Job 12

Notes

To this Job replied, 2. No doubt you think yourselves the only men upon earth who understand divine things, by whose death all solid knowledge will be rooted out from the world. 3. But believe it, I, and even the weakest of mankind, understood all that you have said of God's infinite wisdom, power, and justice. 4. I am indeed insolently mocked by you, my fellow-professors, even while you promise me great prosperity in answer to my prayers. But it has been the common lot of upright men to be made the butts of derision by their wicked neighbours. 5. The best of men, when reduced to the point of perishing, are generally contemned and hissed at by those who wallow in worldly ease and affluence. 6. But it is certain that the most wicked and mischievous persons often prosper remarkably in this world. 7, 8. The beasts and fowls which they live upon, or are served by, can teach you pretenders to wisdom this: the earth, that affords them her plentiful and delicious fruits; and the fishes of the sea, which gratify their appetites, plainly manifest this. 9, 10. And even the most stupid of mankind must know that this is ordered by the providence of God, who is the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of both animals and men. 11, 12. Cannot our mind distinguish truth from falsehood as exactly as the palate can do sweet from bitter? And the older we grow the more wise we ought to become. 13. Much more with the eternal God is there wisdom to know all, and strength to do everything. He never mistakes in his conceptions, nor miscarries in his purposes. 14. Behold, he destroys cities, families, persons, and things; and none can restore them. He shuts up men in prisons or troubles, and none can bring them out. 15. At one time he withholds rain, or restrains the springs, and the waters dry up. Anon he sends forth the rains and fountains with unbridled liberty, and the torrents of water overturn the strongest banks. 16. Nor is his wisdom inferior to his power. The sin of the deceiver, and the sufferings of the deceived, are both ordered by him to his glory. 17. He defeats the projects of the wisest statesmen, and infatuates the ablest senators. 18. He deprives kings of their royal majesty and authority, and reduces them to slavery and imprisonment. 19. The most devout priests, or the noblest ministers of state, he renders captives; and overthrows the most powerful armies of warriors. 20. Eloquence, fidelity, and prudence, gained by long experience, are rendered quite unavailable for the protection of princes or kingdoms. 21. He renders the greatest princes contemptible, and the strongest persons or armies weak. 22. He brings to light the most secret plots; makes plain the mysteries of doctrine or providence; and advances such as were poor, obscure, condemned, or imprisoned, to liberty and glory, to honour and wealth. 23. At his pleasure he increases nations in number, power, wealth, and honour; and anon diminishes them by famine, war, and pestilence. He enlarges their boundaries, and anon shuts them up into corners. 24. Princes, magistrates, and others, he deprives of courage and wisdom; and throws them into such confusion that they know not which way to turn themselves. 25. Without either sense or success, they seek for ways to help themselves and their people out of trouble; but by his providential influence they are quite uncertain in their counsels, and doubtful what course to take.

Ver. 2. [Wisdom shall die with you. Were this a mere irony, as many interpreters assume, then would not Job immediately claim equal wisdom for himself (ver. 3), but plead comparative ignorance, to make the irony effective. But irony is not a figure for deep and poignant affliction. The phrase is not therefore irony, but a simple acknowledgment that his learned friends were wise, and would be accompanied with wisdom to the grave. C.]

Ver. 5. [Ready to slip—to fall through the exhaustion of losses and weight of troubles. A lamp despised—a lamp that is dying out, whose former light is ungratefully forgotten. C.]

Ver. 6. [The tabernacles of robbers prosper. Of this fact Job could furnish the evidence of the Sabean and Chaldean marauders on a small scale, and that of the most distinguished conquerors, who have been but robbers on a great scale. Witness Nebuchadnezzar in after-times robbing the very temple of God, 2 Ki. 25. 13-17. C.]

Reflections.—Nothing is more disgusting and offensive than proud boasting; and a high conceit of our own importance is extremely foolish and sinful; contempt is all that is ordinarily gained by it. It is but just to allow others a share of reason and wisdom as well as ourselves. But often they who riot in prosperity contemn and reproach the afflicted, especially if they be religious. And peevish minds are sometimes apt to take well-meant reproofs for ill-natured reproaches. Mankind are rarely able to give things of importance a fair trial. Those who are fast running to hell often get large portions of earthly things, even the most delicate, in their way to it. But their abuse of God's creatures in this world shall witness against them, and will but increase their torments in the next. The most instructive lessons concerning God are afforded us in the volumes of creation and providence. But how mad and criminal is it to attempt contending with him who hath all possible excellence in possession, and doth according to his will in the armies of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth! No king so high but he can bring down; no politician so crafty or eloquent, but he can infatuate; no plot so well laid, but he can frustrate; no nation so mighty, but he can destroy with his nod; no general so brave, but he can intimidate. Be thou wise, my soul, to observe these things; so shalt thou understand the loving-kindness of the Lord.