Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 19 · Verse 5-6 – Verse 9
Verſ. 5. If indeed ye will magnifie your ſelves againſt me, and plead againſt my reproach:
6. Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compaſſed me with his net.
Followeth, to v. 23. the ſecond Argument preſſing this Challenge; The ſum whereof is, that they were cruel and inhumane to deal ſo ſharply with him, whom God had afflicted ſo ſadly. It may be branched out in thoſe three.
1. He propounds, in General, that if they would inſult over him, and take advantage of his afflicted condition, they had indeed ground enough to go upon, v. 5, 6.—
2. To inſtruct this more particularly, and to eaſe himſelf by complaining, he takes occaſion to enumerate his miſeries, wherein he gives eight proofs or inſtances of his afflicted and miſerable condition, v. —6.—20.
3. Upon all this he inferrs, that they were in the wrong, who dealt as they did with a man in his condition, v. 21, 22.
In the General Propoſition, (If indeed ye will magnifie your ſelves—know now that God hath, &c.) in a ſharp, but oblique, way of reprehenſion, he tells them, that if they would inſult over him, and ſtill make uſe of his afflicted condition to cry him down, they had advantage enough of that kind againſt him; though (as the way of propounding imports, and he tells them expreſly afterward) it was but a poor trade they drave.
Whence Learn,
1. Some men (and even good men, when they are in an Errour, and under Tentation) are ſo ſtiffe, that there is no reclaiming of them (at leaſt, for a time) from their evil courſe; For, Job ſuppoſeth that they will indeed go on, notwithſtanding all he had ſaid to reclaim them.
2. It is hard for men who are ex…mpted, when others are afflicted, not to be puffed up, and tempted to undervalue thoſe who are afflicted; For, they magnifie themſelves againſt him.
3. The reproach of affliction is a great ſeeming advantage in debate, to bear down thoſe who are under it; For, they pleaded againſt him his reproach, and that God had ſadly afflicted him, to bear down all his defences in behalf of his own integrity.
4. God may give much ſeeming advantage of this kind, even againſt a godly man; not only to try his faith and patience, and ſubmiſſion toward God, but to add to his tryal from men, who make uſe of the croſſes of the godly, that they may reproach them and their integrity: For, ſo doth Job acknowledge, that, if they will plead that, then they may know that God hath overthrown him, &c.
5. It is but poor gallantry to run down afflicted men; For, Job intends this conceſſion, as a ſharp reprehenſion, as is after cleared. It is great folly not to conſider that the afflicteds condition may be our own, which might make us ſober, and that great afflictions may occaſion ſome eſcapes, which are not to be cenſured hardly. And it argues want of compaſſion, to inſult over a godly man in his trouble, Pſal. 69.26.
Followeth the Second Branch of this Argument, which beginneth at v.— 6. wherein, in ſeveral particulars, he layeth out the greatneſs of his affliction, of which they might take advantage againſt him, if they would be ſo cruel. His ſcope in all which Enumeration of his miſeries, is, not only to tax their cruelty, but to eaſe himſelf by complaining and venting of his greif: And indirectly to refute them, and to ſhew his courage and aſſurance of his own integrity. For in this enumeration, he alludes to what Bildad (Ch. 18.) had ſaid was the lot of the wicked, and adds more to his account; that he may intimate that, however all thoſe things had befaln him (if not more) which he ſaid was the portion of the wicked; yet he will not take with it, that he is wicked. Only this is further to be adverted unto, that though Job point out here his real miſeries, yet he cannot be excuſed from ſome exceſs of paſſion and indirect reflections on God in this Narration. For Elihu hints at ſome expreſſions here, in his refutation of him.
Before I enter upon the Particulars, this purpoſe in General, and Job's ſcope in it, may teach,
1. It is the duty of Saints to take all their afflictions from God and out of his hand, whoever be the Inſtruments imployed therein; For, Job all along doth aſcribe them to him.
2. Saints may be exerciſed and humbled, but they need not be aſtoniſhed, or their confidence ſhaken, by their ſad afflictions, even albeit they ſee God their party in them, and their afflictions be ſuch as look like the wickeds lot: For, Job grants this to be his caſe and yet quits not his integrity. Afflictions are not the Rule whereby we are to try our Integrity, nor do they ſpeak any thing againſt mens honeſty, whom the Word doth not condemn.
3. Some Saints may be made ſpectacles for outward affliction, not only above what other Saints have ſuffered, but above what ſome of the wicked ſuffer; As Job here points out his caſe to be ſingular, and that he ſuffered many things above what Bildad ſaid of the wickeds lot. This cometh to paſs that all may adore Soveraignty, and that others may not quarrel under leſſer troubles.
4. Saints may be ſo far at under by their afflictions, that they can find no caſe of them, but to diſgorge their own hearts by venting and telling over their miſeries; For, that is Job's caſe here, who muſt eaſe himſelf by complaining.
5. Albeit complaints of our troubles may bring ſome eaſe; yet, oft-times, they are not ſo well managed, but Saints fail in them; as Job did in his complaint.
6. In particular, when Saints complain of God and his dealing, and do not ſpeak the matter to himſelf, they are moſt ready to miſcarry; For, Job is complaining of Gods dealing before his Friends, when he fails here; though it be alſo true, that he failed when he ſpake his condition to God.
I come to the particular proofs and inſtances of his miſery; The firſt whereof (v.—6.) is, That God had utterly ſubverted and overthrown him, in his Perſon, Eſtate, Children, &c. And ſo had taken him in that which Bildad called a net to the wicked, Chap. 18.8, &c.
Whence Learn,
1. Afflictions are then really ſad, when they not only ſhake and make men ſtagger, but do utterly overthrow them, to their ſenſe and feeling, and to outward appearance; For, Job begins at overthrowing, as a ſad part of his tryal; which may teach others not to murmur at leſſer tryals.
2. The deareſt of Gods people may be overthrown and overturned in their outward eſtate and condition; As Job was here. Hereby the Lord drives them from all confidence in any help and comfort beſide himſelf, in their trouble; and he loves to have them thus broken, that he may give them proofs of his love in making them up again.
3. Men are by nature very wild, and not only averſe from afflictions, but ill to tame by them; Therefore doth he compare his afflictions to a net, which is appointed for taking of wild creatures, intimating that even a godly man hath much of that untamed diſpoſition in him, which predomines in the wicked, Jer. 2.24.
4 God can eaſily, when he will, overtake and incompaſs the wildeſt, and reach them with what afflictions he pleaſeth; For, ſaith he, He hath compaſſed me with his net. See Hoſ. 7.12. Am. 9 2, 3.4.
5. While afflictions are compared to a net, it ſhould further teach,
1. To take heed that we be not only outwardly reſtrained by afflictions, while luſts are raging inwardly; as wild creatures are only held faſt, but not tamed, in a net. See Iſa. 51.20.
2. To take heed of ſtruggling under Gods hand, or ſtriving againſt the bonds he layeth upon us; For that will but entangle us the more, as wild creatures in a net are held the faſter, the more they ſtruggle.
Verſ. 7. Behold, I cry out of wrong, but I am not heard: I cry aloud, but there is no judgement.
The Second proof and inſtance of his miſery, is, That though he cry to God againſt their unjuſt dealing and falſe accuſations, and againſt the oppreſſion of the Sabeans and others who wronged him; yet, he is not heard nor righted.
Whence Learn,
1. Prayer to God ſhould be our chief refuge and ſhift under violence and unjuſt uſage; For, ſaith he, I cry out of wrong, or, complain to God that I am wronged.
2. Prayer in ſuch a caſe ſhould be inſtant and fervent, eſpecially when an anſwer is delayed; For, I cry out, and I cry aloud, when I am kept crying ſtill. See Luke 22.44.
3. Even when godly men have right on their ſide, and do pray fervently and diligently to be helped in their right; yet, their Prayer may not be heard for a time, to their ſenſe; For, when he cryed out, and cryed aloud, and that of wrong, or, violence, yet he is not heard, and there is no judgment, or, no ſentence paſſed by God to redreſs his wrongs. We are not to judge of our ſelves, nor of our Prayers, at all times, by our viſible ſucceſs, Pſal. 22.2. But Saints may get wrong, and yet muſt reſolve to ſuffer it, even when they have done duty.
4. It is a ſad tryal to Saints, when Prayer ſeems to fail them in Gods way; For, this complaint is ſubjoyned to his being overthrown, v, 6. as yet ſadder, that in ſuch a condition he ſhould be denyed acceſs, and his Prayers (which are the mean whereby men find relief in trouble) not avail him; and therefore he prefixeth a behold, to it. It is ſad to Saints at any time, to find their Prayers neglected, conſidering that their life conſiſts in Communion with God, which is entertained by Prayer; and that they may be ready to draw ſad concluſions from ſuch a lot. But it is moſt ſad when Prayer ſeems to fail them in a peremptore and great diſtreſs, ſuch as Job was now in.
5. Yet in this complaint Job is not to be altogether juſtified, but his miſtakes and paſſion in it are blame-worthy. For,
1. He reflects upon God as not letting him have judgment, or fair play; which is injurious to his Holineſs, Soveraignty and Juſtice.
2. Though all other iſſues had failed him; yet Patience and Grace to bear his Croſs was an iſſue, which if he had cheriſhed, he needed not complain for the want of other anſwers, 1 Cor. 10.13.
3. Though there had been no paſſion, nor other defects, in the manner or matter of his Prayers (wherein he was not altogether blameleſs, and many times we cry earneſtly for that which we would not love, were it granted; as Habakkuk complains that God took not notice of the Jews ſinfulneſs, and yet is grieved, when God threatens to puniſh them, Hab. 1.2, 3,—6,—12, 13, &c.) yet it was reaſon that God ſhould have the timing of the anſwer of his Prayers, were they never ſo honeſt.
4. It was neceſſary that he ſhould abide under the tryal, for the exerciſe of his faith and patience, and that corruptions might be diſcovered and purged by the delay.
5. If God love to hear the Prayers of his own Children, and therefore ſuffer them to cry on, there is no reaſon that he or any other ſhould quarrel or miſtake ſuch a diſpenſation. Theſe are a few of many particulars to be marked upon this complaint, whereof the godly ſhould make uſe in the like caſe.
Verſ. 8. He hath fenced up my way that I cannot paſs, and he hath ſet darkneſs in my pathes.
The Third proof and inſtance of his miſery (wherein he alludes to the condition of ſome Travellers) is, that he is hemmed in with difficulties and irreſolution, not knowing what to do, nor where to find an iſſue, and filled with diſcomfort in the mean time. His being ſe…ced up and in darkneſs, imports, both his difficulties without, and from his irreſolution and diſcomfort from within. And by his way and pathes, we are to underſtand, both, his preſent duty, and the iſſue he would be at by following his duty.
Hence Learn,
1. Men are not behind ſo long as they have a duty to go about in any ſtrait; For, when he is not heard, v. 7. he would account it a mercy to have away and paths wherein to walk. Such as are not deſerted as to duty, do enjoy a ſpecial mercy, though they be deſerted as to comfort, Pſal. 88.13, 14. See Job 23.3, 4, &c.
2. Afflicted and tender Saints will not take up duty at random, or by their own will, but from Gods light; For, he would have light, and not darkneſs in his pathes.
3. Saints may expect to be bounded and ſtraitened with troubles, ſo that they cannot walk at large as they were wont to do; For, he complains that his way is fenced up. See Hoſ. 2.6. Hereby, as God corrects them for their wantonneſs and wandering; ſo, he calls them to ſeek enlargement in himſelf.
4. Saints, being thus hemmed in, may alſo be deprived of all ability to rid themſelves of their difficulties, by their own endevours; For, he cannot paſs toward any iſſue. We will not be able to ſhake off trouble, till God interpoſe and be ſeen in it.
5. It may be the lot of Saints, as to be ſhut up from all iſſues, ſo alſo to have no light nor skill to know what to do; For darkneſs, of irreſolution, accompanieth the fencing up of his way. Trouble may confound the judgment, and if any light offer, it may be readily ſuſpected, leſt trouble ſuggeſt it, to bring eaſe any way.
6. The perplexities of Saints in trouble, flow not only, or ſo much, from the weakneſs of their judgements, as from the hand of God, who afflicts, tries, and humbles them thereby; For, he fenceth up, and ſets darkneſs in his paths.
7. The condition of Saints, when ſhut up under trouble, and involved in perplexities, i… very diſconſolate; For, ſo much alſo is imported in this darkneſs, and his complaint tells it was ſad to him. Such a condition pleads for pity, and may expect it from God.
8. Saints may be involved in troubles, from which they cannot expede themſelves, and be alſo filled with perplexities, who yet are, and will be well guided; For, ſo was it with Job here, whom God brought to a good iſſue. See Iſa. 42▪ 16. Pſal. 73.22, 23.
Verſ. 9. He hath ſtript me of my glory, and taken the crown from mine head.
The fourth proof and inſtance of his miſery (wherein he alludes to the habit, or, ornaments of body) is, That God deprived him of his dignity and Reputation, of his Riches, Children, and outward State; which had been his glory, like ſplendid Apparel, and as a Crown upon his head, in the view of others. See Chap. 29.7, 14, 20. Leaving his Obſervation …hat God had done this, and the reſt that follow, which hath been marked in the entry;
Here, Learn,
1. The Lord may ſee it fit, ſometimes, to exalt his Children to an height of proſperity; as Job had Glory, and a Crown, in this reſpect. Thus the Lord doth,
1. That men may learn to look upon no outward condition as an infallible evidence of love or hatred; and that neither afflictions nor proſperity do prove men wicked.
2. That by ſuch inſtances he may give proof what he could do, and would do to all his people, if it were for their good.
3. That he may try his people how they will keep their feet in ſuch a condition; as proſperity is a tryal no leſs then adverſity, and Job's teſtimony, that he kept his integrity in his proſperity, doth comfort him, when his proſperity is gone; Chap. 31.
4. That Saints, enjoying thoſe advantages, may experimentally know the emptineſs of them, which they would not ſo eaſily believe; if they had not found it: as may be ſeen in their doating upon them who never enjoyed them.
Doct. 2. After Saints have been thus exalted, the Lord may ſee it fit to tumble them down again; as here Job was ſtript of his Glory, and the Crown taken from his head: and inſtead of his former proſperity, and his eſteem with others, he meets with loſs and contempt both at once. Hereby,
1. The Lord exerciſeth his Soveraignty, and makes it appear that he may toſs his Children at his pleaſure.
2. He demonſtrateth ſenſibly the vanity and uncertainty of theſe tranſitory things, that we may not fix upon them, but what is a better and more enduring ſubſtance.
3. He tryeth us by thoſe changes of condition, which are ſorer to abide then any one condition, if we were kept at it. It is eaſier for one to bear want who hath always been a beggar, than for thoſe who, after they have been cloathed with Scarlet, are made to embrace Dunghils, Lam. 4.5. See Pſal. 102.10. Eccl. 7.14.
4. Hereby alſo God gives proof how he can uphold his people in all thoſe ſhakes; as he did uphold Job.
Doct. 3. Such changes in our outward condition may be a tryal, even to the mortified Child of God; For, though Job did not ſet up his reſt upon his proſperity and dignity, yet here he complains of the loſs of it, and that he wants his Crown and Glory.
Here Conſider,
1. Saints have ſenſe and fleſh which cannot but feel, and grieve under, trouble and contempt; and they are not to miſtake, though they find ſomewhat in themſelves that …epineth at the Croſs.
2. By this God makes it evident that Saints are not Stoicks, or wholly inſenſible of troubles; and that it is not themſelves, but Grace in them, that bears them out.
3. When the ſpirits of Saints are otherwiſe broken (as Job's was) then any thing will be a burden, though otherewiſe in their judgment they think little of it.
4. Our bitterneſs and peeviſhneſs may cauſe us have too great an eſteem of things when we want them, which we were but little thankful for, when we had them, and ſo we diſquiet our ſelves.