Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 31 · Verse 3
Verſe 3. Is not deſtruction to the wicked? And a ſtrange puniſhment to the workers of iniquity?
In this Verſe, Job inſiſts more particularly to explain the force of this reaſon; and having intimated, v. 2. That he looked to what might be Gods portion and reward of his walking, and having inſinuated in general, that the portion appointed for this ſin was not deſirable; He proceeds now in particular (as it were in anſwer to that queſtion, v. 2.) to ſhew… that deſtruction, and ſome tragical calamity, are the portion that are due to ſuch ſinners. Where it is to be conſidered,
1. That he propounds this aſſertion by way of queſtion, intimating how certain and undeniable it is, and what need men have to be excited to conſider it well.
2. Inſtead of ſpeaking particularly of Fornication, or unchaſt thoughts and looks, (which are the ſubjects he is treating of) he expreſſeth, in more general tearms, that this portion is due to the wicked, and, workers of iniquity. Not only becauſe indeed this is the portion of all wicked men, though they fall not into this particular ſin; But hereby, alſo, he would ſhew, that he looked upon theſe evils which he declined, v. 1. as wickedneſs, and working of iniquity.
3. By this ſtrange puniſhment (or, ſtrangeneſs, as the Original hath it only) ſome underſtand an eſtrangement from God by their ſin; which, indeed, is a plague ſad enough. But it is ſafer here to underſtand it of ſome ſtroke of juſtice (all of which, particularly, when they are inflicted upon the godly, are called Gods strange act, Iſ. 28.21.) not every ordinary ſtroke, but ſome odd and ſingular ſtroke, whereby deſtruction is brought upon ſuch, and not like theſe ſtrokes which are inflicted upon the people of God. For ſuch a ſtroke is the deſert of all ſuch tranſgreſſours, though it be not inflicted upon all of them.
From this Verſe, Learn, 1. It is the duty of men to abhorr and avoid all ſin, and not theſe ſins only which, poſſibly, are moſt odious, and prejudicial to their intereſts, in the times wherein they live; Therefore doth Job here ſpeak in general, of the wicked, and, workers of iniquity, and not of that particular ſin only of which he is now purging himſelf.
2. Even wanton looks and thoughts, if men delight and perſiſt in them, are wickedneſs, and works of iniquity, and ſo prove men to be wicked; For the ſcope of Jobs diſcourſe doth import, that he avoided theſe evils, v. 1. left he ſhould run the hazard which the wicked, and workers of iniquity do incurr, as judging that, by theſe acts, he would have put himſelf among the number of ſuch. This is not ſo to be underſtood, as if truly godly men were not obnoxious to tentations and failings of that kind; But that ſuch practices, being delighted and perſiſted in, do argue a wicked diſpoſition, and will draw men to act viſible wickedneſs. Hence vain thoughts are accounted wickedneſs, from which the heart ſhould be waſhed, Jer. 4.14. And it were good men would give ſins their right names; For then theſe courſes would appear to be ugly, wherewith they are leſs affected, becauſe they have learned to extenuate them, as if they were only infirmities.
3. Though men uſe to forget the hazard that followeth upon ſin, while they dally with ſin it ſelf; Yet ſin, and deſtruction for ſin, are inſeparable in Gods appointment (unleſs the mercy of God in Chriſt interpoſe, which is only in the caſe of repentance and faith) nor are they to be ſeparated in our thoughts; And, particularly, we are to believe, that, as all the wicked, ſo, they who give way to uncleanneſs in wanton looks and thoughts, do deſerve deſtruction from the Lord; For, Job aſſerts it as an undeniable truth (and therefore propounds it by way of queſtion, as defying any to diſprove it) That deſtruction is to the wicked, &c. Which he ſpeaks here with a particular eye to the ſin of uncleanneſs, as hath been ſaid.
4. Beſide eternal deſtruction, or bodily death, it pleaſeth God, ſometimes, to teſtifie his diſpleaſure againſt wicked men, and particularly, unclean perſons, by ſome remarkeable judgements; ſuch, as bodily diſeaſes, and odd plagues upon Perſons and Nations; For, there is a ſtrange puniſhment to the workers of iniquity, and to theſe in particular. Sodom, Benjamin, Judg. 20. Zimri and Cosbi, &c. are remarkeable inſtances and proofs of the truth of this. Yea, David, though a Saint, and a penitent, ſmarts for this fault, 2 Sam. 12.
5 Such as conſider the puniſhment due to ſin, and particularly to uncleanneſs, will tremble and be afraid to run ſo great a hazard; And men do therefore ruſh upon ſinful courſes, becauſe they forget to ſtudy this hazard: For, theſe queſtions (Is not deſtruction to the wicked? And a strange puniſhment to the workers of iniquity?) do import, not only the evidence of the truth it ſelf, but, that many have need to be excited by ſuch rowzing queſtions, to conſider it; And that theſe who ſeriouſly do ſo, will be afraid to ſin, as Job was, v. 1. when he conſidered this. And it is a ſad caſe, when men have nothing but inadvertency, and forgetfulneſs of theſe and the like conſiderations, betwixt them and dreadful horrour, which the conſcience of their ſinful wayes would raiſe in them.