dust upon their heads toward heaven. and none spake a word unto him: for 13 So 1 they sat down with him upon they saw that his grief was very great. seven days and seven nights, the ground ing him to despair, and to blasphemy as its never failing effect. V. 12, 13. Job seems to have been at this time in the open air; when his friends, astonished at what they saw, and perceiving him so altered that they could not know him, expressed their grief by every emphatical token, and burst out into loud lamentations. It should not, however, be concluded from the language here used, that he and his friends remained together in the same place, all the time preceding their debate, and during its continuance. At proper seasons they came to Job, and sat by him as mourners; but they were so affected by a view of his misery, that they remained silent before him. It is probable, they suspected that his unprecedented calamities were judgments on him for some enormous crimes, which he had veiled under a hypocritical profession of religion: but they did not choose to augment his grief, by abruptly bringing this charge against him; yet they could not use the ordinary topics of consolation. Perhaps they conferred among themselves on the subject, and agreed to wait and observe his conduct, and to take an opportunity of speaking, as circumstances might appear to them. Perhaps also Job suspected the cause of their silence; and his anguish on that account, might give Satan an occasion of tempting him to use the passionate language recorded in the ensuing chapter, which confirmed his friends in their harsh suspicions, and gave rise to the subsequent debate. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-8. n 4:2. Ps. 77:4. change, that we may learn to love God and out neighbor. And as men will give all they have to save their lives; we should argue, that it is true wisdom to part with our property, or liberty, or country, nay, with our very lives, to secure the salvation of our immortal souls. But to infer, that all men are alike mercenary, and that the most excellent actions of pious persons spring from the same carnal and selfish principles, as the most atrocious crimes of the profane; manis fests the malice of Satan himself, tends to render the vilest characters contented in their wickedness, subserves the cause of infidelity, and insinuates that all religion is pretence and imposture. Yet, who does not often hear such suggestions, from those who would not be thought to stand forth as the avowed advocates of impiety or atheism? To confute such accusations by stubborn facts, the Lord is pleased to give leave to malice, to exert her utmost power, in putting this matter to the trial; in the midst of afflictions and persecutions he enables the believer to retain his integrity; and, while the men of the world give up honor, conscience, and their souls, to save their lives, the servant of God renounces all, and even lays down his life, rather than disobey and dishonor his Lord. Thus, in innumerable in stances, have the patient and constant sufferings of godly men confounded, rather than gratified, the malice of their slanderous persecutors; and proved to a demonstration an essential difference between those, who are only "born of the flesh," and those who "are born again of the Spirit."We cannot know how far the Lord, in his unsearchable counsels may see fit to suffer our eneHoly angels are not more unwearied in serving mies to prevail. They may be permitted, not God and in doing good, than evil spirits are in only to tear from us all earthly comforts, and to rebellion and mischief: and when baffled in their fill our bodies and souls with most exquisite attempts, they are pushed on, by pride and enmity, agony; but even to seduce our beloved friends to still further disappointment and disgrace.-As to become our tempters, or accusers: we should Satan persists in accusing the people of God, not-therefore stand prepared for trials, and "rejoice withstanding the evidences which they give of piety and integrity: so will his servants upon earth persist in slandering them, in defiance of demonstration itself. From "their father" they learn to put a bad construction upon the best actions of good men, and to ascribe them to base motives. (Notes, John 8:37-47.) The piety of believers is called hypocrisy; their self-denial, affectation; their liberality, ostentation; their resignation, want of natural affection; their meekness, want of spirit; and their contempt of world-ful for our present measure of health, or the atly pleasure, and dislike to trifling and profane tendance which we receive in sickness: and let company, are ascribed to want of taste, and to a us look through the grave, to the risen and glorimorose, unsociable disposition. But the Lord fied Jesus, and expect his second coming, when will vindicate the character of his servants; and "he shall change our vile bodies, that they may he delights in their constancy and submission be fashioned like unto his glorious body, accordamidst trials and temptations, because they glorifying to the working, whereby he is able even to the power of his grace. He will therefore, at some times, without any other peculiar cause, give their enemies permission to prove them in various ways. They mean to destroy them; but he intends to purify their hearts, to exalt their graces, and to enhance their glorious recompense: and, though the trial may be severe; yet it is the post of honor, and the event will be unspeakably happy. (Notes, Gen. 50:20. Is. 10:7. Hab. 1: 12-17. Rom. 8:35--39. 1 Pet. 4:12-16.)-The insinuations of Satan and his factors are most dangerous, when most plausible, and when they are sophistical inferences from undoubted truths. Men are indeed naturally selfish, and prone to disregard all others in comparison of themselves, The temporal comforts reserved to us, when their own ease, interest, or indulgence. Hence others are removed, often prove the sources of it is evident we all need an inward and gracious lour severest anguish. The enemy knows how to [11] with trembling" in every external advantage.When we are most healthy and vigorous, we should remember to what loathsome diseases our bodies are liable; and that they may shortly become a mass of putrefaction, which could scarcely be known or endured by our most affectionate friends. Instead then of being vain of thein, or bestowing pains in decorating or pampering them; let us seek for the incorruptible ornaments and unfading beauties of holiness. Let us be thank subdue all things unto himself."-In humiliating circumstances, a humble deportment should be observed: and when we are in great pain and sickness, deserted, insulted, destitute of necessaries or convenient attendance, or laboring under a complication of every distress; we should meditate on the sufferings of Job, on his patience, on the love of God to him, and on his happy deliverance: and we should also look unto the suffering Savior, and compare our light afflictions with his unknown sufferings, "lest we be wearied and faint in our minds." (Notes, Heb. 12:2,3. Jam. 5:7-11.) V. 9-13. suit his temptations to our circumstances, and is changed to poetry, which is adorned by bold to send them by those persons that possess most figures, according to the genius of the East. influence over us: we should then consider, not For seven days Job's friends had come, and sat who proposes, but what is proposed to us. (Note, by him, without either speaking consolation to Matt. 16:21-23. P. O. 21-28.)-No temptation him, or mentioning their suspicions: but doubtis so dangerous to the afflicted, as that to despair. less their distant and reserved behavior inWhen a man is induced to regard God as an ir- creased his inward anguish. At the same time, reconcilable enemy, his heart naturally rises in we may suppose, Satan assaulted his mind with enmity, and vents this in blasphemy; every means all possible temptations, to fill him with hard of grace is neglected, any crime ventured on thoughts of God, as if he were severe, unjust, with eagerness, and suicide may probably close and his enemy; to shake his confidence and hope; the horrid career. Let us then "watch and pray, and, by filling him with horror and dismay, to that we enter not into temptation." (Notes, 1 urge him to "curse God to his face." His perSam. 28:12-25. 31:3-6. Matt. 27:3–5. 2 Cor. mission seems to have extended to this, as well 2:5-11.)—We ought not to judge of the Lord's as to the torturing of his body; provided he did love to us, by outward events or present feelings, not kill him, or deprive him of reason. In this, but should rest our hopes upon his holy word; and Job was an especial type of Christ, whose inward consider every hard thought of God, as a "fiery sufferings, both in the garden and on the cross, dart" of the enemy, which must be "quenched" are generally allowed to have been far the most without a moment's delay, by whatever means it dreadful, and in a great degree occasioned by may have been excited. It is also desirable, to the assaults of the devil in that hour of darkness: possess our souls in meekness, and to answer even (Notes. Matt. 26:36-39. Luke 22:39-53.) and our tempters with calmness and reason, as well when Job's trial was come to its extremity, we as with decided abhorrence of sin.-None but may conclude, that he was deprived of all comthe foolish will habitually say, that there is no fortable sense of God's favor, and filled with ground for hope in God, nor any benefit in serv- dread of his wrath. Unless we bring these ining him: none but the ungodly can deliberately ward trials into the account, we shall not readily persuade us to despair, blasphemy, or self-murder. comprehend the change which took place in his But if any one who has appeared to be a pious conduct, from the entire resignation of the preChristian, should once, under urgent distresses, ceding chapters, to the impatience which apdrop a hint which tends to such conclusions; we pears here, and in the subsequent part of the should remind him, whose work he is doing, and book. But this consideration solves the difficulwhose language he speaks.-Did we duly re- ty: Job's inward conflict and anguish, added to member our sins against God, we should not all his outward sufferings, caused in-dwelling wonder, that amidst our many blessings, we had sin to work powerfully, and at length it burst also heavy afflictions: we should rather say, “It forth in many improper expressions. He had is of the LORD's mercies that we are not con- long repressed the thoughts of his heart: but at sumed;" and receive the severest of them with last "he opened his mouth;" not, (as that expresthankfulness as well as patience: and thus they sion generally imports,) to utter wise instrucwould become our richest gain.-Those friends, tions, deliberately and gravely, but bitter exewho crush the afflicted believer with hard cen-crations upon the day of his birth. For he vainsures and suspicions, are as real tempters, as those who persuade him to blasphemy and apostacy.It is an indispensable duty of the Christian to visit and comfort his afflicted brethren, as he has opportunity; for it is equally useful to him, as to them: and the greatest as well as the meanest should attend upon it, without shrinking from inconveniences, or disagreeables. But alas! we often prove miserable comforters of each other, augmenting instead of alleviating one another's grief. So that our whole dependence for consolation, must be placed on God alone. NOTES. ly hoped to ease his mind by giving vent to the fire which burned within.-The experienced believer, however, knows that a few drops of this bitter cup are more dreadful than the sharpes afflictions, under which he is preserved from in ward temptation, and favored with the sweet sense of the love and presence of God. He will not therefore be much surprised, to find that Job proved himself "a man of like passions" with others, and prone to folly and impatience; but will rejoice that Satan was disappointed, and could not prove him a hypocrite: for though he cursed the day of his birth, he did not curse his CHAP. III. V. 1. Here the style of the book God. (Note, 1:9-11.) vented, and in time the soul recovers its composure. (Note, Gal. 5:16-18.)-Doubtless, Job was afterwards heartily ashamed of this language: but what must his judgment of it be now, in the fuil enjoyment of unchangeable felicity! Does he now curse the day of his birth? Does he now wish that he had never been born? His own reproof of his wife belonged also to himself, though not in the same degree: for on this occasion he spake, as "one of the foolish men," (Note, 2:10.) and thus he confirmed his friends in their unfa V. 2-10. Here we find Job giving utterance to his anguish, by a variety of curses on the day of his birth, (a day generally remembered on its annual return, with tokens of joy,) because he would thus declare a vain wish that he had never been born. He would have the day and night, on which he was born, to the joy of his parents, expunged from the year; or at least to be one continued and dreary night. He would have it marked with tokens of God's abhorrence, and by every terrifying appearance; that men might dread its approach, spend it in solitude, and re-vorable opinion of him. joice when it was over; that it might even be V. 11-19. When Job had exhausted his such a season, as the Egyptians experienced rhetoric in cursing the day of his birth, he next during the plague of darkness. (Notes, Ex. 10: inquired, why he did not die as soon as he was 21,23. Ps. 78:46-49.) He would have it cursed born: and thus he not only murmured against by those, who superstitiously marked certain God for sparing his life; but expostulated with days as ominous; and employed in wailings, by those who were present at his birth, as if now those who were engaged to mourn at funerals; before him, for their tender attention to him in or, as some interpret it, spent in horrid incanta- that helpless state! For had none nursed and tions, by those who dealt with Satan, and brought suckled him, when a new-born infant, he should him up by their witchcrafts: for the original is not have lived to endure his present sufferings. literally, "those who are ready to raise up Levia- The event of his afflictions, to himself, and to than." (Note, Is. 27:1.) And all this, because the church, through successive ages, fully rethe day did not prevent his being born, and, by solves his questions, and shews for what impormaking his mother's womb his grave, preserve tant purposes he was preserved. But under him from his present misery. (Note, Jer. 20:14 this temptation, he thought of nothing but relief -18.)-The wildness, absurdity, and impossi- from anguish and distress: he knew that in the bility of these wishes, denote the tempest of his grave no pain was felt, and, for the moment, he soul: the cruelty to his mother, whose miserable scarcely looked any further; though in more ludeath should, as he thought, have prevented his cid intervals, he expressed a faith and hope conwretched life; and the ill will to mankind to cerning the eternal world. (Notes, 14:7-12. whom he would bequeath such a dreadful day, 19:23-27.) His present misery made him, at may properly be noticed: but such exclamations, the time, think insensibility most desirable: and being the language of passion, cannot be measur- he amused himself with imagining, that if he had ed by the standard of reason. They imply, how- died from the womb, he should have lain as quiet ever, an ungrateful contempt of God's gifts, and in the grave, as the most mighty monarchs, conrebellion against his will; and are utterly unbe-querors, or politicians; or as the most wealthy coming a sinner under a dispensation of mercy, or princes, who retained nothing of their acquisia believer in a state of grace. But during inward tions but a desolate tomb, and were not a whit darkness and temptation, Satan so stirs up the superior to a still-born infant: he considered lacorruption of the heart, that the plainest truths borers, prisoners, and slaves, as there rescued and promises are forgotten; former and present from their oppressors, free as their masters, and mercies are disregarded; future prospects are at rest from their labor and pain. His words inclouded; and the soul verges to despondency and deed contain important truths: but if exemption blasphemy. Yet it is held back by the counter- from present suffering were all that can be exacting efficacy of divine grace, which subsists pected, there would be little reason to look forand operates, though it does not decidedly pre- ward to death with comfort, or to want delivervail; and thus the more dreadful effects are pre-ance from the sorrows of this present life. Built desolate places, &c. (14) Many explain this of the sepulchres, which princes and nobles often built for themselves. (Notes, Is. 22:16. Matt. 27:57-61.) under urgent troubles and temptations, the evil of the heart frequently bursts forth in very culpable words and actions. None but the Savior ever endured the extremity of anguish and tempV. 20-23. Finding the vanity of his impossi-tation, without any abatement of his love, any ble wishes, Job next complained that he was still mixture of sin, or any indications of impatience. forced to live, though weary of life: and he in--The pious reader will doubtless recollect seaquired the reason, why light, that is, life, was given to the miserable. He did not mention the name of God, perhaps out of reverence to him, for his better judgment checked the vehemence of his passion; but he evidently reflected upon him as unkind, in not at once terminating his sufferings by death. He dared not rush uncalled into the presence of his Judge, by an act of desperate rebellion and murder: (Notes, 2:9.10.) but he should exceedingly rejoice, if the Lord would cut him off, and be more glad of a grave than of hid treasures; and he supposed that many others were of the same judgment. (Note, 6:8 -13.) He could not conceive, that any good end could be answered by the continuance of his life: for every thing in Providence, and in the frame of his mind, was so dark and dismal, that he was like a man who had lost his way, or who was so enclosed by powerful enemies on every side, that he had no prospect of escape.-The tempter seems to have kept the thought of the eternal world from his mind: but the event fully shewed, why the Lord continued his life, both for his own good, and for that of mil-ject of our desires at the present, or for the fulions. sons when, under afflictions comparatively light, his heart has risen into the same kind of peevishness, ingratitude, rebellion, and despondency, which Job discovered. Many will with shame remember, that they have conceived and uttered rash and foolish wishes not wholly dissimilar to those of Job: nay, some will be conscious, that half the burden which was laid on Job would have extorted from them still more desperate complaints; and these reflections should lay us low in humiliation before God. We should also take shame to ourselves, when we consider the folly and impossibility of those things, for which we have often wished. In our sober moments we should meditate on the consequences which would have resulted, had our vain and impatient wishes been granted, to ourselves, our relatives, and our neighbors; and we shall often find that they were unnatural and cruel, as well as impious, and destructive to our own happiness. Indeed, the habit of wishing is altogether foolish and sinful. Those wishes which respect the past, can only express our impatience: and, if the ob ture, be lawful, we should make it the subject of V. 24-26. By way of apology for his vehe- our prayers; if not, we should silence ourselves ment complaints, Job at length mentioned the and the tempter, by saying, "It is written, excess of his sufferings. Nothing but sighs and Thou shalt not covet."-When our passions overgroans occupied his time: his very food, which power reason, the soul becomes as a ship in a prolonged his miserable life, was mingled with violent storm, without compass, rudder, or pilot; groans, and even roarings; (Notes, Ps. 22:1. 32: and, if it be possible, we ought to cast anchor 3-5.) and they flowed forth incessantly, like till the storm subsides. Profound silence, interwaters from a fountain. He was, however, con- rupted only by ejaculations, should be observed: scious, that in prosperity he had not indulged as we can in such a case do no good, but must carnal security; he had feared a change, and get harm, by either speaking or acting; though watched against those sins, in himself and his we shall naturally be very earnest in both.-Infamily, which might provoke the divine displeas-deed, we are born in sin, and to sorrow; and, if ure: (Note, 1:5.) yet his solicitude had not prevented his calamities, which equalled the worst of his fears. His former expectation of trials, and preparation for them, should have been a comfort to him under his sufferings: but, through the power of Satan and the prevalence of corruption, this seemed an aggravation of his misery. (Note, 27:7-10.) I was not, &c. (26) This is rendered by some interrogatively; "Was I not in safety? had I not rest? was I not quiet? yet trouble came."-This is very pathetic. PRACTICAL OBSERVATIONS. V. 1-10. There is an essential difference between the true believer, and every hypocrite; and the former will not finally apostatize or despair: yet left to ourselves and the tendency of our own E CHAP. IV. Eliphaz reproves Job for impatience, and want of confidence in God, 1-5. He states that divine judgments come not on the righteous, but on the wicked, 7-11. He relates his vision. confirming this doctrine, 12-21. and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. 4 Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strength HEN Eliphaz the Temanite an- ened the feeble knees. Tswered and said, 2. If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can t withhold himself from speaking? d 3 Behold, thou hast instructed many, 5 But now it is come upon thee thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled. and our birth;" and if a thought of that kind intrude, with the scriptural declarations of the state of the we should treat it as a temptation of the enemy, damned; which must be the lot of all, who die in and reject it immediately.-But what a day, or rebellion and despair, and by an act of deliberather what an eternal night, will that be which rate murder. (Note, Ex. 20:13, conclusion.) Let awaits impenitent sinners! Condemned to outer them remember that this desperation is the sugdarkness, where is weeping and gnashing of gestion of the "old liar" and "murderer from the teeth; banished for ever from the favor and pres- beginning:" it is the very object at which he ence of God; surrounded with horror and de-aimed, in respect of Job, by all his temptations. spair; employed in curses and imprecations; Let them stop their ears to his suggestions, and wearied of existence, and in vain longing for hearken to the Savior's inviting voice: let them annihilation; and associated with the devil and come to him with their burdens and sorrows; and his angels! That day "God will not regard from they shall find rest to their souls, and learn to above," no light will shine upon it for ever. bless God for temporal life as the means of eterWho then can help feeling the propriety, yea nal salvation.-Finally, in prosperity let us all the necessity, of praying, 'From this destruction, watch against carnal security: and under trials good Lord, deliver us!" May all, who read these let us pray for patience; looking to him, "who remarks, take warning "to flee from the wrath suffered being tempted, that he might be able to to come, and lay hold for refuge on the hope set succor them that are tempted." Then, though before us" in the gospel! for a season our way seem stopt, and our hope lost; we shall ere long be enabled to declare from our own experience, that "they who wait for the LORD shall never be ashamed." V. 11-26. NOTES. If, in this accepted time and day of salvation, we in good earnest seek and serve God, we may regard the formation of our bodies, the gift of our immortal souls, the care taken of us in infancy and childhood, and all the Lord's protection of CHAP. IV. V. 1. It is probable, that Job's us and long-suffering towards us ever since, as friends had previously conferred upon his case; being in order to our everlasting happiness. and suspected from his extraordinary sufferings Then indeed we may well cease to envy kings and impatient wishes, that he was a wicked man: or princes, and all the wise and wealthy of the they therefore thought it incumbent upon them world; who will soon be levelled in the grave, to charge this home on his conscience, in order with the infant which died from the womb, but to induce him to repentance; and Eliphaz, who who will have an awful account to render of their seems to have been the senior of them, understewardship, before the tribunal of God. (Notes took to open the matter to him. (Note, 2:12, and P. O. Luke 16:1-13.) We should indeed|| 13.)—Thus, when Satan failed of proving his habituate ourselves to view the grave without charge against Job, he suggested to his friends terror; for we shall there feel no pain or uneasi- this suspicion of his hypocrisy, that they might ness, and be out of the reach of every oppressor grieve and tempt him by it. For the argument and persecutor. But "there remaineth a" bet-between Job and his friends, was precisely on ter "rest for the people of God;" a rest from sin, temptation, and conflict, and from sorrows and labors, in the immediate presence and ineffable enjoyment of God. Thence both wicked men and evil spirits will be excluded, and cease from troubling us for ever; "there the weary will" indeed "be at rest," and the poor slave and prisoner enjoy "the glorious liberty of the children of God." Nay, as far as we trust and obey the Lord Jesus, we here find rest to our souls; though "in the world we have tribulation." It is indeed far "better to depart, and to be with him:" but we must not undervalue life, though spent in sufferings; seeing they will work for our good at last, and some way or other subserve his glory and the good of our brethren. Let us then learn to keep the eternal world more constantly in view; that we may not be much disconcerted about temporal things.-And should any take up these pages, who are longing for death, and tempted to suicide; let them compare their present sufferings, not with the quiet of the grave, but the same point, which, at Satan's instigation, I was to be decided by his behavior under affliction; namely, whether he was a truly pious man, or a hypocrite. Satan undertook to prove him a hypocrite by afflicting him; and his friends concluded him one, because he was afflicted, and || shewed impatience under his extreme sufferings. This we must keep continually in mind, if we would clearly understand the ensuing debate. (Notes, Luke 13:1-5.) V. 2. Eliphaz introduced his discourse with apparent modesty; yet the abrupt manner, in which he addressed Job, shewed that he was about to censure and reprove him. He purposed to converse with Job on the subject of his extraordinary sufferings, and his despondency under them; but he was afraid he would be grieved at his words. The case, however, was urgent: for who, in such circumstances, "could refrain from words?" (Marg.) This intimated, that he thought Job extremely culpable, nay, in danger of final destruction. |