Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 19 · Verses 23-24
Verſ. 23. Oh that my words were now written, oh that they were printed in a book.
24. That they were grauen with an iron pen, and lead, in the rook for ever.
From this verſe to 29. we have Job's third Argument preſſing and bearing in his Challenge upon them. It is taken from his integrity, and concludes thus, That it was yet greater cruelty thus to perſecute him, who not only was afflicted (as he demonſtrates in his former Argument) but was a righteous man, though afflicted. In the Argument we have,
1. An antecedent, wherein he clears his integrity by two Evidences; One more General, held out in a deſire that this debate might be kept upon Record, v. 23, 24. And another more particular (clearing and confirming the former) taken from his ſaving knowledge of, and faith in a Redeemer, v. 25. and his expectation of a bleſſed and glorious Reſurrection through him, v. 26, 27.
2. A Conſequent, or, inference from this, That he being a righteous man, therefore they ſhould not perſecute him, as they did, v. 28.
In theſe verſes, we have the firſt evidence of Job's integrity, held out in a deſire that this Controverſie might not be loſt, nor come in oblivion; but that it, and particularly his defences in his cauſe, might be kept on record. A deſire which is repeated much to the ſame purpoſe, Chap. 31.35, &c. and which ſheweth how confident he is of being in the right, in that he cared not into whoſe hands this debate came, or who cognoſced upon it. For further clearing of this purpoſe, a few things would be conſidered. And,
1. For the matter which he would have written, my words, ſome reſtrict it to the following confeſſion of his faith, v. 25, 26, 27. Others extend it to the whole diſcourſes in this cauſe, and Chap. 31.35. he extends his deſire further, wiſhing that what they oppoſed to him were written alſo. It is moſt ſafe and clear to underſtand it here of all that he had ſaid in theſe debates, and particularly, in defence of his integrity. Conſider,
2. His ſcope in this deſire, to have his words written; It needs not to be extended, nor yet reſtricted, only to that time of the Reſurrection, v. 25, 26, 27. as if his meaning were, that he would have his defences kept on record till that time, to be diſcuſſed there; For there will be no need of ſuch Books for clearing of proceſſes in that day. But his ſcope is this; Being confident that he was in the right, and that he would carry his cauſe in that day of the Reſurrection and General Judgment; (and therefore he ſubjoyns his aſſurance of that, joyning it to this deſire by the cauſal particle, for, v. 25. to point out the grounds he goeth upon in this deſire) He deſires that his defences may be recorded, that all Ages, preſent and to come, might know and judge of them; as being ſure that, however his Friends were not moved with what he ſpake, yet, he ſhould carry his cauſe, and all impartial Judges would take his part. Conſider,
3. As for the way of recording his words, which he ſo paſſionately deſires, there is a gradation in it.
1. He would have them written.
2. Not only ſo, but he would have them printed in a Book. Not after the way in uſe among us, which was not then known, nor long after; But (as the Original word imports) he would have them recorded as publick Statutes uſe to be; that is, engraven in fair and legible Characters, that all might eaſily read them, and the writing not be obliterated; and that they may be kept ſafe; as Statutes uſe to be ſecured; and that not in looſe Schedules, but in a Volume, Book, or Regiſter.
3. Becauſe Books may be eaten by moths, or worms, and ſo what is written in them may be loſt; Therefore he deſires that his words may be graven upon a Rock, to be kept for ever as publike monuments are, and that with an iron pen (of which, Jer. 17.1.) whereby the letters were cut in the Rock, and with lead, which was poured into the letters, thus cut in the Rock, to make them more legible. By all which he evidenceth his deſire to have his Doctrine perpetuated, that it might bear witneſs that he was an honeſt man, though afflicted by God, and traduced by his Friends. Conſider,
4. As for the validity of this way of proving his integrity by ſuch a deſire, Albeit Job had his weakneſſes and paſſions in his debates, which, upon better adviſement, he would wiſh deleted, or that they had never been; And albeit this his deſire to have what he had ſaid perpetuated, do not neceſſarily, or of it ſelf, prove his integrity; For men may ſtiffely enough cleave to Errours; yet if we reſtrict his deſire to his defences in the main cauſe, wherein he was ſound, and will conſider that his deſire is grounded upon his confidence after-mentioned, v. 25, &c. and that it is uttered by him, when, to his his own apprehenſion, he is ready to die; we may ſafely conclude that his confident deſire in ſuch a caſe ſpeaks much for his honeſty.
From the verſes, thus cleared, Learn,
1. Saints may be ſtrangely fruſtrated in their deſires for ſatisfaction and caſe under trouble; As Job here deſiring pity from his Friends, v. 21. doth not obtain it, but muſt row to ſome other ſhore, and ſeek ſome other way of caſe. Till a tryal be perfected, whatever we look to for eaſe, may not only diſappoint us, but augment our grief. Which teacheth the afflicted to be ſober in their expectations; to look for diſappointments, when they eſſay lawful means of caſe; and to fix upon God, who only can command refreſhment and caſe, though even in ſo doing, we may alſo meet with an humbling tryal. Pſal. 77.3.
2. It is the very ſad and humbling lot of Saints, under trouble, that they are under a cloud of miſtakes and prejudices from others; ſo that to be cleared of thoſe, were much to them; yea, or to have hope of being cleared afterward: For, this is Job's tryal, that under his afflictions, he is miſtaken by thoſe who are preſent with him, and that it would be a great comfort to him, if there were a probability that he ſhould be cleared afterward. When-ever Saints come to be in affliction, they may expect many tentations will be faſtened upon their lot; and, in particular, that they will be miſtaken by men, and, it may be; by their deareſt friends, and have their integrity and approbation with God, under and becauſe of thir afflictions, queſtioned. This, as it is a ſad tryal, ſhaking the very foundations upon which they muſt ſtand in a ſtorm, and great cruelty in men, to pluck this from them; (as Job inſinuates, Chap. 6.29.) So, when it is the lot of any Saint, it ſhould make them ſober, and to be content with little, were it but to have hope to be cleared even when they are dead, which Job longs after here.
3. However the integrity of Sains be queſtioned under tryal, yet it is their duty not to quit it; For, Job here doth ſtill cleave to it, and when for the preſent he could not get it cleared, he doth propound other ways of being vindicated afterward. See alſo Chap. 27.3. —6. And though in this, his paſſion and exceſſes are not to be juſtified, for which he is checked, Chap. 34.6. Yet it is certain that tentations and aſſaults, with the continuance thereof, are let looſe upon Saints under trouble, of purpoſe to try if they cleave to God and the teſtimony of a good Conſcience; and therefore they diſcover their weakneſs, and their droſs in the furnace, if they quit it: Yea, having the command of God to maintain their integrity, they ſin if they do otherwiſe.
1. This may teach Saints their duty, both in debates from without, and confl…cts from within.
4. Such as have a good Conſcience, and Truth on their ſide, need not ſeek to corners for ſhelter; For, Job cares not who, in all ages, cognoſce upon his cauſe and way; Yea, he would have it recorded for that end. Truth is a ſtrong Second, which will ſupport and vindicate its maintainers. And men ſhould ſtudy ſo to walk and act, as if not only all the preſent Generation, throughout the world, ſaw them; but all their actings and diſcourſes were to be tranſmitted to all Poſterity, and were all written, to be preſented before their Judge; as Job's deſire doth import.
5. Ordinarily after ages, or others leſs concerned, will judge better in Controverſies, then thoſe who are imbarqued in them, and tranſported with heats of debate; Therefore Job would have all this written, as ſuppoſing that others, in other parts of the world, or who were to come after, would judge better of his defences then his Friends did. Truth will at laſt triumph, and will make the graves of its maintainers ſmell well, though they ſhould, not only live, but be buried, with ignominy. And therefore in times of Debate and Controverſie, men ſhould guard leſt their paſſions and intereſts drive them to maintain a cauſe, whereof they may repent afterward, or which may render their memory unſavoury, when they are gone.
6. The exerciſes of Saints, and the fruits of their integrity, under trouble, are worthy monuments, and ſuch as it were a pity they ſhould be loſt; For, ſo much alſo is implyed in Job's deſire to have his exerciſe kept upon record for ever. The Scriptures inſiſt rather upon theſe, than upon the valorous acts of martial men in the world; & Saints ſhould improve thoſe experiences of the Saints before them, as rich treaſures; and when themſelves are eſſayed with ſuch exerciſes and conflicts, they ſhould look upon them as tending to their own and others great advantages.
7. God may ſtrangely and wonderfully fulfil the deſires of his people; For, Job could only wiſh and deſire that his words were written and graven; but now we find they are written in Scripture, and better kept upon Record, than if they had been graven upon a Rock. This may aſſure Saints, that their lawful deſires will not be always fruſtrated, however they may look upon them as hopeleſs.