Chapter 21:
| 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 21
Concise Complete
Job entreats attention. (1-6) The prosperity of the wicked.
(7-16) The dealings of God's providence. (17-26) The judgement of the wicked is
in the world to come. (27-34)
Verses 1-6 Job comes
closer to the question in dispute. This was, Whether outward prosperity is a
mark of the true church, and the true members of it, so that ruin of a man's
prosperity proves him a hypocrite? This they asserted, but Job denied. If they
looked upon him, they might see misery enough to demand compassion, and their
bold interpretations of this mysterious providence should be turned into silent
wonder.
Verses 7-16 Job
says, Remarkable judgments are sometimes brought upon notorious sinners, but not
always. Wherefore is it so? This is the day of God's patience; and, in some way
or other, he makes use of the prosperity of the wicked to serve his own
counsels, while it ripens them for ruin; but the chief reason is, because he
will make it appear there is another world. These prospering sinners make light
of God and religion, as if because they have so much of this world, they had no
need to look after another. But religion is not a vain thing. If it be so to us,
we may thank ourselves for resting on the outside of it. Job shows their folly.
Verses 17-26 Job
had described the prosperity of wicked people; in these verses he opposes this
to what his friends had maintained about their certain ruin in this life. He
reconciles this to the holiness and justice of God. Even while they prosper
thus, they are light and worthless, of no account with God, or with wise men. In
the height of their pomp and power, there is but a step between them and ruin.
Job refers the difference Providence makes between one wicked man and another,
into the wisdom of God. He is Judge of all the earth, and he will do right. So
vast is the disproportion between time and eternity, that if hell be the lot of
every sinner at last, it makes little difference if one goes singing thither,
and another sighing. If one wicked man die in a palace, and another in a
dungeon, the worm that dies not, and the fire that is not quenched, will be the
same to them. Thus differences in this world are not worth perplexing ourselves
about.
Verses 27-34 Job
opposes the opinion of his friends, That the wicked are sure to fall into
visible and remarkable ruin, and none but the wicked; upon which principle they
condemned Job as wicked. Turn to whom you will, you will find that the
punishment of sinners is designed more for the other world than for this,
jude 1:14,15. The sinner
is here supposed to live in a great deal of power. The sinner shall have a
splendid funeral: a poor thing for any man to be proud of the prospect of. He
shall have a stately monument. And a valley with springs of water to keep the
turf green, was accounted an honourable burial place among eastern people; but
such things are vain distinctions. Death closes his prosperity. It is but a poor
encouragement to die, that others have died before us. That which makes a man
die with true courage, is, with faith to remember that Jesus Christ died and was
laid in the grave, not only before us, but for us. That He hath gone before us,
and died for us, who is alive and liveth for us, is true consolation in the hour
of death.
Chapter 21:
| 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
