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Job_7:12 [Am] I a sea, or a whale, that thou settest a watch over me?
Ver. 12. Am I a sea, or a whale] Can I bear all troubles, as the sea receives all waters, and the whale bears all tempests? This (as is well observed) was too bold a speech to God from a creature, for when his hand is on our backs our hands should be upon our mouths; as Psa_39:9, "I was dumb," or (as others read it) I should have been dumb … "because thou didst it." But it is a fair step to perfection and victory when one can kiss God’s rod and say, as Psa_44:17, All this is come upon us, yet have we not forgotten thee, nor declined from thy way. Job was not without his impatience; but being he was right for the main, and at length bewailed them, God looked not upon him as he doth upon those refractories, who to their impatience add impenitence; and to their passive disobedience, active.
That thou settest a watch over me?] That thou surroundest me with sorrows, and wilt not suffer me to die? Here Job should have set a better watch over his lips, Psa_39:1; Psa_141:3, than thus boisterously to have blustered against God (who is áíõðåõèõíïò , not to be called to an account for his proceedings) like the raging sea or unruly whirlpool. He should have considered that the best men have somewhat of the sea in them, that must be bounded; and somewhat of the whale, that must be watched and kept under; and that God never lays more upon a man than there is need, though he may think otherwise.