_A.M. 2484. B.C. 1520._
Zophar charges Job with falsehood and pride, Job 11:1. Wishes that God
would convince him of his wisdom, justice, and unsearchable
perfections, Job 11:5. Of his sovereignty, power, and the cognizance
he takes of men, Job 11:10. He assures him, that on his repentance God
woul... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then answered Zophar the Naamathite_ How hard is it to preserve
calmness in the heat of disputation! Eliphaz began modestly: Bildad
was a little rougher: but Zophar falls upon Job without mercy.
“Those that have a mind to fall out with their brethren, and to fall
foul upon them, find it necessary t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should not the multitude of words be answered?_ Truly, sometimes it
should not. Silence is the best confutation of impertinence, and puts
the greatest contempt upon it. Zophar means, Dost thou think to carry
thy cause by thy long, tedious discourses, consisting of empty words,
without weight or rea... [ Continue Reading ]
_Should thy lies_ That is, thy false opinions and assertions, both
concerning thyself and thy own innocence, and concerning the counsels
and ways of God, _make men hold their peace_? As if thy arguments were
unanswerable. _And when thou mockest_ Both God and us, and our
friendly and faithful counsel... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou hast said, My doctrine_ Concerning God and his providence; _is
pure_ That is, true and certain. The word לקחי, _likchi_,
according to R. Levi, signifies _consuetudo mea, et dispositio mea, my
way and manner of life;_ the same that St. Paul calls η βιωσις
μου; _my way of life._ See Chappelow. _... [ Continue Reading ]
_O that God would speak_ Plead with thee according to thy desire: he
would soon put thee to silence. We are commonly ready, with great
assurance, to interest God in our quarrels. But they are not always in
the right who are most forward to appeal to his judgment, and prejudge
it against their antago... [ Continue Reading ]
_That he would show thee the secrets of wisdom_ The unsearchable
depths of his wisdom in dealing with his creatures. _That they are
double to that which is_ That they are far greater (the word _double_
being used indefinitely for manifold, or plentiful) than that which is
manifested. The secret wisd... [ Continue Reading ]
_Canst thou by searching find out God?_ That is, discover all the
depths of his wisdom, and the reasons of all his actions. _It is as
high as heaven_ Thou canst not measure the heights of the visible
heavens, much less of the divine perfections; _what canst thou do?_
Namely, to find him out. _Deeper... [ Continue Reading ]
_The measure thereof is longer than the earth_ From one end to the
other. _And broader than the sea_ Called the great and wide sea,
Psalms 104:25. It infinitely exceeds the limits of the whole creation.
Examine the earth in its utmost dimensions: consider all the beauties
and excellences belonging t... [ Continue Reading ]
_If he cut off_ Namely, a person or family; _and shut up_ In prison,
or in the hands of an enemy, or in the net of affliction and trouble,
Psalms 66:11. _Or gather together_ Make our condition strait and
narrow, as some interpret it; or, gather together as tares to the
fire, or gather to himself man... [ Continue Reading ]
_For he knoweth vain men_ Though men know but little of God, and
therefore are very unfit judges of his counsels and actions, yet God
knows man exactly. He knoweth that every man in the world is guilty of
much vanity and folly, and therefore seeth sufficient reason for his
severity against the best... [ Continue Reading ]
_For_, or, _yet, vain man would be wise_ Man, who since the fall is
void of all true wisdom, pretends to be wise, and able to pass a
censure upon all God's ways and works. _Born like a wild ass's colt_
Ignorant, and dull, and stupid, as to divine things, and yet heady and
untractable. Such is man by... [ Continue Reading ]
_If thou prepare thy heart_ Thy business, O Job, is not to quarrel
with thy Maker, or his works; but to address thyself to him by prayer
and supplication, sincerely repenting of all thy hard speeches, and
other sins against God, and seeking him with a pure and upright heart;
without which thy prayer... [ Continue Reading ]
_If iniquity be in thy hand_ If thou hast in thy hand, or possession,
any goods gotten by injustice or oppression, as it seems they supposed
he had; or, he means, more generally, if thou allowest thyself in any
sinful practices, the _hand_ being put for action, whereof it is the
instrument; _put it... [ Continue Reading ]
_For then shalt thou lift up thy face_ With cheerfulness and holy
boldness. _Without spot_ Having a clear and unspotted conscience.
_Yea, thou shalt be steadfast_ Shalt have a strong and comfortable
assurance of God's favour, and shalt be settled, without any fear of
losing thy happiness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Because thou shalt forget thy misery_ Thy happiness shall be so great
that it shall blot out the remembrance of thy past miseries; _and
remember it as waters that pass away_ Thou shalt remember it no more
than men remember either a land-flood, which, as it comes, so it goes
away suddenly, and leave... [ Continue Reading ]
_And thine age shall be clearer than the noon-day_ The remainder of
thy life in this world shall be more glorious than the sun at noon.
Hebrew, יקים, _jakum, shall arise above the noon-day_, or above
the sun at noon-day, when it is at its greatest height, as well as in
its greatest glory. _Thou shal... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt be secure, because there is hope_ Thy mind shall be quiet
and free from terrors, because thou shalt have a firm and
well-grounded confidence in God. _Thou shalt dig_ Either to fix thy
tents, which, after the manner of the Arabians, were removed from
place to place; or, to plough thy grou... [ Continue Reading ]
_The eyes of the wicked shall fail_ Either through grief and tears for
their sore calamities, or with long looking for what they shall never
attain. _Failing of the eyes_ is one of those expressions in Scripture
to be admired for its beauteous simplicity. It represents a very eager
and passionate de... [ Continue Reading ]