The Book of Job
Job 5
Chapter V · Vol. II, p. 945
1 The harm of inconsideration. 3 The end of the wicked is misery. 6 God is to be regarded in affliction. 17 The happy end of God's correction.
1 Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?1
1 Or, look.
3 I chave seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed3 his habitation.
c Ps.37.35,36; 73.3,18-20. Je.12.1-3. Zec.5.3,4. Pr.3.33.
3 Not the curse of unholy wrath, but the doom of prophetic foresight.—C.
4 His children are dfar from safety, and they are crushed in the gate,4 neither is there any to deliver them.
d Ps.119.155; 109.7,12,13; 50.21,22. Ex.20.5.
4 Sooner or later, punished in the gate, the seat of judgment.—C.
5 Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the erobber swalloweth up their substance.
e ch.18.9; 1.12,13.
6 Although affliction5 cometh fnot forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground,
7 Yetg man is born unto trouble,6 as the hsparks7 fly upward.
g ch.14.1. 1 Co.10.13.
6 Or, labour.
h Heb. the sons of the burning coal lift up to fly, Is.24.15; 43.2. 1 Pe.4.12.
7 Sparks, and neither birds nor arrows, seems the true rendering. Sparks ascend by no power of their own, but merely by atmospheric pressure; so man is born unto trouble, being immersed, as it were, in an atmosphere of sin, of which the consequence is inevitable misery. And as the sparks are never exhausted so long as the fire burns, so trouble and sorrow continue to be the only sure inheritance to which man is born, so long as he is guilty of sin.—C.
12 Hen disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.8
15 But qhe saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
q Ps.72.4,13,14; 34.6; 107.41; 109.31.
17 Behold, shappy is the man whom God correcteth;1 therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
s Pr.3.11,12. He.12.5,6,10. Ja.1.12; 5.11. Re.3.19. Ps.119.67,71; 94.12. Je.31.18-20.
1 Eliphaz utters here a most blessed truth, yet not the whole truth; for though there be many afflictions corrective of sins past, yet others are merely preventive of sins that might arise; while others are sent for the production of brighter graces (Ja. 1. 3, 4), or higher glory (2 Co.4.15-17).—C.
19 He ushall deliver thee in six troubles; yea, in seven2 there shall no evil touch thee.
u Ps.34.19; 91.3,7. Pr.24.16. 2 Pe.2.7,9. Re.3.10. 1 Co.10.13. 2 Co.1.10.
2 From six troubles in worldly affairs, so many being the days of labour—from seven, adding the day of rest, that is, from all the religious troubles of a broken and contrite spirit.—C.
20 Inx famine he shall redeem thee from death; and in war from the power of the sword.
x Ps.33.19; 34.10; 37.19. Pr.10.3. Hab.3.17,18.
21 Thouy shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue;3 neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22 At destruction and famine thou shalt zlaugh; neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
z Ja.1.2. Ps.34.8-10. Ro.5.3. Phi.4.19. Hab.3.17,18.
23 Fora thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
24 And thou shalt know bthat thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.4
b Or, that peace is thy tabernacle, Pr.3.17,33. Ps.119.165. Is.66.12.
4 Or, be disappointed.
25 Thou shalt know also cthat thy seed shall be great,5 and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
c Ps.128.3,6. Ge.12.2; 15.5; 22.16,17. Pr.9.11.
5 much.
Notes
Call now if there be indeed any that will answer this oracle in thy favour! And to which of the saints canst thou turn as an advocate for thy cause, or as an example of thy condition? 2. For the just judgment and holy jealousy of God shall destroy foolish and wicked men: and their own rage at Providence and envy of other men's happiness shall render them miserable. 3. Even when I have seen wicked men flourishing in apparently fixed prosperity, I have judged them unhappy, and predicted their fall, and quickly seen them and their families rendered miserable. 4. Their posterity are exposed to great dangers and calamities: they are oppressed and ruined in their lawsuits, or are openly punished, while there is none to deliver them. 5. The hungry vagabonds eat up their crop; and notwithstanding all the means used to secure it, or the danger to the taker, the sweeping scourge, and savage robber, such as the Chaldeans or Sabeans, carry off their whole substance and wealth. 6, 7. Affliction never comes to men without the just influence of God and the deserving influence of men's sin, even though it be altogether common and natural for men to meet with trouble. And men, outrageous in iniquity, and abandoned to gross impiety, shall not long flourish on the earth; but if, as born in it, a man be obstinate in gross wickedness, the flaming thunderbolts of God's judgment shall fly aloft to destroy him. 8. Truly, therefore, were I in thy place, I would humbly address myself unto God and refer myself to his disposal. 9. I would refer myself to God, who works so many things, the nature, causes, and immediate ends of which we do not understand, and so is able to help or punish as he pleases: 10. To God, who waters the earth with rain, and who causes the fountains to spring, and rivulets to run along the streets and fields; 11. That by plentiful crops he may enrich and dignify men of low condition, and exalt those that mourn in sordid baseness and misery to an extended happiness and safety: 12. To God, who defeats the craftiest designs of subtle men to raise or enrich themselves, that it is not in their power to execute the schemes which they have most cunningly contrived: 13. Who makes their own devices to produce what they studied to avoid, and to hurry them, contrary to their expectation, into dreadful ruin. 14. So that when everything seems plain and prosperous, they suddenly stumble into mistakes and misery; and in the very midst of their wisdom and felicity unexpected danger seizes upon them. 15. By which means God delivers those who fear his name from the open fury and from the treacherous flatteries and calumnies of these powerful oppressors. 16. That by observation and experience of this the poor and oppressed may be encouraged to hope in God for help and deliverance, and wicked men may be confounded and silenced.—17. And, moreover, God makes all the afflictions of his people to work remarkably for their good; therefore never complain of his corrections, but esteem them as a distinguished favour. 18. For he not only makes us grieved and pained with trouble for our good, but quickly removes his rod and bestows his comforts. 19. When manifold troubles are inflicted on others thou shalt escape if thou refer thyself to God's disposal. Nay, be thy own troubles as many as they will, they shall do thee no real hurt. 20. God shall supply thee with food in times of famine, and protect thee in the day of battle. 21. No malicious reproachers or false witnesses shall be able to hurt thee; and thou shalt be secure amidst the depopulations of countries. 22. No pestilence, nor famine, nor ravenous beast shall be allowed to hurt thee, nor even mar thy cheerfulness. 23. The stones of the field, as if in league with thee, shall neither hurt thy person nor crop; and even the wild beasts shall submit to thee as thy conquered servants. 24. Thou shalt by experience find thy dwelling, family, and substance, wherever it is, in safety and quietness: and thou shalt be enabled to manage thy household affairs without any allowed iniquity; and shalt take an account of them without disappointment. 25. And however bare thou now appearest, as the earth in winter, thou shalt find thy posterity very numerous, prosperous, and beautifully connected. 26. And when thou hast arrived at an uncommon age, thou shalt enter into thy grave with an easy smile and shouts of joy, as one fully ripened for the glories of heaven. 27. Doubt not of this; for we have thoroughly examined the point, and find it as I have said. Hear, consider, and practise it, for thy present and everlasting advantage.
Ver. 1. [These are the words of Eliphaz. 'Call now'—which of these can give assistance? 'Saints' (holy angels), to whom amongst these wilt thou turn for help in thy murmuring against Providence, seeing they are unable to help themselves? See ch. 4. 18. C.——To which of the saints wilt thou turn? This clause is connected in sense with ch. 4. 18. God charged his angels with folly, consequently it would be vain to put any trust in them. They are sustained by divine power, and can render no assistance to others. As the term 'saints' is liable to be misunderstood, the translation 'holy ones' would be preferable. P.]
Ver. 2. [Envy slayeth the silly one. For envy the margin gives indignation, and this is the true reading. Wrath and indignation do not signify the suicidal influence of a man's own passions, but the righteous 'severity of God,' Ro. 11. 22, as will appear by the ascription of all chastisements to his will and power, ver. 11-14. C.]
Ver. 7. ['Misfortune does not grow like weeds out of the ground; it is rather established in the divine order of the world, as it is established in the order of nature that sparks of fire should ascend.' It is a beautiful sentiment, and characteristic of an age of piety and thoughtfulness. P.]
Ver. 23. [Stones of the field. Literally, sons of the field, the verse intimating a mutual peace; the whole animal creation in league with man, and he faithful to his engagement, and at peace with them. And true it is, that in proportion as religion gains a place in the heart, cruelty to animals is expelled. C.]
Ver. 27. [With all its beauty of expression, poetic fire, and depth of thought, there is a false principle running through the whole of this speech, or rather ode. Eliphaz regards Job as a sinner and a hypocrite, and therefore punished by God. He endeavours to establish the dogma that all affliction is penal; consequently the address must have seemed cold and heartless to the poor sufferer. Not a word of compassion is uttered, not a sentiment calculated to purify or spiritualize the soul. He never rises to the sublime conception of suffering set forth by Christ or Paul:— 'We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.' 'Every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.' P.]
Reflections.—The best of men quickly grow confident in their own mistakes. And it is the greatest discouragement to one in sore trouble to find no saint in his case or sentiment. But how foolish and silly are the greatest of sinners! Their own wickedness fearfully corrects them, and their backslidings ruin themselves, their families, or property. It is stupid and heathenish to think that anything happens to us by chance. And the more we are acquainted with the sinfulness of our nature, we shall see the less reason to murmur at our afflictions. Under sore troubles it is necessary to search out and remove the sinful cause, and to turn all our fretful murmurs into humble supplications. How encouraging is it to have an almighty, condescending, and gracious God to apply to! No craft, no strength, no plots of devils or men need discourage us when we have him on our side. If our mind be brought down to our circumstances let us never quit our hope: it is in a faithful promiser. Our malignant opposers may for a while open their mouths wide against us, and their oppressing hand may lie heavy on us; but quickly their arms shall be broken and their lips sealed up in death. But great and holy caution is necessary under trouble, that we may neither be averse to it, nor think ill of it, nor overlook and disregard it. For when blessed of God they are remarkably advantageous. They but open God's way for bestowing his distinguished favours. And those who dwell under the shadow of the Almighty shall enjoy the surest protection, inward quietness, peace with God and his creatures, comfort in their families and seed, and joy and honour in their death. Let us then attend to and profit by every truth we hear.