Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 3.djvu/92

84 but he specifies prayer, the great act of religion, and professes that in that he was pure, though not from all infirmity, yet from reigning and allowed guile: it was not like the prayers of the Pharisees, who looked no further than to be seen of men, and to serve a turn.

This assertion of his own integrity he backs with a solemn imprecation of shame and confusion to himself, if it were not true, v. 18. (1.) If there were any injustice in his hands, he wishes it might not be concealed, O earth, cover not thou my blood, that is, "the innocent blood of others, which I am suspected to have shed." Murder will out; and "Let it," says Job, "if I have ever been guilty of it," Gen. iv. 10, 11. The day is coming when the earth shall disclose her blood; (Isa. xxvi. 21.) and a good man is far from dreading that day. (2.) If there were any impurity in his prayers, he wishes they might not be accepted, Let my cry have no place. He was willing to be judged by that rule, If I regard iniquity in my heart, God will not hear me, Ps. lxvi. 18. There is another probable sense of these words, that he does hereby, as it were, lay his death upon his friends, who broke his heart with their harsh censures, and charges the guilt of his blood upon them, begging of God to avenge it, and that the cry of his blood might have no place in which to lie hid, but might come up to heaven, and be heard by him that makes inquisition for blood.

II. He could appeal to God's omniscience concerning his integrity, v. 19. The witness in our own bosoms for us will stand us in little stead, if we have not a witness in heaven for us too, for God is greater than our hearts, and we are not to be our own judges; this, therefore, is Job's triumph, My Witness is in heaven. Note, It is an unspeakable comfort to a good man, when he lies under the censure of his brethren, that there is a God in heaven, who knows his integrity, and will clear it up sooner or later. See John v. 31, 37. This one Witness is instead of a thousand.

III. He had a God to go to, before whom he might unbosom himself, v. 20, 21. See here, 1. How the case stood between him and his friends; he knew not how to be free with them, nor could he expect either a fair hearing with them, or fair dealing from them; "My friends (so they call themselves) scorn me; they set themselves not only to resist me, but to expose me; they are of counsel against me, and use all their art and eloquence," (so the word signifies,) "to run me down." The scorns of friends are more cutting than those of enemies; but we must expect them, and provide accordingly. 2. How it stood between him and God. He doubted not but that, (1.) God did now take cognizance of his sorrows, Mine eye pours out tears to God. He had said, (v. 16.) that he wept much; here he tells us in what channel his tears ran, and which way they were directed: his sorrow was not that of the world, but he sorrowed after a godly sort, wept before the Lord, and offered to him the sacrifice of a broken heart. Note, Even tears, when sanctified to God, give ease to troubled spirits; and, if men slight our grief, this may comfort us, that God regards them. (2.) That he would in due time clear up his innocency; (v. 21.) O that one might plead for a man with God! If he could but now have the same freedom at God's bar, that men commonly have at the bar of the civil magistrate, he doubted not but to carry his cause, for the Judge himself was a witness to his integrity. The language of this wish is, that (Isa. 1. 7, 8.) I know that I shall not be ashamed, for he is near that justifies me. Some give a gospel-sense of this verse, and the original will very well bear it: and he will plead (that is, there is one that will plead) for man with God, even the Son of man, for his friend, or neighbour. Those who pour out tears before God, though they cannot plead for themselves, by reason of their distance and defects, have a Friend to plead for them, even the Son of man, and on this we must bottom all our hopes of acceptance with God.

IV. He had a prospect of death, which would put a period to all his troubles: such confidence had he toward God, that he could take pleasure in thinking of the approach of death, when he should be determined to his everlasting state, as one that doubted not but it would be well with him then: When a few years are come, (the years of number which are determined and appointed to me,) then I shall go the way whence I shall not return. Note, 1. To die is to go the way whence we shall not return; it is to go a journey, a long journey, a journey for good and all; to remove from this to another country, from the world of sense to the world of spirits; it is a journey to our long home; there will be no coming back to our state in this world, nor any change of our state in the other world. 2. We must all of us, very certainly, and very shortly, go this journey; and it is comfortable to those who keep a good conscience, to think of it, for it is the crown of their integrity.

CHAP. XVII.

In this chapter, I. Job reflects upon the harsh censures which his friends had passed upon him, and looking upon himself as a dying man, (v. 1.) he appeals to God, and begs of him speedily to appear for him, and right him, because they had wronged him, and he knew not how to right himself, v. 2..7. But he hopes, that, though it should be a surprise, it will be no stumbling-block, to good people, to see him thus abused, v. 8, 9. II. He reflects upon the vain hopes they had fed him with, that he should yet see good days; showing that his days were just at an end, and with his body all his hopes would be buried in the dust, v. 10..16. His friends becoming strange to him, which greatly grieved him, he makes death and the grave familiar to him, which yielded him some comfort.

Y breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me. 2. Are there not mockers with me? and doth not mine eye continue in their provocation? 3. Lay down now, put me in a surety with thee; who is he that will strike hands with me? 4. For thou hast hid their heart from understanding: therefore shalt thou not exalt them. 5. He that speaketh flattery to his friends, even the eyes of his children shall fail. 6. He hath made me also a by-word of the people, and aforetime I was as a tabret. 7. Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, and all my members are as a shadow. 8. Upright men shall be astonished at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite. 9. The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger.

Job's discourse here is somewhat broken and interrupted, and he passes suddenly from one thing to another, as is usual with men in trouble: but we may reduce what is said here to three heads.

I. The deplorable condition which poor Job was now in, which he describes, to aggravate the great