Bible Commentaries

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.

End - When wilt thou put an end to these impertinent discourses? He retorts upon him his charge, Job 15:2-3 .

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.

Eyes - Looks upon me with a fierce, and sparkling eye, as enraged persons use to do.

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, Psalm 22:13 . They gaped upon me with their mouths, and Micah 5:1 . They shall smite the judge of Israel upon the check.

The wicked - And thus Christ was delivered into wicked hands, by the determinate counsel of God.

Shaken - As a mighty man doth with some stripling, when he wrestleth with him. Mark - That he may shoot all his arrows in me.

His archers - Whoever are our enemies, we must look on them as God's archers, and see him directing the arrow.

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.

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.

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.

Witness - Besides the witness of my conscience, God is witness of my integrity.

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.