Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 30 · Verse 26
Verſe 26. When I looked for good, then evil came unto me: and when I waited for light, there came darkneſs.
In this Verſe, upon the former ground, v. 25. he complains that he was diſappointed of his expectation, and that while he looked (being a godly and tender man) for good things, and the continuance and increaſe of his proſperity and comfort, evil and ſorrow came upon him. In ſumm, This complaint ſuppoſeth that upon the former ground, he had been looking for another lot than he found; and therefore now it looks ſadly upon him, and as an evidence of Gods anger, that he was diſappointed. For further clearing of this purpoſe, Conſider,
1. If it be enquired, How Jobs expectation of good things doth agree with that ſolicitude be profeſſeth to have entertained? Chap. 3.25, 26.
Anſw. This difficulty hath been touched and cleared, on Chap. 3. and Chap. 29.18. Only in ſhort, it is not to be doubted, but as Job had grounds of hope, conſidering the promiſes made to godly men; So actually he did expect ſome accompliſhment of theſe promiſes, though his expectations were mixed with that godly ſolicitude, Chap. 3. which he doth not now remember, while he is in the heat of his reſentments and complaints.
2. If it be enquired, How it c…me to paſs, that Job expected good things, and yet was diſappointed?
Anſw. Piety having the promiſe even of this life, 1 Tim. 4.8. and there being peculiar promiſes made to merciful and compaſſionate men (ſuch as he was, v. 25.) Pſ. 41.1, 2. Mat. 5.7. which (no doubt) were known, and obſerved to be accompliſhed to ſome, in Jobs dayes; theſe were his grounds of expecting good things. And yet, being but temporal promiſes, which muſt alwayes be underſtood with an exception of the Croſs, when it is needful to try Sains, it is not to be wondred at, that the Lord was pleaſed to ſuſpend the performance thereof to him. And this Job underſtood well enough, when he was in a calm temper, Chap. 3.25, 26. though now (as hath been ſaid) he forget, or doth not notice it, that ſo he may take the more liberty to complain.
Doct. 1. Whatever trouble be, as it cometh from the hand of God, and whatever it prove in the iſſue to godly men; yet, as proſperity is in it ſelf good, ſo trouble is in it ſelf evil, and a fruit of ſin; and godly men will find it bitter to their ſenſe: Therefore it is here deſigned by the name of evil. See Amos 3.6.
2. It is alſo to be expected, that when trouble cometh, there will much dark and humbling perplexity and affrightment accompany it, which is wanting in a proſperous condition; For with this evil, darkneſs cometh inſtead of light. See Amos 5.18. And therefore we ſhould be providing light for ſuch a lot, before it come, and ſhould depend upon God, who can enlighten our very darkneſs, Pſ. 18.28.
3. The encouragement and refreſhment of the people of God floweth much from the expectation of what is before their hand; As in ſpiritual things, they draw their chief encouragement from the hope of glory; So albeit they are taught to have contentment in their preſent temporal lot, be what it will, Heb. 13.5. Yet the expectation of the continuance of their good condition heightens the refreſhment they find in it; Therefore doth he expreſs the ſatisfaction he had in his former condition, by what he looked for. And this may very clearly point out to wicked men the vanity of their imagined happineſs, that in all they attain or enjoy, they can never find that happineſs they ſeek after, but it is ſtill before their hand.
4. Albeit hope of future good be that whereby all men, who are not drowned in deſpair, do chear up their own hearts, whether they be in weal or woe; yet only godly men have the promiſes upon which they may ground this hope: And particularly, the merciful have a promiſe that they ſhall obtain mercy; So that it is no wonder they fall into trouble who do not ſhew mercy, Jam. 2.13. Mat. 25.41, 42, 43. For it was upon this ground that he was a godly man, and particularly, a merciful man, that he looked for good and light.
5. Mens expectations of good things promiſed are then rightly managed, when their affections are keeped lively, to prize the mercies expected, and to eſteem highly of God the giver of them; when they patiently wait Gods time and way of conferring theſe promiſed mercies; and, when they wait on God in his way for them, not taking any ſinful ſhift to bring them about: Therefore doth he expound his looking, or expecting, by waiting, which imports earneſtneſs of affection, oppoſite to indifferency and ſecurity, Pſ. 130.5, 6. and patience, Rom. 8.25. and is accompanied with tenderneſs, Pſ. 37.4.
6. Not only may a ſinful people, or godly men interceding for them, be diſappointed of their expectations, Iſ. 59.9. Jer. 14.19 But even godly men, walking in an approved way, may be diſappointed of the temporal mercies they look for; becauſe they out-ſtretch themſelves, in expecting theſe things abſolutely, which God hath promiſed only conditionally, with an exception of the Croſs, and needful tryal, and in ſo farr as he ſeeth good for them: For, ſo Job is diſappointed here; When I looked for good, then evil came unto me; and when I waited for light, then came darkneſs.
7. Diſappointments of mens expectations do not only make their ſad lot yet more bitter, (As, it may be, upon this account alſo, he calls his ſad caſe, both evil, and darkneſs) But do otherwiſe look ſad upon them, and ſeem to ſpeak anger from God againſt them, if they be godly and tender; For, this is to Job an evidence of Gods anger, and of his being turned to be cruel to him, that he is thus diſappointed.
8. The people of God in the heat of tryal do, oft-times, loſe the benefit of the ſober and ſerious thoughts they had before: And albeit they me…t with nothing, but what ſometime they looked for, or judged probable and equitable; Yet their paſſion cauſeth them forget all this, and ſo they make their own tryals more bitter; For, albeit Job, notwithſtanding theſe expectations, was alſo looking out and preparing for trouble, Chap. 3.25, 26. Yet now he forgets that, when he would complain of his ſad caſe, and aggravate it.