Exposition of Job, Exposition of Job · Chapter 9 · Verse 21
Verſ. 21. Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my ſoul, I would deſpiſe my life.
The ſcope and meaning of this verſe is rendered obſcure and difficult, by reaſon of the conciſeneſs of the Original phraſe. which runs thus; I perfect, I know not (or ſhall not know) my ſoul, I deſpiſe my life. And ſo ſome make it an aſſertion, beginning the ſecond part of the Chapter, as if Job had ſaid: though I be in ſuch danger and grief, that I know not, or regard not my ſoul, or my life (for ſo it is in the latter part of the verſe) but do deſpiſe it, and wou…d gladly die; yet I am perfect, and no hypocrite, though not ſinleſs. But ſeeing that part of the Chapter begins clearly at the next verſe, where we have the expreſs aſſertion which he maintains againſt his Friends; Therefore here we are to repeat, though, or rather, if, from the beginning of v. 20. as is alſo done in the latter part of the ſame v. 20. where the words are the ſame in the Original that are here, I perfect, and yet the ſenſe and coherence of the purpoſe leads us to repeat; from the beginning of the verſe, If I ſay, I am perfect, or, If I be perfect, to wit, in mine own eyes. The Text, being thus read, will afford a new ground of his reſolution againſt contending; and the ſenſe will be, either,
1. (According to the Tranſlation, Though I were, or, be perfect, &c.) as if Job had ſaid; Though I be ſincere, and not an hypocrite, and do plead ſo before you; yea, were I never ſo perfect; yet would I not plead the matter before and againſt God, to the prejudice of his Righteouſneſs. But, on the contrary, my not regarding of my life, and my deſpiſing of, and yielding it up to God, as a ſinful man, teſtifieth for me, that I mind no ſuch thing. For my voluntary quitting and reſigning up of my life witneſſeth that I judge my ſelf a ſinner. As, indeed, ſenſe of ſin will make humble ſubmitting to afflictions; and ſtooping and ſubmitting to Gods afflicting hand, particularly in death, proves a man to be ſenſible of ſin, and no pleader of his own perfection. Or,
2. If we read theſe words, as in the former verſe, (which ſeems moſt favourable) If I ſay, I am perfect, &c. or, If I be perfect, in mine own eyes, I would not know my ſoul, &c. The ſenſe will be this, as if Job had ſaid; as my pleading my perfection before God were enough to condemn me, and prove me perverſe, v. 20. So it were but my ignorance, and not knowing of my own ſoul, or, condition, that would make me plead ſo. And coming before ſuch a Majeſty with that plea, he might juſtly ſo terrifie me, as to make me deſpiſe my very life, as well as my righteouſneſs, before him, and a fight of his perfect purity would make me abhor ſuch thoughts, and my ſelf for them. Thus the ground of his reſolution, and the Argument moving him not to contend, is, That he will not, by contending, bewray his ignorance of himſelf, nor madly run upon his own ruine, or do ſuch things as might afterward make his life a burden to him.
Hence Learn,
1. It is mens ignorance, or their being, in a ſort, out of their wits, that makes them boaſt of their own worth or righteouſneſs; For, If I ſay, I am perfect, I know not my ſoul, It is an horrid crime, proclaiming a mans ignorance of what he ſhould know beſt, even himſelf, or his ſoul; and his madneſs, that he regardeth not his own ſoul, or what become of him.
2. A ſight of God in his Majeſty and Purity, as a party to the ſelf-juſtifier, will ſoon lay him low; and not only make his righteouſneſs, but his very life, abominable and a burden to him; For, in that caſe, ſaith he, If I ſay, I am perfect, I would deſpiſe my life. Not only would the Majeſty of God cruſh ſuch a proud contender, and conſequently, ſuch a one doth deſpiſe his life, when he enters on ſuch a courſe, as Job himſelf obſerveth, Chap. 13.14. But if a man be honeſt, when he comes to conſider in cold blood, after his fit is over, with what a holy God he hath contended, it will make him abhor high thoughts of himſelf, and himſelf becauſe of them, and make him love his righteouſneſs the worſe, that he ſwelled ſo much with the conceit of it.