Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 34 · Verse 1-4
Verſe 1. Furthermore Elihu anſwered and ſaid,
2. Hear my words, O ye wiſe men, and give ear unto me, ye that have knowledge.
3. For the ear tryeth words, as the mouth taſteth meat.
4. Let us chooſe to us judgement: let us know among our ſelves what is good.
THeſe Verſes, contain the Preface and Introduction to Elihu's ſecond Speech; wherein (after a tranſition made by the Writer of the Book, ſhewing that Elihu proceeded to ſpeak, v. 1.)
First, He deſires attention from judicious and underſtanding hearers, v. 2. This he doth not ſpeak Ironically, as thinking there was no wiſdome among them; but becauſe he really judged ſo of their abilities. And we are to conceive, that he propounds this deſire generally to ſuch underſtanding perſons as were preſent, whether the three Friends (who were wiſe men, though they erred in that particular in debate) or others. Only, it ſeems, he ſecludes Job in this deſire, as being a Party, and therefore ſpeaks of him in the third perſon, v. 5, 7. Though yet he doth not ſimply ſeclude him, for he ſpeaks of his cauſe in his hearing, and afterward ſpeaks to him; Only he deſires that judicious men may hear the matter debated betwixt Job and him.
Secondly, He ſubjoynes reaſons preſſing this deſire.
1. That they were able to diſcern what was true or falſe in this matter, v. 3. It is expreſſed in a common Proverb (and therefore it was made uſe of by Job. Chap. 12.11.) the meaning whereof is, That God hath given men an ear (which includes the diſcerning faculty) to hear and try doctrine, as he hath given them a mouth to receive and taſte meat. And therefore Elihu might well preſs them to give an hearing; For ſince all Doctrine is to be tryed, they who were wiſe and judicious were moſt fit to do it; and they could eaſily diſcern if he wronged Job, ſeeing he had not appealed to Ideots, but to them who had greateſt abilities.
2. That he was not ſeeking victory in this debate, but only that in a friendly way they ſhould commune and ſeek out what is juſt, and right and good, v. 4.
From v. 1. which is the tranſition, Learn,
1. Godly men are not ſoon convinced of all their failings in an hour of tentation; For, Elihu hath yet more of Jobs miſcarriage to anſwer and refute.
2. Albeit even godly men may be hard to convince, when they are under tentation; and albeit unskilful uſage may diſtemper and irritate them more; Yet thoſe who are called to deal with them ſhould ſtill continue, hoping they may at laſt prevail with them; And wiſe managing of reproof, will, through the bleſſing of God, convince them at laſt, and cauſe them take with ſharpeſt reproofs: For, here Elihu's proceeding was not only his duty, though Job had not yet been convinced in the leaſt; But Jobs allowing him, by his ſilence, to goe on, doth evidence, that he had taken with his wiſe reproofs, though he could not reliſh nor digeſt what his other Friends had ſaid.
3. When men have opportunity and hope of doing goods it ſhould ſo much the more encourage them to goe on without wearying; For, finding no reſentment, nor reply from Job (as he had wont to do to his other Friends) he goeth on, and furthermore anſwered and ſaid.
4. When men begin to be ſober, and ſomewhat convinced of their miſcarriages, their work is not yet all done who deal with them; but they need that their convictions ſhould be rivited upon them: For, though Jobs ſilence (and poſſibly his other carriage) witneſſed how he reliſhed what Elihu had ſaid, yet he proceeds furthermore to anſwer, not only becauſe he had yet more faults to charge him with, and more expreſſions of his to condemn; but becauſe he would have what he had heard and received take deeper impreſſion upon him.
From v. 2. Learn, 1. Albeit godly men become ſomewhat tractable in trouble, yet they are not at firſt ſo fit as others to judge of their own way and carriage; Therefore, though Job do hear him ſilently, as liking what he ſaid better than what his Friends ſaid, yet he calls to others alſo to hear his words, and what he hath to charge upon Job.
2. There are many paſſages of Divine Providence, and many truths concerning his way with his people, which require all the skill and experience of men to judge of them aright; For, he requires not only men that have knowledge or light, but wiſe men (or, men who have experience, which many want who yet have knowledge) to hear his words, and give ear, and judge in this matter. There are depths of wiſdome about the people of God, which, without much light and experience, they will readily miſtake.
3. Such as are for truth will not huddle up their opinions among the ſimple, (as is the practice of Seducers, Rom. 16.17, 18. 2 Tim. 3.6, 7.) but will not decline that even the moſt able hear and judge; For, not only did the weightineſs of the matter require ſuch Auditors, but even his confidence in his cauſe makes him appeal to them.
4. It is the character of theſe who are truly wiſe and underſtanding (and not filled only with a conceit of their own abilities) that they are never above the means of inſtruction; but are moſt willing to be taught, and helped to promove in knowledge: Therefore alſo, when he is to teach wiſdome, Chap. 33.33. he calls unto wiſe men, and them that have knowledge, as perſons who would moſt readily hear and give ear.
5. Even when men are about moſt grave and ſerious matters, and among grave and wiſe men, there is ſuch a dulneſs, that they need to be ſeriouſly excited to give attention; For, therefore doth Elihu make uſe of this Preface, exhorting the Auditors to hear and give ear, at the beginning of every one of his Speeches, and ſometime repeats it alſo in the midſt of his diſcourſe, as we will hear.
6. It is their duty who are called to deal with others, to carry reſpectively toward them, that ſo they may prepare the way for their meſſage; Therefore alſo, albeit ſome of thoſe to whom he ſpeaks had erred, yet, he doth call them wiſe men, and they that have knowledge, that thereby he might conciliate their affections, and make them willing to hearken unto him.
From v. 3. (omitting what is marked upon Chap. 12.11.) Learn,
1. Men receive great benefit, particularly, in ſacred and holy things, by the ear; For ſo is here imported, that the ear, receiveth words, or inſtructions from others, particularly, concerning the things of God, ſuch as he is now treating of. As the truths of God depend upon Divine Revelation, ſo our own obſervation of what he reveals is not ſufficient to take it all in, without the aſſiſtance of information and inſtruction from others. And therefore they who employ not their ears to hear, do no leſs prejudge their own ſouls, than they do wrong their bodies who make not uſe of their mouths for eating. Yea, the very conſtitution of their bodies, and the ear, which God hath made for that uſe, Prov. 20.12. will bear witneſs againſt their negligence.
2, As God requireth that we do hear, ſo alſo that we try and diſcern of what we hear, with a conſequent approbation or rejection of it, as there is cauſe; For, ſo the ear tryeth words, as the mouth, (or, palate,) taſteth meat, and it is ſwallowed down, or caſt out again, according as the palate reliſheth it, ill or well.
3. Whatever defect there be in others, in the matter of diſcerning; Yet men of experience and knowledge ſhould have their ſenſes exerciſed to diſcern good and evil; Heb. 5.14. For, therefore doth he appeal to theſe wiſe men, ſeeing their ear, could try words, &c.
From v. 4. Learn, 1. It is the duty of ſuch as would proſper, or do good to others, to aim ſingly at truth; For, in his diſquiſition and enquiry about this matter, he would be at judgement, or, an equitable and juſt determination of this controverſie, and what is good.
2. Men ought not to follow, or, enquire after, truth, upon any carnal or crooked deſign, but becauſe it is their delight, and they eſteem it only good and worth the knowing; For, becauſe it is judgement and good, and ſo worthy the knowing, therefore he would have it choſen, affectionately and with delight.
3. It is mens duty, and will be the practice of ſober men, as to aim at truth, ſo alſo to ſtudy to bring up others, in a calm and friendly way, to the acknowledgement thereof, without inſulting over, or derogating from them, or affecting emicency to themſelves: Therefore, albeit ſome of them were wrong, yet he is content to goe about this work in a friendly way, and as it were with common conſent, Let us chooſe, &c. Let us know, &c.