Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 22 · Verse 16
Verſ. 16. Which were cut down out of time, whoſe foundation was overflown with a flood:
In the ſecond branch of this argument Eliphaz propounds the particular to be obſerved, of the way … Gods judgments upon theſe wicked men; That they periſhed ſuddenly, out of time, or, (as the Original hath it) they were cut down, and no time, that is, they were cut of in a moment, and before they could expect it, and that the foundations of their imagined happineſs were overthrown as by a deluge and floud. This may very well be underſtood of the general deluge, but doth not at all prove Eliphaz hi… concluſion, as hath been ſhewed, v. 15.
In General, Learn,
1. It is very commendable in godly men, and a duty incumbent to them, that they be acquainted with, and keep in memory, the proceedings of God againſt ſinners; For, here, thoſe men are notably verſed … the Hiſtory of the old world, and many other paſſag…s of divine providence in the world. See Pſal. 78.5.—… Here we are to conſider.
1. If they learned theſe things only by Tradition, without the written word, and yet kept them ſo freſh in memory; How much more ſhould we remember them, who have them written to us, to relieve the infirmity of our memories?
2. As they remembered thoſe examples, not for contemplation, but for uſe and practice: And, accordingly, Eliphaz produces this inſtance for directing of Job how to judge of his afflictions, and improve them, though he erred in the application: So we ought likewiſe to make uſe of what is recorded in the Word, or, otherwiſe comes to our knowledge, for the like end, and not as the…e did, Pſal. 78.19, 20. & 106.12, 13. Prov. 23.35. For all theſe acts of God are loud preachings to warn and direct ſinners, Pſal. 78.22, 23, &c.
3. If they remembered and ſtudied to improve what was done long before their own time, much more ought we to be ſenſible of, and to improve, what our ſelves do ſee and feel, that we be not as theſe who ſaw Gods works, and yet neither conſidered nor made uſe of them, Pſal. 10….7.
Doct. 2. The inſtance of Gods ſeverity againſt the old world is full of documents to ſinners in all ages; Therefore it is made uſe of here, as a ſpeaking leſſon, though it do not prove his point; as alſo 2 Pet. 2.5, &c. And who ſo look upon that act of juſtice aright, as it is afterward inculcated in Scripture to warn ſinners, will find that it points out,
1. That more ages than that one deſerve the like puniſhment, whatever be Gods indulgence.
2. That the latter perillous declining times do, eſpecially, deſerve ſuch an utter extermination; And therefore that inſtance is laid before them by Peter.
3. That there is no leſs wrath let forth in the leſſer rods that come upon the like ſinners, yea in the very forbearance they get, than was in that ſtroke; For, in that reſpect the parallel ſtill holds.
4. That though there had been no viſible documents of Gods anger againſt ſin ſince that time, yet that is enough in reaſon, to deter men from ſin; For, it is an argument and document in all ages.
5. That God could very eaſily cauſe the very courſe of Nature put an end to the rebellion of wicked men, if it got a Commiſſion; As then the Windows of Heaven, and the Fountains of the deep, being opened, the Rain conſumed the World. So alſo did the Stars in their courſes fight againſt Siſera, Judg. 5.20.
From the words in Particular, Learn,
1. Ruine and deſtruction is the deſert of wicked men, whatever forbearance they get; For, ſo is proved by this inſtance, that theſe ſinners were cut down, or, (as the Original hath it) became wrinkled, as drowned bodies do gather wrinckles. So that neither Gods indulgence, nor leſſer rods, do ſecure them againſt further plagues, Iſa. 9.12, 17, 21. Amos 9.4.
2. That this was done out of time, or, and no time, may import,
(1.) The ſudden ripening of the wicked for judgments, even before they have any time, or be ripe in days. Hence wicked men are ſaid not to live out half their days, Pſal. 55.23. So that it is folly for men to go on in ſin, thinking they may do well enough afterward; when they know not how ſoon judgments may overtake them.
(2.) Their ſudden ſurpriſal with judgments when they come. For, God in a very moment can overturn the wicked, were there never ſo many of them; as in a moment he ſurpriſed and overthrew the old world. It is true, they got warning by the Preaching of Noah, and by his building of the Ark; yet ſuch was the power of their ſecurity, that they were ſurpriſed, Matth. 24.38, 39. And it is righteous with God ſuddenly to cut off wicked men, and to give them no time for repentance under judgments, who would not take time for it before. Which refutes the ſecure dreams of many, who think to be very buſie when calamities come upon them, and ſo do pleaſe themſelves in their preſent ſecurity.
Doct. 3. It is a plague on wicked men, that they think they have foundations, and that their proſperity in a ſinful courſe is firmly bottomed; For, ſo is here ſuppoſed that they have foundations, and that their proſperity in a ſinful courſe is firmly bottomed; Fo… ſo is here ſuppoſed that they have a foundation. Theſe preſumptuous dreams are the very ſnare of a ſinful condition, and do ripen men for ſudden and violent judgments.
4. Mens ſureſt ſtanding can no more bear out againſt Gods judgments, than a weak building, or the habitations of the old World, could bear out againſt the floud; but ſuddenly, violently, and irreſiſtibly, his hand will reach them: For, their foundation was overthrown with a floud.
5. Juſtice will, here, or, hereafter, purſue wicked men, ſo long as they have the leaſt remainder of a ruine ſtanding, For, thus will it be ſooner or later, that not only ſome of their ſuperfluous enjoyments ſhall be taken from them, but they ſhall be overthrown, even their very foundation.