Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 36 · Verse 22 – Verse 23
Verſe 22. Behold, God exalteth by his power: Who teacheth like him?
Followeth, the ſecond part of Elihu's Speech (begun in this Chapter, and continued till v. 23. of Chap. 37.) containing a commendation of the greatneſs of God, which cannot be comprehended, nor ought to be quarrelled by any Creature. This greatneſs of God is here to be taken in a large ſenſe, as comprehending his infinite Wiſdome, his abſolute Dominion, and infinite Power, whereby it is confirmed and proved in the following diſcourſe. And he doth inſtance and prove it from the very common works of Providence (whereof God alſo makes uſe afterward, to prove the ſame concluſion) that he may reprehend Job, who was ignorant of what was ſo obvious, and, withall, may, in divers of them, point at ſuch things as reflect upon Jobs weakneſſes.
The ſumm of this part of the Diſcourſe, is, That God is a great and abſolute Lord, and therefore ought not to be quarrelled, but ſubmitted unto, in his diſpenſations. Of this Propoſition there are three general Proofs in this Chapter.
Whereof the firſt (in this Verſe) is taken from the ſingular monuments of his power and wiſdome; In that he is not only exalted himſelf (as the words may be read and underſtood) and ſet on high, by the demonſtrations of his great power in the government of the World; but exalteth others, who are humble and low, by this his power: And in that he is ſo infinitely wiſe, as he is a ſingular Teacher. Hereby Elihu would inſinuate, that it was Jobs duty to ſtoop more patiently to God, in whoſe power it was yet to exalt him, and to adore and lean to his wiſdome, and ſet about to learn thoſe leſſons, which God was teaching him, by his diſpenſations toward him.
In general, from this part of the Diſcourſe, and Elihu's ſcope in it, Learn,
1. Though God be indeed holy and righteous in all he doth, (as hath been inculcated in the former part of this diſcourſe) yet ſuch is the weakneſs, even of good men, eſpecially under tentation, that they do not alwayes ſee and diſcern his righteouſneſs in what he doth; Therefore it is needful that Elihu add this other Argument to the former, for convincing and ſilencing of Job.
2. Such is the greatneſs and dominion of God, that, albeit men ſhould not be able to diſcern the juſtice and equity of every one of his proceedings, Yet they ought to ſubmit, and ſilence all their murmurings; For, ſo much doth this part of the diſcourſe import, that, though he could not be ſatisfied with what was formerly propounded, yet this might ſilence him.
3. Such as would take up aright (in that meaſure they are able) the greatneſs of God, ought to have their hearts and thoughts elevated and excited, when they fall upon that meditation; Therefore doth he begin this Doctrine with a, Behold, to rouze him up.
4. Such is the greatneſs of God, that we cannot take it up in it ſelf, but as it appeareth in viſible effects; So much doth this way of proving it, eſpecially by viſible inſtances, teach us.
5. Albeit no man, who is not a profeſſed Atheiſt, will deny the greatneſs of God; yet men in a fit of diſtemper have need that it be much inculcated upon them, before they can practically improve it; So much doth this inſiſting to give ſo many proofs and inſtances of this truth, teach us.
In particular, from this Verſe, Learn,
1. Gods great power is a proof and demonſtration of his greatneſs; For his power is made uſe of, to prove this concluſion. And indeed the operations of his power are ſo great, that he is thereby exalted, (as ſome read the words) and declared to be great and high. See Pſal. 113.5. Where it is ſaid, he exalteth himſelf, in the Original. And this caſeth us of the burden of exalting him, which he will do by his own power, Pſal. 21.13. And teacheth us to look upon him as great and high in the proofs of his power.
2. Gods power is not idle, but an operative Attribute; and as others of his Attributes are viſible in effects upon, and among, the Creatures; ſo alſo is his power; Therefore here he declareth, what God doth by his power.
3. God gives proofs of his power, not only by creating and upholding of all things, or by cruſhing his enemies; but by exalting them who need it, even the humble and lowly, Pſal. 1….5, 6, 7. For, God exalteth by his power; So that ſo long as God hath power, their caſe is not deſperate.
4. As it is the duty of all to ſtoop, and be patient toward God; ſo they ſhould ſtudy hope, that they may be quickened to it; And, particularly, they ſhould ſtudy, that the humble need not run away from God, becauſe of the moſt deſperate trouble, ſeeing his power can rid them out of it; Therefore is God thus deſcribed to Job, as an Exalter by his power, to encourage him in his duty, in his ſad diſtreſs.
5. Not only is God great in power, but in wiſdome; and both are to be ſtudied and obſerved in his working; For, he is a Teacher, which ſuppoſeth that he is wiſe. See Job 9.4. Pſ. 94.10.
6. Such is the goodneſs of God, that he communicates the effects of his wiſdome, and makes it forth-coming to his people, not only to guide them, and carve out their lot, but to inſtruct and teach them; For, by his wiſdome he teacheth: Which is our mercy, that his infinite wiſdome ſtoops to take notice of us.
7. God is the Supreme Teacher of his people; So that they ſhould ſubmit themſelves to his wiſdome, and give up themſelves to his teaching, and not preſume to teach or preſcribe unto him; Therefore is he pointed out to Job as the Teacher.
8. It may encourage men to ſubmit to Gods wiſdome and teaching, if they conſider that he is a ſingular Teacher; For, Who teacheth like him? So that none can teach or guide ſo well as he. Which may further appear, if we conſider,
1. The matter which he teacheth, which is infallible truth, and tendeth ſtill to mens good and profit, however they, oft-times, think otherwiſe, Iſ. 48.17.
2. The manner of his teaching; And ſo every thing a man meets with doth teach him ſome leſſon; He teacheth ſtrangely, diſcovering deep things out of darkneſs; teaching by afflictions, &c. By diſcovering ſin, he teacheth us to be lowly; by diſcovering his ſeverity, he teacheth us to flee to his mercy; by diſcovering our bad memories, he teacheth us to employ the Spirit much as a Remembrancer: He may find it needful to take a long time to inculcate one leſſon, Deut. 8.2, 3, &c.
3. The objects, or perſons whom he teacheth; He teacheth both wiſe men (whoſe advantage it is to be ſtill his Schollars) and men of rude and dull Spirits, ſo that the way-faring men, though fools, ſhall not erre, Iſ. 35.8. Yea, he teacheth very Infants, Iſ. 65.20. as being a Teacher, who not only propounds the leſſon to be learned (which is all that men can do) but gives a capacity alſo to take it up, and underſtand it.
4. The efficacy of his teaching; His inſtructions (where he takes any of his own Children in hand) are all ſucceſsful, Joh. 6.45. and he teacheth them to profit, Iſ. 48.17. not only by propounding what is profitable for them to know, but by making them profit thereby.
Verſe 23. Who hath enjoyned him his way? Or who can ſay, Thou hast wrought iniquity?
The ſecond Proof of this Propoſition, that God is great, is taken from his Soveraign Dominion, That, as none may preſcribe to him before-hand, What he ſhould do; ſo neither can they juſtly carp at any of his works, when he hath done them, as if he were faulty in doing thereof. Of this frequently before; Only here, Learn,
1. God is not only great in power, to do whatever is poſſible, or implyeth not a contradiction, if he pleaſe; and wiſe, to carve out work for his power: But he is inveſted with abſolute Authority to do whatever he pleaſeth; Therefore is this commendation of God added to what hath been ſaid of his wiſdome and power. Men may have power and wiſdome to compaſs and uſurp that unto which they have no right, but Gods authority is no leſs incontroulable, than his wiſdome or power.
2. It is one part of that homage which men owe to their Soveraign Lord, to beware of preſcribing to him in his working, who gives commiſſion to his creatures, but takes none from any; and ſubmiſſively to wait for the declaration of his will in all things; For, Who hath enjoyned him his way, wherein to walk? is a ſtrong aſſertion, that none ſhould preſume to do it, and that it will be to no purpoſe, if any ſhould attempt it.
3. Whoever are not content to be guided and diſpoſed of as God pleaſeth, they would, indeed, take upon them to guide God, and ſet him down at their feet, to be directed by them; For, by this queſtion he would reflect upon Jobs way, as preſuming to enjoyn and preſcribe unto God, by his diſſatisfaction and complaints.
4. It is a fault incident to too many, that they can pretend ſubmiſſion to Gods will before-hand, hoping thereby to get their will; who yet are ready to carp, when in the iſſue they are put to it, to prove their ſubmiſſion: For, as ſome are ready to enjoyn him his way, before-hand, ſo others may ſeem to decline that, who yet are ready enough to ſay, Thou haſt wrought iniquity, if his work do not pleaſe them when it is done.
5. Whatever be mens miſcarriages of this kind, yet, as God muſt not be preſcribed unto before he work, ſo, he muſt not be carped at when he hath wrought; But as we ought to wait for the declaration of his will, ſo we ought to ſtoop and adore when it is declared; conſidering that he can do no wrong, and that his works may abide our moſt ſevere examination and cenſure: For, Who can ſay, Thou haſt wrought iniquity?
6. Albeit men in their paſſions, think they have reaſon enough for preſcribing to God, and carping at him; Yet, they are but raving in their feavers, when they ſo judge: Their own conſciences and reaſon will condemn them in cold blood, and diſcover unto them ſad matter of repentance for their folly; For, ſo much doth theſe queſtions import, whereby the truth of theſe aſſertions is referred to mens own conſciences, as a thing they cannot deny.
7. The Soveraignty of God is a ſubject which will never wear bare and empty to a right diſcerner, were it never ſo oft ſpoken of and repeated; and which is needful to be much inculcated and dwelt upon by men, when they are under fits of diſtemper; For theſe cauſes is this ſubject ſo often repeated and inſiſted upon in this Book.