The Book of Job
Job 2
Chapter II · Vol. II, p. 942
1 Satan appearing again before God, obtaineth further leave to tempt Job. 7 He smiteth him with sore boils from head to foot. 9 Job reproveth his wife, moving him to curse God. 11 His three friends condole with him in silence.
1 Again therea was a day when the sons1 of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them, to present himself before the LORD.
a ch.1.6. Is.6.1. Mat.18.10. 1 Ki.22.19-22.
1 Angels, ministers, or saints.
2 And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou?2 And bSatan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.3
3 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered cmy servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect4 and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and dstill he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy5 him withoute cause.
4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skinf for skin,6 yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5 But gput forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will hcurse thee to thy face.
g ch.1.11. Ps.6.2.
h ch.1.5,11; ver.9. Is.8.21. Re.16.11,21.
6 And the LORD said unto Satan, iBehold, he is in thine hand; but7 save his life.
i ch.1.12. 2 Co.12.7. Lu.22.31. 1 Co.10.13. Is.27.8.
7 Or, only.
7 So kwent Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job lwith sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
9 Then said ohis wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? pcurse God, and die.8
o Ge.3.6. 1 Ki.21.25, with ch.1.15-17,19.
p ch.1.11; 21.15. Mal.3.14. see ver.5.
8 Job had lately (ch. 1. 21) 'blessed the name of Jehovah, nor had he in his affliction 'charged God foolishly.' His wife now questions him, 'Dost thou still retain thine integrity (thy confidence in Jehovah's power, protection, and mercy), blessing God and dying?'—C.
10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the qfoolish women9 speaketh. What! shall we rreceive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? sIn all this did not Job sin with his lips.
q 2 Sa.13.13. Mat.16.23; 18.15.
9 Not, as some inconsiderately imagine, a charge against women generally, but against those 'foolish women,' the idolatrous worshippers of Ashtaroth or other false deities, who, when they did not obtain their wishes, maltreated or cast away the images of their deities. A practice found in all countries where idolatry prevails—even in those countries where image worship still, alas! disfigures and degrades Christianity.—C.
r ch.1.2,3,10. Jn.18.11. He.12.6,9,10,11. Re.3.19. Ja.5.10,11.
11 Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; tEliphaz the Temanite, and uBildad the Shuhite, and xZophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together yto come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
Notes
[Ver. 3. The object of God was holy and wise, though that of Satan was wicked and foolish. Satan insinuated that piety could not exist independent of the selfish expectation of reward. In opposition to this the Lord desired to demonstrate to Satan by a living example the existence of true and disinterested piety. And this was no mere useless demonstration of truth. Satan was man's great tempter. Had he not been signally defeated in his plans and arguments, his power must have been largely augmented. P.]
Ver. 6. [But save his life. Whatever be the power and commission of evil spirits or wicked men, God sets bounds to their malice they are unable to pass, Ps. 76. 10. C.]
Ver. 8. [Sitting in ashes is a sign of deepest humiliation and sorrow. It is still practised in the East. I have witnessed it on more than one occasion. Any sudden and heavy calamity often drives the afflicted one not only to sit down on the heap of dust and ashes, but to sprinkle them over the whole person. P.]
Reflections.—How restless, impudent, steady, and active is the devil in prosecuting his malice against the saints! Disappointment but sharpens his rage, and makes him return more furious to the attack: and though proved a liar he persists in his accusations. It is honourable and necessary to resist him steadfast in the faith. But above all, great is the mercy that we have Jesus as our advocate to repel his bold accusations. To what astonishing extent doth God, for his own wise ends, permit Satan to afflict his dearest saints; nay, his Son! But glorious conquerors are they whose mind, in humble abasement, corresponds with their lowest or most loathsome circumstances of body. Heavy indeed is the trial when those who ought to be our sympathizing directors in trouble become our tempters to the most horrid sins;—to rage and disquiet; to blasphemy;—to trespass more and more against the Lord; and when those who come to comfort us have their mouths shut! But happy is he who endureth temptation; when he is tried he shall receive a crown of life! Happy is he who abhors to parley with vile suggestions, and who receives troubles as the love-messengers of his God! God can make our friends useless to us, even when they are so kind as to come to comfort us, and so wise as to prefer the house of mourning to the house of mirth. What frightful changes disease can make on us! Why then should we be proud of vile bodies? But worthless are those friends who hasten from the chamber of disease, and are glad to flee from the melancholy door: an awful proof that they are unmindful of and unprepared for death. Let then no health but what Christ is, no friend but God in him, be the trust, the boast of my soul! In the time of need all others take to themselves the wings of the morning and fly away. Miserable comforters, nay ensnaring tormenters, are they all.