This is Job's reply to Zophar's discourse, in
which he complains less of his own miseries than he had done in his
former discourses (finding that his friends were not moved by his
complaints to pity him in the least), and comes closer to the
general question that was in dispute between him and them, Whether
outward prosperity, and the continuance of it, were a mark of the
true church and the true members of it, so that the ruin of a man's
prosperity is sufficient to prove him a hypocrite, though no other
evidence appear against him: this they asserted, but Job denied. I.
His preface here is designed for the moving of their affections,
that he might gain their attention,
1 But Job answered and said, 2 Hear diligently my speech, and let this be your consolations. 3 Suffer me that I may speak; and after that I have spoken, mock on. 4 As for me, is my complaint to man? and if it were so, why should not my spirit be troubled? 5 Mark me, and be astonished, and lay your hand upon your mouth. 6 Even when I remember I am afraid, and trembling taketh hold on my flesh.
Job here recommends himself, both his case
and his discourse, both what he suffered and what he said, to the
compassionate consideration of his friends. 1. That which he
entreats of them is very fair, that they would suffer him to speak
(
7 Wherefore do the wicked live, become old, yea, are mighty in power? 8 Their seed is established in their sight with them, and their offspring before their eyes. 9 Their houses are safe from fear, neither is the rod of God upon them. 10 Their bull gendereth, and faileth not; their cow calveth, and casteth not her calf. 11 They send forth their little ones like a flock, and their children dance. 12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. 13 They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. 14 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. 15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? 16 Lo, their good is not in their hand: the counsel of the wicked is far from me.
All Job's three friends, in their last discourses, had been very copious in describing the miserable condition of a wicked man in this world. "It is true," says Job, "remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not always; for we have many instances of the great and long prosperity of those that are openly and avowedly wicked; though they are hardened in their wickedness by their prosperity, yet they are still suffered to prosper."
I. He here describes their prosperity in
the height, and breadth, and length of it. "If this be true, as you
say, pray tell me wherefore do the wicked live?"
1. The matter of fact is taken for granted,
for we see instances of it every day. (1.) They live, and are not
suddenly cut off by the strokes of divine vengeance. Those yet
speak who have set their mouths against the heavens. Those yet act
who have stretched out their hands against God. Not only they live
(that is, they are reprieved), but they live in prosperity,
2. The prosperity of the wicked is here described to be,
(1.) Complete and consummate. [1.] They are
multiplied, and their family is built up, and they have the
satisfaction of seeing it (
(2.) Continuing and constant (
II. He shows how they abuse their
prosperity and are confirmed and hardened by it in their impiety,
1. Their gold and silver serve to steel
them, to make them more insolent, and more impudent, in their
wickedness. Now he mentions this either, (1.) To increase the
difficulty. It is strange that any wicked people should prosper
thus, but especially that those should prosper who have arrived at
such a pitch of wickedness as openly to bid defiance to God
himself, and tell him to his face that they care not for him; nay,
and that their prosperity should be continued, though they bear up
themselves upon that, in their opposition to God; with that weapon
they fight against him, and yet are not disarmed. Or, (2.) To
lessen the difficulty. God suffers them to prosper; but let us not
wonder at it, for the prosperity of fools destroys them, by
hardening them in sin,
2. See how light these prospering sinners make of God and religion, as if because they have so much of this world they had no need to look after another.
(1.) See how ill affected they are to God
and religion; they abandon them, and cast off the thoughts of them.
[1.] They dread the presence of God; they say unto him, "Depart
from us; let us never be troubled with the apprehension of our
being under God's eye nor be restrained by the fear of him." Or
they bid him depart as one they do not need, nor have any occasion
to make use of. The world is the portion they have chosen, and take
up with, and think themselves happy in; while they have that they
can live without God. Justly will God say Depart (
(2.) See how they argue against God and
religion (
III. He shows their folly herein, and
utterly disclaims all concurrence with them (
17 How oft is the candle of the wicked put out! and how oft cometh their destruction upon them! God distributeth sorrows in his anger. 18 They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away. 19 God layeth up his iniquity for his children: he rewardeth him, and he shall know it. 20 His eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty. 21 For what pleasure hath he in his house after him, when the number of his months is cut off in the midst? 22 Shall any teach God knowledge? seeing he judgeth those that are high. 23 One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet. 24 His breasts are full of milk, and his bones are moistened with marrow. 25 And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. 26 They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them.
Job had largely described the prosperity of wicked people; now, in these verses,
I. He opposes this to what his friends had
maintained concerning their certain ruin in this life. "Tell me
how often do you see the candle of the wicked put
out? Do you not as often see it burnt down to the socket, until
it goes out of itself?
II. He reconciles this to the holiness and
justice of God. Though wicked people prosper thus all their days,
yet we are not therefore to think that God will let their
wickedness always go unpunished. No, 1. Even while they prosper
thus they are as stubble and chaff before the stormy wind,
III. He resolves this difference which
Providence makes between one wicked man and another into the wisdom
and sovereignty of God (
1. How various the circumstances of
people's dying are. There is one way into the world, we say, but
many out; yet, as some are born by quick and easy labour, others by
that which is hard and lingering, so dying is to some much more
terrible than to others; and, since the death of the body is the
birth of the soul into another world, death-bed agonies may not
unfitly be compared to child-bed throes. Observe the difference.
(1.) One dies suddenly, in his full strength, not weakened
by age or sickness (
2. How undiscernible this difference is in
the grave. As rich and poor, so healthful and unhealthful, meet
there (
27 Behold, I know your thoughts, and the devices which ye wrongfully imagine against me. 28 For ye say, Where is the house of the prince? and where are the dwelling places of the wicked? 29 Have ye not asked them that go by the way? and do ye not know their tokens, 30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath. 31 Who shall declare his way to his face? and who shall repay him what he hath done? 32 Yet shall he be brought to the grave, and shall remain in the tomb. 33 The clods of the valley shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall draw after him, as there are innumerable before him. 34 How then comfort ye me in vain, seeing in your answers there remaineth falsehood?
In these verses,
I. Job opposes the opinion of his friends,
which he saw they still adhered to, that the wicked are sure to
fall into such visible and remarkable ruin as Job had now fallen
into, and none but the wicked, upon which principle they condemned
Job as a wicked man. "I know your thoughts," says Job
(
II. He lays down his own judgment to the
contrary, and, for proof of it, appeals to the sentiments and
observations of all mankind. So confident is he that he is in the
right that he is willing to refer the cause to the next man that
comes by (
1. What is it that Job here asserts? Two
things:—(1.) That impenitent sinners will certainly be punished
in the other world, and, usually, their punishment is put off until
then. (2.) That therefore we are not to think it strange if they
prosper greatly in this world and fall under no visible token of
God's wrath. Therefore they are spared now, because they are
to be punished then; therefore the workers of iniquity
flourish, that they may be destroyed for ever,
2. From all this Job infers the
impertinency of their discourses,