Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 34 · Verse 13
Verſe 13. Who hath given him a charge over the Earth? Or who hath diſpoſed the whole World?
The ſecond Argument, whereby he refutes Jobs complaints (in this and the two following Verſes) and confirmeth alſo the former Argument, is taken from Gods Dominion; That, becauſe he is the Soveraign King of all the Earth, and accountable to none, Therefore, he is moſt juſt; and conſequently, Job ought not to have quarrelled him becauſe of his diſpenſations. This Argument is propounded, in this Verſe, by way of vehement Interrogation, intimating, That, ſeeing God hath made, and ſtill doth order, the whole World, and all things therein, and that by an abſolute and uncontroulable Dominion, (as having obtained power and authority from none, by whoſe Laws he muſt be directed, or, to whom he muſt be accountable;) therefore none can quarrel him, or call him to an account, as doing unjuſtly in any thing; but, being the Judge of all the Earth, he will do right, as Abraham argued, Gen. 18.25.
Doct. 1. As the making and firſt ordering of the whole World was Gods own work, without the concurrence of any Inſtrument; So the conſtant diſpoſing, ordering and guiding thereof, is ſo managed by inſtruments and ſecond cauſes, as all of it is ſtill in Gods hand: For, he hath the charge over the Earth, (which comprehends the whole World, and all perſons and things therein, though he mention only the Earth, becauſe man is moſt concerned in what is done there, and he quarrels moſt about theſe) and he diſpoſeth the whole World, or, the World, all of it, all that is done on Earth, and particularly, what man is ready to quarrel. We ſhould not loſe ſight of Providence, as wicked men uſe to do in evil times, Ezek. 9.9: but ſhould ſtudy to ſee him in all things.
2. God adminiſtrates the affair of the World in great and infinite wiſdome, ſo that all things are well ordered; For, all is well diſpoſed or placed. See Pſal. 104.24. And therefore we ſhould be aſhamed of our blindneſs, and ſenſible of our weakneſs, when we cannot diſcern this.
3. This Dominion of God is abſolute and ſupreme, underived from, and without a dependance upon, any other; For, ſaith he, Who hath given him a charge over the Earth? None at all. See Dan. 4.35. He is abſolute to command and prohibit, to permit evil, and do good, to reward and puniſh, as he will. And therefore no Creature ſhould uſurp abſolute Supremacy, which is due to him only; We ſhould ſtoop to his Soveraign will in all things, and ſhould fear him more than any petty dependant power, reckoning our ſelves ſecure in his favour, againſt all their fury.
4. This Dominion of God is alſo univerſal, over all perſons, things, and times; For, it is a charge over the Earth, indefinitely, without exception, and a diſpoſing of the World, all of it. See Pſal. 47.7. and 83.18. and 97.9. And therefore the greateſt of perſons ſhould acknowledge their ſubjection to him, Pſal. 2.10, 11, 12. And his people ſhould comfort themſelves in this, that the God whom they ſerve ruleth over all.
5. Gods ſupreme Dominion over the Earth proves that he can do no wrong; For, by this Argument, he proves God to be juſt, and refutes Jobs complaints. Not only doth this evidence Gods perfection, but that he is above all Law, and accountable to none. And the dominion that God hath given to man over his fellow-creatures, ſo that he may kill and deſtroy Beaſts, Birds, and Fiſhes, for his meat, may convince us, that, much more, may he diſpoſe of his own Creatures at his pleaſure. Stone of the ſame quarry have no cauſe to quarrel that ſome of them are better hewed than others, and put in more eminent places of the building. Nor ſhould men, who are of the ſame Maſſe with others, quarrel, though God deal with them otherwiſe than he deals with others.
6. Albeit there be exact juſtice in every action of God, and he may eaſily convince the beſt of men that they ſuffer leſs than they deſerve; Yea, in his dealing with his people, (and even with his enemies, in this life) his mercy and long-ſuffering rejoyceth over judgement: Yet when our weakneſs cannot diſcern this righteouſneſs of God in ſome particular caſes, we ſhould look to his Supremacy, to keep our thoughts right; and till we ſtoop and ſubmit to that, we do juſtly get no further account; Therefore is this Argument here, and frequently elſewhere, inculcated, to keep Job from quarrelling his juſtice: