Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 22 · Verses 29-30
Verſ. 29. When men are caſt down, then thou ſhalt ſay, There is lifting up: and he ſhall ſave the humble perſon.
30. He ſhall deliver the Iſland of the innocent: and it is delivered by the pureneſs of thine hands.
The laſt encouragement (in theſe Verſes) is taken from the advantages of true Piety, in times of common calamities.
1. In reference to the Godly man himſelf (which is ſpoken to Job in the Second Perſon) v. 29.—that he ſhall be preſerved and encouraged when others ſink.
2. In reference to other perſons, v.—29. That he ſhall be inſtrumental to ſave others who are brought low by affliction. This he ſpeaks of the Godly man in the third Perſon, to ſhew that it is a common priveledge to all godly men, as well as it ſhall be to Job, if he turn to God. Or, it may be underſtood of God that he ſhall ſave them upon Job's Interceſſion.
3. In reference to the Country and place where he lives, v. 30, That he ſhall be inſtrumental to ſave the very Iſland, or, Country, where he, who is the innocent man, lives, and that by his Innocency and pureneſs. Or the words may alſo be read, He ſhall ſave him that is not innocent; that is, even wicked men ſhall be delivered from judgments upon the interceſſion of a man of pure hands among them. This alſo is ſpoken both of the godly man in the Third Perſon, and of Job in particular, in the Second Perſon, for the reaſon formerly given. Or, it may be underſtood as the former, That God ſhall deliver the Country, or him that is not innocent; and that by the pureneſs of Job's hands who ſhall interceed for them.
This encouragement is to be underſtood with theſe needful Cautions which have been oft mentioned, as needful to be taken along with temporal Promiſes. However, from the firſt Branch of the encouragement in reference to himſelf, Learn,
1. It is no ſtrange thing to ſee many overturnings and revolutions in the world; For, there are who are caſt down in it. Mens provocations, and Gods holy purpoſes about the affairs of the world, make many a reel and change in them. Which may teach men not to fix on any condition within time (as every man would fix the wheel when it ſtands to his mind) for changes, and wonderful changes, may come, as even the Church and godly men have experienced. Pſal. 102.10 Lam. 1.9. It alſo teacheth men to be ſober, and not to climb too high, nor aſpire to be great, leſt they get the ſorer fall; and it may aſſure the wicked what will be the iſſue of all their eminency at laſt▪ Iſa. 14.12. Obad v. 3 4.
2. Albeit the Godly be not always exempted, nor delivered from trouble; yet there is always a difference betwixt the wicked and them in common calamities; For, when men are caſt down (o…, when there is a caſting down) then thou ſhalt ſay, there is lifting up. See Luke 21.26, 28. Either, when the Lord ſeeth meet, the godly have a different l…t from that of the wicked, as he gave Ba…uch and Ebe…melech their lives for a prey in a time of general havock. See alſo Jer. 154 11. Or (if their lot be not different) they get a different look of it from what the wicked ſee in it; and though th…y drink of the ſame cup, yet a Goſpel ſight of their lot gives it a ſweet reliſh to them. They may have alſo different hopes from the wicked, And though they be under the ſame ſad calamities with others, and for preſent they look as ſad upon them; yet they may hope for b…tter things. Mic. 7.8.
3. Godly men have the promiſe, not only, that they ſhall not be caſt down with wicked men; but that they may ſay, there is lifting up, when the wicked are caſt down; As here we are alſo taught. For, partly, that a godly man is not caſt down or dealt with as the wicked, is his great dignity and a lifting of him up; Partly, times of calamity tend to his great advantage, as giving him opportunity of evidencing the grace of God in him, fitting him for many proofs of love. 2 Cor. 1.5. & 4.8, 9. and tending to his advantage in end, the eater affording meat. Pſal. 90.15. Luke 21.28. And partly, his humility will value every mercy he can obſerve in trouble at an high rate, And cauſe him look upon himſelf as lifted up by it; whereas pride and bitterneſs render mens ſad lots grievous and intolerable.
From the ſecond Branch of the encouragement, in reference to other afflicted perſons. Learn,
1. An afflicted man ſhould be an humble man; As here is ſuppoſed he is humble, or, hath low eyes: And oft-times in ſcripture one Word ſignifieth both an afflicted, and an humble man. Before a man come to this under trouble, readily his pride breaks forth, in proud riſeings againſt Gods afflicting hand, and his deſign in it; Iſa. 1.5. & 9.9, 10. in murmuring and repining that he is afflicted, when he cannot reſiſt; and in ſinking diſcouragement, when he is driven from the other.
2. Whatever reſpect God have to men in affliction, yet only the humble man hath the Promiſe of help, by ſit means; For, the humble perſon is in the way to be ſaved. See Iſa. 57.15. & 66.1, 2. Pſal. 68.6. So that humility is a very ſafe grace.
3. Whatever be the Worlds eſteem of godly men, yet they are very uſeful to others in the world; For, he, (the godly man as an inſtrument, or, God upon his interceſſion) ſhall ſave the humble perſon. A godly man may be inſtrumental to ſave thoſe who are afflicted, and who are dejected and made to look down, with low eyes, by it, though they be not humble, Amos 7.1 — 6. much more if they be indeed humble under it; an evidence of whoſe humility it is, That they need, and (as they have opportunity) crave the help of the interceſſion of others.
From the Third Branch of the Encouragement in reference to wicked men, or their Country, Learn,
1. The Country is called the Iſland of the innocent (or, where the innocent dwelleth, though many others be not innocent) to ſhew, That as Iſlands are environed, and bounded by waters; So God hath ſet bounds to Nations and their Countreys, which they ought not to break over, by ſeeking ſinfully to enlarge their borders. See Amos 1.13. Which rule ought alſo to be obſerved in private poſſeſſions. Deut. 19.14. & 27.17.
2. It is the duty and property of godly men to be publike minded, and by their interceſſion, to ſeek the good not only of afflicted perſons, but of Nations and Countreys; Particularly, theſe where themſelves live; For, the godly man ſets himſelf to deliver, not only perſons, v. 29. but the Iſland, (or Country) of the Innocent, where he who is innocent dwels. See Ezek. 9.4. Jer. 18.20. No man is uſeful in ſad times but he who is an Interceſſour, Iſa. 59.16. And the practice of Uriah, (2. Sam. 11.11.) will be a witneſs againſt them who turn idle ſpectators of the condition of their Brethren, or of the Church and Country where they live. See Amos 6.4, 5, 6.
3. As it is the duty of godly men to be thus publike minded; So they prove, by their Interceſſion, great bleſſings to the places where they live; For, he ſhall deliver the Iſland of the Innocent; he, as an inſtrument, or, God upon his Interceſſion ſhall do this. Thus did Moſes prove a bleſſing, Exod 32.10.14. Pſal. 106.23. Elijah, 2. King. 2.12. Eliſha, 2. King. 13.14. Paul, Acts 27.23, 24. and many others. So that godly men, in ſome reſpects, are the very Pillars of the world.
4. Godly men, by their interceſſion, may be great bleſſings, in holding off temporal judgments, even from a wicked people; For, he ſhall deliver him that is not innocent (as the words will alſo read) as well as the humble perſon. See Gen. 18.32. Jer. 5.1. Hence, They are well imployed who are exerciſed this way, as Aaron ſtood between the living and the dead, till the Plague was ſtayed; and who weep between the Porch and the Altar. Joel 2.17. It is an evidence of a ſinful frame of a people, when ſuch are wanting. Iſa. 59.16. Ezek. 22.30. And it is an evidence that a people are in a deſperate condition, when Interceſſours are either put from praying, Jer. 14.11. or, their interceſſion is not regarded Jer. 15.1. Ezek. 14.14. Only we muſt leave a latitude to him who can come over the want of Interceſſours. Iſa 59.16. & 63.5.
5. Thoſe who, by their interceſſion, would be inſtrumental for the good of others, ought to be pure and innocent in their practice, and not in ſhews and pretenſes only, as Saul was, 1. Sam. 15.13, 14. For, It is delivered by the pureneſs of thy hands, or, upon thy Interceſſion, who ſtudieſt that purity which is required in Supplicants. 1 Tim. 2.8. James 4.8.