Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Esther Psalms
Job 1
Concise Complete
The piety and prosperity of Job. (1-5) Satan obtains leave
to try Job. (6-12) The loss of Job's property, and the death of his children.
(13-19) Job's patience and piety. (20-22)
Verses 1-5 Job was
prosperous, and yet pious. Though it is hard and rare, it is not impossible for
a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. By God's grace the temptations
of worldly wealth may be overcome. The account of Job's piety and prosperity
comes before the history of his great afflictions, showing that neither will
secure from troubles. While Job beheld the harmony and comforts of his sons with
satisfaction, his knowledge of the human heart made him fearful for them. He
sent and sanctified them, reminding them to examine themselves, to confess their
sins, to seek forgiveness; and as one who hoped for acceptance with God through
the promised Saviour, he offered a burnt-offering for each. We perceive his care
for their souls, his knowledge of the sinful state of man, his entire dependence
on God's mercy in the way he had appointed.
Verses 6-12 Job's
afflictions began from the malice of Satan, by the Lord's permission, for wise
and holy purposes. There is an evil spirit, the enemy of God, and of all
righteousness, who is continually seeking to distress, to lead astray, and, if
possible, to destroy those who love God. How far his influence may extend, we
cannot say; but probably much unsteadiness and unhappiness in Christians may be
ascribed to him. While we are on this earth we are within his reach. Hence it
concerns us to
1 peter
. This is the common way of slanderers, to suggest that which they have no
reason to think is true. But as there is nothing we should dread more than
really being hypocrites, so there is nothing we need dread less than being
called and counted so without cause. It is not wrong to look at the eternal
recompence in our obedience; but it is wrong to aim at worldly advantages in our
religion. God's people are taken under his special protection; they, and all
that belong to them. The blessing of the Lord makes rich; Satan himself owns it.
God suffered Job to be tried, as he suffered Peter to be sifted. It is our
comfort that God has the devil in a chain,
revelation 20:1. He
has no power to lead men to sin, but what they give him themselves; nor any
power to afflict men, but what is given him from above. All this is here
described to us after the manner of men. The Scripture speaks thus to teach us
that God directs the affairs of the world.
Verses 13-19 Satan
brought Job's troubles upon him on the day that his children began their course
of feasting. The troubles all came upon Job at once; while one messenger of evil
tidings was speaking, another followed. His dearest and most valuable
possessions were his ten children; news is brought him that they are killed.
They were taken away when he had most need of them to comfort him under other
losses. In God only have we a help present at all times.
Verses 20-22 Job
humbled himself under the hand of God. He reasons from the common state of human
life, which he describes. We brought nothing of this world's goods into the
world, but have them from others; and it is certain we can carry nothing out,
but must leave them to others. Job, under all his losses, is but reduced to his
first state. He is but where he must have been at last, and is only unclothed,
or unloaded rather, a little sooner than he expected. If we put off our clothes
before we go to bed, it is some inconvenience, but it may be the better borne
when it is near bed-time. The same who gave hath taken away. See how Job looks
above instruments, and keeps his eye upon the First Cause. Afflictions must not
divert us from, but quicken us to religion. If in all our troubles we look to
the Lord, he will support us. The Lord is righteous. All we have is from his
gift; we have forfeited it by sin, and ought not to complain if he takes any
part from us. Discontent and impatience charge God with folly. Against these Job
carefully watched; and so must we, acknowledging that as God has done right, but
we have done wickedly, so God has done wisely, but we have done very foolishly.
And may the malice and power of Satan render that Saviour more precious to our
souls, who came to destroy the works of the devil; who, for our salvation,
suffered from that enemy far more than Job suffered, or we can think.
Chapter 1:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 Esther Psalms
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
