Chapter 5:
| 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 5
Concise Complete
Eliphaz urges that the sin of sinners in their ruin. (1-5)
God is to be regarded in affliction. (6-16) The happy end of God's correction.
(17-27)
Verses 1-5 Eliphaz
here calls upon Job to answer his arguments. Were any of the saints or servants
of God visited with such Divine judgments as Job, or did they ever behave like
him under their sufferings? The term, "saints," holy, or more strictly,
consecrated ones, seems in all ages to have been applied to the people of God,
through the Sacrifice slain in the covenant of their reconciliation. Eliphaz
doubts not that the sin of sinners directly tends to their ruin. They kill
themselves by some lust or other; therefore, no doubt, Job has done some foolish
thing, by which he has brought himself into this condition. The allusion was
plain to Job's former prosperity; but there was no evidence of Job's wickedness,
and the application to him was unfair and severe.
Verses 6-16 Eliphaz
reminds Job, that no affliction comes by chance, nor is to be placed to second
causes. The difference between prosperity and adversity is not so exactly
observed, as that between day and night, summer and winter; but it is according
to the will and counsel of God. We must not attribute our afflictions to
fortune, for they are from God; nor our sins to fate, for they are from
ourselves. Man is born in sin, and therefore born to trouble. There is nothing
in this world we are born to, and can truly call our own, but sin and trouble.
Actual transgressions are sparks that fly out of the furnace of original
corruption. Such is the frailty of our bodies, and the vanity of all our
enjoyments, that our troubles arise thence as the sparks fly upward; so many are
they, and so fast does one follow another. Eliphaz reproves Job for not seeking
God, instead of quarrelling with him. Is any afflicted? let him pray. It is
heart's ease, a salve for every sore. Eliphaz speaks of rain, which we are apt
to look upon as a little thing; but if we consider how it is produced, and what
is produced by it, we shall see it to be a great work of power and goodness. Too
often the great Author of all our comforts, and the manner in which they are
conveyed to us, are not noticed, because they are received as things of course.
In the ways of Providence, the experiences of some are encouragements to others,
to hope the best in the worst of times; for it is the glory of God to send help
to the helpless, and hope to the hopeless. And daring sinners are confounded,
and forced to acknowledge the justice of God's proceedings.
Verses 17-27 Eliphaz
gives to Job a word of caution and exhortation: Despise not thou the chastening
of the Almighty. Call it a chastening, which comes from the Father's love, and
is for the child's good; and notice it as a messenger from Heaven. Eliphaz also
encourages Job to submit to his condition. A good man is happy though he be
afflicted, for he has not lost his enjoyment of God, nor his title to heaven;
nay, he is happy because he is afflicted. Correction mortifies his corruptions,
weans his heart from the world, draws him nearer to God, brings him to his
Bible, brings him to his knees. Though God wounds, yet he supports his people
under afflictions, and in due time delivers them. Making a wound is sometimes
part of a cure. Eliphaz gives Job precious promises of what God would do for
him, if he humbled himself. Whatever troubles good men may be in, they shall do
them no real harm. Being kept from sin, they are kept from the evil of trouble.
And if the servants of Christ are not delivered from outward troubles, they are
delivered by them, and while overcome by one trouble, they conquer all. Whatever
is maliciously said against them shall not hurt them. They shall have wisdom and
grace to manage their concerns. The greatest blessing, both in our employments
and in our enjoyments, is to be kept from sin. They shall finish their course
with joy and honour. That man lives long enough who has done his work, and is
fit for another world. It is a mercy to die seasonably, as the corn is cut and
housed when fully ripe; not till then, but then not suffered to stand any
longer. Our times are in God's hands; it is well they are so. Believers are not
to expect great wealth, long life, or to be free from trials. But all will be
ordered for the best. And remark from Job's history, that steadiness of mind and
heart under trial, is one of the highest attainments of faith. There is little
exercise for faith when all things go well. But if God raises a storm, permits
the enemy to send wave after wave, and seemingly stands aloof from our prayers,
then, still to hang on and trust God, when we cannot trace him, this is the
patience of the saints. Blessed Saviour! how sweet it is to look unto thee, the
Author and Finisher of faith, in such moments!
Chapter 5:
| 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
