Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 31
CHAP. XXXI.
This Chapter contains the third and laſt part of Jobs Diſcourſe and Apology; Wherein (having declared, in the two preceding Chapters, what a ſad change had befallen him, now) he proceeds to clear that, notwithſtanding all this change, he was a ſincere godly man. For which end, he deſcribes, and makes profeſſion of, his integrity in ſeveral duties, eſpecially of the ſecond Table of the Law, and confirms the truth of his aſſertions, partly, by giving an account of the reaſons perſwading him ſo to walk; partly, by imprecations, or, ſubmiſſion to puniſhments, if it were otherwiſe than he aſſerted; partly, by poſitive aſſertions, yet ſeconded by a tacite Oath, or Imprecation, inſinuated in that expreſſion, If I did ſo or ſo; partly, by appealing to God, and deſiring to have his cauſe diſcuſſed before him, v. 35. &c. His ſco…e in all which aſſertions is not to boaſt proudly (with the Phariſee, Luk. 18.11, 12.) of his own righteouſneſs and integrity; but to correct his Friends miſtakes, and perſwade them of his honeſty and integrity, that ſo they might ceaſe to reproach and afflict him any more, and would rather pity him as an afflicted godly man.
For further clearing of this Diſcourſe, and his general ſcope in it, Conſider, 1. It is not to be conceived that Job did place all his Religion and Piety in thoſe things only which he here profeſſeth to have been his ſtudy and practice: But he mentions them only as ſo many fruits of his faith in the promiſed Meſſiah, who alone was his righteouſneſs and life: And he inſiſts mainly upon theſe particular practices (whatever other religious practices were obſerved by him) becauſe thoſe were proofs of his integrity in theſe matters wherein they ſuſpected that he had been wanting, when they judged him to have been an Oppreſſour, a man puffed up with his proſperity, unmerciful, &c. and proves that he was free of theſe groſs evils which uſe to be remarkably puniſhed in this life. Hence we are not to conceive, that Job doth here enumerate all the duties that are to be performed by a godly man, (though indeed he ſpeak very amply, and to moſt of all the Commandements, eve… albeit he lived before the Law was given at Sinai) for that were no eaſie task; and it is not to be doubted, but he made conſcience of other duties alſo, whereof he hath been giving ſome account in all his diſcourſes, and even in the former parts of this diſcourſe, he hath aſſerted his fidelity in his publick Office, Chap. 29. and his ſympathizing with others in trouble, Chap. 30.25. But here he ſpeaks abundantly to wipe off all theſe aſperſions which were caſt upon him by his Friends and others. 2. As for his method and order in this enumeration of the duties he profeſſeth to have obſerved, we need not trouble our ſelves about it; as if we were to conceive, that either he obſerved the order of the Ten Commandements (which were not then publiſhed on Sinai, nor written on the two Tables, nor is that method obſerved here) or, that he ſpeaks of ſins which he avoided in ſuch an order, as, according to his growing age, he might have been tempted to commit them (as he begins at Fornication, becauſe it is incident to young men:) But we are thus to conceive, that the holy man did enumerate them as they came to his remembrance in the diſcourſe, and therefore, after it ſeems he was about to cloſe, v. 35, 36, 37. he vindicates himſelf from a new alledged crime, which came not to be remembred till then, v. 38, 39, 40.
The Chapter may be taken up, according to the ſeveral vertues and duties of holineſs whereof he makes profeſſion, in this order, That he was chaſt, as to the matter of Fornication with a Maid, v. 1, 2, 3, 4. That he was ſincere and upright in his converſation, v. 5, 6. And juſt and true in it, v. 7, 8. That he was free of Adultery, or, chast as to committing of Uncleanneſs with other mens Wives, and lived in conjugal chaſtity with his own wife, v. 9. — 12. That he was moderate and righteous in his dealings with his very Servants, v. 13, 14, 15. That he was humane and helpful to all in distreſs, v. 16. — 23. That he was no doater upon his wealth, nor carnally confident becauſe of it, v. 24, 25. That he was pure in his worſhip, and free of Idolatry, v. 26, 27, 28. That he was free of malice, or, a deſire of private revenge, even when he was tempted to it, v. 29, 30, 31. That he was given to Hospitality, v. 32. That he was an ingenuous Confeſsour of his failings, v. 33. And, That he was full of fortitude in proſecuting and maintaining of Juſtice, v. 34. Unto all which he ſubjoyns a deſire, That he may have a fair hearing, with any Adverſary, before God, v. 35, 36, 37. And cloſeth with a further profeſſion, That he was juſt and upright in his dealings with Labourers and others, v. 38, 39, 40.