Job 8

Notes

Not without a mixture of mistake, rage, and pride, Bildad replied, 2. How long wilt thou outrageously pour forth what is dishonourable to God and unprofitable to men; and brutishly violent, noisy, and presumptuous? 3. Can God, who has no reason to fear the displeasure or court the favour of any, wretchedly and wickedly deal unjustly with men? 4. Suppose he has fearfully punished thy children for their wickedness; 5. Yet thy humble, speedy, and penitent supplication to him for mercy would meet with due regard. 6. And wert thou thyself sincere in heart, and upright in conduct, he would, all of a sudden, bestir himself to help thee, and restore thee and thy family to its wonted peace and prosperity. 7. And however low and contemptible thy condition is at present, he would render thy happiness and glory more eminent than ever. 8-10. And as you look on us as mere ignorant upstarts, carefully inquire of the most aged and best informed, and they will assure you that God never punished but for sin, and never rejected a penitent person. 11, 12. And that as rushes and flags without abundant moisture quickly wither of their own accord; 13, 14. So without true piety, and a real enjoyment of the divine favour, the highest professions of religion, and the greatest prosperity and most extensive hopes of happiness, will quickly issue in apostasy, infamy, disappointment, and self-wrought wretchedness. 15. The wicked man may attempt to rely on his friends, family, or wealth, and may exert himself to the utmost to retain what he has, but to no purpose. 16. The external smiles of Providence may render his prosperity remarkable for a little time; and his family, wealth, and honour may greatly flourish and increase. 17. He may appear deep-rooted amidst outward enjoyments; and, in height of glory and apparent stability, may vie with the loftiest buildings of marble. 18. But quickly shall his native soil swallow him up into ruin: and he and all that he had shall quickly disappear and be forgotten. 19. Such is the mad and unsubstantial joy of the wicked, and the issue of their flourishing prosperity; while others are exalted from meanness and poverty to fill their place in the world. 20. For—mark it as a certain and important truth—the mighty God will never despise, or loathe, or refuse to help and comfort an upright saint; nor will he strengthen, support, or deliver evil-doers. 21, 22. Wert thou perfect, or thoroughly penitent, he would bless thee till his favours had overwhelmed thee with raptures of thankful praise; they who hate thee and rejoice at thy present troubles should be confounded at thy restoration, while they and theirs should irrecoverably perish.

Ver. 11. [Can the rush. Believed to be the Egyptian papyrus. The rush and the flag are green and flourishing above other plants while they have mire and water, but wither before any other herb when these are dried up—meet emblem of man's transient prosperity, which withers in a moment under the displeasure of God!—Note, There is but one kind of plant that can never wither—the believing branch in the true vine, Jn. 15. 7, 16; 17. 10-12. C.]

Reflections.—Men readily follow one another in running down those who are singularly distressed. And much sooner do they perceive other men's sins marked in their judgments than their own. But in every affliction it is always wise to have recourse to God for help. His blessing can soon make a remarkable change for the better in our lot. And if he knows our integrity, it matters little though men esteem us as hypocrites. God often gives his people indirect hints of the kindness which he intends for them, by words never intended for that purpose by the speakers. And the knowledge and experience of others ought carefully to be improved for our instruction and comfort. What a common sin among professors is hypocrisy and dissimulation! What a sad source of it is forgetfulness of God! But the hope of hypocrites will put the most fearful cheat upon themselves. Though it flourishes awhile, it perishes at last. And the things of nature around us suggest the most important admonitions, did we but consider them aright. The most precious truths are often abused through the misapplication of them, to make the heart of the righteous sad, and the souls of the wicked to triumph. Let me therefore never be a harsh judge of others, and never too mild with respect to myself. Let me never judge of people's character by their outward lot. It is not time, but the last judgment and eternity, that will reduce all things to apparent order.