View Job 16 in the note window.
Job upbraids his friends with unkindness, ver. 1 - 5.
Bemoans himself, ver. 6 - 16.
Appeals from their censure to the righteous judgment of God,
ver. 17 - 22.
2: Such things - These things are but vulgar and trivial. And so
are all creatures, to a soul under deep conviction of sin, or the
arrest of death.
3: End - When wilt thou put an end to these impertinent discourses?
He retorts upon him his charge, (Job 15:2,3).
7: He - God, as appears by the following words. Weary - Either of
complaining, or, of my life. Desolate - Hast turned my society into
desolation, by destroying my children and servants.
9: Eyes - Looks upon me with a fierce, and sparkling eye, as enraged
persons use to do.
10: They - My friends. Gaped - Opened their mouths wide against
me. In all this Job was a type of Christ. These very expressions
are used in the predictions of his sufferings, (Ps 22:13).
They gaped upon me with their mouths, and (Mic 5:1).
They shall smite the judge of Israel upon the check.
11: The wicked - And thus Christ was delivered into wicked hands,
by the determinate counsel of God.
12: Shaken - As a mighty man doth with some stripling, when he
wrestleth with him. Mark - That he may shoot all his arrows in me.
13: His archers - Whoever are our enemies, we must look on them as
God's archers, and see him directing the arrow.
15: I have - So far am I from stretching out my hand against God,(Job 15:25), that I have humbled myself deeply under his hand.
I have not only put on sackcloth, but sewed it on, as being resolved
to continue my humiliation, as long as my affliction continues.
Defiled my horn - I have willingly parted with all my wealth, and
power, and glory (as the horn often signifies in scripture,) and
been content to lie in the dust.
17: Not - And all this is not come upon me for any injurious dealing,
but for other reasons known to God only. Pure - I do not cast off God's
fear and service, (Job 15:4). I do still pray and worship God, and my
prayer is accompanied with a sincere heart.
18: Earth - The earth is said to cover that blood, which lies
undiscovered and unrevenged: but saith Job, if I be guilty of
destroying any man, let the earth disclose it; let it be brought to light.
Cry - Let the cry of my complaints to men, or prayers to God, find
no place in the ears or hearts of God or men, if this be true.
19: Witness - Besides the witness of my conscience, God is witness
of my integrity.
22: Go - To the state and place of the dead, whence men cannot
return to this life. The meaning is, my death hastens, and therefore
I earnestly desire that the cause depending, between me and my friends,
may be determined, that if I be guilty of these things, I may bear the
shame of it before all men, and if I be innocent, that I may see my own
integrity, and the credit of religion, (which suffers upon this occasion)
vindicated. How very certainly, and how very shortly are we likewise to
go this journey.
