Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 36 · Verse 3 – Verse 4
Verſe 3. I will fetch my knowledge from afar, and will aſcribe righteouſneſſe to my maker.
This ſecond Argument, taken from the ſubject matter of his diſcourſe, is here further proſecuted and amplified. And 1 He ſheweth what way he will take in his pleading for God; and that he will fetch his knowledge from afar. Which may both point at this, in general, That, in managing this cauſe, he will not bring forth what firſt comes to hand, what his humane reaſon ſuggeſts, and his weak judgement fancieth; but what he ſearcheth into, and gets by inſpiration from above: And at this, in particular, That, in debating this cauſe, he will not break in at firſt upon Jobs particular eaſe, but will fetch a riſe to his diſcourſe from more remote and general principles and grounds, concerning Gods nature and Attributes, and his ancient works and proceedings, which when they are well ſtudied, will eaſily furniſh light for clearing of Jobs caſe. And this we finde to be his way and method throughout this Diſcourſe.
2. He declareth what his ſcope will be in pleading, even to aſcribe, or, give righteouſneſs to God; that is, to plead that he is One who can do no wrong, nor ought he to be complained of, as if he had done any.
3. He inſinuates a reaſon why he will thus plead; even becauſe he is his Maker; of which ſee, chap. 32.22. Which doth not ſo much point out, that Gods being a Creatour, and his making of all his creatures (among which Elihu was one) ſo holily, and wiſely, pleads for him againſt all our miſconſtructions and quarrels about particular diſpenſations of Providence: As, that his being Gods creature did engage him to own his Makers quarrel; Yet ſo, as this Argument was not peculiar to him alone, but Job himſelf had the like engagement to have joyned with him in the ſame cauſe.
Doct. 1. Such as do ſpeak in Gods name, or for him, ſhould make conſcience to ſpeak that which is worth the hearing, and in ſome meaſure ſutable to the purpoſe treated of; As here Elihu promiſeth to fetch his knowledge from afar. See Pſalm 78.1, 2, 3.
2. If men would ſpeak aright for God, they muſt not ſpeak at randome, nor truſt their corrupt reaſon or ſenſe, but they ſhould ſearch well into matters, and eſpecially ſhould ſeek light from God himſelf, and ſtudy to be near him; For, in this reſpect doth Elihu promiſe to fetch his knowledge from afar.
3. If men were but true to their common principles, they would eaſily refute their miſtakes of God in their particular caſes; As here Elihu fetcheth his knowledge from afar, or, from general and acknowledged principles, to refute Job, who, otherwiſe was ready to miſtake in his own particular.
4. What ever we think of Gods dealing in our particular caſe; Yet, his common and general way of working pleads for him; and whoſo are not ſatiſfied with his common way of proceeding, but would be ſingularly dealt with, they are in the wrong: For, therefore alſo makes he uſe of knowledge from afar, or, of an account of Gods ancient way of working in the world, in this cauſe.
5. Whoever have due and right thoughts of God, or do plead …ightly for him, muſt exalt him as holy and righteous in all his proceedings; For, this is his ſcope in pleading, to aſcribe righteouſneſs unto him
6. Were there no other engagements lying upon us, our very being, which we have from God, obligeth us to plead for him, and that againſt any who dare oppoſe him, were they, otherwiſe, never ſo great or dear to us; For hereby he ſheweth himſelf to be engaged in this quarrel, (and indirectry taxeth Job, that he joyned not with him) becauſe God was his Maker. And if this be a ſtrong engagement upon men, how much more ought they to plead for God, who are engaged to him upon the account of many ſpecial favours?
Verſe 4. For truly, my words ſhall not be falſe: he that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
The third Argument, preſſing attention, is taken from the manner of his handling this ſubject, and that he will ſpeak truly and ſincerely to Job, and not as he charged his other Friends to have done, Chap. 13.7, 8. and, 17.5. This he confirmeth from his perfect knowledge of the matter, he is to treat of. Where he ſpeaks of himſelf modeſtly in the third perſon; and doth not claim any abſolute perfection of knowledge, but only aſſerts, that he was ſo verſed in that ſubject, as he knew his Doctrine was free of errour.
Doct. 1. Whoſoever crave attention, or have acceſſe to ſpeak to others, they ought to deal truly and ſincerely in Gods matters, eſpecially with the afflicted; For, he profeſſeth it his duty and reſolution to ſpeak truth, and that his words ſhall not be falſe, if Job will hearken to him. It is a great cruelty in men to be venting errours, when they are allowed and welcomed to ſpeak to others.
2. It is not enough that men pretend to truth, nor ſhould their pretences be taken off their hands, unleſſe they do really as they pretend; And it is a double ſin in men to deal falſely, while they pretend the contrary: Therefore ſaith he, truly my words ſhall not be falſe, profeſſing his ſincere reſolution to deal ſingly, and intimating that it were a great ſin to belie ſo grave a profeſſion.
3. Men who would ſpeak truth, eſpecially in dark caſes, ought to have (not a ſuperficial, but) a ſolide knowledge of what they ſpeak; For, he ſuppoſeth, they ſhould be perfect in knowledge.
4. As there is no neceſſity that men ſhould be Scepticks, but they may attain to ſuch a meaſure of knowledge as they may be aſſured of the truth which they own; So it is no evidence of vanity in men, modeſtly to avow their certain knowledge of the truth, that thereby they may gain ground upon thoſe with whom they deal: Yea, it is their duty to commend themſelves to their conſciences, as having knowledge, and as being ſincere in ſeeking and holding out of truth; Therefore doth Elihu profeſs, He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
5. When truth is ſpoken from God, men are bound to hear it with attention, whether it pleaſe their humours, and be fitted to their intereſts, or not; For, that his words ſhall not be falſe, and that he ſpeaks from perfect knowledge, is an Argument perſwading to attention.