Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 36 · Verse 9-10
Verſe 9. Then he ſheweth them their work, and their tranſgreſſions that they have exceeded.
10. He openeth alſo their ear to diſcipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
In the ſecond branch of this part of the Vindication, we have an account, of Gods end in afflicting righteous men, and of the uſe they ſhould make of it; Namely, That God afflicts them, that he may give them a ſight of ſin, wherein they have exceeded, v 9. and may excite them to repentance and converſion from ſin, v. 10. This doth clearly vindicate Gods righteouſneſs in afflicting them, ſeeing he doth thereby chaſten them for their faults, and take pains to reclaim them. And it is very applicable to Jobs caſe, in reſpect of his failings (not groſs hypocriſie, or wickedneſs) eſpecially under trouble. Though as to what was mainly intended in his tryal, we are to remember another Argument, taken from the Soveraign Dominion of God, which clears the caſe yet further.
From v. 9. Learn, 1. It is not ſimply our being afflicted, and made miſerable by trouble, that God doth mind, Lam. 3.33, 34. nor is it that which we ſhould be chiefly affected with, under afflictions; but we ſhould mind another leſſon taught by it, which if we neglect, our ſenſe of trouble will be to little purpoſe: Therefore here is ſubjoyned an account of Gods end in afflicting, and of the leſſon we ſhould learn under the croſs. See Joſh. 7.8, 9. with v. 10, 11. It is the property of beaſts to feel only the ſmart of a rod; but men, and eſpecially godly men, ſhould make another uſe of it. And yet many fail in this, and do long for deliverance, when they really obſtruct it, by their negligence, or their fair promiſes in trouble, which they would ſoon forget if they were delivered. But (whatever God be pleaſed to do, according to his Soveraignty in grace) we ſhould ſtill remember that ſad proceſs that may juſtly purſue us, till we mind ſome other thing in our trouble beſide our afflictions, Lev. 26.14 — 40, 41, 42.
2. This may ſufficiently juſtifie God, in afflicting his people, that the beſt of them have ſins which deſerve, and may procure affliction, and eſpecially miſcarriages under trouble, which may continue them; For, they have work, which is tranſgreſſion, and Job did ſl…de in the hour of his tryal. Such as are imbittered becauſe of trouble, do prove that they have little ſenſe of ſin. And they who look not upon their leſſer ſins of infirmity as ſufficient to procure any trouble that cometh upon them, are juſtly given up, under the Croſs, …o miſcarry more groſſely, as Job did. Whence it cometh to paſs, that afflictions, which were but ſimple tryals before, become real chaſtiſements for ſin, as here he intimateth it fared with Job.
3. No affliction ſhould be accounted bitter which may help to cure and purge out ſin; For, upon that account is Gods righteouſneſs here vindicated, that he afflicts to diſcover and purge out ſin. They evidence their love to ſin, who repine at rods; and they who would find trouble eaſie, ought to be diligent in purging of ſin, and that will make it ſweet, Pſ. 119.67, 71.
4. When God afflicts his people moſt ſharply, his aim is only to cure their ſin, and it will have no worſe effects, unleſs they turn incorrigible; For, he binds them in the cords of affliction, v. 8. for this very end. See Iſ. 27.9. He intends not their hurt, but only the deſtruction of ſin, unleſs (as we ſay…) they will take the ridders-ſtroaks, by interpoſing to ſpare their luſts.
5. The right cure of ſin muſt begin at the diſcovery of it, and at convictions for it, without which, there will be no reformation, or it will not prove ſound; For, this work begins at ſhewing them their work; and where this root is not, the fruits will not follow, or they prove but withered and blaſted.
6. Men do not readily ſee ſin, nor are ſolidly convinced of it, till they be in trouble; For, when they are bound, v. 8. then he ſheweth them their work. Either the affliction, muſt point it out (mens ſin being written upon their rods) or when they rage and fret, or will not ſtay to admit of, or digeſt reproofs, affliction tameth and holdeth them. So that it muſt be ſad when convictions decay under trouble.
7. Whatever men attain of convictions under the rod, yet it is not the rod of it ſelf, but God by it, who worketh and produceth them; For, he ſheweth them their work.
8. Conviction is wrought by Gods leading men through their work, by examination, till they find out what tranſgreſſion is in it; For, he ſheweth them their work, and their tranſgreſſions, which he diſcovereth to them in their work, when they ſee it well.
9. True and ſolid convictions under trouble will diſcover ſin in its aggravations, both in the frequency thereof, that there are tranſgreſſions; and in the nature thereof, that there are tranſgreſſions wherein they have exceeded, or, prevailed and run violently …ver all bounds and limits, as waters overflow their banks. If the Law ſhould diſcover ſin to be ſinful, Rom. 7.13. much more when the rod is joyned with it, ſhould ſin be ſeen in its aggravations, Jer. 2.19.
10. When God comes to plead againſt ſin by the rod, it is an evidence of the greatneſs of ſin, were there no other thing to prove it, but that he muſt plead his quarrel that way; For, when they are bound, v. 8. then he ſheweth, that they have exceeded. They muſt be no ſmall faults which provoke God to plead againſt his people in the publick view of all; and therefore they ſhould beware of extenuating ſin at ſuch a time.
From v. 10. Learn, 1. Conviction of ſin, were it never ſo great, is not all the fruit that ſhould follow upon chaſtiſements, but there ſhould be alſo converſion and turning from ſin; For, this is ſubjoyned to the diſcovery, formerly mentioned, that they return from iniquity, without which, it will be to little purpoſe to ſigh and turn backward, Lam. 1.8.
2. Men will never be brought to turn from ſin in earneſt, till firſt they be brought under diſcipline and order; which is oppoſite to that inbred oppoſition, which is in their hearts, to Chriſts Kingdome and Bonds, Pſal. 2.3. and 12.4. to that exceſſive love of pleaſures, which cauſeth men behave themſelves as bullocks unaccuſtomed to the yoak, Jer. 31.18. Job 21.14. and, to that wild fruit of ſecurity, which, meeting with affliction, drives men further away: Therefore they muſt firſt be under diſcipline, before they return from iniquity. And no particular practice or endeavour will thrive well, or be to any purpoſe, till firſt we ſet our ſelves to come under this yoak of diſcipline, and to ſubmit to the will of God in every thing.
3. For bringing men under this york of diſcipline, there is need of an open diſcovered car, that a paſſage may be opened to inſtructions to get in to the heart; For, he openeth alſo (with that diſcovery, v. 9.) their ear to diſcipline. Of this ſee, v. 15. Chap. 33.16. Iſ. 50.4, 5. Pſal. 40.6. And it imports,
1. That our advantage cometh not ſimply by our being afflicted, but by ſome inſtruction (conveighed to the heart by the ear) accompanying it, Pſal. 94.12.
2. That there are many impediments in the way, to hinder out receiving of this inſtruction, ſuch as lazineſs, Iſ. 50.4. ſubtil wiles, Pſal. 58.4, 5. habitually contracted indiſpoſition, Matth. 13.15. rebellion, Jer. 22.21. and 44.16. and divers others, of which ſee, on Chap. 33.16.
3. That, as a time of affliction is a time of teaching many leſſons, Pſal. 94.12. So, the Croſs ſhould help to pierce our ear, and make us tractable, as Act. 9.6.
4. As this is the ſcope of afflictions, ſo when God ſends the rod, he will, one way or other, cauſe men to hear, Iſ. 26.11. Jer. 1.15, 16.
5. As mens ſeeing of God to be their party, in teaching them by rods, ſhould quicken them to receive inſtruction; So it is himſelf who maketh thoſe means effectual; For, he not only ſheweth men their work, v. 9. but he openeth alſo their car to diſcipline.
Doct. 4. Such as come under diſcipline will be oppoſite to iniquity, becauſe it is iniquity, and ſo to all of it; and will not be oppoſite to ſome iniquity only, becauſe it is prejudicial, or upon other byreſpects: For, here there followeth, a returning from iniquity, be what it will.
5. Perſons brought under diſcipline, will, alſo, ſee that nothing will avail, unleſs they turn from ſin, and that it is not enough they hide it, Job 20.12. or lay it by till another time; For, then they will ſee that they muſt return from iniquity.
6. Albeit the Lord do alwayes interpoſe his Authority, to command men to abandon ſin; Yet in afflictions, eſpecially, he is ſaid to command this, becauſe afflictions come, when intreaties and milder meſſages do not avail, Jer. 22.21. And then he will have his Authority take place, and ſends a Meſſenger which is peremptory, and will not goe away without his errand: For, then he commandeth that they return from iniquity.