Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 36 · Verse 5
Verſe 5. Behold, God is mighty, and despiſeth not any: he is mighty in ſtrength, and wiſdom.
Followeth, to v. 22. the firſt part of Elihu's diſcourſe, ſubjoyned to this Preface; Or, a vindication of the righteouſneſſe of God in his dealing with men. It may be taken up in four heads; In the firſt whereof (in this verſe) is contained a general propoſition of this truth, or, the ſumme of this part of his diſcourſe, That God is righteous in all his diſpenſations and proceedings with, and about, man. Wherein (beſide the note of attention, Behold.)
1. We have the Propoſition it ſelf, which he is about to clear, That God despiſeth not any (as this word, any, is added to the indefinite Propoſition, God despiſeth not) or, ſleights them not ſo far as to neglect to do them right; for ſo deſpiſing is taken, Chap. 31.13. with 14. And this imports, both, That he doth not ſlight any, upon the account of their low condition, ſo as not to do them right, but he giveth right to the very poor, v. 6. and, That he doth not deſpiſe or reject any, but upon a juſt and relevant cauſe; as is after cleared, v. 11, 12.
2. This Propoſition is amplified, That God is mighty and great, and yet he despiſeth not any; that is, though he be great, yet he is juſt. And this meets with Jobs complaints, that God was too great a party for him, and took no notice of him. See Chap. 10.3. and, 19.7. and, 23.13, 14, 15, 16. and, 30.21. and elſewhere.
3. This amplification is yet further enlarged, That he is mighty in ſtrength and wiſdom, or, heart, (See, Chap. 34.10. Whereby, we are not only to underſtand, That, ſeeing God is not only mighty in power to do what he will, but in wiſdom alſo, and all other perfections; therefore he will not employ his power tyrannically, to do wrong to any; But further, That, though he have not only ſtrength, but wiſdom alſo, to bear him out againſt all the world; Yet, this ſpeaks his commendation, that, notwithſtanding theſe advantages, he will not deſpiſe any, nor do them wrong.
Doct. 1. It is ignorance of God that is the root of mens diſtempers, failings, and miſtakes of his dealing; For, therefore he ſeeks to cure Jobs evils, by curing his ignorance. And we find ignorance is the root of unbelief, Pſ. 9.10 of ſlaviſh fears, Iſ. 51.12, 13. of oppreſſion of Gods people, Exod. 5.2. of pride and ſelf conceit, and riſings of heart before him, Iſ. 6.5. Job 42.5, 6. and of all ſinfull courſes, and mens ſecure preſumption in them, Pſal. 50.21.
2. Who ſo know God aright, will take him up as mighty, great, potent, and abounding in all perfections; For, God is mighty. The word imports a multiplication, to wit, of all perfections in God; and ſo this general is branched out both in ſtrength and wiſdom, in the end of the verſe. Hence, Great ſervice is due to him, Mal. 1.14. and particularly, great praiſe, Pſ. 48.1. We may expect great, yea, and marvellous things, from him, according to the tenor of his promiſe, Joel 2.21. His people ſerve a great Maſter, who will not ſee them wronged. Iſ. 49.24, 25, 26. Jer. 50.34. And, he is not to be oppoſed nor contended with, but ſubmitted unto in every thing, Job 9.4. Iſ. 45.9
3. It is not ordinary thoughts of Gods greatneſs that ought to ſatisfie, but we ſhould think upon that ſubject with admiration; For, ſaith he, Behold, God is mighty. Ordinary thoughts of this Subject do but proclaim our contempt; and hence it is that Saints are ſo much affected, when they ſometime fall upon the commendation of God; as may be ſeen Pſal. 145. throughout.
4. God is a juſt God, and it is an admirable conjunction, that he who is great, ſhould be alſo juſt, and will not do wrong to any; For, this is propounded as admirable, Behold, God is mighty, and despiſeth not any. See Job 23.6. Pſ. 99.4. and, 145.9, 17. Iſ. 57.15, 16. The very meaneſt may come to him, notwithſtanding his greatneſſe, and expect juſtice and equity. This ſhould humble us, and make us aſhamed, when we think otherwiſe of any of his diſpenſations; His greatneſs ſhould make his condeſcendence admirable in our eyes, and that he ſhould be kind to us, when he needs us not, and in whoſe reverence we ſtill are; and much more ſhould this warn great men, not to be inſolent and unjuſt, ſince the great and abſolute Lord is ſo condeſcending.
5. This aſſertion, concerning the righteouſneſs of God, is not eaſily received and digeſted, even by godly men in their fits of tentation; For, it muſt be aſſerted againſt Job, and he muſt be excited to behold it. And this may humble us, that a little diſtemper will ſoon make us quarrel God, and will obſcure his praiſe.
6. Gods power is attended with infinite perfections, and particularly, with wiſdom to guide all well; For, he is mighty in ſtrength and wiſdom. See Job 9.4. Hence it is, that his infinite perfections cannot be celebrated as they ought, Pſal. 106.2. And Saints are happy who have a portion ſo infinitely perfect, and all whoſe perfections are attended by wiſdom, which may very well be truſted in his ordering of all things.
7. Who ſo ſtudy the perfections of God, they may bluſh at their carping and quarrelling of his diſpenſations; For, this is the ſcope of this enlarged commendation of God. And, particularly, his wiſdom doth vindicate his righteouſneſs, and cleareth, that it is but our ignorance and folly that maketh us quarrel. See Pſal. 92.5, 6, 7. Mic. 4.9. — 13.
8. It may alſo heighten our admiration, when we conſider Gods condeſcendence, that he, who hath his creatures at ſuch advantage, doth yet ſtoop to do them no wrong; For, Behold, ſaith he, he is mighty in strength and wiſdom, and yet, deſpiſeth not: The more we ſtudy of him, we will ſee his righteouſneſs the more clearly, and will admire it the more. So that low thoughts (not only of himſelf, but) of his righteouſneſs will not be accepted; Nor is it enough, that we be ſilent from murmuring, or give him charity, or nakedly acknowledge his righteouſneſſe, unleſſe it be admired and wondred at.