Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc18/v20950

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 8KB | 145 lines

20950
 #14-30 In his prosperity Job formed great expectations from his
 friends, but now was disappointed. This he compares to the
 failing of brooks in summer. Those who rest their expectations
 on the creature, will find it fail when it should help them;
 whereas those who make God their confidence, have help in the
 time of need, #Heb 4:16|. Those who make gold their hope, sooner
 or later will be ashamed of it, and of their confidence in it.
 It is our wisdom to cease from man. Let us put all our
 confidence in the Rock of ages, not in broken reeds; in the
 Fountain of life, not in broken cisterns. The application is
 very close; "for now ye are nothing." It were well for us, if we
 had always such convictions of the vanity of the creature, as we
 have had, or shall have, on a sick-bed, a death-bed, or in
 trouble of conscience. Job upbraids his friends with their hard
 usage. Though in want, he desired no more from them than a good
 look and a good word. It often happens that, even when we expect
 little from man, we have less; but from God, even when we expect
 much, we have more. Though Job differed from them, yet he was
 ready to yield as soon as it was made to appear that he was in
 error. Though Job had been in fault, yet they ought not to have
 given him such hard usage. His righteousness he holds fast, and
 will not let it go. He felt that there had not been such
 iniquity in him as they supposed. But it is best to commit our
 characters to Him who keeps our souls; in the great day every
 upright believer shall have praise of God.
20967
 * Job's troubles. (1-6) Job expostulates with God. (7-16) He
 begs release. (17-21)

 #1-6 Job here excuses what he could not justify, his desire of
 death. Observe man's present place: he is upon earth. He is yet
 on earth, not in hell. Is there not a time appointed for his
 abode here? yes, certainly, and the appointment is made by Him
 who made us and sent us here. During that, man's life is a
 warfare, and as day-labourers, who have the work of the day to
 do in its day, and must make up their account at night. Job had
 as much reason, he thought, to wish for death, as a poor servant
 that is tired with his work, has to wish for the shadows of the
 evening, when he shall go to rest. The sleep of the labouring
 man is sweet; nor can any rich man take so much satisfaction in
 his wealth, as the hireling in his day's wages. The comparison
 is plain; hear his complaint: His days were useless, and had
 long been so; but when we are not able to work for God, if we
 sit still quietly for him, we shall be accepted. His nights were
 restless. Whatever is grievous, it is good to see it appointed
 for us, and as designed for some holy end. When we have
 comfortable nights, we must see them also appointed to us, and
 be thankful for them. His body was noisome. See what vile bodies
 we have. His life was hastening apace. While we are living,
 every day, like the shuttle, leaves a thread behind: many weave
 the spider's web, which will fail, ch. #8:14|. But if, while we
 live, we live unto the Lord, in works of faith and labours of
 love, we shall have the benefit, for every man shall reap as he
 sowed, and wear as he wove.

20973
 #7-16 Plain truths as to the shortness and vanity of man's life,
 and the certainty of death, do us good, when we think and speak
 of them with application to ourselves. Dying is done but once,
 and therefore it had need be well done. An error here is past
 retrieve. Other clouds arise, but the same cloud never returns:
 so a new generation of men is raised up, but the former
 generation vanishes away. Glorified saints shall return no more
 to the cares and sorrows of their houses; nor condemned sinners
 to the gaieties and pleasures of their houses. It concerns us to
 secure a better place when we die. From these reasons Job might
 have drawn a better conclusion than this, I will complain. When
 we have but a few breaths to draw, we should spend them in the
 holy, gracious breathings of faith and prayer; not in the
 noisome, noxious breathings of sin and corruption. We have much
 reason to pray, that He who keeps Israel, and neither slumbers
 nor sleeps, may keep us when we slumber and sleep. Job covets to
 rest in his grave. Doubtless, this was his infirmity; for though
 a good man would choose death rather than sin, yet he should be
 content to live as long as God pleases, because life is our
 opportunity of glorifying him, and preparing for heaven.

20983
 #17-21 Job reasons with God concerning his dealings with man.
 But in the midst of this discourse, Job seems to have lifted up
 his thoughts to God with some faith and hope. Observe the
 concern he is in about his sins. The best men have to complain
 of sin; and the better they are, the more they will complain of
 it. God is the Preserver of our lives, and the Saviour of the
 souls of all that believe; but probably Job meant the Observer
 of men, whose eyes are upon the ways and hearts of all men. We
 can hide nothing from Him; let us plead guilty before his throne
 of grace, that we may not be condemned at his judgment-seat. Job
 maintained, against his friends, that he was not a hypocrite,
 not a wicked man, yet he owns to his God, that he had sinned.
 The best must so acknowledge, before the Lord. He seriously
 inquires how he might be at peace with God, and earnestly begs
 forgiveness of his sins. He means more than the removing of his
 outward trouble, and is earnest for the return of God's favour.
 Wherever the Lord removes the guilt of sin, he breaks the power
 of sin. To strengthen his prayer for pardon, Job pleads the
 prospect he had of dying quickly. If my sins be not pardoned
 while I live, I am lost and undone for ever. How wretched is
 sinful man without a knowledge of the Saviour!
20988
 * Bildad reproves Job. (1-7) Hypocrites will be destroyed.
 (8-19) Bildad applies God's just dealing to Job. (20-22)

 #1-7 Job spake much to the purpose; but Bildad, like an eager,
 angry disputant, turns it all off with this, How long wilt thou
 speak these things? Men's meaning is not taken aright, and then
 they are rebuked, as if they were evil-doers. Even in disputes
 on religion, it is too common to treat others with sharpness,
 and their arguments with contempt. Bildad's discourse shows that
 he had not a favourable opinion of Job's character. Job owned
 that God did not pervert judgment; yet it did not therefore
 follow that his children were castaways, or that they died for
 some great transgression. Extraordinary afflictions are not
 always the punishment of extraordinary sins, sometimes they are
 the trials of extraordinary graces: in judging of another's
 case, we ought to take the favourable side. Bildad puts Job in
 hope, that if he were indeed upright, he should yet see a good
 end of his present troubles. This is God's way of enriching the
 souls of his people with graces and comforts. The beginning is
 small, but the progress is to perfection. Dawning light grows to
 noon-day.

20995
 #8-19 Bildad discourses well of hypocrites and evil-doers, and
 the fatal end of all their hopes and joys. He proves this truth
 of the destruction of the hopes and joys of hypocrites, by an
 appeal to former times. Bildad refers to the testimony of the
 ancients. Those teach best that utter words out of their heart,
 that speak from an experience of spiritual and divine things. A
 rush growing in fenny ground, looking very green, but withering
 in dry weather, represents the hypocrite's profession, which is
 maintained only in times of prosperity. The spider's web, spun
 with great skill, but easily swept away, represents a man's
 pretensions to religion when without the grace of God in his
 heart. A formal professor flatters himself in his own eyes,
 doubts not of his salvation, is secure, and cheats the world
 with his vain confidences. The flourishing of the tree, planted
 in the garden, striking root to the rock, yet after a time cut
 down and thrown aside, represents wicked men, when most firmly
 established, suddenly thrown down and forgotten. This doctrine
 of the vanity of a hypocrite's confidence, or the prosperity of
 a wicked man, is sound; but it was not applicable to the case of
 Job, if confined to the present world.