Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 31 · Verse 4
Verſe 4. Doth not he ſee my wayes, and count all my ſteps?
In this Verſe, we have the laſt Reaſon whereby Job was perſwaded to this reſolution, which confirmeth the former; Shewing that God knows and obſerves all the wayes of men, and particularly, their ſinful courſes; and therefore he who hates ſuch courſes, will puniſh them where he ſeeth them; And the apprehenſion of this all-ſeeing eye of an holy and juſt God, being ſtill in Jobs mind, made him careful to bridle his luſt, and to watch over his eye and heart. This Argument is made uſe of to preſs this ſame Concluſion, Pro. 5.20, 21. And as for the various words here made uſe of, if we make any difference betwixt wayes, and paths, the firſt may point out mens counſels and purpoſes for atttaining ſuch ends; and the ſecond, their deeds and practices tending toward theſe ends, be they good or evil. Or, the firſt points out the general courſe, or courſes of life, to which a man betakes himſelf; and the ſecond, theſe particular acts, ſteps and progreſſes (as the word ſignifieth) which a man hath in theſe courſes; and therefore they are deſigned in their univerſality, all my ſteps, becauſe there are many of them, in compariſon of theſe wayes, or courſes of life, which a man chooſeth. As for the other two words, Gods ſeeing and counting, they point out, that this knowledge, which God hath of mens wayes and actings, is particular and diſtinct, ſo that no vails of darkneſs and ſecretneſs (wherewith unclean perſons, eſpecially, pleaſe themſelves, Chap. 24.15.) can hinder him from ſeeing, nor can any numbers of mens actings and deviations marr his exact counting of them all.
From this Verſe, Learn, 1. God is Omniſcient, to ſee and know all things, particularly, the things of man; For, what Job ſaith concerning his wayes and paths in particular, that God ſeeth and counteth them, is an univerſal verity. See Pro. 5.21. 2 Chr. 16.9. Job 34.21. Only Job doth not ſatisfie himſelf, as many do, with an acknowledgement of this truth in general, while they forget it in their own particular walk; But he takes notice of Gods Omniſcience, as knowing and noticing his own wayes in particular. So alſo doth David, Pſ. 119.168. and 139.1.—5.
2. God is very accurate and diſtinct, in his taking notice of mens way; and looks not only to the general ſcope of their lives, but to every particular ſtep thereof, and not only to their practices, but to their principles from which they flow; whether they be wicked, or miſcarry only through infirmity, ſimplicity and ignorance; whether they be hypocritical, or ſincere, in the good they do, &c. For, God looks to his wayes, and all his paths. Thus God pondereth, or weigheth, all the goings, or turnings, of man, and his life, Pro. 5.21.
3. As no darkneſs, or ſecrecy, nor coverings and plauſible pretences, will hide mens way from God, nor hinder him to ſee them as they are; ſo the multiplicity of their courſes will not confound his knowledge; For, however men ſeek to hide themſelves, and do run into confuſion, ſo that they can keep no account of their wayes, yet, ſaith Job, He ſeeth my wayes, and counteth all my ſteps. The conſideration whereof may alarum looſe walkers with the fears of a ſad after-reckoning, Pſ. 50.21.
4. Albeit unclean perſons do ſatisfie themſelves with the ſecret conveighance of their wayes; Yet they do not run theſe courſes without a witneſs, but God hath a ſpecial eye upon them, while they goe about them; For, that is the particular here, in reference to which Job conſidered that God did ſee his wayes, &c.
5. It is uſual for men to forget the all-ſeeing eye of God, when they are upon an evil courſe, eſpecially, if it be cloſely conveighed; For, Job propounds this reaſon alſo by way of queſtion, Doth he not ſee my wayes, &c. Which imports, (as hath been ſaid on the former Verſe) not only the evidence of this truth, but that men need to be rouzed up to conſider ſeriouſly upon it, they being ready to forget or ſleight it. See Iſ. 29.15.
6. Such as do ſeriouſly mind the all-ſeeing eye of God upon them, will be afraid to ſin in his very ſight; For, this Argument perſwaded Job to avoid Uncleanneſs, v. 1. becauſe God did ſee his wayes, and count all his steps. As groſs ſinners ſeek to ſecure themſelves againſt hazard, by denying of God, Pſ. 14.1, 2. and his Omniſcience, Iſ. 29.15. Ezek. 8.12. So it evidences an height of impudence and obduration, when men do acknowledge there is a God, and that he is Omniſcient, holy, juſt, &c. and yet they dare ſin againſt him.