_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 ]