Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 31 · Verse 7
Verſe 7. If my ſtep hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to my hands:
8. Then let me ſow, and let another eat; yea, let my Off-ſpring be rooted out.
The third Vertue, whereof he makes profeſſion, is, Juſtice and Righteouſneſs in his converſation, and particularly, that he was free of unjuſt purchaſe and gain. He profeſſeth, in general, That in his practice he did not debord from the way, or rule, ſet before him; and that his heart did not follow the luſt of his eyes, when they were allured with any pleaſant or taking object. And particularly, he profeſſeth, that no blot of unhoneſt gain, or what was not his own, did cleave to him, v. 7. The confirmation whereof (v. 8.) is by way of Imprecation (or, conſenting to it as equitable) that another ſhould eat what he had ſowen, and pluck up what he had planted, if he had done otherwiſe than he ſaith. As for what he ſaith, v. 7. that his heart had not walked after his eyes, it muſt be underſtood of a full conſent of his heart; For no doubt he had tentations, and might ſometime be over-powered with tentation, though it prevailed not to make him do unjuſtly. And for his Off-spring, v. 8. if we underſtand it of his Children, as ſome do, the meaning muſt be, That if he had been unjuſt, he grants it had been equitable his Children had been cut off in wrath and judgement; which way of their being cut off he did ever deny, as being conſcious to himſelf of his own integrity: Or, That if yet he had any Children, it were juſt they ſhould be cut off, if he had be…n an unjuſt perſon. But the word ſeems more clearly to point at his plantings, which in juſtice might be rooted up, if he had deprived others of … lawful poſſeſſions.
From theſe Verſes, Learn, 1. Men are not left to walk at randome, and as th…y pleaſe, but have a way preſcribed wherein to walk; For, here Job acknowledgeth, there was the way whereof he was bound to take notice.
2. It is the duty of ſuch as would approve themſelves to God, not to walk preſumptuouſly, as if they had not a Lord over them; but to keep themſelves, in all the ſteps of their practice, within the bounds of the rule preſc…bed to them; For, Jobs ſtep turned not out of the way He looked to ev…ry particular ſtep, that he might not debord in it God is ſupreme Lord, and if we acknowledge him not to be ſo in his directions, he will prove himſelf to be ſupreme in his providential d…ſpenſations, puniſhing our preſumption.
3 It is not ſufficient before God, that men look to their outward practice, unleſs alſo they guard their hearts, the enſlaving whereof, by corruption and luſts, is both a ſin in it ſelf before God, and may tend to groſſeſt out-breakings; Therefore, as he looked to his ſtep, ſo, alſo to the walk (or, frame and inclinations) of his heart. See Pro. 4.23.
4. Beſide the inward corruption and inclination of mens hearts toward evil, they are obnoxious to baits and tentations from without, which their Senſes, and particularly their eyes, are ready to let in to their hearts; For, ſo is here intimated, That as the heart doth ſometime command and draw the eye, Ezek. 20 16. with 24. So the eyes may draw the heart, to walk after them. See Ezek. 6 9. This is too frequently ſeen in experience, in the matter of wantonneſs and covetouſneſs (of which ſee on v 1.) and in the adminiſtration of Juſtice, when men are ſwayed by their eyes, or reſpect to the perſons of men, whom they ſee or notice mainly in judging their cauſes.
5. As men ſhould watch over their own Senſes, and particularly, their eyes, that they debord n…t; and, for that end, ſhould be much in prayer to God, Pſ. 119.5. and ſhould keep them employed about better objects, Num. 15.38, 39. So it is a proof of mens integrity, when they keep their hearts from wandering, even when their Senſes preſ…nt alluring tentations to them; For, ſo did Job, his heart walked not after his eyes. It evidenced his integrity, that he was not led by his Senſes, as wick…d men are, but walked upon better grounds; and that his heart was ſtreight, not only when he wanted tentations, but in the midſt of them.
6. Out-breaking in ſin, particularly, in injuſtice, is a blot and reproach, eſpecially in godly men; For, therefore doth Job call miſcarriages a blot.
7. Whatever humbling toyl men may have about the corruptions and inclinations of their hearts within; yet, it is good when they are ſo farr victorious, that their practice is not defiled with any ſcandalous miſcarriage, or, injuſtice; For, no blot cleaved to his hands, or, was to be ſeen in his practice. Where this general, of a blot, is to be underſtood particularly of diſhoneſt gain, by taking away of other mens goods unjuſtly, or receiving of bribes to pervert Juſtice, as the following Verſe cleareth, where a retaliation is ſubmitted unto, in the taking away of his goods. And ſo ſome inſtead of a blot, do read it thus, If any thing (to wit, which is another mans, and not my own by juſt right) hath cleaved, &c. And whereas he ſaith, this did not cleave to his hands, it doth not import, that ever he took any ſuch thing, when he was over-powred with tentation, but he kept it not, at ſuch ill purchaſes uſe to cleave faſt to wicked men; but that he would never touch nor meddle with ſuch purchaſes; Whenever he had to do with other men, he was ſure nothing that was theirs ſtuck to him; and whatever bribes might be offered, or thruſt upon him, he would receive none of them. See Iſ 33 15.
8. Such as are unjuſt to others, do deſerve that utter and bitter ruine ſhould come upon themſelves, in all their enjoyments; For, Job acknowledgeth it to be juſt, that ſuch ſow, and another eat, (which is a very bitter tryal, Lev. 26.16. Deut. 28.30.38) and that their Off-spring (whether Children, Cattel, or Planting) be rooted out, without hope of reſtitution or recovery. Thus God frequently uſeth retaliation in puniſhing of ſin, Iſ. 33.1. Hab. 2.8. Rev. 16.5, 6.
9. Though men, in following ſinful courſes, would deſire to ſin, and yet be free of puniſhment, and may be ready to murmur, if they be afflicted; Yet Conſciences, when put to it, cannot deny but it is equitable that puniſhments follow upon ſin; and it is an ev…dence of true piety, to juſtifie God when he corrects for ſin: For, Jobs conſenting that he ſow, and another eat, &c. if he had ſinned, doth import, that he ſubmitted thereunto as juſt and equitable, and that he was ready to juſtifie God under ſuch a diſpenſation of providence. See Neh. 9.32, 33. Lam. 1.18. Dan. 9.7, 8.