Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 31 · Verse 16
Verſe 16. If I have with-held the poor from their deſire, or have cauſed the eyes of the widow to fail.
The ſixth Vertue, whereof he maketh profeſſion (whereby alſo he refutes that challenge of injuſtice, Chap. 22.6, 7.) is, Humanity toward all diſtreſſed and indigent perſons, and that he was ſo farr from wronging any of them, that he was helpful to all of them. This he inſtanceth in ſeveral particular branches, to v. 24. according to the ſeveral ſorts of diſtreſſed perſons, and their ſeveral neceſſities, which he ſupplyed: Confirming thoſe ſeveral aſſertions by tacite aſſeverations (intimated in the form of expreſſion, If I have done ſo and ſo) which imply an Imprecation, or ſubmiſſion to Gods judgements, if it were not as he ſaid; and ſubjoyning to the laſt an expreſs Imprecation and Argument.
In this Verſe, we have the firſt branch of that Humanity, whereof he profeſſeth to have made conſcience; That not only he appeared for the righteous cauſe of the poor, and of widows; but having promiſed to aſſiſt them in their cauſe, he did not diſappoint and kill them with delayes, but chearfully and ſpeedily performed what he had promiſed. Or it may be underſtood more generally, That whatever were their lawful deſires, whereof rationally they might expect ſatisfaction from a man of his piety, wealth, prudence, or authority; or wherein he had promiſed to give them ſatisfaction, he chearfully and readily ſatisfied them. Whence, Learn,
1. Mens Conſciences, in a day of diſtreſs, will find as much peace in their humanity and tenderneſs toward others, as in any other fruit of faith, and act of piety: Therefore doth Job inſiſt ſo much upon that here. See Jam. 1.27. When men are thus tender and compaſſionate, it evidenceth that they are humble, and have a ſenſe of the common miſeries of mankind that have entred by ſin; and that they do read their own deſervings in the ſad lots of others. It is alſo an evidence that they are ſenſible of Chriſts kindneſs to them, which kindleth theſe bowels of compaſſion. Yea, this is the touchſtone whereby men will be tryed in the laſt day, Mat. 25.54, — 55. And therefore it cannot but be refreſhful, when men find this fruit of the Spirit in themſelves.
2. The Lord hath ſo ordered, that poverty, widow-hood accompanied with diſtreſſes, and other miſeries, will not be wanting among the children of men; both for the tryal and exerciſe of thoſe who are under theſe lots, and to be a tryal to others alſo, and a touchſtone of their ſympathy and humanity: For, ſo were there poor and widows in Jobs dayes, who were afflicted with their miſeries, and driven to ſeek relief from others, and who gave Job occaſion to give proof of his diſpoſition. See Deut. 15.11. Croſſes, of all kinds, will not be wanting in any time, and who ſo are free of theſe particular afflictions here mentioned, may yet look for others, no leſs ſearching and trying to them.
3. Albeit poverty, or widow-hood, or any other affliction, doth not warrant any to countenance men in an ill cauſe, Exod. 23.3. Lev. 19.15. And albeit men may pretend many excuſes, why they ſhould not pity ſuch, even in a juſt cauſe (ſuch as, their multitude, unworthineſs, ingratitude, &c.) Yet it is the will of God, that men who have wealth, skill to adviſe, power or authority, do help them in what is right, and as they need; For, ſo did Job here ſatisfie the deſires of the poor, and the expectation of the widows. Men ought to conſider, that they are advanced, not for themſelves only, but, for the good of others alſo, as Mordecai ſaid to Eſther, Eſt. 4.14. And as it is an evidence of the grace of God in them, to be helpful to thoſe whom God doth compaſſionate, Pſ. 68.5. So the neglect thereof is a cauſe of Gods controverſie againſt great men, eſpecially, Iſ. 1.23. And doth provoke him to cauſe themſelves ſmart under the like difficulties, Pro. 21.13.
4. It is not ſufficient in Gods account, that men do ſomewhat for the poor, widows, or others in diſtreſs, unleſs (as the deſires and expectations of the indigent are earneſt and preſſing, ſo) it be chearfully and ſpeedily done; For, Job was ſo active in doing good, that he cauſed not the eyes of the widdows to fail, or did not out-weary them with expecting and looking for relief, before he gave it (for ſo this phraſe ſignifieth in Scripture, Pſ. 69.3. and 119.82, 123. Lam. 4.17.) nor did he cauſe them weep out their eyes with complaining of his backwardneſs. See Pro. 3.27, 28.
5. Men ſhould walk ſo ſtreightly, and deal ſo ingenuouſly in the matter of their carriage, as if they were to give an Oath upon it, that they are what they declare themſelves to be, and as if they were to undergoe a preſent curſe and judgement, if it be otherwiſe; For, ſo much is imported in this taci…e Oath and Imprecation, If I have with-held, &c. whereby he confirmeth this aſſertion, and many others in this Chapter. Which is both a tacite Oath and appeal to God that he ſpeaks true, and implyes a conſenting to what God ſhall pleaſe to inflict, if he do lye; though he do forbear to expreſs it, as elſewhere he doth. Mens want of ſeriouſneſs, and their putting of an evil day farr from them, make them very looſe in their walk and profeſſions. But if they would look upon Nadab and Abihu conſumed by fire, Lev. 10. Zimri and Cozbi cut off by Phinehas, Num. 25. Jeroboams hand withering, 1 King. 13. Uzziah ſmitten with leproſie, 2 Chr. 26. All of them in the very act of their ſin; If, I ſay, they would look upon theſe as beacons warning all what they deſerve, and (for ought they know) what they may meet with, they might ſee cauſe to look better to their way.