Job 31:14

What then shall I do when God riseth up? and when he visiteth, what shall I answer him?

Ver. 14. What then shall I do when God riseth up, &c.] Job considered that he had a Master in heaven, Colossians 4:1; that there is one higher than the highest, Ecclesiastes 5:8, with whom there is no respect of persons, but whereever any deal proudly, God is above them, Exodus 18:11. These and the like humbling considerations, and not any placability or natural courteousness, made him deal thus fairly and kindly with his servants; how much more, then, with his wife and children!

And when he visiteth, what shall I answer?] Job looked to be visited, and called to an account of his household government. It is a good saying of a heathen, Ita vivamus, &c., Let us so live as those that must render an account of all we do (Song of Solomon 4 in Verr.). And that which the ruffian in Seneca scoffeth at in the sober young man is true of the godly in a sense more divine, Ita laborat, ita ludit, ita coenat, ita potat, ita loquitur, ita vivit, ut qui Ephemeridas patri est approbaturus; that is, he so laboureth, so sporteth, so eateth, so drinketh, so speaketh, so liveth, as he that must approve his day books to his father. Job was not to learn that there is a way of upright walking in our houses, so as God will come to us, if our houses be rightly ordered, Psalms 101:2, and we shall look him in the face with comfort; for it is called there a perfect way, in opposition to hypocrisy. Now uprightness hath boldness.