Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
In this and the following Chapter, we have Job's Reply, chiefly to Bildad's laſt Diſcourſe, which may be reduced to thoſe heads. 1. Whereas Bildad had adviſed him to think more reverently of Gods Righteouſneſs then to quarrel with him, Ch. 8.3. Job anſwers to this, till, v. 22. 2. Whereas he had adviſed him, by way of Inference from the former, that conſidering the Righteouſneſs, of God, who afflicted him and his Family; he would think leſs of his own or his Childrens righteouſneſs who were afflicted: Chap. 8.4, 6, 11, 12, 13, &c. he makes a return to this, from ver. 22. till the end of the Chapter. 3. Whereas both thoſe would conclude that he ſhould give over complaining, and eſſay another courſe, of ſtudying Piety, in hopes of favour, Chap. 8.5, 20, 21. To this he anſwers chiefly, Chap. 10.
In the firſt part of the Reply, Job not only grants what Bildad had aſſerted, but out-ſtrips him far in commending the Righteouſneſs of God; Granting that no man can be ſo righteous as to be blameleſs before God, or to have cauſe of contending with God, as unrighteous in his afflicting of him; though that did no way deprive a man of the teſtimony of his Conſcience concerning his own integrity, as he clears in the next part of the Reply. This Aſſertion he confirms, partly, in general, ſhewing that no man can thus plead his own righteouſneſs, to the prejudice of Gods righteouſneſs, Conſidering what is mans ſinfulneſs and miſery, ver. 2, 3. the power and wiſdom of God, ver. 4.—11. and his Soveraignty, ver. 12. And partly, in particular, Shewing that he reſolved not thus to contend. For if no created power can ſtand out againſt God; how much leſs dare he eſſay it? ver. 13.14. Since he hoped to come better ſpeed another way, he would never betake himſelf to that deſperate and preſumptuous ſhift, ver. 15. Since God had ſo ſharply afflicted him, when he was not contending; what might he expect if he ſhould ſo wickedly provoke him? ver. 16, 17, 18. It were a madneſs to ſtrive with him who cannot be matched in ſtrength, nor hath a Superiour Iudge, to whom one might appeal ver. 19. His very proud attempt to juſtifie himſelf, to the prejudice of Gods Righteouſneſs, were enough to refute and condemn him, ver. 20. And his pleading of perfection and righteouſneſs would but proclaim his ignorance, and madly hazard himſelf, ver. 21.
In the Second Part of the Reply, Job, aſſerteth that, notwithſtanding God is righteous, and not to be quarrelled; yet he was a righteous man, nor could his afflictions prove the contrary. For which end, he ſets down the true ſtate of the controverſie betwixt them; Namely, That afflictions come alike to all, and ſo do not prove men to be either godly or wicked, ver. 22. And confirms this Aſſertion, From common experience of the godlies ſharing in calamities, ver. 23. From the power given to the wicked over others, on the earth, ver. 24. And, from what had befaln himſelf; who was ſadly afflicted (as was evident from the ſpeedy paſſing away of his days of proſperity, ver. 25, 26. and his preſent afflictions ſticking ſo cloſely to him, ver. 27, 28.) And yet was a righteous man; being neither wicked, ver. 29. nor filled with a conceit of his own purity, ver. 30, 31. And being willing humbly to plead his own integrity before God; if it might be granted him, ver. 32, 33, 34, 35.—as it was not, ver.—35.