mh_parser/vol_split/18 - Job/Chapter 25.xml

<div2 id="Job.xxvi" n="xxvi" next="Job.xxvii" prev="Job.xxv" progress="12.78%" title="Chapter XXV">
<h2 id="Job.xxvi-p0.1">J O B</h2>
<h3 id="Job.xxvi-p0.2">CHAP. XXV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Job.xxvi-p1">Bildad here makes a very short reply to Job's last
discourse, as one that began to be tired of the cause. He drops the
main question concerning the prosperity of wicked men, as being
unable to answer the proofs Job had produced in the foregoing
chapter: but, because he thought Job had made too bold with the
divine majesty in his appeals to the divine tribunal (<scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.23.1-Job.23.17" parsed="|Job|23|1|23|17" passage="Job 23:1-17"><i>ch.</i> xxiii.</scripRef>), he in a few
words shows the infinite distance there is between God and man,
teaching us, I. To think highly and honourably of God, <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.2-Job.25.3 Bible:Job.25.5" parsed="|Job|25|2|25|3;|Job|25|5|0|0" passage="Job 25:2,3,5">ver. 2, 3, 5</scripRef>. II. To think meanly
of ourselves, <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.4 Bible:Job.25.6" parsed="|Job|25|4|0|0;|Job|25|6|0|0" passage="Job 25:4,6">ver. 4, 6</scripRef>.
These, however misapplied to Job, are two good lessons for us all
to learn.</p>
<scripCom id="Job.xxvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.25" parsed="|Job|25|0|0|0" passage="Job 25" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Job.xxvi-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.1-Job.25.6" parsed="|Job|25|1|25|6" passage="Job 25:1-6" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Job.25.1-Job.25.6">
<h4 id="Job.xxvi-p1.6">God Exalted and Man Abased. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Job.xxvi-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1520.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Job.xxvi-p2">1 Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
  2 Dominion and fear <i>are</i> with him, he maketh peace in
his high places.   3 Is there any number of his armies? and
upon whom doth not his light arise?   4 How then can man be
justified with God? or how can he be clean <i>that is</i> born of a
woman?   5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea,
the stars are not pure in his sight.   6 How much less man,
<i>that is</i> a worm? and the son of man, <i>which is</i> a
worm?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxvi-p3">Bildad is to be commended here for two
things:—1. For speaking no more on the subject about which Job
and he differed. Perhaps he began to think Job was in the right,
and then it was justice to say no more concerning it, as one that
contended for truth, not for victory, and therefore, for the
finding of truth, would be content to lose the victory; or, if he
still thought himself in the right, yet he knew when he had said
enough, and would not wrangle endlessly for the last word. Perhaps
indeed one reason why he and the rest of them let fall this debate
was because they perceived that Job and they did not differ so much
in opinion as they thought: they owned that wicked people might
prosper a while, and Job owned they would be destroyed at last; how
little then was the difference! If disputants would understand one
another better, perhaps they would find themselves nearer one
another than they imagined. 2. For speaking so well on the matter
about which Job and he were agreed. If we would all get our hearts
filled with awful thoughts of God and humble thoughts of ourselves,
we should not be so apt as we are to fall out about matters of
doubtful disputation, which are trifling or intricate.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxvi-p4">Two ways Bildad takes here to exalt God and
abase man:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxvi-p5">I. He shows how glorious God is, and thence
infers how guilty and impure man is before him, <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.2-Job.25.4" parsed="|Job|25|2|25|4" passage="Job 25:2-4"><i>v.</i> 2-4</scripRef>. Let us see then,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxvi-p6">1. What great things are here said of God,
designed to possess Job with a reverence of him, and to check his
reflections upon him and upon his dealings with him: (1.) God is
the sovereign Lord of all, and <i>with him is terrible majesty.
Dominion and fear are with him,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.2" parsed="|Job|25|2|0|0" passage="Job 25:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>. He that gave being has an
incontestable authority to give laws, and can enforce the laws he
gives. He that made all has a right to dispose of all according to
his own will, with an absolute sovereignty. Whatever he will do he
does, and may do; and none can say unto him, <i>What doest
thou?</i> or <i>Why doest thou so?</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.4.35" parsed="|Dan|4|35|0|0" passage="Da 4:35">Dan. iv. 35</scripRef>. His having dominion (or being
<i>Dominus</i>—<i>Lord</i>) bespeaks him both owner and ruler of
all the creatures. They are all his, and they are all under his
direction and at his disposal. Hence it follows that he is to be
feared (that is, reverenced and obeyed), that he is feared by all
that know him (the seraphim cover their faces before him), and
that, first or last, all will be made to fear him. Men's dominion
is often despicable, often despised, but God is always terrible.
(2.) The glorious inhabitants of the upper world are all perfectly
observant of him and entirely acquiesce in his will: <i>He maketh
peace in his high places.</i> He enjoys himself in a perfect
tranquillity. The holy angels never quarrel with him, nor with one
another, but entirely acquiesce in his will, and unanimously
execute it without murmuring or disputing. Thus the will of God is
done in heaven; and thus we pray that it may be done by us and
others on earth. The sun, moon, and stars, keep their courses, and
never clash with one another: nay, even in this lower region, which
is often disturbed with storms and tempests, yet when God pleases
he commands peace, by <i>making the storm a calm,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.107.29 Bible:Ps.65.7" parsed="|Ps|107|29|0|0;|Ps|65|7|0|0" passage="Ps 107:29,Ps 65:7">Ps. cvii. 29; lxv. 7</scripRef>.
Observe, The high places are <i>his</i> high places; for <i>the
heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord's</i> (<scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.115.16" parsed="|Ps|115|16|0|0" passage="Ps 115:16">Ps. cxv. 16</scripRef>) in a peculiar manner. Peace is
God's work; where it is made it is he that makes it, <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Isa.57.19" parsed="|Isa|57|19|0|0" passage="Isa 57:19">Isa. lvii. 19</scripRef>. In heaven there is
perfect peace; for there is perfect holiness, and there is God, who
is love. (3.) He is a God of irresistible power: <i>Is there any
number of his armies?</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.3" parsed="|Job|25|3|0|0" passage="Job 25:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. The greatness and power of princes are judged of by
their armies. God is not only himself almighty, but he has
numberless numbers of armies at his beck and disposal,—standing
armies that are never disbanded,—regular troops, and well
disciplined, that are never to seek, never at a loss, that never
mutiny,—veteran troops, that have been long in his
service,—victorious troops, that never failed of success nor were
ever foiled. All the creatures are his hosts, angels especially. He
is Lord of all, Lord of hosts. He has numberless armies, and yet
makes peace. He could make war upon us, but is willing to be at
peace with us; and even the heavenly hosts were sent to proclaim
<i>peace on earth</i> and <i>good will towards men,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p6.7" osisRef="Bible:Luke.2.14" parsed="|Luke|2|14|0|0" passage="Lu 2:14">Luke ii. 14</scripRef>. (4.) His providence
extends itself to all: <i>Upon whom does not his light arise?</i>
The light of the sun is communicated to all parts of the world,
and, take the year round, to all equally. See <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p6.8" osisRef="Bible:Ps.19.6" parsed="|Ps|19|6|0|0" passage="Ps 19:6">Ps. xix. 6</scripRef>. That is a faint resemblance of the
universal cognizance and care God takes of the whole creation,
<scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p6.9" osisRef="Bible:Matt.5.45" parsed="|Matt|5|45|0|0" passage="Mt 5:45">Matt. v. 45</scripRef>. All are under
the light of his knowledge and are naked and open before him. All
partake of the light of his goodness: it seems especially to be
meant of <i>that.</i> He is good to all; the earth is full of his
goodness. He is <i>Deus optimus—God, the best of beings,</i> as
well as <i>maximus—the greatest:</i> he has power to destroy; but
his pleasure is to show mercy. All the creatures live upon his
bounty.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxvi-p7">2. What low things are here said of man,
and very truly and justly (<scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.4" parsed="|Job|25|4|0|0" passage="Job 25:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>): <i>How then can man be justified with God? Or how
can he be clean?</i> Man is not only mean, but vile, not only
earthly, but filthy; he cannot be justified, he cannot be clean,
(1.) In comparison with God. Man's righteousness and holiness, at
the best, are nothing to God's, <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.89.6" parsed="|Ps|89|6|0|0" passage="Ps 89:6">Ps.
lxxxix. 6</scripRef>. (2.) In debate with God. He that will quarrel
with the word and providence of God must unavoidably go by the
worst. God will be justified, and then man will be condemned,
<scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.51.4 Bible:Rom.3.4" parsed="|Ps|51|4|0|0;|Rom|3|4|0|0" passage="Ps 51:4,Ro 3:4">Ps. li. 4; Rom. iii.
4</scripRef>. There is no error in God's judgment, and therefore
there lies no exception against it, nor appeal from it. (3.) In the
sight of God. If God is so great and glorious, how can man, who is
guilty and impure, appear before him? Note, [1.] Man, by reason of
his actual transgressions, is obnoxious to God's justice and cannot
in himself be justified before him: he can neither plead <i>Not
guilty,</i> nor plead any merit of his own to balance or extenuate
his guilt. The scripture has concluded all under sin. [2.] Man, by
reason of his original corruption, as he is born of a woman, is
odious to God's holiness, and cannot be clean in his sight. God
sees his impurity, and it is certain that by it he is rendered
utterly unfit for communion and fellowship with God in grace here
and for the vision and fruition of him in glory hereafter. We have
need therefore to be born again of water and of the Holy Ghost, and
to be bathed again and again in the blood of Christ, that fountain
opened.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Job.xxvi-p8">II. He shows how dark and defective even
the heavenly bodies are in the sight of God, and in comparison with
him, and thence infers how little, and mean, and worthless, man is.
1. The lights of heaven, though beauteous creatures, are before God
as clods of earth (<scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.5" parsed="|Job|25|5|0|0" passage="Job 25:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>): <i>Behold even to the moon,</i> walking in
brightness, and the stars, those glorious lamps of heaven, which
the heathen were so charmed with the lustre of that they worshipped
them—yet, in God's sight, in comparison with him, they shine not,
they are not pure; they have no glory, by reason of the glory which
excelleth, as a candle, though it burn, yet does not shine when it
is set in the clear light of the sun. The glory of God, shining in
his providences, eclipses the glory of the brightest creatures,
<scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Isa.24.23" parsed="|Isa|24|23|0|0" passage="Isa 24:23">Isa. xxiv. 23</scripRef>. <i>The moon
shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts
shall reign in Mount Sion.</i> The heavenly bodies are often
clouded; we plainly see spots in the moon, and, with the help of
glasses, may sometimes discern spots upon the sun too: but God sees
spots in them that we do not see. How durst Job then so confidently
appeal to God, who would discover that amiss in him which he was
not aware of in himself? 2. The children of men, though noble
creatures, are before God but as worms of the earth (<scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Job.25.6" parsed="|Job|25|6|0|0" passage="Job 25:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>): <i>How much less</i>
does <i>man</i> shine in honour, how much less is he pure in
righteousness <i>that is a worm, and the son of man,</i> whoever he
be, <i>that is a worm!—a vermin</i> (so some), not only mean and
despicable, but noxious and detestable; <i>a mite</i> (so others),
the smallest animal, which cannot be discerned with the naked eye,
but through a magnifying glass. Such a thing is man. (1.) So mean,
and little, and inconsiderable, in comparison with God and with the
holy angels: so worthless and despicable, having his original in
corruption, and hastening to corruption. What little reason has man
to be proud, and what great reason to be humble! (2.) So weak and
impotent, and so easily crushed, and therefore a very unequal match
for Almighty God. Shall man be such a fool as to contend with his
Maker, who can tread him to pieces more easily than we can a worm?
(3.) So sordid and filthy. Man is not pure for he is a worm,
hatched in putrefaction, and therefore odious to God. Let us
therefore wonder at God's condescension in taking such worms as we
are into covenant and communion with himself, especially at the
condescension of the Son of God, in emptying himself so far as to
say, <i>I am a worm, and no man,</i> <scripRef id="Job.xxvi-p8.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.22.6" parsed="|Ps|22|6|0|0" passage="Ps 22:6">Ps. xxii. 6</scripRef>.</p>
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