Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 30 · Verse 25
Verſe 25. Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? Was not my ſoul grieved for the poor?
The third Evidence of Gods anger in his calamities (to the end of the Chapter) is, That ſo many evils had befallen him, who had ſympathized ſo tenderly with others, and who, when he might have looked for good things (having the teſtimony of a good conſcience) found his proſperity unexpectedly changed into miſery. In proſecution of this purpoſe,
1. He gives an account of his carriage, v. 25.
2. He ſheweth how he had been diſappointed of the good he expected, v. 26.
3. He gives a particular account of the ſad change that had befallen him, v. 27. — 31.
In this Verſe, he ſolemnly aſſerts his integrity, in the matter of ſympathizing with others in trouble, as a ground of the following complaint. Whence, Learn,
1. In all ages of the world, it hath been no un-uſual thing to ſee the Sons of Adam exerciſed with trouble, to make them ſee and feel the bitter fruits of ſin; For, in Jobs dayes there were men in trouble, or, hard of day, that is, who had an hard and bitter time of it. And we are not to miſtake, albeit we find the ſame truth verified in our dayes.
2. Among other afflictions wherewith the Sons of Adam are exerciſed, Poverty is a ſpecial one; which is a very ſharp affliction in it ſelf, and expoſeth men to many tentations and ſnares, Pro. 30.9. For, the poor are here mentioned, as a ſpecial inſtance of thoſe who are in trouble.
3. It is a ſpecial evidence of true piety, to ſympathize with theſe who are in trouble; For, Job produceth that as a mark of his integrity; and David was afflicted with the miſeries which befell his very enemies, Pſ. 35.13, 14. Sympathy and compaſſion is a commanded duty, Rom. 12.15. Conſidering that we are of the ſame nature with thoſe in affliction, and are obnoxious to the ſame, or the like tryals, Heb. 13.2. And therefore it muſt evidence a ſinful diſpoſition, when men are ſelfiſh, and idle ſpectatours of the miſeries of others; much more, if they do rejoyce at, or add to, their afflictions, or do account them only to be wicked perſons, becauſe they are afflicted, Luk. 13.2, 3, 4, 5.
4. Albeit a bare profeſſion of ſympathy, without endeavours to relieve the miſerable as we are able, will not evidence integrity, Jam. 2.15, 16. Yet, upon the other hand, our ſupplying of the neceſſities of the miſerable will as little evidence it, unleſs it flow from a principle of love and tenderneſs: And where that principle is, men will be accepted who are able to do no more but to be affected with the miſeries of others; Yea, it will cauſe men to ſtretch themſelves beyond their ability, and look upon the utmoſt they can do, as ſhort of what they would do: For theſe cauſes, albeit Job was liberal, and did ſupply and relieve the indigent, Chap. 31.17, 19. Yet he expreſſeth his ſympathy, rather by his weeping, and being affected with their miſeries, than by his ſupplying of them. See 1 Cor. 13.3.
5. Whatever way men expreſs their ſympathy, they ſhould take heed that it be not counterfeit, but that it flow from inward tenderneſs; For his weeping flowed from his ſoul-grieving.
6. Whatever imputations malice or prejudice would caſt upon mens wayes, to darken their right to the promiſes; yet the teſtimony of a good conſcience will ſtand it out in all aſſaults: For, his queſtions, Did I not weep, &c. do import that, however they accuſed him, and looked upon him as a man that had no right to theſe promiſes, of the non-performance whereof he complains, v. 26. Yet he would ſtand to the defence of his integrity, as that which they could not diſprove.