Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 34 · Verse 20
Verſe 20. In a moment ſhall they dye, and the people ſhall be troubled at midnight, and paſs away: And the mighty ſhall be taken away without hand.
The exerciſe of Gods Dominion and Juſtice is further inſtanced (to v. 24.) in his dealings toward Nations and People. Which is not to be underſtood of people only, or abſtractly from their Rulers; But that, in his proſecuting of that reproof againſt Rulers, v. 18. he, oft-times, ſmites them and their people together, both the people, or, the Nation, and the mighty, or, their Rulers, for their ſins. In this Verſe, this act of Dominion and Juſtice is propounded, and aſcribed to God, that he doth ſtrike them. Where, the object of this ſtroak is, the people, and their mighty men; the ſtroak it ſelf is, death, or, off-cutting, and paſſing away, and being taken away, eithet by captivity, or to the grave by death; the manner of the ſtroak is, ſpeedy, or, in a moment, inexpected, or, that they are troubled at midnight, when people are moſt ſecure and unfit to help themſelves (which might very well be applyed to what befell Egypt, Exod. 12.29. if it had been before this time. See alſo 2 King. 19.35.) and by immediate ſtroaks from the hand of God, they are taken away without hand, or, without any help of man. See Dan. 2.34, 35.
Doct. 1. Gods quarrels againſt ſin, if not hearkned unto, will goe a further length than reproofs; As here, after ſaying to Kings, Ye are wicked, it comes to puniſhments.
2. Gods contending with great men, ordinarily, brings ſad ruine upon a people, who joyn in ſin with them; For, when he is ſaying to Kings, Ye are wicked, v. 18. the people ſmart alſo. So that a people are not a little concerned in their Rulers, and in their being right or wrong.
3. God can reach a Nation, as well as particular perſons, and he hath national plagues for national ſins; ſo that the multitude of ſinners cannot ſecure themſelves in their ſin againſt God; For, they ſhall dye, that is, both rich and poor, v. 19. and the people, and the mighty, as after followeth.
4. When God reckons with Nations, no particular perſons will be able to ſecure themſelves, by any perſonal priviledges and advantages; For, even the mighty ſhall ſmart with the people. See Iſ. 3.1, 2, 3.
5. God may juſtly purſue his quarrel againſt a Nation, not only to the impoveriſhing thereof, but even to the cutting of many of them off, and to ſending of them into captivity out of their Land; For, they ſhall dye, and paſs away, and be taken away. So that an afflicted Nation have reaſon to acknowledge God in what they ſuffer leſs than this.
6. Let a people ſeem to be never ſo ſtrong, and ſure rooted; Yet, a ſhort time may make a great change upon them; For, in a moment ſhall they dye. Death can ſoon ſweep multitudes of them away.
7. Surprizals are ſad ingredients in trouble, and they are juſtly the lot of an impenitent people: For, their ſin deſerveth that they ſhould be ſurprized at midnight. See 1 Theſ. 5.3. So that, as the people of God are, oft-times, ſurprized with unexpected deliverances, Iſ. 17.14. So, the wicked may meet with plagues which they diſcern not before they come.
8. National ſtroaks are full of darkneſs and diſcomfort, farr beyond perſonal tryals; Therefore, alſo, do theſe ſtroaks come at midnight, and are very dark.
9. Perplexities, which attend ſuch dark ſtroaks, are very bitter to them who ſmart under them; For, being at midnight, the people are troubled. So that we ſhould guard againſt perplexity of ſpirit (providing we be not ſtupid) at ſuch times, leſt, if that door be once opened, we be over-whelmed therewith.
10. The Lord needs no help, nor probable means, to bring about the greateſt changes; For, they ſhall be taken away, (or, they, that is, the judgements inflicted by God, ſhall take away) even the mighty without hand.