Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 19 · Verse 22
Verſ. 22. Why do ye perſecute me as God, and are not ſatisfied with my fleſh?
In this verſe Job inferrs his Concluſion by way of Expoſtulation and Challenge, that they ſhould deal ſo cruelly with him, whom God had not only touched, but brought very low. For clearing of the words, Conſider,
1. To perſecute, here (whether it be applyed to God, or them) is not to be taken in a ſtrict ſenſe, as it imports an afflicting for righteouſneſs: But more generally, as it ſignifieth to purſue or proſecute with troubles, or other vexing carriage, though in ſome ſenſe it be true that they did trouble him for righteouſneſs, or for maintaining a righteous cauſe.
2. Their perſecuting him, as God, is not to be ſtrictly urged, or taken up in any exact parallel, as if he would challenge them that they afflicted him cauſeleſly, as God did, and would put them in mind that they might not deal with him as they pleaſed, though God might do ſo, nor might they cenſure him as an Hypocrite, ſeeing it is Gods Prerogative to judge of mens ſtate. But the meaning is more ſimply this, that they ought not thus to fall upon him, when God was ſo ſeverely proſecuting him.
3. While he complains that they are not ſatisfied with his fleſh, it may be underſtood, either,
1. That they were not ſatisfied with the outward afflictions inflicted by the hand of God, which waſted his body, unleſs they alſo cruſhed his ſpirit with their carriage and doctrine. As, indeed, however his ſpirit was exerciſed by the immediate hand of God, deſerting him in his affliction for his tryal; Yet, it ſeems they had a great hand in the breach of the peace of his mind, by their uncomfortable viſit and ſilence at firſt, and their doctrine afterward. As may be gathered from, Chap. 2.12, 13. with Chap. 3. Or,
2. (Which may be joyned with the former) That though his body, or fleſh, was waſted, both with pain, and with the inward tentations of his ſpirit; yet it ſeemed all this would not ſatisfie them, unleſs they had him quite overthrown and caſt in the ditch. In ſum, here he aggravates their cruelty from this, That though God was his party, and though his ſtroke from God was not ordinary, but ſuch as the effects thereof might be ſeen on his fleſh and carcaſe; yet they would put on, for their part, to make him utterly miſerable, if they could.
From the words thus cleared, Learn,
1. The Lord, by afflictions upon his people, eſpecially when they are ſharp and of long continuance, doth proſecute and purſue them, and ſomewhat in them; Therefore trouble gets the name of perſecuting, or, purſuing, here. And whatever was Job's ſenſe in uttering this word, yet it may have a ſound ſenſe. For as God purſues hidden droſs in his people, by ſearching tryals, and doth thereby alſo draw forth proofs of his grace in them (which were ſome of Gods ends in Job's tryal, beſide the exerciſe of his Soveraignty, and other ends mentioned elſewhere) So it is alſo true, that God, oft-times, by trouble purſues his people, for then wanderings, Jer. 2.24. or their ſeeking to ſhift trouble, and to find eaſe from it, without and beſide him, Hoſ. 7.11, 12. or their ſtubborneſs under it, Jer. 31.18. or their not improving of it Amos 4.6, — 12. In all which, or the like caſes, it ſhould be remembered; that where he purſues, he will overtake.
2. When the Lord is purſuing his Saints, they will not want other tryals, and others to follow the chaſe with him; For, ſo did Job find, They did alſo perſecute him as God. Many are but lying at wait, to take advantage of godly men, and perſecute them, when they think God hath forſaken them, Pſal. 71.10, 11. Others are ſo corrupt in their Principles (which was the caſe of theſe men here) that Gods purſuing and afflicting of a godly man will occaſion ſuch prejudices and miſconſtructions, as may turn very Friends to be Enemies. And if God hide his face, and withhold his pity, Saints are to expect, in ſuch a caſe, that all other bowels will run dry. See Jer. 42.12.
3. It is unreaſonable and abſurd cruelty thus to perſecute Saints, when they are already afflicted by God; Therefore he puts it home to them, Why do ye perſecute me as God? See Pſal. 69.26. Here, Conſider,
1. That this is a cruel courſe, ſeeing when God takes men in hand, to exerciſe them as he did Job, there needs no help from others, to make their condition ſad. It is true, when God hath afflicted moſt ſeverely, his Children muſt ſtoop if it pleaſe him to add yet to their tryal, by what Inſtruments ſoever; Yet, as to men, it may be pleaded that they are cruel in what they do.
2. The unreaſonable cruelty of this way is ſo obvious, that, even themſelves who act it being Judges, they will in cold bloud condemn and abhor it; Why, ſaith he to themſelves, Do ye perſecute me? intimating that, however they were eager on this way in their paſſion, yet, if they reflected upon it ſeriouſly, they could not juſtifie it. And this doth further teach us, That men are ſo little themſelves in paſſion, and do ſo little conſider what they are doing in ſuch a mood, that they will need no other but themſelves, in cold bloud, to condemn themſelves in what they do. This makes our walking very difficult, we being encompaſſed with ſo many difficulties, which breed paſſions and diſtempers, from whence flow many miſcarriages. And hence it is, that it were good men would more frequently crave from themſelves, in ſoberneſs, an account of the grounds and reaſons of their actions, either before, or after they go about, them.
3. One ground of the unreaſonableneſs of their purſuing him, though God was purſuing him, is, That Gods dealing with his people, being the Soveraign Lord, is not a rule for us, to walk by toward them; nor doth his afflicting of them give warrant or advantage to others, to inſult over them. See Jer. 40.3, with 50.7. nor have men ſtill a ground of quarrel againſt them, where he hath one.
4. Another ground of the unreaſonableneſs of this courſe, is. That Gods tenderneſs is ſuch toward his people, even when he afflicts them, that he allows and requires all others to pity them, notwithſtanding that himſelf is againſt them; and he makes a quarrel of it, when they do not ſo. See Iſa. 47.6. Zech. 1.15. Which may diſcover the tenderneſs of Gods heart toward his people, even in his greateſt ſeverity.
Doct. 4. The Lords hand, when he purſues any of his own, can ſoon waſte and conſume them, and make their carcaſs a pitiful ſpectacle, whether by ſickneſs, or trouble of mind, or both; For, ſo is here ſuppoſed, that his fleſh was in ſuch a condition as might plead for pity. Which ſerves to put us in mind of our frailty, and to ſuggeſt unto us high thoughts of God, who is not to be provoked, as being too ſtrong a party, when he begins to contend.
5. It muſt be great cruelty, not only not to pity, but to perſecute thoſe who are even exhauſted with trouble; and to be like wild Beaſts, who, when they have eaten the fleſh, do gnaw the very bones: For Job challengeth this as great cruelty, that they are not ſatisfied with his fleſh. Such cruelty may be the lot of Saints, even from good men, when God is trying; But men ſhould conſider whom they afflict and vex; eſpecially that they be not cruel to thoſe who are already cruſhed, leſt they miſs of the bleſſing, which is pronounced upon the tender-hearted, who conſider the poor, Pſal. 41.1.
6. It is, in ſpecial, great cruelty to cruſh and diſturb the peace of their minds who are already broken with outward afflictions; For, thus alſo they were not ſatisfied with his fleſh, as hath been explained. The peace of mens minds, (eſpecially if it be joyned with peace of Conſcience) is a very precious and tender Jewel: For where it is wanting, A wounded ſpirit who can bear? And never ſo many outward afflictions are eaſie, in compariſon of one wound upon the ſpirit, eſpecially when it is accompanied with other afflictions, which help it to take impreſſion. But Gods people muſt reſolve to be tried by this alſo; and when their ſpirits are broken and vexed, it ſhould be their care to keep the Conſcience pure and peaceable, as Job did, ſtill holding faſt the teſtimony of his integrity, and an aſſurance of Gods favour, in the throng of his bitter fits.