Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 22 · Verse 23
Verſ. 23. If thou return to the Almighty, thou ſhalt be built up, thou ſhalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.
In this verſe we have,
1. Another branch of the Exhortation, that he would return to God, by Converſion and true Repentance.
2. An encouragment preſſing the Exhortation, that he ſhall be built up, or, reſtored to his former eſtate, and ſhall remove iniquity far from himſelf and his family. Where, by iniquity, we are to underſtand both ſin in it ſelf, which is abandoned by converſion and turning to God, (and deliverance from it is a great encouragment to right diſcerners) and the fruits, or puniſhment of iniquity, which, upon converſion, are removed, of the like purpoſe, ſee Chap. 8.5, 6. Only it is to be adverted, that the promiſe of temporal reſtitution is to be underſtood with needful caution.
Doct. 1. In our converſion we are not only to look to our diſtance from God, but to our averſion from coming to him; and that our diſtance hath been by a revolt, and defection, at leaſt from what we had and enjoyed in Adam: F…r, ſo much doth, returning, or, turning back again, after we have turned away, import.
2. They who are ſenſible of this diſtance, defection, and revolt, will not only ſee a neceſſity that they muſt return, and that convictions of their ill condition will not ſuffice, and that they forſook their own mercy, and committed an act of great folly, and prejudged themſelves, when they left God; But they ſhould alſo be careful to return indeed to God. Jer. 4.1. Hoſ. 7.16. And that one devil do not go out, that more and worſe devils may return. Matth. 12.43, 44, 45: Therefore is the Exhortation given to return,
3. Such as would return unto God, ought to have right conceptions of him, that he is the Almighty, and therefore not to be dallied with; and, Al-ſufficient, which may encourage the worthleſs and empty to draw neer to him, and truſt in him in all exigents: Therfore God, to whom we ought to return, is deſigned here to be the Almighty, or, Al-ſufficient.
4. Diſtance from God juſtly brings ruine upon men; And returning to him is the only ſafe and ſure way of repairing all theſe ruins; For, in ſo far (whatever God do as to temporal mercies) the Promiſe holds ſtill good; If thou return, thou ſhalt be built up. For ſince ruine entered upon mankind by ſin, the returner unto God muſt lie neareſt help, and whatever advantage a man reap in another way, it will tend to his greater dammage at laſt.
5. Such as would prove that they return to God indeed, ought to abandon all iniquity, and that with great indignation at it, and jealouſie leſt they relapſe into it again; Therefore muſt iniquity be put far from us. See Iſa. 30.22.
6. It is not enough that converted men abandon ſin in their own perſons, unleſs they ſuppreſs it alſo in their families, and where they have power; For, iniquity muſt be put far from a mans tabernacle. See Joſh. 24.15. Pſal. 101.3, 4, &c.
7. It is a ſpecial motive to perſwade men to keep their families pure, when they conſider how unſtable their habitations are upon earth, and that they are but pilgrimes in their families, haſting to their iournyes end, where they muſt give an account of all their ways; Therefore is it called a tabernacle, here, from which iniquity is to be removed.
8. Sin is ſo great a burden and ſlavery to a right diſcerner, 2. Tim. 2.26. that to be delivered from it, is a reward unto himſelf; For, it is an encouragement here, as well as a duty, Thou ſhalt put away iniquity, if thou return.
9. When ſin is removed, the fruits and puniſhment of ſin will be removed alſo, however God may continue afflictions, not any more as plagues, but for the converted mans needful exerciſe and tryal; For, thus alſo it is true, If thou return, thou ſhalt put away iniquity (or the puniſhment of iniquity) far from thy Tabernacles. Where he ſpeaks of many Tabernacles, alluding to the way of many in thoſe times, who k…pt their numerous Families in ſo many ſeveral tents ſet up together, See Gen. 24.6…. and 31.33. And here this promiſe is further confirmed, that though his habitation be but a Tabernacle, yet God will preſerve it, and diſadvantages will not hinder nor impede needful proofs of his love.