Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 4 · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII. Verſe 1. Then Job anſwered and ſaid.]
Fiz. IN defence of his own integrity,foreign Plat. againſt Eliphaz his calumnies in the foregoing Chapter. To make Apology to every one that ſhall traduce us, …lat… holdeth to be both baſe and Bootleſſe. But when ſuch a weighty man as Eliphaz ſhell ſay load upon ſo innocent a man as Job, Qu… t…lerit? ſomething would be ſaid in way of anſwer.
Verſe 2. Even to day is my complaint bitter] q.d. After all mine endeavoar to ſatisfie you, I am ſtill miſ-interpreted, and accounted by you my friends no better then a Malecontent and a Murmu…er againſt God; albeit my laments do no way equal my torments. True it is, that Eliphaz had given him excellent counſel, chap. 22.21.22. &c. but it was to flatter him into the ſame errour that himſelf held; viz. that bodily and temporal ſufferings are a ſure ſign of a notorious hypocrite. Hence Job never taketh notice of it in this reply: but begins his Apology pathetically and abruptly; and ſoon falls into an appeaſe to God the righteous Judg, who well knew, (though his friends would take no notice of it) that he complained not without cauſe… but the contrary.
My ſtroak is heavier thou my groaning] Moſt mens groaning is greater then their ſtroaks or ſufferings. Invalidum …mus natura querulum eſt? Senec.Some are ever whining and growling: their lips, like ruſty hinges, move not without murmuring and m…tinying, yea they not only creak but break, as rotten boughs do, if but alittle weight be hung upon them. Or as ſome mens fleſh, which if never ſo little … ved with a pin, it preſently rankleth and feſtereth. Job was none of theſe; if he groaned, as he did (and will they deny him that eaſe of his colour? Expletur la…ry mis,Ovi… … …olor) there was very great cauſe for it, … his preſſures were greater then could be expreſſed by any ſignes or words.
Verſe 3. Oh that I knew where I might find him.] that is, God, ſo oft in his mind and mouth, that his acquaintance might eaſlly know whom he meane. Aph-H…; everu … 2. Kings 2.14. is held by ſome to be one of Gods Attributes. And …,Weem… without mention of …, was an ordinary oath in Plato's mouth, as …
That I might come even to his ſeat] His Tribunal prepared for him, Great is the confidence of a good conſcience.Venirem uſque ad ſtationem ejus. Mercer. See Gen. 20.5. 1 Pet. 3.21. But yet hac certè. omnia andacius dituntur a miſero homun…ione; this was too bold a ſpeech for a mortal creature, as God himſelf(who gave him his wiſh) will afterwards tell him, chap 38.2. and 40.2. and contrary to that which he had before reſolved on, chap. 9.3. See the like failing in David, Pſalm 39 1, 3. and 2 Samuel 6.8, 9. In theſe examples of ſo good men, we may ſee how natural it is to us in affliction to riſe up againſt God;Hoc à pietate alienum eſt, quòd adverſus Deum praefractius, & contumtlioſius loquatur quam humilitas fidei feras. Brent. as the horſe that caſteth his Rider, and riſeth up againſt him. This the Poets ſhadowed out in their fiction of the Gyants conſpiring to pull Jove out of heaven. That which may be ſaid in favour. of Job herein, is, 1. That ver 6. he profeſſeth to plead with God in Gods ſtrength. 2. That being accuſed by his friends of ſo foule offences, he had no other way of clearing himſelf, then by appealing unto God, whoſe moſt juſt judgement he acknowledged. 3 That he durſt not have ſpoken thus boldly, but in confidence of his mercy. 4 That he would have this his controverſie with his friends, (and not his whole life) to be exactly examined and judged by God.
Verſe 4. I would order my cauſe before him] I would not ſtick to approach to his Tribunal,Beza. there to plead my cauſe (not againſt him, as being the Supreme Judge, and not either Plaintiff or Defendant, but) againſt your falſe and wrongful accuſations, which undoubtedly I would diſprove and confute by many forcible and ſtrong Arguments.
And fill my mouth with arguments] Heb. Redargutions, increpations, reprehenſions. foreignA good Oratour will firſt rightly lay down his cauſe, ſtate the Queſtion, as we call it. 2. Confirm it with reaſons: 3. Obſerve what is ſaid to the contrary, and confute it. Job would do all this, if he might have audience: but if to God all this, Job was much miſtaken: And ſo at another time, when in a better mind he could ſay, Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not anſwer, but I would make ſupplication my Judge. If I juſtifie my felfe, mine own mouth ſhall condemns me, &c, chap. 9.15, 20.
Verſe 5.Mercer. I would know the words that he would anſwer me]. q.d. I cannot know your minds, O my friends, non underſtand your words, which yet I believe are little to the purpoſe: But God (I know) will utter his mind plainly, and approve my cauſe which you ſo raſhly condemne. Thus John Huſſe and other Martyrs, when they could not have a faire hearing from men, appealed and applied, themſelves to God, committing their cauſe to him who judgeth righteouſly.
Verſe 6 Will he plead againſt me with his great power?] No, for then you were in a wo-caſe. For if Gods breath blow us to deſtruction, as ſo many duſt heaps, Job 4.9. if he frowne us to death, and nod us to deſtruction, Pſal. 80.16. What ſhall we think of his Almighty power, which none can abide or avoid? Difficile eſt contra en… ſcribere qui poteſt proſcribere: It is dangerous dealing with him, who hath at his command thirty legions, ſaid the philoſopher to the Emperour, who would needs crack an Argument with him. And ſhould Job dare to do it with the Lord of hoſtes as if ſtronger then he? The thunder of his power, who can bear? The ſtouteſt men quake before him; and as the wormes when it thundreth, wriggle into the corners of the earth, ready to run, as Caligula did, under any bed, or any benchhole.
No. Merlin.but he would put ſtrength in me] Sic enim ex fidei foreign. perſuaſus, ſaith an Interpreter. Thus was Job perſwaded out of the full aſſurance of his faith, that God would deal with him as a loving Father, and not as a ſevere Judge: for who can ſtand before his wrath, or withſtand his will? No man ſurely can contend with God, unleſſe he put ſtrength in him, as he did into Jacob, Gen. 32. whom he upheld with the one hand, as he ſtrove againſt him with the other. This foregoing with therefore of Job, hath an excellent commendation in it of his faith and integrity, yet ſo as that in ſome things it is blameworthy. For who can come to Gods Seat, ſith he dwelleth in light unapproachable? neither can any one ſee God and live, Exod. 3.4. For this boldneſſe therefore of his he ſhall be hereafter ſharply reproved; firſt by Eli…u, and then alſo by God himſelf, ſtepping forth as it were from behind the hangings, overhearing him, and ſaving, Who is this that talks thus? how now? chap. 38.2, 3.
Veſe 7. There the righteous might diſpute with him] There for Th…; ſcil. when God ſhall put ſtrength into him: the upright or honeſt man (who draweth neer with a true heart, in full aſſurance of faith, having his heart ſprinkled from an evil conſcience by the blood of Jeſus Chriſt, Heb. 10.22.) might diſpute with God, but not unleſſe he have that Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Juſt One, to appear in the preſence of God for him, Heb. 9.24. as the Lawyer appeareth for his Client to put by and non-ſuit all accuſations, to plead his cauſe, and to juſtifie him by the only merit of his righteouſneſſe and obedience. All Saint Pauls care was to be found in Chriſt, when fought for by the Juſtice of God; not having his own righteouſneſſe which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Chriſt, Phil. 3.9. for ſordet in conſpectu judicis, quod fulget in conſpectu operantis, Augthat which is highly eſteemed amongſt men, is abomination in the ſight of God, Luke 16.15 They only may diſpute with God, that is, in an humble and laudable manner plead with him, as did Jacob. Gen. 32.24. and Jeremy, chap. 12…. who partake of Chriſts righteouſneſſe imputed and imparted; oppoſing to the appearances of Gods wrath the firme perſwaſion of his grace, by the Seal of his Spirit, Et… quam h… non eſt …mnium! This is few mens happineſſe.
So ſhould I be delivered for ever from my Judge] Who would quit me by Proclamation: and then I ſhould the leſs care to be condemned by you my fellow-priſoners. I care not for mans day fith he that judgeth me is the Lord, 1 Cor. 4.3, 4. Where note, what boldneſs and confidence the upright have in God; neither ſhall they be herein deceived, as Job was not.
Verſe 8. Behold, I go forward.] Heb. Eaſtward, which is reckoned the forepart of the world; becauſe that eye of the world, the Sun, riſeth there; and every man looketh to the riſing Sun.
But he is not there.] ſc. In that ſort, as I deſired to finde him, verſe 3. he is not viſible to me; he is too ſubtile for ſinew or ſight to ſeize upon: his judgements alſo are unſearchable: and his paths paſt finding out. True it is, that the whole world is nothing elſe but Deut explicatus, a Mirrour or Theatre wherein God may be ſeen; yea, felt, and found out by thoſe that are blind, Act. 17.27. If a man hear a Sermon by night, and in the dark, though he ſee not the Preacher, yet he knows he is there. So Job queſtioned not Gods Omnipreſence; but complaineth that himſelf was benighted, and forſaken of his hopes to be eaſed of his troubles, outwardly in body, or inwardly in minde: this is the judgement of the fleſh, when under Affliction.
And backward, but I cannot perceive him.] For indeed he is imperceptible by bodily eyes, neither ſitteth he any where in this world to decide controverſies, as he ſhall do in the clouds at the laſt day, when the righteous ſhall look up,Luk. 21.28. for their redemption draweth nigh; and the wicked ſhall look on and waile becauſe of him, foreign, Rev. 1.7. they ſhall look and lament, yea, be mad for the ſight of their eyes which they ſhall ſee, as Deut. 28.34.
Verſe 9. On the left hand, where he doth work.] i.e. Northward; where God is ſaid to work; either becauſe that in the North-part of heaven are more ſignes, and of more remarkable influence than in the South: or elſe becauſe the Northern parts of the world are more inhabited than the Southern, becauſe more temperate; and ſo there is more of God to be ſeen there in his works, as letters refracted in a glaſs. Seculum eſt ſpeculum, que Deum intucamur.
But I cannot behold him.] See the Note on verſe 8.
He hideth himſelf on the right hand &c.] He worketh not ſo much in the Southern parts of the world: the torrid Zone is unhabitable, &c. Yet the Ethiopian Judges were wont to keep the chief Seat for him empty, when they ſate in judgement. And beſide the Habaſſines, that large region of Nu…ia, had from the Apoſtles time, as tis thought, profeſſed the Chriſtian Faith: though now it hath again,Alvarez. above an hundred years ſince, forſaken it, and embraced …, and Idolatry.
That I cannot ſee him.] See the Note on verſ. 8.
Verſe 10. But he knoweth the way that I take.] Heb. That is with …e. He perfectly underſtandeth that there is no way of wickedneſs in me, Pſal. 139.24 no ſin that I do favour, allow, and wallow in: but that the way that is called …loby, is my delight and endeavour: that I am upright for the main, that my heart is not turned back neither have my ſteps declined from his way, Pſal 44.18. I cannot ſee him, but he ſeeth me, and mine uprightneſs.
When he hath tryed me.] ſc. With favour, and not with rigour, (for then who ſhould abide it? Pſal. 143.2.) God promiſeth to refine his People, but not as ſilver, Eſa. 48.10. that is, not exactly, leſt they ſhould be conſumed in that fiery tryal. This David knew, and therefore prayed, Examine me, O Lord, and prove me. try my reins and my heart, Pſal. 26.2. and 139.23.
I ſhall come forth as Gold.] Which is purged in the fire, ſhines in the water: as on the other ſide, clay is ſcorched in the fire, diſſolved in the water.
Verſe 11. My foot hath held his ſteps.] I have followed God ſtep by ſtep, walking as I had him for an example, and preſſing his footſteps. This Job ſpeaketh of himſelf, not as vaunting, but as vindicating and defending his own innocenty; and as giving Eliphaz to know, that he had already done, and ſtill continued to do as he had in the former Chapter exhorted him, verſe 21, 22. Acquaint now thy ſelf with God, &c. That's not now to do, ſaith Job; for my foot hath held his ſteps. Be at peace: I am ſo, ſaith he, for his way have I kept and not declined. Now, can two walk together, and they not be agreed? Receive, I pray thee, the Law from his mouth. What elſe have I done, faith Job, when as I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips? Lay up his words in thine heart; this I have done ex inſtituto, ſaith he; vel pre demenſo, more than my neceſſary food, have I eſteemed the words of his mouth. So exact a pattern of the rule was Job; ſo conſonant to Eliphaz his good counſel. Plain things will joyn in every point one with another; not ſo, round and rugged things: ſo do plain ſpirits cloſe with holy counſels; not ſo, ſuch as are proud and unmortified. Let theſe be touched never ſo gently, nettle-like they will ſting you. Deal with them roughly and roundly, they ſwagger, as that Hebrew did with Meſes, ſaying, Who made thee a man of Authority, &c? Exod. 2.14. Good Job was of another ſpirit with God, (as it is ſaid of Caleb, Numb. 14.24.) and followed him fully; ornavit doctrinam coeleſtem piis …fficiis, heavenly doctrine was as the mould, and he as the metal which takes impreſſion from it in one part, as well as another. His conſtant endeavour was to expreſs God to the world, and to preach forth his vertues or praiſes by a ſutable practiſe, 1 Pet. 2.9. Greſſum ejus retinuit pes mens.
His way have I kept, and not declined.] ſc. In exceſs or defect, and therefore I am no ſuch flagitious perſon, as thou, Eliphaz, wouldſt make of me.
Verſe 12. Neither have I gone back from the commandement of his lips] i.e. Ab ip ſiſſimo Dei verbo, from the very word of God, that ſure Cynoſura, which he that holdeth ſtraightly to, may truly ſay, Lord, if I be deceived, thou and thy word hath deceived me. But of that there is no danger, ſith the Scripture is the invariable Canon or Rule of Truth,foreign In Reg. 3. ſaith Irenaeus, the Cubit of the Sanctuary, the Touchſtone of Errour, the divine Beam, and moſt exact Balance, as Auſtin and Chryſoſtom ſtile it: yea, the very heart and ſoul of God, as Gregory. And if Job lived before the word was written, yet not before the Law of Nature, and the Traditions of the Patriarchs: which whiles they remained uncorrupted, were the commandement alſo of Gods lips; as having been received from his very mouth; and might far better be called ipſiſſimum Dei verbum, than the Popes pronunciata, which Cardinal Hoſius prophanely and blaſphemouſly pronounceth to be the very Word of God.
I have eſteemed the words of his mouth more than my neceſſary food.] I have preferred (Heb. I have hi…, or laid up, as men do precious things, as houſe-keepers do Proviſion for their Family) them before my bodily food, my daily bread: and we ſee what pains men take, what ſhift they make, Ʋ … bene ſit ventri, ut lateri, for food and raiment, and other things requiſite to the preſervation of this life preſent. Now Job knew that Gods holy word is foreign, as Athanaſius calleth it, the Souls nouriſhment; and that the promiſes are pabulum fidei, the food of Faith, as another calleth them; that we may better want bread, than that bread of life. Hence he eſteemed it more, not only than his dainties or ſuperfluities, but then his ſubſtantial food, without which he could not live and ſubſiſt; more than his appointed portion (ſo ſome render it) ſet out for him by the divine Providence, which cutteth out to every man his allowance I had rather be without meat, drink, light, any thing, every thing, ſaith One, then that ſweet Text, Come unto me all ye that are weary und heavy laden, &c. I would not for all the world ſaith Another,Selneccer. Mr. Baxters Saints everlaſting Reſt. p. 24. that that one verſe John 17.24 [Father, I will that they alſo whom thou haſt given me, be where I am, that they may behold my glory which thou haſt given me, for thou lovedſt me before the foundation of the world] had been left out of the Bible. And again, There is more worth (ſaith the ſame Authour) in thoſe four Chapters, John 14, 15, 16, 17.Ibid. 708. then in all the Books in the world beſides. Luther ſaid,Tom. 4. Oper. Lat. p. 424. He would not live in Paradiſe without the Word; as with the Word it were no hard matter to live even in hell it ſelf. Of old they were wont to ſay, It were better for the Church that the Sun ſhould not ſhine, then that Chryſoſtome ſhould not preach to the people. The Jewes at this day will not omit prayers for their meat or labour. They divide the day even the working-day, in three parts, the firſt ad Tephilla, for prayer;Weenſie. the ſecond ad Tara, for the reading of Gods Law; and the third ad Malacca, for the works of their Calling. And when they have read one Section, they begin another, leſt they ſhould ſeem to be weary of their task. Whereas if we read but a Chapter, (not a quarter ſo long as one of their Sections or Paragraphs) O what a wearineſſe is it his neither begin we till we have looked over the leaf to ſee how long it is; ſo ſoon ſated are we with this heavenly Manna.
Verſe 13. But he is in one mind, and who can turn him?] He is ever like himſelf, not mutable, inconſtant or various, as men who are (as Tertullian ſaith of the Peacock) all in changeable colours, as often changed as moved. Gods name is, I am, Exod. 3.14. And if Pilate could ſay, What I have written, I have written, nothing ſhall be altered; how much more may the Lord, who is the ſame yeſterday, to day, and for ever? His Decrees are immutable, his power irreſiſtible. Some think that Job complaineth here of Gods abſolute power, and little leſſe then tyrannical, exerciſed againſt him an innocent perſon. If ſo, Job was ſurely much to blame, ſith Gods abſolute power is never ſundred from his Juſtice; and it muſt be taken for an undoubted truth, that his judgments are ſometimes ſecret, but alwayes juſt.
And what his ſoul deſireth, even that he doth.] Id eſt, Cupit ac facit ſtatim: ejus voluntas eſt executio; that is, He deſireth and doth it forthwith; his will is preſent execution. It is his pleaſure to lay load of afflictions upon me, but wherefore it is, I know not. But Job ſhould have known that as God is a moſt free Agent, ſo his wil is not only recta but regula; neither may any man here preſume to reprehend what he cannot comprehend.
Verſe 14. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me] He hath performed all my neceſſaries; ſo Vatablus rendreth it: 'tis the ſame word that was uſed for appointed or neceſſary food ver. 12. Voluntas Dei, neceſſitas rei; God hath decreed thus to deal with me, and therein I muſt reſt ſatisfied.
And many ſuch things are with him] I know not but that there may be many more ſufferings yet decreed to come upon me in his ſecret counſel. Fiat volunt… Domini. Godly people though they know not many times what the Lord will do, and how he wil deal with them; yet they always know that he is a merciful father to them, and wil order all for the beſt. This ſhould content them, and keep them from chatting againſt God; and from nouriſhing hard conceits of him, or heavy conceits of themſelves, as if wicked becauſe afflicted.
Verſe 15. Therefore am I troubled at his preſence] At the conſideration of his formidable Power and Majeſty, I am troubled and terrified: troubled at my preſent calamities, and afraid of fiercer. This verſe then ſeemeth to be a correction of that wiſh of his above verſe 3. and not unlike that ch: 13.21 Withdraw thine hand far from me, and let not thine dread make me afraid. Then call then, and I will anſwer, &c.
When I conſider, I am afraid of him] I have alwayes imagined that as it were weakneſs to fear a man, ſo it were madneſs not to be afraid of God. Let me be accounted timorous, rather then temerarious.
Verſe 16 For God maketh my heart ſoft] Methinks I feel it fall aſunder in my boſome like drops of water, and diſſolved with manifold afflictions; ſo that I am hardly able to hear up any longer; I am almoſt done, as we uſe to ſpeak, and my heart faileth me. How ſhould it do otherwiſe when God with-draweth from his the ſupplies of his Spirit, Phil 1.19. that Spirit of power, of love, and of a ſound mind, 2 Tim. 1.7.Dr. Preſton. Acts 20.22. ſaith that great Apoſtle. And now behold I go bound in the Spirit up to Jeruſalem, &c. Whereupon One gives this good Note, The Spirit hemmeth us about, comprehendeth and keepeth us. When a mans own ſtrength would fall looſe, this ſupernatural ſtrength ſtayeth and ſtrengtheneth it. Hence that of David, Pſal. 138.3. In the day when I cryed unto thee, thou anſweredſt me, and ſtrengthenedſt me with ſtrength in my ſoul. So Pſal. 27.14. Be of good courage, and he ſhall ſtrengthen thy heart, which elſe will melt (as did the hearts of the men of Jericho, Joſh. 2.11) like metal melted with fire, or like ice thawed into water, and ſpilt upon the ground, which cannot be taken up again. And this is the ſoft heart Job here complaineth of: God had diſpirited him, and
The Almighty troubleth him]. ſc. With the thoughts of his Almightineſſe. See Pſal. 39.11.Tot malis ingruentibus. Jun. and with ſo many miſeries growing upon him. Now it is not amiſſe for Gods people thus to be melted and troubled otherwhiles: for by this meanes ſhall the iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit, to take away his ſin, Iſai. 37.9.
Verſe 17. Becauſe I was not cut off before the darkneſſe] i.e. The afflictions that now are upon me. It is a mercy to ſome to dye betime, as Joſiah, and thoſe righteous ones, Iſai. 57.1. who were taken away from the evil to come. when Gods glory was to paſſe by, he put Moſes into the hole of the rock: ſo he ſometimes doth his ſervants, till the glory of his Juſtice hath paſſed upon others.
Neither hath he covered the darkneſs from my face] i.e. He hath neither prevented my troubles by death, as I wiſhed he would have done, chap. 3. Nor yet will he put an end to them by the ſame means: for, Mors erumnaruns requies (Chancers Motto) Death is a reſt from trouble. To the toſſed ſoul it is as Mount Ararat was to Noah, where the Ark reſted; as Michal was to David, a means to ſhift him out of the way, when Saul ſent to ſlay him: or as the fall of the houſe was to Samſon, an end of all his ſorrowes and ſervitude.