Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 34 · Verses 21-23 – Verses 25-26
Verſe 21. For his eyes are upon the wayes of man, and he ſeeth all his goings.
22. There is no darkneſs, nor ſhadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themſelves.
23. For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he ſhould enter into judgement with God.
In theſe Verſes, the equity and juſtice of this proceeding is held out,
1. In general, from the ground thereof; Namely, the Omniſcience of God, who, as he is careful to obſerve mans wayes; ſo, he actually ſeeth all of them, v. 21. And that ſo exactly, as nothing can hide mans wickedneſs from him, v. 22. And therefore he cannot do unjuſtly, through ignorance and miſtakes, as men often do.
2. In particular, from his inclinations and proceedings, upon his ſeeing mans wayes, (and therefore it comes in as a reaſon, that he who ſeeth all will be juſt, and proceed againſt the workers of iniquity) That he will not exceſſively and unjuſtly afflict man, that ſo he may prevent mans quarrelling with him, which Job had often eſſayed, v. 23.
From v. 21. Learn, 1. All Gods proceedings in the World are upon ſure and juſt grounds, though we do not diſcern them; For, here a reaſon is given of theſe proceedings, v. 20. For his eyes are upon the wayes of men, &c.
2. Gods perfect knowledge is a proof of his juſtice in his procedure; For, that is the reaſon given here, to prove the equity of the former proceedings. Which not only teacheth Judges to try well, before they come to give ſentence, and ſee it executed, in imitation of this Soveraign Judge; but warns us, when we quarrel Gods proceedings, to ſuſpect that we ſee not things ſo well as he doth.
3. Gods knowledge is certain and effectual, to reach and take up what he intends to obſerve; For, not only are his eyes upon them, but he ſeeth things as they are, without miſtaking. So that we ſhould truſt his verdict of things, rather than our own.
4. Gods knowledge is alſo univerſal, of all the things of men, of all ſorts of men, and in all times and places; For, his eyes are upon the wayes of man, and he ſeeth all his goings. See Chap. 31.4: and the parallel places marked in the Margin, both here and there. So that he will not judge of men by their fits; and we ſhould remember his eye upon us in all places, and ſhould believe that he ſeeth his people, even when he ſeems not to notice their condition, as he ſaw the affliction of Iſrael in Egypt, before he appeared to deliver them, Exod. 3.7.
From v. 22. Learn, 1. Men, and eſpecially wicked men, are not eaſily convinced of Gods Omniſcience; Therefore it muſt be here told again, and inculcated.
2. Men alſo have their ſubterfuges, whereby they ſeek to hide their courſes from God, and whereby they do deceive themſelves and others, and think to do ſo with God alſo; For, ſo is here ſuppoſed, that they ſeek darkneſs, like the ſhadow of death, where they may hide themſelves, not ſo much from puniſhment (for that is not the ſcope here) as from being known or ſeen. Hence it is, that they ſeek to conveigh their deſignes ſecretly, and make uſe of fair pretences, handſome conveighances, &c.
3. All mens ſubterfuges and lurking holes will not avail them at Gods hand; But as no ſhelter can ſecure them from his purſuing vengeance, Amos 9.1, 2, 3, 4. So no darkneſs nor ſhadow of death will hide them from his All-ſeeing eye. See Pſal. 139.7, 8, &c.
4. As Gods Omniſcience is for the comfort of godly men, walking in his way, 2 Chron. 16.9. So, it is matter of terrour to the workers of iniquity; As here it is inculcated for their terrour.
5. Every worker of iniquity carrieth his own dittay and doom in his boſome, however ſuch do ſeem to carry with a high hand; For, while they ſeek to hide themſelves, they do openly profeſs, that if they be not hid, they are undone, for they are neither able to defend their cauſe, nor to reſiſt that vengeance which they are convinced they deſerve.
From v. 23. Learn, 1. God is the Impoſer and layer on of mens lots and exerciſes; as here we are taught. So that his people ſhould know that they are in a Friends hand, they ſhould ſtoop to him, and not add loads of their own (through unbelief, miſtakes, diſcouragement, impatience, &c.) with his burdens.
2. God doth exerciſe and afflict man in great moderation and equity; For, he will not lay upon man more than right. The words, than right, are a Supplement, the Original hath only, He will not lay upon yet, or ſtill; that is, he will not inflict, and inflict yet ſtill more, and ſo impoſe exceſſively, or too much, either above mens deſervings, Neh. 9.33. Ezr. 9.13. or above the ſtrength which he is ready to give them, or more than he will do them good by, or ſo as there is no moderation to be ſeen in his diſpenſations.
3. Man is a very querulous Creature, and full of diſcontents; ſo that he is ready to complain of his lot, when he ſhould be improving it; As here is ſuppoſed.
4. Man is ready to come to that height in his complaints, as even to quarrel God, and to preſume to think that he will call him to an account; For, that is the height of his impatience, that he will enter into judgement with God.
5. The Lord takes pleaſure to keep up a right underſtanding betwixt himſelf and man, particularly, betwixt his people and himſelf, and doth uſe all neceſſary means which may prevent their quarrels with him; For, here he doth what may prevent their entring into judgement with him.
6. Whatever men think, yet none of Gods diſpenſations gives them any cauſe to quarrel him; For, he layeth not that upon man, that he ſhould enter into judgement with God. Hence it is, that the people of God have retracted their complaints, upon ſecond thoughts, Pſal. 77.7, 8, 9, 10. Lam. 3.18 — 22.
Verſe 24. He ſhall break in pieces mighty men without number, and ſet others in their ſtead.
The exerciſe of Gods Dominion and Juſtice is yet further inſtanced (to v. 29.) in what he doth to mighty men; whereby he clears further, what he had ſaid of Kings and Princes, v. 18. That he will reckon even with the moſt mighty of them; and proſecutes what he had ſpoken of mighty men, v. 20. In this Verſe the inſtance is propounded, That he breaks multitudes of mighty men, and puts others in their places. Whence, Learn,
1. It is ſeriouſly and much to be ſtudied, that mens might cannot reſiſt Gods hand; Therefore is that truth here again repeated. Wherein we may read the vanity and uncertainty of all earthly power and might, eſpecially if men abuſe it to the diſhonour of God, who can ſo eaſily reach them. And Gods people may comfort themſelves in this, when they are oppreſſed by mighty men, that the God whom they ſerve is able to break that yoak of oppreſſion.
2. The more eminent wicked men be, the more conſpicuous will Gods hand be in plaguing them; Therefore alſo is this inſtance ſo much inſiſted upon, becauſe the glory of God ſhines eminently in it. And therefore eminent examples of Gods power and juſtice ſhould be well marked.
3. It is not an ordinary ſtroak, but even ruine and cruſhing, that wicked great men may expect from God, who, when he begins, will alſo make an end, 1 Sam. 3.12. For, he ſhall break in pieces mighty men.
4. God can reckon with many mighty men, as well as with one; For, he ſhall break in pieces mighty men without number. The word is, without ſearching out, and ſo it may import, That he needs no ſearch to find out a quarrel againſt them, nor ſhould we dipp and ſearch into the reaſons of ſuch diſpenſations. But it rather imports, That he will break ſo many, that there is no ſearching into the number of them. So that the multitude of thoſe that combine againſt him, will not ſecure them againſt him, and the multitude of thoſe who have been cruſhed by him, may aſſure thoſe who follow their footſteps, that they ſhall not be able to ſtand.
5. As God may raiſe up whom he will, and conferr power and authority upon them, Pſal. 107.40, 41. and 113.7, 8. Dan. 2.21. Pſal. 75.6, 7. So when God hath cruſhed many mighty men, he will yet have a care of the government of the World, and will not want others, to ſerve him in thoſe ſtations; For, he ſets others (raiſeth them up, and eſtabliſheth them) in their stead.
Verſe 25. Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, ſo that they are deſtroyed.
26. He ſtriketh them as wicked men in the open ſight of others.
Followeth, a threefold Amplification of this calamity of mighty men.
Firſt, More generally, from the cauſe and riſe of it, v. 25. That God doth this, becauſe he takes notice of their wicked wayes. The words are not, Becauſe he knoweth, but, Therefore he knoweth their works; but the ſenſe is one: Either thus, He deſtroyes them therefore, becauſe he knoweth their works, and brings them to remembrance; Or, however they think that God doth not notice their wayes, yet his judgements will demonſtrate the contrary, from which it may be concluded, that therefore it is certain he knoweth their wayes, becauſe he overthrows them:
Secondly, From the manner of it.
1. That he overturns and deſtroyes them in a dark night of trouble, and inexpectedly; or, turns about the night, that is, he turns their day of proſperity into a dark night of trouble, ſo that they are deſtroyed, v. 25.
2. That he puniſheth them viſibly and exemplarily, as being eminently wicked men, v. 26.
Doct. 1. However wicked men will not believe that God noticeth their wayes; Yet God will, in due time, give proof that he doth know and obſerve them: For, therefore he knoweth their wayes, or, gives proof of it, by ſmiting of them.
2. The calamities of wicked men will ſadly overturn all their enjoyments and projects; For, he overturneth them, or, ſimply, overturneth, and maketh a dreadful revolution.
3. Hence it comes to paſs, that the wickeds trouble is very dark and terrible unto them, as it is not with godly men; For, it is a night, or, in the night.
4. Wicked men may expect not to be threatened only, but to be actually and throughly deſtroyed; For, he overturneth, ſo that they are deſtroyed, or, cruſhed.
5. There are ſtroaks peculiar to wicked men, which all the wicked do deſerve, and may in juſtice expect; For, he ſtrikes them as wicked men, not that he ſtrikes them as if they were wicked men, when yet they are not ſuch; nor yet only becauſe they are wicked; but, that he inflicts thoſe calamities which are the common deſert of all wicked men.
6. How high ſoever wicked men be, yet God (who is no accepter of perſons) will reach them for their wickedneſs, as well as others; For, thus alſo he ſtrikes them, even thoſe mighty ones, as other wicked men.
7. God ſeeth it meet, ſometime, to make the calamities of wicked men publick, exemplary and remarkable, that others may fear; For, he striketh them in the open ſight of others, or, in the place of beholders, as at a publick execution. And the word, to ſtrike, imports ſuch a ſtriking as will cauſe men admire, and clap their hands, and whereby God will openly triumph over them, who ſo often inſulted over his Law. See Prov. 1.24, 25, 26.