mh_parser/vol_split/18 - Job/Chapter 10.xml

<div2 id="Job.xi" n="xi" next="Job.xii" prev="Job.x" progress="5.63%" title="Chapter X">
<h2 id="Job.xi-p0.1">J O B</h2>
<h3 id="Job.xi-p0.2">CHAP. X.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Job.xi-p1">Job owns here that he was full of confusion
(<scripRef id="Job.xi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.15" parsed="|Job|10|15|0|0" passage="Job 10:15">ver. 15</scripRef>), and as he was
so was his discourse: he knew not what to say, and perhaps
sometimes scarcely knew what he said. In this chapter, I. He
complains of the hardships he was under (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.1-Job.10.7" parsed="|Job|10|1|10|7" passage="Job 10:1-7">ver. 1-7</scripRef>), and then comforts himself with
this, that he was in the hand of the God that made him, and pleads
that, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.8-Job.10.13" parsed="|Job|10|8|10|13" passage="Job 10:8-13">ver. 8-13</scripRef>. II. He
complains again of the severity of God's dealings with him
(<scripRef id="Job.xi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.14-Job.10.17" parsed="|Job|10|14|10|17" passage="Job 10:14-17">ver. 14-17</scripRef>), and then
comforts himself with this, that death would put an end to his
troubles, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.18-Job.10.22" parsed="|Job|10|18|10|22" passage="Job 10:18-22">ver.
18-22</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Job.xi-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Job.10" parsed="|Job|10|0|0|0" passage="Job 10" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Job.xi-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.1-Job.10.7" parsed="|Job|10|1|10|7" passage="Job 10:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Job.10.1-Job.10.7">
<h4 id="Job.xi-p1.8">Job's Reply to Bildad. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Job.xi-p1.9">b. c.</span> 1520.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Job.xi-p2">1 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my
complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.
  2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; show me wherefore
thou contendest with me.   3 <i>Is it</i> good unto thee that
thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of
thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?   4
Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?   5
<i>Are</i> thy days as the days of man? <i>are</i> thy years as
man's days,   6 That thou enquirest after mine iniquity, and
searchest after my sin?   7 Thou knowest that I am not wicked;
and <i>there is</i> none that can deliver out of thine hand.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p3">Here is, I. A passionate resolution to
persist in his complaint, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.1" parsed="|Job|10|1|0|0" passage="Job 10:1"><i>v.</i>
1</scripRef>. Being daunted with the dread of God's majesty, so
that he could not plead his cause with him, he resolves to give
himself some ease by giving vent to his resentments. He begins with
vehement language: "<i>My soul is weary of my life,</i> weary of
this body, and impatient to get clear of it, fallen out with life,
and displeased at it, sick of it, and longing for death." Through
the weakness of grace he went contrary to the dictates even of
nature itself. We should act more like men did we act more like
saints. Faith and patience would keep us from being weary of our
lives (and <i>cruel to them,</i> as some read it), even when
Providence has made them most wearisome to us; for that is to be
weary of God's correction. Job, being weary of his life and having
ease no other way, resolves to complain, resolves to speak. He will
not give vent to his soul by violent hands, but he will give vent
to the bitterness of his soul by violent words. Losers think they
may have leave to speak; and unbridled passions, as well as
unbridled appetites, are apt to think it an excuse for their
excursions that they cannot help them: but what have we wisdom and
grace for, but to keep the mouth as with a bridle? Job's corruption
speaks here, yet grace puts in a word. 1. He will complain, but he
will <i>leave his complaint upon himself.</i> He would not impeach
God, nor charge him with unrighteousness or unkindness; but, though
he knew not particularly the ground of God's controversy with him
and the cause of action, yet, in the general, he would suppose it
to be in himself and willingly bear all the blame. 2. He will
speak, but it shall be the <i>bitterness of his soul</i> that he
will express, not his settled judgment. If I speak amiss, it is
<i>not I, but sin that dwells in me,</i> not my soul, but its
bitterness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p4">II. A humble petition to God. He will
speak, but the first word shall be a prayer, and, as I am willing
to understand it, it is a good prayer, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.2" parsed="|Job|10|2|0|0" passage="Job 10:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. 1. That he might be delivered
from the sting of his afflictions, which is sin: "<i>Do not condemn
me;</i> do not separate me for ever from thee. Though I lie under
the cross, let me not lie under the curse; though I smart by the
rod of a Father, let me not be cut off by the sword of a Judge.
Thou dost correct me; I will bear that as well as I can; but O do
not condemn me!" It is the comfort of those who are in Christ Jesus
that, though they are in affliction, there is <i>no condemnation to
them,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Rom.8.1" parsed="|Rom|8|1|0|0" passage="Ro 8:1">Rom. viii. 1</scripRef>. Nay,
they are <i>chastened of the Lord that they may not be condemned
with the world,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.11.32" parsed="|1Cor|11|32|0|0" passage="1Co 11:32">1 Cor. xi.
32</scripRef>. This therefore we should deprecate above any thing
else, when we are in affliction. "However thou art pleased to deal
with me, Lord, do not condemn me; my friends condemn me, but do not
thou." 2. That he might be made acquainted with the true cause of
his afflictions, and that is sin too: Lord, <i>show me wherefore
thou contendest with me.</i> When God afflicts us he contends with
us, and when he contends with us there is always a reason. He is
never angry without a cause, though we are; and it is desirable to
know what the reason is, that we may repent of, mortify, and
forsake the sin for which God has a controversy with us. In
enquiring it out, let conscience have leave to do its office and to
deal faithfully with us, as <scripRef id="Job.xi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.42.21" parsed="|Gen|42|21|0|0" passage="Ge 42:21">Gen. xlii.
21</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p5">III. A peevish expostulation with God
concerning his dealings with him. Now he speaks in the bitterness
of his soul indeed, not without some ill-natured reflections upon
the righteousness of his God.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p6">1. He thinks it unbecoming the goodness of
God, and the mercifulness of his nature, to deal so hardly with his
creature as to lay upon him more than he can bear (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.3" parsed="|Job|10|3|0|0" passage="Job 10:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>): <i>Is it good unto thee
that thou shouldst oppress?</i> No, certainly it is not; what he
approves not in men (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Lam.3.34-Lam.3.36" parsed="|Lam|3|34|3|36" passage="La 3:34-36">Lam. iii.
34-36</scripRef>) he will not do himself. "Lord, in dealing with
me, thou seemest to oppress thy subject, to despise thy
workmanship, and to countenance thy enemies. Now, Lord, what is the
meaning of this? Such is thy nature that this cannot be a pleasure
to thee; and such is thy name that it cannot be an honour to thee.
Why then dealest thou thus with me? <i>What profit is there in my
blood?</i>" Far be it from Job to think that God did him wrong, but
he is quite at a loss how to reconcile his providences with his
justice, as good men have often been, and must wait until the day
shall declare it. Let us therefore now harbour no hard thoughts of
God, because we shall then see there was no cause for them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p7">2. He thinks it unbecoming the infinite
knowledge of God to put his prisoner thus upon the rack, as it
were, by torture, to extort a confession from him, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.4-Job.10.6" parsed="|Job|10|4|10|6" passage="Job 10:4-6"><i>v.</i> 4-6</scripRef>. (1.) He is sure that
God does not discover things, nor judge of them, as men do: He has
not <i>eyes of flesh</i> (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.4" parsed="|Job|10|4|0|0" passage="Job 10:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>), for he is a Spirit. Eyes of flesh cannot see in the
dark, but darkness hides not from God. Eyes of flesh are but in one
place at a time, and can see but a little way; but the <i>eyes of
the Lord are in every place,</i> and <i>run to and fro through the
whole earth.</i> Many things are hidden from eyes of flesh, the
most curious and piercing; <i>there is a path which even the
vulture's eye has not seen:</i> but nothing is, or can be, hidden
from the eye of God, to which all things are naked and open. Eyes
of flesh see the outward appearance only, and may be imposed upon
by a <i>deceptio visus—an illusion of the senses;</i> but God sees
every thing truly. His sight cannot be deceived, for he tries the
heart, and is a witness to the thoughts and intents of that. Eyes
of flesh discover things gradually, and, when we gain the sight of
one thing, we lose the sight of another; but God sees every thing
at one view. Eyes of flesh are soon tired, must be closed every
night but the keeper of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, nor
does his sight ever decay. <i>God sees not as man sees,</i> that
is, he does not judge as man judges, at the best <i>secundum
allegata et probata—according to what is alleged and proved,</i>
as the thing appears rather than as it is, and too often according
to the bias of the affections, passions, prejudices, and interest;
<i>but we are sure that the judgment of God is according to
truth,</i> and that he knows truth, not by information, but by his
own inspection. Men discover secret things by search, and
examination of witnesses, comparing evidence and giving conjectures
upon it, wheedling or forcing the parties concerned to confess; but
God needs not any of these ways of discovery: <i>he sees not as man
sees.</i> (2.) He is sure that as God is not short-sighted, like
man, so he is not short-lived (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.5" parsed="|Job|10|5|0|0" passage="Job 10:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>): "<i>Are thy days as the days of
man,</i> few and evil? Do they roll on in succession, or are they
subject to change, like the days of man? No, by no means." Men grow
wiser by experience and more knowing by daily observation; with
them truth is the daughter of time, and therefore they must take
time for their searches, and, if one experiment fail, must try
another. But it is not so with God; to him nothing is past, nothing
future, but every thing present. The days of time, by which the
life of man is measured, are nothing to the years of eternity, in
which the life of God is wrapped up. (3.) He therefore thinks it
strange that God should thus prolong his torture, and continue him
under the confinement of this affliction, and neither bring him to
a trial nor grant him a release, as if he must take time to
<i>enquire after his iniquity</i> and use means to <i>search after
his sin,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.6" parsed="|Job|10|6|0|0" passage="Job 10:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>.
Not as if Job thought that God did thus torment him that he might
find occasion against him; but his dealings with him had such an
aspect, which was dishonourable to God, and would tempt men to
think him a hard master. "Now, Lord, if thou wilt not consult my
comfort, consult thy own honour; do something <i>for thy great
name,</i> and <i>do not disgrace the throne of thy glory,</i>"
<scripRef id="Job.xi-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Jer.14.21" parsed="|Jer|14|21|0|0" passage="Jer 14:21">Jer. xiv. 21</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p8">3. He thinks it looked like an abuse of his
omnipotence to keep a poor prisoner in custody, whom he knew to be
innocent, only because there was none that could deliver him out of
his hand (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.7" parsed="|Job|10|7|0|0" passage="Job 10:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>):
<i>Thou knowest that I am not wicked.</i> He had already owned
himself a sinner, and guilty before God; but he here stands to it
that he was not wicked, not devoted to sin, not an enemy to God,
not a dissembler in his religion, that <i>he had not wickedly
departed from his God,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.18.21" parsed="|Ps|18|21|0|0" passage="Ps 18:21">Ps. xviii.
21</scripRef>. "<i>But there is none that can deliver out of thy
hand,</i> and therefore there is no remedy; I must be content to
lie there, waiting thy time, and throwing myself on thy mercy, in
submission to thy sovereign will." Here see, (1.) What ought to
quiet us under our troubles—that it is to no purpose to contend
with Omnipotence. (2.) What will abundantly comfort us—if we are
able to appeal to God, as Job here, "Lord, <i>thou knowest that I
am not wicked.</i> I cannot say that l am not wanting, or I am not
weak; but, through grace, I can say, <i>I am not wicked:</i> thou
knowest I am not, for <i>thou knowest I love thee.</i>"</p>
</div><scripCom id="Job.xi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.8-Job.10.13" parsed="|Job|10|8|10|13" passage="Job 10:8-13" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Job.10.8-Job.10.13">
<p class="passage" id="Job.xi-p9">8 Thine hands have made me and fashioned me
together round about; yet thou dost destroy me.   9 Remember,
I beseech thee, that thou hast made me as the clay; and wilt thou
bring me into dust again?   10 Hast thou not poured me out as
milk, and curdled me like cheese?   11 Thou hast clothed me
with skin and flesh, and hast fenced me with bones and sinews.
  12 Thou hast granted me life and favour, and thy visitation
hath preserved my spirit.   13 And these <i>things</i> hast
thou hid in thine heart: I know that this <i>is</i> with thee.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p10">In these verses we may observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p11">I. How Job eyes God as his Creator and
preserver, and describes his dependence upon him as the author and
upholder of his being. This is one of the first things we are all
concerned to know and consider.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p12">1. That God made us, he, and not our
parents, who were only the instruments of his power and providence
in our production. <i>He made us, and not we ourselves. His hands
have made and fashioned</i> these bodies of ours and every part of
them (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.8" parsed="|Job|10|8|0|0" passage="Job 10:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), and
they are <i>fearfully and wonderfully made.</i> The soul also,
which animates the body, is his gift. Job takes notice of both
here. (1.) The body is <i>made as the clay</i> (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.9" parsed="|Job|10|9|0|0" passage="Job 10:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>), cast into shape, into this
shape, as the clay is formed into a vessel, according to the skill
and will of the potter. We are earthen vessels, mean in our
original, and soon broken in pieces, made <i>as the clay. Let
not</i> therefore <i>the thing formed say unto him that formed it,
Why hast thou made me thus?</i> We must not be proud of our bodies,
because the matter is from the earth, yet not dishonour our bodies,
because the mould and shape are from the divine wisdom. The
formation of human bodies in the womb is described by an elegant
similitude (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.10" parsed="|Job|10|10|0|0" passage="Job 10:10"><i>v.</i> 10</scripRef>,
<i>Thou hast poured me out like milk, which is coagulated into
cheese</i>), and by an induction of some particulars, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.11" parsed="|Job|10|11|0|0" passage="Job 10:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>. Though we come into
the world naked, yet the body is itself both clothed and armed. The
skin and flesh are its clothing; the bones and sinews are its
armour, not offensive, but defensive. The vital parts, the heart
and lungs, are thus clothed, not to be seen—thus fenced, not to be
hurt. The admirable structure of human bodies is an illustrious
instance of the wisdom, power, and goodness of the Creator. What a
pity is it that these bodies should be instruments of
unrighteousness which are capable of being temples of the Holy
Ghost! (2.) The soul is the life, the soul is the man, and this is
the gift of God: <i>Thou hast granted me life,</i> breathed into me
the breath of life, without which the body would be but a worthless
carcase. God is the Father of spirits: he made us living souls, and
endued us with the power of reason; he gave us <i>life and
favour,</i> and life is a favour—a great favour, more than meat,
more than raiment—a distinguishing favour, a favour that puts us
into a capacity of receiving other favours. Now Job was in a better
mind than he was when he quarrelled with life as a burden, and
asked, <i>Why died I not from the womb?</i> Or by life and favour
may be meant life and all the comforts of life, referring to his
former prosperity. Time was when he walked in the light of the
divine favour, and thought, as David, that through that favour his
mountain stood strong.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p13">2. That God maintains us. Having lighted
the lamp of life, he does not leave it to burn upon its own stock,
but continually supplies it with fresh oil: "<i>Thy visitation has
preserved my spirit,</i> kept me alive, protected me from the
adversaries of life, the death we are in the midst of and the
dangers we are continually exposed to, and blessed me with all the
necessary supports of life and the daily supplies it needs and
craves."</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p14">II. How he pleads this with God, and what
use he makes of it. He reminds God of it (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.9" parsed="|Job|10|9|0|0" passage="Job 10:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>): <i>Remember, I beseech thee,
that thou hast made me.</i> What then? Why, 1. "Thou hast made me,
and therefore thou hast a perfect knowledge of me (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.139.1-Ps.139.13" parsed="|Ps|139|1|139|13" passage="Ps 139:1-13">Ps. cxxxix. 1-13</scripRef>), and needest not
to examine me by scourging, nor to put me upon the rack for the
discovery of what is within me." 2. "Thou hast made me, as the
clay, by an act of sovereignty; and wilt thou by a like act of
sovereignty unmake me again? If so, I must submit." 3. "Wilt thou
destroy the work of thy own hands?" It is a plea the saints have
often used in prayer, <i>We are the clay and thou our potter,</i>
<scripRef id="Job.xi-p14.3" osisRef="Bible:Isa.64.8" parsed="|Isa|64|8|0|0" passage="Isa 64:8">Isa. lxiv. 8</scripRef>. <i>Thy hands
have made me and fashioned me,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p14.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.119.73" parsed="|Ps|119|73|0|0" passage="Ps 119:73">Ps. cxix. 73</scripRef>. So here, <i>Thou madest
me;</i> and wilt thou destroy me (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p14.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.8" parsed="|Job|10|8|0|0" passage="Job 10:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>), <i>wilt thou bring me into dust
again?</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p14.6" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.9" parsed="|Job|10|9|0|0" passage="Job 10:9"><i>v.</i> 9</scripRef>.
"Wilt thou not pity me? Wilt thou not spare and help me, and stand
by <i>the work of thy own hands?</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p14.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.138.8" parsed="|Ps|138|8|0|0" passage="Ps 138:8">Ps. cxxxviii. 8</scripRef>. Thou madest me, and knowest
my strength; wilt thou then suffer me to be pressed above measure?
Was I made to be made miserable? Was I preserved only to be
reserved for these calamities?" If we plead this with ourselves as
an inducement to duty, "God made me and maintains me, and therefore
I will serve him and submit to him," we may plead it with God as an
argument for mercy: <i>Thou hast made me,</i> new—make me; <i>I am
thine, save me.</i> Job knew not how to reconcile God's former
favours and his present frowns, but concludes (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p14.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.13" parsed="|Job|10|13|0|0" passage="Job 10:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), "<i>These things hast thou
hidden in thy heart.</i> Both are according to the counsel of thy
own will, and therefore undoubtedly consistent, however they seem."
When God thus strangely changes his way, though we cannot account
for it, we are bound to believe there are good reasons for it
hidden in his heart, which will be manifested shortly. It is not
with us, or in our reach, to assign the cause, but I <i>know that
this is with thee.</i> Known unto God are all his works.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Job.xi-p14.9" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.14-Job.10.22" parsed="|Job|10|14|10|22" passage="Job 10:14-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Job.10.14-Job.10.22">
<p class="passage" id="Job.xi-p15">14 If I sin, then thou markest me, and thou wilt
not acquit me from mine iniquity.   15 If I be wicked, woe
unto me; and <i>if</i> I be righteous, <i>yet</i> will I not lift
up my head. <i>I am</i> full of confusion; therefore see thou mine
affliction;   16 For it increaseth. Thou huntest me as a
fierce lion: and again thou showest thyself marvellous upon me.
  17 Thou renewest thy witnesses against me, and increasest
thine indignation upon me; changes and war <i>are</i> against me.
  18 Wherefore then hast thou brought me forth out of the
womb? Oh that I had given up the ghost, and no eye had seen me!
  19 I should have been as though I had not been; I should
have been carried from the womb to the grave.   20 <i>Are</i>
not my days few? cease <i>then, and</i> let me alone, that I may
take comfort a little,   21 Before I go <i>whence</i> I shall
not return, <i>even</i> to the land of darkness and the shadow of
death;   22 A land of darkness, as darkness <i>itself; and</i>
of the shadow of death, without any order, and <i>where</i> the
light <i>is</i> as darkness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p16">Here we have,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p17">I. Job's passionate complaints. On this
harsh and unpleasant string he harps much, in which, though he
cannot be justified, he may be excused. He complained not for
nothing, as the murmuring Israelites, but had cause to complain. If
we think it looks ill in him, let it be a warning to us to keep our
temper better.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p18">1. He complains of the strictness of God's
judgment and the rigour of his proceedings against him, and is
ready to call it <i>summum jus—justice bordering on severity.</i>
That he took all advantages against him: "<i>If I sin, then thou
markest me,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.14" parsed="|Job|10|14|0|0" passage="Job 10:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>. (1.) If I do but take one false step, misplace a
word, or cast a look awry, I shall be sure to hear of it.
Conscience, thy deputy, will be sure to upbraid me with it, and to
tell me that this gripe, this twitch of pain, is to punish me for
that." If God should thus mark iniquities, we should be undone; but
we must acknowledge the contrary, that, though we sin, God does not
deal in extremity with us. (2.) That he prosecuted those advantages
to the utmost: <i>Thou wilt not acquit me from my iniquity.</i>
While his troubles he could not take the comfort of his pardon, nor
hear that voice of joy and gladness; so hard is it to see love in
God's heart when we see frowns in his face and a rod in his hand.
(3.) That, whatever was his character, his case at present was very
uncomfortable, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.15" parsed="|Job|10|15|0|0" passage="Job 10:15"><i>v.</i>
15</scripRef>. [1.] If he be wicked, he is certainly undone in the
other world: <i>If I be wicked, woe to me.</i> Note, A sinful state
is a woeful state. This we should each of us believe, as Job here,
with application to ourselves: "<i>If I be wicked,</i> though
prosperous and living in pleasure, yet woe to me." Some especially
have reason to dread double woes if they be wicked. "I that have
knowledge, that have made a great profession of religion, that have
been so often under strong convictions, and have made so many fair
promises—I that was born of such good parents, blessed with a good
education, that have lived in good families, and long enjoyed the
means of grace—<i>if I be wicked, woe,</i> and a thousand woes,
<i>to me.</i>" [2.] If he be <i>righteous,</i> yet he dares not
<i>lift up his head,</i> dares not answer as before, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.9.15" parsed="|Job|9|15|0|0" passage="Job 9:15"><i>ch.</i> ix. 15</scripRef>. He is so oppressed
and overwhelmed with his troubles that he cannot look up with any
comfort or confidence. Without were fightings, within were fears;
so that, between both, he was full of confusion, not only confusion
of face for the disgrace he was brought down to and the censures of
his friends, but confusion of spirit; his mind was in a constant
hurry, and he was almost distracted, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.88.15" parsed="|Ps|88|15|0|0" passage="Ps 88:15">Ps. lxxxviii. 15</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p19">2. He complains of the severity of the
execution. God (he thought) did not only punish him for every
failure, but punish him in a high degree, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.16-Job.10.17" parsed="|Job|10|16|10|17" passage="Job 10:16,17"><i>v.</i> 16, 17</scripRef>. His affliction was,
(1.) Grievous, very grievous, marvellous, exceedingly marvellous.
God <i>hunted him</i> as a lion, <i>as a fierce lion</i> hunts and
runs down his prey. God was not only strange to him, but <i>showed
himself marvellous upon him,</i> by bringing him into uncommon
troubles and so making him prodigy, a wonder unto many. All
wondered that God would inflict and that Job could bear so much.
That which made his afflictions most grievous was that he felt
God's <i>indignation</i> in them; it was this that made them taste
so bitter and lie so heavy. They were God's <i>witnesses</i>
against him, tokens of his displeasure; this made the sores of his
body wounds in his spirit. (2.) It was growing, still growing worse
and worse. This he insists much upon; when he hoped the tide would
turn, and begin to ebb, still it flowed higher and higher. His
affliction increased, and God's indignation in the affliction. He
found himself no better, no way better. These witnesses were
renewed against him, that, if one did not reach to convict him,
another might. <i>Changes and war</i> were against him. If there
was any change with him, it was not for the better; still he was
kept in a state of war. As long as we are here in this world we
must expect that the clouds will return after the rain, and perhaps
the sorest and sharpest trials may be reserved for the last. God
was at war with him, and it was a great change. He did not use to
be so, which aggravated the trouble and made it truly marvellous.
God usually shows himself kind to his people; if at any time he
shows himself otherwise, it is <i>his strange work, his strange
act,</i> and he does in it show himself marvellous.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p20">3. He complains of his life, and that ever
he was born to all this trouble and misery (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.18-Job.10.19" parsed="|Job|10|18|10|19" passage="Job 10:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18, 19</scripRef>): "If this was designed
for my lot, <i>why was I brought out of the womb,</i> and not
smothered there, or stifled in the birth?" This was the language of
his passion, and it was a relapse into the same sin he fell into
before. He had just now called life a <i>favour</i> (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.12" parsed="|Job|10|12|0|0" passage="Job 10:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), yet now he calls it a
<i>burden,</i> and quarrels with God for giving it, or rather
laying it upon him. Mr. Caryl gives this a good turn in favour of
Job. "We may charitably suppose," says he, "that what troubled Job
was that he was in a condition of life which (as he conceived)
hindered the main end of his life, which was the glorifying of God.
His harp was hung on the willow-trees, and he was quite out of tune
for praising God. Nay, he feared lest his troubles should reflect
dishonour upon God and give occasion to his enemies to blaspheme;
and therefore he wishes, <i>O that I had given up the ghost!</i> A
godly man reckons that he lives to no purpose if he do not live to
the praise and glory of God." If that was his meaning, it was
grounded on a mistake; for we may <i>glorify the Lord in the
fires.</i> But this use we may make of it, not to be over-fond of
life, since the case has been such sometimes, even with wise and
good men, that they have complained of it. Why should we dread
giving up the ghost, or covet to be seen of men, since the time may
come when we may be ready to wish we had given up the ghost and no
eye had seen us? Why should we inordinately lament the death of our
children in their infancy, that <i>are as if they had not been,</i>
and are <i>carried from the womb to the grave,</i> when perhaps we
ourselves may sometimes wish it had been our own lot?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xi-p21">II. Job's humble requests. He prays, 1.
That God would <i>see his affliction</i> (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.15" parsed="|Job|10|15|0|0" passage="Job 10:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), take cognizance of his case,
and take it into his compassionate consideration. Thus David prays
(<scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.25.18" parsed="|Ps|25|18|0|0" passage="Ps 25:18">Ps. xxv. 18</scripRef>), <i>Look upon
my affliction and my pain.</i> Thus we should, in our troubles,
refer ourselves to God, and may comfort ourselves with this, that
he knows our souls in adversity. 2. That God would grant him some
ease. If he could not prevail for the removal of his trouble, yet
might he not have some intermission? "Lord, let me not be always
upon the rack, always in extremity: <i>O let me alone, that I may
take comfort a little!</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.20" parsed="|Job|10|20|0|0" passage="Job 10:20"><i>v.</i>
20</scripRef>. Grant me some respite, some breathing-time, some
little enjoyment of myself." This he would reckon a great favour.
Those that are not duly thankful for constant ease should think how
welcome one hour's ease would be if they were in constant pain. Two
things he pleads:—(1.) That life and its light were very short:
"<i>Are not my days few?</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.20" parsed="|Job|10|20|0|0" passage="Job 10:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. Yes, certainly they are, very
few. Lord, let them not be all miserable, all in the extremity of
misery. I have but a little time to live; let me have some comfort
of life while it does last." This plea fastens on the goodness of
God's nature, the consideration of which is very comfortable to an
afflicted spirit. And, if we would use this as a plea with God for
mercy ("<i>Are not my days few?</i> Lord, pity me"), we should use
it as a plea with ourselves, to quicken us to duty: "<i>Are not my
days few?</i> Then it concerns me to redeem time, to improve
opportunities, what my hand finds to do to do it with all my might,
that I may be ready for the days of eternity, which shall be many."
(2.) That death and its darkness were very near and would be very
long (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.10.21-Job.10.22" parsed="|Job|10|21|10|22" passage="Job 10:21,22"><i>v.</i> 21,
22</scripRef>): "Lord, give me some ease before I die," that is,
"lest I die of my pain." Thus David pleads (<scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.6" osisRef="Bible:Ps.13.3" parsed="|Ps|13|3|0|0" passage="Ps 13:3">Ps. xiii. 3</scripRef>), "<i>Lest I sleep the sleep of
death,</i> and then it will be too late to expect relief; for
<i>wilt thou show wonders to the dead?</i>" <scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.7" osisRef="Bible:Ps.88.10" parsed="|Ps|88|10|0|0" passage="Ps 88:10">Ps. lxxxviii. 10</scripRef>. "Let me have a little
comfort before I die, that I may take leave of this world calmly,
and not in such confusion as I am now in." Thus earnest should we
be for grace, and thus we should plead, "Lord, renew me in the
inward man; Lord, sanctify me before I die, for otherwise it will
never be done." See how he speaks here of the state of the dead.
[1.] It is a fixed state, whence we shall not return ever again to
live such a life as we now live, <scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.8" osisRef="Bible:Job.7.10" parsed="|Job|7|10|0|0" passage="Job 7:10"><i>ch.</i> vii. 10</scripRef>. At death we must bid a
final farewell to this world. The body must then be laid where it
will lie long, and the soul adjudged to that state in which it must
be for ever. That had need be well done which is to be done but
once, and done for eternity. [2.] It is a very melancholy state; so
it appears to us. Holy souls, at death, remove to a land of light,
where there is no death; but their bodies they leave to a <i>land
of darkness and the shadow of death.</i> He heaps up expressions
here of the same import to show that he has as dreadful
apprehensions of death and the grave as other men naturally have,
so that it was only the extreme misery he was in that made him wish
for it. Come and let us look a little into the grave, and we shall
find, <i>First,</i> That there is no order there: it is <i>without
any order,</i> perpetual night, and no succession of day. All there
lie on the same level, and there is no distinction between prince
and peasant, but <i>the servant is</i> there <i>free from his
master,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.9" osisRef="Bible:Job.3.19" parsed="|Job|3|19|0|0" passage="Job 3:19"><i>ch.</i> iii.
19</scripRef>. No order is observed in bringing people to the
grave, not the eldest first, not the richest, not the poorest, and
yet every one in his own order, the order appointed by the God of
life. <i>Secondly,</i> That there is no light there. In the grave
there is thick darkness, darkness that cannot be felt indeed, yet
cannot but be feared by those that enjoy the light of life. In the
grave there is no knowledge, no comfort, no joy, no praising God,
no working out our salvation, and therefore no light. Job was so
much ashamed that others should see his sores, and so much afraid
to see them himself, that the darkness of the grave, which would
hide them and huddle them up, would upon that account be welcome to
him. Darkness comes upon us; and therefore let us walk and work
while we have the light with us. The grave being a land of
darkness, it is well we are carried thither with our eyes closed,
and then it is all one. The grave is a land of darkness to man; our
friends that have gone thither we reckon removed into darkness,
<scripRef id="Job.xi-p21.10" osisRef="Bible:Ps.88.18" parsed="|Ps|88|18|0|0" passage="Ps 88:18">Ps. lxxxviii. 18</scripRef>. But that
it is not so to God will appear by this, that the dust of the
bodies of the saints, though scattered, though mingled with other
dust, will none of it be lost, for God's eye is upon every grain of
it and it shall be forth-coming in the great day.</p>
</div></div2>