Job 19:29

Be ye afraid of the sword: for wrath bringeth the punishments of the sword, that ye may know there is a judgment. Be ye afraid of the sword - the punishment, about to be inflicted by the coming Judge. "Wrath (the passionate violence with which the friends persecuted Job) bringeth," etc.: literally, sin of the sword х cheemaah (H2537) `ªwonowt (H5771) chaareb (H2719)].

That ye may know - supply, 'I say this.'

Judgement - inseparably connected with the coming of the Vindicator. The "wrath" of God at His appearing for the temporal vindication of Job against the friends (Job 42:7) is a pledge of the eternal wrath at the final coming to glorify the saints and judge their enemies (2 Thessalonians 1:6; Isaiah 25:8).

Judgment, х shaduwn (H1779)]. Maurer reads х Shaday (H7706)] 'the Almighty.'

Remarks:

(1) When God visits any with affliction, we should not add to it by magnifying ourselves against the sufferer, as though our exemption from trial were a proof of our religious superiority. Granting, even, that such a one has erred, it is he that to bear the chastisement of his error, not we (Job 19:4). The spirit of meekness, therefore, become us, considering ourselves, lest we also should be tempted (Galatians 6:1).

(2) In many cases, as in that of Job, affliction is no proof of God's displeasure at some special sin (Job 19:5), but is a testing of the faith of His children, "that the trial of their faith, being more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire may be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:7).

(3) Of all such trials none is so distressing to the believer as that, when he cries to heaven, God his Father seems at times to turn a deaf ear to supplications. But the discipline must not expect to be above his Master. Even the divine Son of God had once to complain, "O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent" (Psalms 22:2). No wonder, then, if the adopted children of God have at times to complain similarly - "Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not pass through" (Lamentations 3:44) Our wisdom at such seasons is to trust God still, when we cannot see Him, and, with strong faith in His love to tell the accuser, "Rejoice not against me O my enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord ... until He plead my cause ... He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteousness" (Micah 7:8).

(4) How uncertain is the friendship of the nearest relatives and acquaintances! (Job 19:14.) Adversity often turns those of our own household into adversaries. The very servant treats disrespect the fallen master. But if we can say, "The Lord is my helper ... the Lord who hath promised, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5), we may boldly say, "I will not fear what man shall do unto me." If we can say, Christ is "MY Redeemer," and "I know" that He liveth, we need not fear present suffering and approaching death. The shroud, the coffin, the worm, and corruption are terrible thoughts to the natural man; but the believer looks beyond the present gloom to the coming day when He who is "the Last" as well as "the First" shall stand triumphant over all the foes of man-death, hell, and Satan-and shall redeem man's body as He hath already redeemed his soul. "Fear not," saith He; "I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and behold. I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death (Revelation 1:17). Then shall those who persecuted the righteous (Job 19:28), bitterly reproach themselves for the past, when "the sword" of "judgment" is about to descend on them.