Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 19 · Verse 10
Verſ. 10. He hath deſtroyed me on every ſide, and I am gone: and mine hope hath he removed like a tree.
The Fifth proof and inſtance of his miſery (wherein he alludes to the deſtroying of Houſes, and plucking up of Trees, whereof Bildad had alſo ſpoken; and whereby he further explains what he had ſaid, v. 6—) is, That his preſent enjoyments and future hopes were quite overthrown and gone; as an Houſe that is quite overturned, and a Tree that is plucked up by the roots.
Whence Learn,
1. The ſenſe of grievances, being entertained, will make men great Oratours in pointing them out; As Job's inſiſting upon his complaint may teach, and experience of others recorded in Scripture, who have dwelt long upon their lamentations and complaints, doth witneſs. This
1. May encourage them who cannot get an end of their complaints, nor have ſoon done with them, when they conſider that they want not company at that ſad Trade.
2. It may warrant us to ſtudy our grievances well, that they may preſs humility upon us, and we may make uſe of them as Arguments to plead for pity; and, by the ſenſe thereof, may be fitted for proofs of Gods love; and withal, we may glorifie God, by our ſubmiſſion to him, and our hope in him, notwithſtanding all thoſe grievances. Yet,
3. We ſhould beware to dwell upon this ſubject, only out of bitterneſs, or a deſire to complain. Upon thoſe terms, we ſhould think one word of our diſtreſſes too much▪ and the leaſt moment of time too long, to ſpend about them, ſeeing we have better exerciſes wherein to be imployed. And herein Job failed, who ſpent much time and talk on this in his bitterneſs, when he might have been better imployed.
Doct. 2. God can, and ſometime will, ſurround his Children with an univerſal havock and deſolation, in their Children, Goods, Body, Name, Peace of mind, &c. As here Job was deſtroyed on every ſide. See Lam. 2.22. Here,
1. The repeating of this again, from v. 6. ſerves to confirm Saints, that ſuch a condition is not inconſiſtent with a gracious ſtate: and to warn us that we ſhould not make exception of any outward tryal, as if it were inconſiſtent with grace in a perſon.
2. This doth alſo teach murmurers, that it is their duty to look upon their leſſer tryals as abounding with mercies, when they conſider this total overthrow of a godly man, as to his outward condition. Too much noiſe about thoſe, and little praiſe to God, who moderates his ſtroke, do argue much ſelf-love, ingratitude, and need of more afflictions.
3. Such as are made to drink of this bitter cup, ſhould ſubmit to God in it, believing that no leſs is neceſſary to try them, to put them out of themſelves, and to fit them for the ſingular proofs of love, which God intends for them.
Doct. 3. When God engageth with the Creature, eſpecially in any meaſure of ſeverity, the Creature will ſoon ſuccumb; For, ſaith he, He hath deſtroyed me, and I am gone. So that ſtooping is our beſt, when God becometh our party.
4. Hope is the laſt refuge and life of a deſtroyed and gone Saint; For, ſo is here ſuppoſed, that whe he is deſtroyed and gone, he looks what hope will afford, to comfort him. Saints ſhould not caſt away hope and confidence, Pſal. 42.11. Heb. 10.35. but ſhould wreſtle from under the ruines of their deſtroyed condition, by hope.
5. Not only the preſent enjoyments, but the future hopes of Saints, may be deſtroyed and gone, to their ſenſe; For, his hope was removed like a Tree, that is rooted out of the ground. This is to be underſtood of his hopes about temporal favours and reſtitution; wherein (though Job was miſtaken, in caſting off hopes of reſtitution) men ought to be very ſober, and ſubmit all to the good pleaſure of God. For, to do at upon thoſe things, is to feed murmuring, evidence inſobriety, and breed our ſelves many diſappointments. But even other and better hopes of Saints may fail much; that God may try how we will hope againſt hope, out of our love to him, and may take a proof of our delight to give him credit in difficulties; and that he may give proof what he will do for his own Children, who ſometime will not ſo much as cheriſh hope in him.
6. God can, and will do for his people, even far above their preſent ſenſe and hopes; For, Job thinks he is gone, and his hope removed, and yet he is carried through. See Epheſ. 3.19. Pſal. 94.18, 19.