Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 22 · Verse 28
Verſ. 28. Thou ſhalt alſo decree a thing, and it ſhall be eſtabliſhed unto thee: and tho light ſhall ſhine upon thy ways.
The laſt Branch of this Encouragement, is,
1. Propounded, in theſe words, Thou ſhalt alſo decree a thing, and it ſhall be eſtabliſhed unto thee. If we reſtrict this, as ſome do, to the matter of Prayer ſpoken of in the former verſe; It imports the great familiarity of a reconciled man with God; That he ſhall but propound his deſire, and what he would have, to God, and it ſhall be granted, as Elijah was familiar and had power with God, in Prayer, 1 Kings 17.1. with James 5.16, 17, 18. But this being joyned to what is ſpoken in the former verſe by the copulative and, or, alſo, we may take it more largely, That God ſhall ſo direct a godly man, as he ſhall undertake nothing, but it ſhall proſper and ſucceed in his hand, and he ſhall expect nothing wherein he ſhall be diſappointed: but according as he is directed to propoſe and expect; ſo God ſhall make things ſucceed in his hand.
2. It is amplified in theſe words; And the light ſhall ſhine upon thy ways. Where by light we may underſtand both the light of counſel and direction, in deſiring and decreeing of right things, and the light of ſucceſs, and of p…ace and comfort in the ſucceſs and eſtabliſhment of the thing decreed. This is contrary to what Job hath complained of concerning his own condition, Chap. 19.8. and muſt be underſtood with needful caution, of which afterward.
Doct. 1. Godly men are not to expect a preſent ſatisfaction, and that they want nothing to be deſired by them, but much of their ſatisfaction is ſtill before their hand, while they are within time; For, the reconciled man (of whom Eliphaz is ſpeaking) hath his decrees, deſires, and purpoſes, yet to be ſatisfied.
2. Diſappointments in our purpoſes and endeavours, and in our hopes and expectations, are a ſad affliction and tryal; For, the contrary is here promiſed as a great mercy. This the godly do ſadly complain of, Jer. 14 19. And it is threatned againſt the wicked as a plague, Iſa. 8.9, 10. Prov. 11.7. Which warns all to be ſober and well grounded in their purpoſes and expectations; leſt, by feeding themſelves with vain hopes, as in a fools Paradiſe, they lay the foundation of a bitter croſs to themſelves, when they ſhall be diſappointed.
3. A godly reconciled man hath the promiſe that his purpoſes and hopes ſhall be eſtabliſhed, and not diſappointed; as here we ſee, as alſo Pſal. 1.3. John 15.7, This muſt be cautiouſly underſtood; For the meaning is not that, becauſe a man is godly, therefore he may looſe the rains to his fleſh to purpoſe and deſire what he will, and God will ſatisfie him in it; but his decrees muſt be reſtricted to things lawful, if he expect the performance of this promiſe. Nor is it the meaning that when a godly man decrees even a thing lawful, he ſhall at all times be ſatisfied; For there is a ſubjection and ſubmiſſion due to the Will of God, even in our lawful deſires and expectatious. But the ſenſe of this General Promiſe ought thus to be underſtood.
(1.) It is one great fruit of Reconciliation with God, that in ſo far as a man is renewed, his will and deſires are brought to a conformity to the Will of God. So that Promiſe, John 15.7. doth not import that godly men have a lawleſs liberty allowed them to ask whatſoever they will, with hope of ſucceſs; but that, by abiding in Chriſt, a ſweet reſtraint is put upon the will of the renewed man, that he ſeeks nothing, but what is agreeable to the Will of God. So that when he asks other things, it is an Evidence that his Renovation is imperfect, and that he is prompted thereunto by his fleſh. Thus alſo Pſal. 37 4. it is promiſed that delighters in God ſhall be ſatiſfied in the deſires of their heart, becauſe in ſo far as they delight in God, their deſires will be conform to the Will of God.
(2.) Hence, when a Child of God finds not his decrees eſtabliſhed, he is to reckon (as hath been alſo touched on, v. 27.) either that his deſires are not agreeable to the Will of God, by reaſon of his diſtance from him; which makes him luſt after vain, empty and carnal things; or elſe makes him look for good things from God, while he neglects his own duty, and what is required of him that God may do for him: as Iſrael complained of diſappointments, Jer. 14.19. when yet they neglected their duty, Jer. 12.4, 11. Or he is to reckon that he propounds not his lawful deſires and purpoſes in the right order, but prefers what is leaſt excellent; as the people were diſappointed of their expectations, becauſe they prefered their own houſes to Gods, Hag. 1.9. Or that the general frame of his heart is not right and lively, though his deſires be lawful and well ordered; or, (if that be right alſo) that God will in due time eſtabliſh his Decrees, however he try him for a time; or, (at leaſt) will do what is as good, and better, though he grant not his particular deſire, and will train him up for Heaven by his diſappointments in ſome particulars.
Doct. 4. He that would ſo decree, purpoſe, and deſire, as what he Decrees may be eſtabliſhed, ſhould ſtudy to have Gods light to direct him therein; Therefore it is here ſubjoyned, and the light ſhall ſhine upon thy ways. See Pſal. 37.23. Such as would walk aright under the various diſpenſations of God, and the various exerciſes and deſires of their mind, ſhould make ſure the matter of their light. For Ignorance and ill Principles breed many miſtakes in our exerciſes, as may be ſeen in the Diſciples ſorrow, Luke 24.17,—25, 26. And our miſtakes about that which we think God ſhould do to and for his people, and about the evidences of his love, breed us much needleſs diſquiet, Judg. 6.13. Withal, the more a man grows in grace, he becomes the more ſelf-denied, and dares not truſt his own inherent reſolutions and light, but muſt look up to God for light and direction in every ſtep, as 2 Chro. 20.12. And particularly, when he is at a diſtance from God, or under a preſent tentation or tryal, he is jealous of his own light (conſidering the clouds of confuſion and paſſion that attend ſuch a condition, and that preſent preſſures may ſuggeſt ill counſels plaiſtered over with fair Pretences) and ſeeth a neceſſity of dependence upon God in that matter.
5. The ſucceſs, peace, and comfort of our undertakings, even when we have decreed right things, muſt come from God; For, in this reſpect alſo he needs that the light ſhine upon his ways. A Renewed Child of God, when he is in a right frame, lookes to God in every ſtep of his way. He imploreth God for light to guid him, and his eyes are toward him for ſucceſs and comfort, when he doth guide him. So that their is not a ſtep of his way wherein he needs not God; and theſe frequent humblings are the fore-runners of many mercies and proofs Of love. And withal, it is one mercy to be directed, and prove ſucceſsful in our undertakings, and it is a new gift of God to have the comfort of all that; otherwiſe, God can blaſt moſt promiſing lots, and leave men in a ſad condition when they get their deſires in outward things. Yea, the comfort of ſpiritual Priviledges may be ſuſpended, till God by a new gift help us to diſcern and be comforted in them.
6. The conſideration of the ſpiritual advantages that attend Piety ought to ſtir up men to purſue after Reconciliation with God; For, this is the ſcope of all this Encouragement, to preſs the former Exhortation to Converſion, as the only way to attain them. So that when any find the want of theſe advantages, they ought not to run away from God, but to draw neer unto him, and grow in renovation, making an errand to God of every want, which is the only way to ſpeed.