Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 31 · Verses 17-20
Verſe 17. Or have eaten my morſel my ſelf alone, and the fatherleſs hath not eaten thereof:
18. (For from my youth he was brought up with me, as with a Father, and I have guided her from my Mothers womb)
19. If I have ſeen any periſh for want of cloathing, or any poor without covering:
20. If his loyns have not bleſſed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my ſheep.
The next branch of this profeſſion of Humanity (confirmed alſo by a tacire aſſeveration) is, That he was a liberal Communicator of his own ſubſtance to the indigent, both in food and apparel. As for his meat, he profeſſeth, not only that he did not eat it alone, but Orphans ſhared with him in it, v. 17. But, that he had been habituated from his youth to tenderneſs, and fatherly care of Orphan boyes, and had alſo been a Guide, Conducter, and Patron to Orphan maids (whoſe weak Sex expoſed them to many hazards) even from his infancy, v. 18. Where it is to be conſidered, that Job ſpeaks of perſons of both Sexes, of whom he had been tender and careful, He was brought up, and, I guided her. Which ſome underſtand thus, That by the firſt are meant the fatherleſs, ſpoken of, v. 17. and by the ſecond, the widow, of whom he had ſpoken, v. 16. And it is not to be doubted but Job was liberal to all thoſe, and many others in diſtreſs. But the words run more ſmoothly, if we underſtand them of fatherleſs boyes and girls who were poor, and that, having ſpoken in general of the fatherleſs, v. 17. here he points out, more particularly, his tenderneſs to every ſort and ſex of them. It is further to be conſidered, that while he profeſſeth he was thus tender, not only from his youth, but, from his mothers womb, the meaning of that hyperbolick expreſſion is only this, That as the grace of God began early to work in him, and (which probably was a mean of that) his parents began ſoon to inſtruct him in the principles of piety, compaſſion and charity; ſo the fruits of his tenderneſs appeared very early, as if it had come into the world, and been born, with him. As for his humanity and liberality in the matter of cloathing, he profeſſeth that he gave apparel to the naked and poor, who were ready to periſh through want, v. 19 So that they had cauſe to bleſs him, being warmed by the apparel that was made of the fleece of his ſheep, v. 20. It is ſaid, the loynes of the poor bleſſed him; where, the loynes, are put for the whole body, that was cloathed (poſſibly, becauſe their garments were girded upon their loynes;) and the meaning is, that the poor man was excited to bleſs him, when he found his loynes, or body, warmed with the apparel he had given him. Or, whatever the poor man did, the very covering of his loynes and body ſpake Job to be a bleſſed man, who had done that act of compaſſion.
From Verſe 17. Learn, 1. It is not enough that men be liberal of their power, credit, and authority, to do good thereby unto others, unleſs they expend of their wealth, and meat alſo, as need requires; without which, neither profeſſions of love, (Jam. 2.15, 16.) nor of piety, (Iſa. 58.5, 6, 7.) will avail; Therefore, beſide what is profeſſed, v. 16. Job addes this, that he had not eaten his morſel alone.
2. As it is the commendation of great men, if they be ſober in their diet; So albeit, men had never ſo little, they are bound to communicate of it to others, as their need requires; In both theſe reſpects he calls his allowance his morſel, becauſe he was ſober in his diet, and becauſe he was charitable, Not onelyonly becauſe he was a great and rich man, who might well ſpare ſomewhat to others, but he was ready to have given a ſhare, even of a little. Nature needs but little to maintain it; and charitable men will ſtraiten themſelves much, that they may be beneficial to others. And if men would indeed be ſober, their very ſuperſluities might relieve many who are in diſtreſs.
3. As hoſpitality is a commanded duty, Rom. 12.13. and ought to be performed to theſe who are really indigent, not to the rich onelyonly, who are able to requite us, Lu…e 14.12, 13, 14. far leſs to ſturdy vagrants and idle perſons, 2 Theſſ. 3.10. So eſpecially poor Orphans and fatherleſs perſons are great objects of charity and hoſpitality, ſeeing their diſtreſs is great, and we know not what ſervice God may have for them in the world; Therefore he addes, in particular, that the fatherleſs did eat thereof, or, of his morſel. Not that he did alwayes bring every one of them to eat with himſelf, or, fare as well as himſelf, (for that is not required by God as the hands of great perſons to be done to every orphan) but that they had a ſhare of what he had provided for his own and his families maintenance.
From Verſe 18. Learn 1. It is not enough that men at ſome ſits be charitable, eſpecially to the fatherleſs; but it is required that they be conſtant in ſuch undertakings, as they are able, and as the need of ſuch diſtreſſed perſons ſhall require: For, ſaith he, from my youth he was brought up with me. As men are tried how really they are in every duty, by their perſeverance, ſo, particularly, in the duty of charity, Gal. 6.9, 10.
2 As good education is oft-times (though not alwayes) bleſſed with good fruits (as here Job begins early to do well, who probably was well ed…cated; which condemnes them who neglect the education of their children…, and concludes them under double guilt who are not anſwerable to the good education they have received:) So it is good to begin early in youth to do well, which will make it ſtill the longer the eaſier, that men are habituated unto it; For Job began to be charitable and tender, from his youth, and, from his mothers wombe, and he gives this as a reaſon why he was ſo conſtant in it, and had hitherto continued, v. 17. for from my youth he was brought up with me. See, Eccl. 12.1.
3. It is not enough that men perform duties of charitie and compaſſion, unleſs they be done tenderly and affectionately; For, the fatherleſs was brought up with him, as with a father. Without this, men do loſe the benefit and free reward of the good things they do, and they make them bitter and grievous to others, who cannot well digeſt their grudging in doing of them.
4. A ſpecial regard is to be had, by compaſſionate men, to theſe of the weaker ſex who are in diſtreſs, be they widows or orphan maids; For Job ſpeaks of his care of theſe in particular, I guided her, &c.
5. It is the duty of compaſſionate and charitable perſons, not onelyonly to allow of their means for the relief of orphans, but to ſee, ſo far as can be, to their education, and to afford them conduct and counſell, protection and defence, eſpecially to theſe of the weaker ſex; For, ſa…th he, He was brought up with me, and, I guided her, that is, I took the managing of all her affairs, and defended her againſt all injuries. The variety of their neceſſities muſt not deter us from meddling, nor will warrant us to weary in well doing.
From Verſe 19, 20. Learn, 1. Many are the neceſſities of the children of men, every one of which will eaſily ruine them, if they be not relieved and ſupplyed; For, as ſome are ready to ſtarve for want of meat, So, here, others are ready to periſh for want of clothing, or ſome covering to put upon their nakedneſs: Hereby the Lord humbleth man; conſidering how many wayes there are to make him miſerable, and what need he hath to depend upon God for every thing.
2. Such as would prove themſelves to be truly compaſſionate and charitable, ought to put forth themſelves in ſupplying all the neceſſities of the poor, as they are able, and that indifferently to all ſorts of them who are real objects of charity; For, as Job relieved them with his meat, v. 17. So here alſo with apparel, he could not ſee any (whatever they were, ſo they were really indigent, and unable to help themſelves) periſh for want of cloathing, nor any poor without covering. The more men give out this way, (ſo it be given prudently, according to a mans ability, to fit objects, and for a right end) the more they lend to the Lord.
3. As all men ought to be content if they have food and rayment, 1 Tim. 6.8. So the Poor eſpecially, who are beholding to the charity of others, ought to be ſober, and content with a mean allowance of thoſe, that they may not burden others needleſly; For, he ſuppoſeth the poor were bound to be ſatisfied, if they did not periſh for want of cloathing, or, wanted not a covering.
4. Such as taſte of the charity of others ought to be thankfull, and bleſs their benefactors, when they feel the good effects of their bounty and charity; For, that the Poors loynes did bleſs Job, or the warmth of his body did excite him to bleſs his benefactor, doth import, that it is the Poors duty ſo to do, and not ingrately to forget theſe who have been beneficial to them.
5. Whatever be mens ingratitude, yet Charity is a bleſſed work, and ſpeak, the charitable man to be bleſſed, if he have been ſincere and ſingle in what he did; For, thus alſo, the Poors loynes bleſſed him, or proclaimed him to be a bleſſed man, as hath been explained. See Mat. 5.7.
6. Truly charitable perſons will not be liberal upon the expence of others, or of what they have unjuſtly taken from others, (which they they ought to reſtore to the true owners, if they can be found, Luke 19.8.) But of their own means and lawfull purchaſe; For, ſaith Job, he was warmed with the fleece of my ſheep.