cords of love, whereby we are drawn to it, heighten the guilt of the rebellious.