Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 30 · Verse 24
Verſe 24. Howbeit he will not ſtretch out his hand to the grave, though they cry in his deſtruction.
This Verſe hath a dependance upon the former, but the ſcope and meaning thereof is difficult, by reaſon of the various readings, eſpecially of the latter part of the Verſe. Some conceive that Job is repeating a promiſe then current in the Church; Namely, That God will not stretch out his hand to the grave (to ſend men to the grave) if in his deſtroying them, they cry. And ſo the words will contain an aggravation of his complaint, that God was bringing him to death, v. 23. That howbeit there was ſuch a promiſe (and he was one who might claim a right to it, being not only a cryer unto God, v. 20. but a merciful man, v. 25.) yet God would cut him off. This interpretation doth import, That the beſt way in difficulties, is, to have our recourſe to the promiſes, to ſee what grounds of hope there are there; and, that Gods diſpenſations may, ſometime, ſeem to contradict his promiſes; As Job is here conceived to complain. But it may ſuffice to juſtifie God, That this was but a promiſe of temporal deliverance, and ſuch promiſes are not abſolute, but conditional, to be performed in ſo farr as God ſeeth to be beſt for his people; and, That Job was diſappointed in his apprehenſions, and was not cut off, nor this (ſuppoſed) promiſe made void to him.
But I chooſe to follow our Tranſlation, which carries it as a cordial againſt approaching death; That however God ſend him to the grave (as he apprehended, v. 23.) yet, he will not stretch out his hand to the grave (or heap, alluding to the cuſtome of raiſing up heaps upon graves, that they might be known) to afflict him there, but death will end all his bodily pain. That in the end of the Verſe is added, as an amplyfication, Though they cry in his deſtruction, that is, However they who are innocents, and cut off, do cry in the mean while that he is deſtroying them; or, however their enemies cry out while they are a cutting off, that they are wicked (as his friends and others did raiſe clamours againſt him) yet they will be at eaſe there. Others read it, by way of confirmation, thus, Is there any cry there (in the grave) of his destroying them? Certainly, none at all; None ever heard any ſuch cry of theſe who are in the grave.
This encouragement which Job takes to himſelf is not ſo to be underſtood, as if men had no joy or pain after death; but he ſpeaks only of the eaſe men have, after death, of that bodily and temporal pain, which they endure in this life. And albeit all this, and much more, might have been expected by Job, had he been to dye at this time; Yet he evidenceth too much weakneſs, that he looks not to further comfort than ſimple caſe in the grave, which was alſo his fault in his impatient wiſhes, Chap. 3.
Doct. 1. Every bitter lot that befalls the children of God, hath its own conſolation to ſweeten it, if it were well ſtudied; As here Job finds a cordial to ſweeten his apprehenſions of approaching death. If mens eyes were opened (as Hagars, Gen. 21.15, 16, 19. and Eliſha's ſervants, 2 King. 6.15, 16, 17.) they might diſcern ground of encouragement, even in the midſt of their perplexities.
2. This may ſweeten all our bitterneſs and toyl in this life, that death will put an end to it, beſide what further may be expected after death, by godly men; For, ſo doth Job reckon, that he will not ſtretch out his hand to the grave.
3. No ſad diſpenſations or rods upon men, while they are going to the grave, will fruſtrate them of reſt there; but death will make a ſudden change of all their outward and temporal troubles; For, ſo much doth the ſubjoyned amplyfication and confirmation teach, however we read and underſtand it. Though men be crying and groaning in going to death, and though clamours and calumnies be raiſed againſt them; yet the experience of none doth witneſs, that there is any cry there of Gods deſtroying them.
4. The people of God do oft-times come ſhort in their expectation of what is allowed upon them; For, Job comforts himſelf only in the expectation of that which is common to all, as to the outward part of it; whereas he might have looked for much more.
5. It is alſo an evidence of the people of Gods weakneſs in trouble, that they do at too much upon ſimple caſe of their pains and troubles; For, this is all he expreſſeth here, though elſewhere he ſpeak out his mind more fully.