Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 32 · Verse 14
Verſe 14. Now he hath not directed his words againſt me: neither will I anſwer him with your ſpeeches.
The third Reaſon of his interpoſing to ſpeak (wherein alſo he points a little at the way and manner of his anſwer) is, That (as he is not engaged in the heat of mutual reflections, as they were; nor had Job given him any provocation, as they alledged he had done to them; ſo) he had ſome new matter, not yet ſpoken by them, which was uſeful to clear the Controverſie; And therefore he will bring it forth, and that without all irritating reflections, which had been too much their way. And by this he inſinuates upon Job, and prepares him to hearken to what he was to ſay; ſeeing he tells him he had ſomething to inform him of, which had not been ſpoken before; and aſſures him that he will not deal with him as they had done. It hath been already cleared, in the entry to this Chapter, in what reſpect it is true, that he anſwered not Job with their ſpeeches. In ſumm, Not only did he differ from them in the manner of his reply, anſwering with reaſons, and not with paſſion, as they had done; but in the matter alſo. For he never maintained their Theſis againſt Job, That he was a wicked Hypocrite; nor did he own their Argument (taken from Gods afflicting hand upon him) whereby they endeavoured to prove it, but looked upon that as a meer Sophiſm. And what he repeats of their Doctrine (in ſo farr as they had ſpoken truth) he makes uſe of it to prove another Concluſion than theirs was, and to preſs that upon Job which he was bound to receive and admit, notwithſtanding his perſonal integrity, which he intends not to pre-judge by any thing he ſaith.
From this Verſe, Learn, 1. Men may bear out in a debate againſt others, who yet may be faulty in ſome things, which their Antagoniſts do not diſcern; and men may be able to prove their integrity, as to the ſtate of their perſon, who yet may be guilty of many failings: In both theſe reſpects, there is cauſe to anſwer Job, but not with their speeches. For Job was indeed a righteous perſon, and yet he had real failings to be reproved, though his Friends diſcerned them not.
2. One main cauſe of mens miſtakes in Controverſies, is, the height of their paſſions, and their being engaged in mutual reflections; which not only takes them off the cauſe, but blinds their judgements, that they cannot well diſcern what is right or wrong: For, this (beſide their unſound principles) was a great cauſe of their miſtake; that Job had directed his words againſt them (or, ordered his ſpeech ſo as it might ſharply check them for their failings) which produced speeches on their part which were full of miſtakes, and not to be imitated by any who would ſpeak to purpoſe in that cauſe.
3. Men are bound to communicate, in their ſtations, what light God hath given to them, for clearing of truth, and compoſing of debates; For, this is an Argument why he may ſpeak to this cauſe, that, even for matter, he hath an anſwer not according to their speeches, which may help to put an end to the Controverſie.
4. As it is mens duty not to ſpeak untruths in debates; ſo alſo not to bring paſſion inſtead of reaſon, or to irritate thoſe with whom they deal; and eſpecially the afflicted, who have been formerly wounded by others: For, he will not anſwer with their ſpeeches, becauſe they were falſe, and becauſe they had, by their reflections, already grieved the afflicted mans ſpirit too much.
5. It is not ſufficient to juſtifie men in an ill courſe, that they do but imitate others therein, who, poſſibly, are godly and able; but theſe examples ſhould rather warn them to look better to their way: For, though they had gone before him, he will not follow them, but (having obſerved wherein they failed) he is the more careful, not to anſwer him with their speeches.
6. As none are warranted to irritate others by their paſſionate and provoking ſpeeches; So thoſe, eſpecially, would avoid that evil, who have had no provocation given them thereunto: For, this hath a ſpecial influence upon Elihu, That ſince Job had not directed his words against him, therefore he will not anſwer him with their ſpeeches.