Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 34 · Verses 27-28
Verſe 27. Becauſe they turned back from him, and would not conſider any of his wayes.
28. So that they cauſe the cry of the poor to come unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted.
The third Amplification of this calamity is taken from a more particular account of his Juſtice in it; which is cleared from the conſideration of their ſin. Wherein,
1. The fountain and root of all their ſin, is, Apoſtacy from God, and their not conſidering of his wayes, or, the way which he had preſcribed to them to walk in, and the wayes of his providence toward them and others, v. 27.
2. The effects flowing from this fountain, or, their particular miſcarriage, is, oppreſſion, and cauſing the poor to cry out, which God heareth, and therefore puniſheth them, v. 28.
From v. 27. Learn, 1. Want of union and communion with God is the root of mens miſcarriages; For, becauſe they turned from him, (or, from after him, in a cloſe cleaving to, and following after, him) therefore they do ſin, and are puniſhed.
2. This diſtance from God is the more odious, when men make Apoſtacy from what they have enjoyed, or, do not accept his offers of keeping fellowſhip with them; For, thus wicked men do turn back from him, when they turn their backs upon his offers and invitations, and when they make Apoſtacy from any profeſſion of goodneſs, and any degrees of moral goodneſs, they ſometime had.
3. Men do prove that they turn their backs upon God, when they do not follow his directions, nor obſerve his wayes; For, ſo is here held out, They turned back from after him, whom all are bound to follow in his preſcribed directions, and would not conſider his wayes.
4. Gods wayes, which he hath preſcribed for us to walk in, would be better followed, if it were well pondered of what importance and concernment they are to us, and if we would alſo take notice of the wayes of his providence; For, they turn from after him, becauſe they conſider not his wayes, neither his directions, nor his providences, Pſal. 28.5. As it is diſtance from God that makes men not to be ſerious in his matters (if they turn back, they will not conſider) ſo their being little ſerious confirms them in their diſtance, and augments it, ſo that their whole life is but a continual turning more and more from God.
5. The ſins of wicked men, and particularly, of backſliders from God, are ſo much the more hainous, that they flow not from ſimple ignorance, but from inadvertency, and from the power of their luſts, which makes them not ſeriouſly conſider what they are doing; For, ſo is it here, they conſider not, or do not wiſely ponder what it is that God ſaith and doth to them. Thus the wicked caſt Gods Laws behind their back, Pſ. 50.17.
From v. 28. Learn, 1. Mens looſe walking with God will appear in their miſcarriages toward men, which will write their neglecting of God upon their foreheads; For, this followeth upon the former, They turned back, &c. v. 27. So that they cauſed the cry of the poor to come, &c.
2. As great mens oppreſſion of the poor (and eſpecially of Gods poor people) is a grievous ſin; ſo it doth evidence the Oppreſſours great diſtance from God; For, they who turn back, v. 27. do cauſe the cry of the poor to come unto him, that is, unto God. See Pſal. 14.4. And the meaning here is not, that the Oppreſſours intended any ſuch thing, as to cauſe the poor cry unto God, or to cauſe their cry come unto him; but only that this is a conſequent of their oppreſſion.
3. Such as are oppreſſed, and can find no remedy upon Earth, ought to cry and make their moan to God; As here is ſuppoſed.
4. God is an hearer of prayers, Pſal. 65.2. and particularly, of the cryes of oppreſſed perſons; For, their cry cometh unto him, and he heareth the cry of the afflicted, See Exod. 22.27.
5. God will give proof that he hears the cry of the oppreſſed, by taking vengeance on Oppreſſours; For, his hearing of the cry of the afflicted, is here ſubjoyned as a reaſon of his cruſhing of theſe mighty men. See Pſ. 12.5.